[M.Acorn]

Ah right it has stretch bolts then ! Hoping it won`t get that far,it`s 1996 so it`s getting on a bit 126 thou miles,gets quite a bit of abuse from me.
Once i pay in my current batch of cheques i will be out of my overdraft ,for the first time since Jan,really want to avoid having to buy a new van,tax runs out end of this month too,need to start building up some savings before it goes dead again,trying to talk my wife out of going out to ibiza for the closing party`s,after my gig last week it`s got her dancing feet awake again !

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

wow wheres that looks like a good party ?

[M.Acorn]

It was Dance island in Ely ! And yes it was fantastic fun,not played out for a good few years (well not at a propper gig) Had a 10 thou capicity,but only think that there were 4.5.to 5 thou there,Pendulum headlining,radio 1 dj`s too,K90,lab 4 ,andy wardman,csally cage on the stage i was on,plus Roobarb from Norwich,all the top dj`s basically.got to rub shoulders with some of my heros !

Tickets were expensive £42 for normal or £67 for vip ! prob why it didn`t get rammosed.

One thing i did notice was everyone was using cd`s apart from us older guy`s who all use vinyl,got me back into it again and been trying to buy some vinyl,but it`s all flippin mp3 downloads now,all the good banging stuff i want to play anyway...Bloke who orgainsed it put his house on the line (either very brave or very stupid) not sure if he made enough to break even.
Another thing i noticed was the huge police presence,far too many,were supposed to be sniffer dogs too but they left them in the van and they died ! Not got the media coverage the other 2 got though.
Cambridge eve news were also saying that 10 thou people were there !

This was taken just after i went on

This about half way through 



Tools of the trade

[Peter Blackburn]

Hi Mark,

First things first, you might have an air lock in the cooling system. Take the cap off the expansion/header tank. Turn the heaters to max heat and blower setting 1 or 2, Run the engine and squeeze the bottom and top hose until the coolant is getting low in the expansion tank, then refill with coolant and keep repeating until the level remains the same in the expansion tank. A simple air lock can halt the flow of coolant, this means the temp sensor that kicks in the cooling fan has static cool water on it (no flow), yet the engine block can be boiling away.

From what you have said the pump appears to be working as you can control the engine temp to some degree when travelling along. As said, change the thermostat as that could be seized shut and not allowing the coolant to circulate the radiator.

1/ Change your thermostat and drain off all your coolant.
2/ Get a hose pipe into the block and blast out all the crud, same with radiator.
3/ Turn your ignition to 1, but do not turn engine on!! Turn heater control to max heat and blower setting 1 or 2. This opens all the bypass valves for the heating. Fail this and you will have an air lock.
4/ Refill the cooling system by filling the expansion tank and squeezing the top and bottom hoses to circulate what you are putting in. When the level is maintained in the expansion tank and the hoses feel firm with liquid, start the engine until bubbling is seen in the tank, fill as required. This will expel any remaining air from the system.
5/ Replace the expansion tank cap and monitor temp and leaks. Make sure fan is kicking in no more than 3/4 on the temp scale.


Pete

[M.Acorn]

Thanks Pete  Got 1 h/s/l this morn ,then rest of the day doing the van,now it`s stopped raining.Been ok the other day just using the heater to cool it,but it`s a bit warmer today , so will have to see how it goes this morn.

[PaulKing]

p reg it worth £2000k as a scrappage just punt it in and get a cheap citroen or such and be done, Honestly running a newer van is cheaper than running an old one.

[M.Acorn]

Not a citroen though 
Got around to changing the thermostat yesterday,put the old one in a pyrex jug with boiling water,and it didn`t open at all,so think i found the problem,just need to remember to put some anti freeze in now before winter.
Makes sense now,the rad fan was not having a cooling effect,but the heater was.
Just need rear brake shoes now,as they have started grinding,and have to fork out for the roc ,2 new tyres and koni`s being fitted,adverse camber has wrecked my tyres.

[JandS]

Don't forget, if you want the £2000 scrappage you've got to buy brand new.

John

[M.Acorn]

Bit out of my price range to be honest,don`t beleive in credit,and that is the only way i could afford one  .

[Tony Gill Carpet Smart]

Mark you need to put antifreez in straight away its not only an antifreeze it is also anticorosion as well stops water way blocking up.

Cheers Tony

[M.Acorn]

There we are then ! Coming home down the A14 last night,heater starts blowing steam and water through the vents,could`nt see out the windscreen !
Managed to limp home,was very hot though.Got a new matrix on order at 7.30 this morning,so taking out the old one and will bypass it until i get the new one,got a job booked at 2 tomorrow,so gotta get my finger out !
Typically i am flat out next week,so will have to hire one if i can`t get it sorted

[Mike Osbourne]

There's nothing more draining than problems like this. I know what you are saying mark about building up reserves but if you get a newer van over 3-4 years you will easily cover it and without the grief. I did it and still wasn't sure but now  a few months on I'm convinced it was a good move.

[Tony Gill Carpet Smart]

If only we where all RICH like Mike  : : : : : :

[Mike Osbourne]

If only Tony.

Anyway you're a fine one to talk moneybags Gill.

[M.Acorn]

Ha Ha yeah ! Just stripped it down ,got the old one out,it`s split along the seam,have bypassed it for now,so at least i can drive it ,jobs only a few miles away.Had it running,still seams fine,been reading on the vaux forums,it`s comon for them to run really hot,fan does not cut in till 100 deg !
Next flipping job is rear brake shoes,and just spent £190 on taxing it ! When will it end ! Payment on account looming too !