What have you done to your car today?

[TW]Fox · 8 Nov 2020 at 18:43

Jonnycoupe said:
What is that garage?! There’s nothing in it.

We've not long moved in but I'm trying my hardest to keep it just for cars

I need to sort out some storage racks etc but I'd like to get the floor/walls painted first.

adam cool dude said:
Velcroed number plates?

No, it's 3M Dual Lock. It's absolutely brilliant stuff - stays exactly where it should do but if you want to remove for cleaning its dead easy.

paradigm · 8 Nov 2020 at 18:50

[TW]Fox said:
No, it's 3M Dual Lock. It's absolutely brilliant stuff - stays exactly where it should do but if you want to remove for cleaning its dead easy.

Yep, great stuff for plates, looks far better than holes and screws, and is far more convenient than double sided tape/foam.

Will Gill · 8 Nov 2020 at 18:56

Chav, confirmed

Akagi · 8 Nov 2020 at 19:46

[TW]Fox said:
No, it's 3M Dual Lock. It's absolutely brilliant stuff - stays exactly where it should do but if you want to remove for cleaning its dead easy.

How does it come undone? Do you just pull hard?

paradigm · 8 Nov 2020 at 20:14

Acme said:
How does it come undone? Do you just pull hard?

I tend to remove mine by getting my fingernails between the two layers. Once you've started to separate the two sides you can essentially peel the numberplate off the car.

Direct perpendicular force is actually resisted really well by dual-lock.

nicholas_yiu · 8 Nov 2020 at 20:52

Put the DC2 away in the carcoon for winter:

Also gave the FN2 a much needed quick wash and polar seal.

BananaDunka · 9 Nov 2020 at 09:31

That is quite cool! How to you check on the car from time to time, have to deflate it all?

vanpeebles · 9 Nov 2020 at 09:37

mrk said:
That is quite cool! How to you check on the car from time to time, have to deflate it all?

Imagine if you opened it spring time and someone had swapped it for an auld banger

adam cool dude · 9 Nov 2020 at 09:44

[TW]Fox said:
No, it's 3M Dual Lock. It's absolutely brilliant stuff - stays exactly where it should do but if you want to remove for cleaning its dead easy.

Would have never have thought of that. Have ordered some for my cars. Will be great on my Celica for removing on track days to aid airflow without faffing about with screws.

[TW]Fox · 9 Nov 2020 at 09:56

adam cool dude said:
Would have never have thought of that. Have ordered some for my cars. Will be great on my Celica for removing on track days to aid airflow without faffing about with screws.

It's generally brilliant, I've used it for about 10 years now and it's never let me down. It is very expensive but fortunately people buy the big packs and split them down for sale on eBay so you can just buy what you need and it's far more reasonable (about a fiver for enough for front and back).

If I had to criticise then the plastic locks on the pad are sharp enough to snag washmitts if you're not careful

SonicSW20 · 9 Nov 2020 at 09:59

Investigating a code 52 (open circuit knock sensor) after some pretty extensive engine work:

When I found it the wire was placed over the pin, but the sensor is ****** so the connection was poor, which explains the intermitten code 52. Not particularly happy about that and for what was an engine out job / strip down that would have required removal of all sensors and wiring loom I cannot understand how that could be missed!

Runs much nicer now, turbo now spools nicely under 3kRPM and its making usable power rather than feeling like its driving through honey due to the heavily retarded ignition timing and overfuelling in safe mode.

topbanana · 9 Nov 2020 at 11:25

Replaced leaking air springs in the back of my A6 Allroad. 160k miles and still going strong

paradigm · 9 Nov 2020 at 20:06

[TW]Fox said:
If I had to criticise then the plastic locks on the pad are sharp enough to snag washmitts if you're not careful

Never had a washmitt get snagged, but a decent pile microfibre drying towel got caught and left a huge pull

Dempsey22 · 9 Nov 2020 at 22:45

I havent got much done in awhile but I got tyres on the rear wheels today and test fitted them. Need to make some changes suspension wise but nothing major thankfully. Engine is going back in the car in 2 weeks time then its off for a full custom engine and chassis loom. I also pulled the trigger on an ECU Masters PMU and 7" ADU to go with the ECU Masters Black.

wingman · 13 Nov 2020 at 15:21

I'm trying to get this sticker residue off to fit new plates but everything I've tried is failing.

Tried heat from a hairdryer, oil lubrication, a credit card, pads, all purpose cleaner...

Am I missing something?

How are you supposed to get it off the paintwork?

paradigm · 13 Nov 2020 at 15:24

wingman said:
I'm trying to get this sticker residue off to fit new plates but everything I've tried is failing.

Tried heat from a hairdryer, oil lubrication, a credit card, pads, all purpose cleaner...

Am I missing something?

How are you supposed to get it off the paintwork?

What is "it"? WD40 will usually aid removal of most sticky residue. As will something like autoglym tar remover/autobrite just the tonic. There's also good old isopropyl alcohol.

wingman · 13 Nov 2020 at 15:27

paradigm said:
What is "it"? WD40 will usually aid removal of most sticky residue. As will something like autoglym tar remover/autobrite just the tonic. There's also good old isopropyl alcohol.

I'll pick up some WD40 as I have some cheaper stuff which isn't helping greatly.

It's where the old plates sticky pads were:

I tend to keep cars a short time, but don't want to drill the plates... I assume it's always a ballache to get off the paint?

paradigm · 13 Nov 2020 at 15:30

wingman said:
I'll pick up some WD40 as I have some cheaper stuff which isn't helping greatly.

I tend to keep cars a short time, but don't want to drill the plates... I assume it's always a ballache to get off the paint?

I've literally just done this on my 440i to fit my plates using 3M dual-lock. Autoglym tar remover left to soak into the sticky foam for 15 mins or so and then it peeled off with little effort.

I then had to properly clean the area of residue so that the dual-lock stuck back to the paint.

LuckyBenski · 13 Nov 2020 at 15:41

Lighter fluid or isopropyl alcohol. One is available cheaply in corner shops, the other is an ingredient in hand sanitizer so unreasonable demand in 2020...

Never understood people using WD-40 though, it's got lots of additives that I don't want on my stuff. The solvents above just evaporate. Useful for everything.

wingman · 13 Nov 2020 at 16:15

Thank you chaps @paradigm @LuckyBenski - will try those methods.

Started trying two days ago and changed my insurance and DVLA info over, so can't drive until I've sorted it... oops :/