Mastodawn

Both #Volkswagen and #Opel / #Vauxhall use convention of #brown wire for an earth/ground (and in the case of this Corsa a black wire for L+), but in modern #ElectricalEngineering a brown wire is treated as live (could be either AC or DC) and black is often L- on older systems (nowadays blue or grey is preferred depending on whether the DC is negative or positive earthed).

I assume these conventions for #cars started long before the standardised European colours for electrical wiring in buildings and other equipment

Which you have to beware of if you often switch between #CarMaintenance and general electric work!

David Wilkins Jun 6

In 1966, the first-generation Vauxhall Viva, the HA, which provided the basis for yesterday’s Bedford HA van, was replaced by this, the slightly larger Viva HB. Unlike the HA, the HB was available ex works as an estate, as seen here at this year’s Practical Classics resto show. Logically, this car might have been made available as a Bedford-badged van but the Bedford HA was kept going instead - and long outlived the Viva HB as well.

#davidsdailycar #Vauxhall #WeirdCarMastodon

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Alex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UK May 30

Today new #sparkplugs, #coolant refresh and #oil change - had to jack up car and put ramps underneath other way round rather than drive on to them - bumper slightly fouls ramp ( #bladibarsket ).

Also chocked rear wheels for #safety

Sparkplugs are #Bosch 0 242 230 806 FQR8LEU2

( #AltText contains useful info on tools, methods etc if you have a #Vauxhall / #Opel / #CorsaC #HoldenBarina with #Z12XEP #engine, I try to put this info in the text on any of my #toots about #CarMaintenance )

[ as there's spare space in this toot I added #Holden #Barina as hashtags for anyone here who is in #Australia or #NewZealand #Aotearoa ]

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Alex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UK May 28

Also needs cabin filter replaced (alas, the one that arrived today doesn't look like right size, it will have to go back along with whichever oil filter turns out to be wrong size (there are *two* listed for this car, according to engine number but the engine number is not anywhere easy to see, and this engine Z12XEP stayed in production with Opel for the Corsa D and at some point oil filter dimensions changed..

I'm already knackered after todays work (I was at the office unusually early today for another reason), so will be getting an earlier night tonight than normal

Those other bits can wait until the weekend or early next week (as the Finance Manager has to deal with insurance anyway)

#Vauxhall
#OpelCorsaC #CarMaintenance

https://www.engine-specs.net/opel/z12xep.html

Opel Z12XEP – Engine Specs

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Alex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UK May 28

More #maintenance of #Vauxhall / #Opel #CorsaC

Replaced rear fog light bulb (bumper part dismantled, water tipped out, lampholder cleaned up then reassembled), fitted new horn.

New fuel filter, first time I've done this myself (not fun, had to crawl underneath in awkward position and avoid petrol being spilled out from old filter, self tapping holding screw goosed (fully rounded off), replaced with new one with bolt head

Fitted air filter, intake hoses have to be removed ( #bladibarsket ) so also cleaned up #throttlebody.

Went to ASDA (in my GTI, Corsa still doesn't have tax or insurance), filled up 5 litre #petrol can, topped up tank with new fuel

Still got coolant, sparkplugs and oil to change, but #car now running a lot better (no more rough idle)

#CarMaintenance

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Alex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UK May 24

Cooler today (only 25°C) so did exterior #valet of #Vauxhall / #Opel #Corsa - started with #snowfoam mix of Autoglym Polar Blast + BiltHamber Surfex HD at 10% (wouldn't normally use anything as heavy as that but you can see state car was in previously!)

Contact wash with CarPro Reset. No pics of snowfoam due to working fast because heat!

Single stage polish with Koch Chemie 3.01 mild compound+carnuba #wax, cheap cordless DA (compatible with #Makita batteries) and orange pad that came with it.

I'm fairly new to machine #polishing and didn't use best technique and too much polish (though some on YT recommend keeping pad saturated when working in hot weather to prevent polish drying out, and this seemed to work, #bodywork on this #car far from perfect anyway!)

#cars #valeting #detailing

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Alex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UK May 23

Wanted to get out of house but not deal with heat/crowds so did a bit more #valeting

Cleaned up #engine bay and tested against #WaterIngress - mechanic must have refreshed / checked seals on brake cylinder bulkhead (where water gets in) / or unblocked the drains (leaves and other muck stops them up) as I poured in 6 litres of water where rain would go and none of it got inside the #car

Everyone will be happy to see this back on the road, there's more demand for #automatic #cars than manual ones from our current staff (many of them are from Commonwealth countries where #driving with #AutomaticGearboxes is more popular)

Not the most refined but better than the other #Easytronic 'box in the other Corsa we had..

#Vauxhall #Opel #CorsaC

Alex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UK May 23

2006 #Vauxhall / #Opel #CorsaC (one of our fleet #cars sat in yard for over a year) saved from scrap - #WaterIngress (known issue with these cars) led to mould and airbag #ECU getting drowned (took ages to source one that wasn't already goosed for same reason but I found one from London a few days ago.).

Cleaned out mould a few days ago, mechanic next door fitted unit and new starter battery - car now runs and even passed MOT!

Still needs other work, fleet insurance and tax has expired so can only drive it around the yard at the moment or I risk being pulled over (random ANPR checks not uncommon here!), way too hot to do full exterior #detail today so did another extraction of interior seats and some more steam cleaning to get rid of moss growing in various places

CLondoner92 May 12

🌉 From 1 July 2026, an 18-tonne weight restriction will be introduced on #Vauxhall Bridge as a precaution after a recent inspection identified deterioration in parts of the structure. #Transport for #London (TfL) said the bridge remains safe, but limiting heavier vehicles will help prevent further damage while longer-term plans are developed.

Buses and emergency vehicles will be exempt, and bus services will continue as normal. Around 0.5% of traffic—about 200 vehicles a day, mainly heavy goods vehicles—will be diverted via signed alternative routes in both directions. The bridge has already banned abnormal loads over 44 tonnes since 2023.

#TfL said routine inspections across its network found reduced load-bearing capacity compared with earlier assessments. The restriction will stay in place while repairs are progressed and a long-term solution is developed, with TfL emphasising safety as the priority and apologising for disruption.
https://tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/safety-critical-temporary-weight-restriction-on-vauxhall-bridge-to-be-introduced-from-july