off to Bristol/yate later today :)

collecting Bumble in the morning, surprising how much stuff you need for one night with the a 5 month old and a 4 year old though I'm sure the lions share is the wife's outfits anyone would think she has not been out in a while

he should have a fake nose on collection one of the few requirements demanded by the Mrs   

RayC wrote:

surprising how much stuff you need for one night with the a 5 month old and a 4 year old  

Ha! Don't want to concern you but, it doesn't get any easier/lighter/less as they grow older.   

Have a great day Ray - ask if you can have the original rad grille along with your Kombi in case you fancy a change of face at some point.

I was at Danbury yesterday. A great service and lots of little things all sorted - all cosmetic things broken by the kids inside Norman, buttons etc - all done for free through warranty.

Exhaust had a touch of rust on as well. New one on now. All free. God bless the warranty.

Glad you enjoyed the service :-) look forward to seeing you on the next one .

We'll see you on Monday, Jason.

We had a great time the gearbox took a lot of getting used to on the way home but after a 7 hour run up the country I'm quite adept at finding the gears now my co pilot was not much help though he ate a whole grab bag of wotsits wound his window down and couldn't wind it up again! Then promptly fell asleep for most of the m6 but can't ask too much of a 4 year old! Roof rack and side step ordered and off fruit picking today and training the wife on using a clutch after 4 years of automatics!

My best and pretty much only tip for finding the gears is to simply relax, take your time and let the gears find themselves.

Move the stick to the approx gear location, apply gentle pressure in the general direction and wait for it to drop in and engage.

If it doesn't 'drop in' after a second or two then adjust the original position of the stick and try again.

Rush and, if your Kombi is anything like Tallulah, it will argue a fight back.

Your Kombi is just trying to help you chill out and enjoy the drive incl permagrin.

We agree, drive relaxed.   
Every journey is like a holiday with Scooby!

yes slow and relaxed is good, I think the collar for reverse was stuck as it went into reverse without pushing down, bit scary, but last time I put it into reverse I got a ping and now you can feel the gate so its much easier, Mrs C is having some bumble lessons this afternoon, should be fun

Change the gearbox oil to semi-synthetic when you can - makes a hell of a difference. Enjoy getting to know your new family member!   

Defiantly seems you can get reverse while driving forwards it caught the mrs too any advise?

RayC wrote:

Defiantly seems you can get reverse while driving forwards it caught the mrs too any advise?

Yes - take it back. That's not right.

Will give them a ring today still grinning from driving, did school run today

Danbury confirmed it needs adjusting so will head down as we are on our way to dorset, there is also a faint clunking at 35 mph to 60 mph (indicated) feels like a rock in the tyre as its wheel order related does it in and out of gear coasting or with load so its wheel or drive related, any ideas anyone?

May be worth checking drive shaft bolts to gearbox and wheel nuts, or could be drive shaft UJ if it is coming from the back. Is it confined to one side, you don't say if it is front or back, could be a wheel bearing.

Also if it has been kerbed at any time it could be a tyre de-laminating.

Thanks Dizzy

the tyres are Westlake ones but condition is good, its not wheel bolt type noise/vibration and steering wheel is not affected it comes through the floor/seat base the verdict on location is out, I think its at the back van has 42,000 kms would you expect wheel bearing / drive shaft issues already?

Hi Ray, I wouldn't normally suspect wheel bearing/drive shaft problems after those sort of mileages as you say, but see here:-

drive shaft - Drive Shaft Bolts

As for the tyres, I have seen tyres that look perfect from outside, but if it has had a bump, the plys can separate and cause a bulge inside the tyre structure which can't be seen, and every time the tyre makes a revolution you get a tump tump noise which gets faster as speed increases.

As a starting point, if you can find which wheel is causing the problem, change it for the spare to see if it cures it, if not you may have to look elsewhere.

We were at Danbury yesterday. Absinthe initially fails her MOT - kingpin and headlight alignment! All sorted by Matt & Andy and we're on the road again.

AbsintheKombi wrote:

We were at Danbury yesterday. Absinthe initially fails her MOT - kingpin and headlight alignment! All sorted by Matt & Andy and we're on the road again.

Ooops - what was wrong with the Kingpin?

thanks Dizzy I will look at the bolts and remove the wheels and inspect, given they were cheap ones I was looking to change them anyway, as a side note does anyone know if the supplied standard wheel will fit on a lowered van?

TimV wrote:

Ooops - what was wrong with the Kingpin?

I think Matt said it was loose. As you know, I'm not a mechanical expert.   

Well done on passing the MOT (eventually)
Always a good feeling to know you have another year's motoring ahead!

RayC wrote:

does anyone know if the supplied standard wheel will fit on a lowered van?

With a different height of tyre wall I think it will - pm Dalesman about it as he has standard wheels on a lowered BraziBay.

I'm lowered. My spare is the original steel wheel, with a 175/70/14 tyre. Makes it the same as my 15" rims with 65 profile tyre.