[quote=molgrips ]The computer gives me a solid basis on which to start working. It seems to me that in the old days you just had to know all the possibly symptoms in your head before starting. And half the time it just tells you what to fix - sensor X has gone, replace sensor X, happy days.
Presumably with a diagnostic computer plugged in problem finding is straightforward and you don't ever end up spending months going back to the mechanic and failing to fix the problem?
molgrips - My first car was mechanical, for a while when warm it wouldn't idle but would drive ok. Turns out that the vacuum timing advance mechanism was sticking. How the hell would I have known that?
Easy; Car running, but not right?
Check fuel is flowing
Check spark is happening.
If both are OK,check timing; Strobe light connected, disconnect vacuum pipe and block. Rev engine to watch timing move. Then suck/blow on vacuum pipe and watch timing change. When it didn't you knew what to do 😉
So now, it's 'plug in computer, read code'
Still watch DVDs. Old TV shows in standard def.
Still listen to radio in FM in the car. No DAB, no inputs of any other sort. Only CD player (does MP3 though, but CDs in the car are a faff). Slightly narked that Jack FM is being killed off in my area. "Digital" only.
Major thing I don't do any more is go into a town centre and "shop". Not even browse magazines and not buy them in WHSmiths (or going back a long long time, go into WHSmiths and type rude programs on the Spectrums 😀 ). Likewise rarely go to a large supermarket. Pop round the local express shop (like a cornershop in the old days) and everything else buy online.
Sit on the floor watching Crown Court in the hope something more interesting to watch was up next.
So now, it's 'plug in computer, read code'
Buy expensive replacement sensor.
Or as it was in the old days - fix 99% of problems with a can of WD40 a wirebrush or a hammer.
Sit on the floor watching Crown Court in the hope something more interesting to watch was up next.
Not even have a TV channel to watch during the day.
<thread hijack>
One of the problems with mechanics being so reliant on the computer to tell them what's wrong with the car is that sometimes the car doesn't say anything is wrong.
My car is a bit skittish on bumpy B-roads. It's not always behaved like that, but diagnostics aren't saying anything. I don't have much faith in my local garage diagnosing or even spotting there's a problem unless they take the car out for a drive with me. What should I do?
</thread hijack>
kennyp - Member
I used to store parts of magazines in a data retrieval system, the mad crazy lawbreaking rebel that I was in those days!
Horse and Hound?
Is your real name Nigel?
Things you used to do in the olden days?
Fishing in river and sea.
kennyp - Member
I used to store parts of magazines in a data retrieval system, the mad crazy lawbreaking rebel that I was in those days!Horse and Hound?
Is your real name Nigel?
Well, it's not as if they know where he lives.
And it was back in 1984.....
🙂
I used to read the first post in a thread and respond to that question. Nowadays I just base my answer on the thread title. 😛
Phone that magic number (was is 123 or 139 or something) that would re-dial your landline as a test, so your folks answered it.. Oh how we laughed. Again and again...
Check the hedges for grot mags.
3 pages in before "hardcopy" pron comes up. I suppose the Gratton's Catalogue was close.
Recieve an annual pay rise.
Last one 10% Drac?
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Arrange to meet people in town without a mobile phone
Ooh I've got another; watching schools tv when at home off ill from school. I'm found that far more enlightening than actually being there! (Do you remember the countdown clock?). Ace.
Not a Politician then..
Eat chips in newspaper.
(Pre kids) Not worry about running out of cash this month.
Have Sunday lie-ins with the papers and breakfast.
Set an alarm clock.
And it was back in 1984.....
Although I did write to tell them what I'd done.
Gardenhopping.
Knock & run.
Scrumping.
Whatever I felt like.....that time has passed
Ride a mountain bike a few times a week. Clean said bike in the bath using the shower.
Cranbrat was 6 yesterday so the bike riding may pick up soon but I doubt the luxury of baths with my bike will ever return.
Ride a bike
Laugh out loud.
Knock & run.
That still gets played. However these days it's called Parcelforce!
I'd buy a magazine or two every week. I'd even buy books.
Haven't bought either since the 90s. Even electronic versions seem an impossibly rigid and antiquated concept now. Like the album - something else I haven't bought since the 90s and can't imagine playing anymore.
In the olden days when the car needed fixing I took it to a sad git and his apprentice, both of them covered in oil and grease.
These days when the car needs fixing I take it to a sad git with a computer who then hands it to his intern who is covered in oil and grease.
I'd buy a magazine or two every week. I'd even buy books.
I still do, A lot of my work is screen based, the idea of spending leisure time (natch) on them as well...
same as Albums, Moon Shaped Pool in the car CD, gets listened all the way through most days...listened to a couple of others last night as well. Lots of classical stuff "needs" the whole to be listened to, rather than "songs/movments" as it makes no sense*
*poncy, I know, apologies. 😳
walk 4 miles to school with my friends and laugh a lot (this was the mid 70s)
not know about and therefore not care about all the sh1t going on in the world
go on bike adventures with my friends - on a 3 speed Chopper 3 miles was a big adventure and the ride down from Tottington to Bury Road was the highlight
Watch Doctor Who (again in the 70s)
Lots of classical stuff "needs" the whole to be listened to, rather than "songs/movments" as it makes no sense*
You know you can still listen to whole albums on MP3 etc format, don't you? You don't have to have it shuffled.
oh yeah and I forgot
headbang to Deep Purple and Black Sabbath at the school disco
Head or finger?
I still do, A lot of my work is screen based, the idea of spending leisure time (natch) on them as well...
There's no search facility! You can't even highlight a word and jump off to other sources.
I often find myself thinking I'll just use the search facility when I'm looking for a tool in the workshop. My workshop doesn't have a search facility. This annoys me. Maybe I can implement something with RFIDs?
Press play and record at the right moment of the chart show, and stop again before the DJ spoke...
Lunchtime drinking...
Lunchtime drinking...
Indeed. When I first worked in Manchester in the 90's (granted... it was in meedya), it wasn't unusual for the entire office to relocate to the pub every single lunchtime. A lot of the time it wasn't unusual to not bother going back.
Eeeeeeeeee..... them were't days
*hic*
Knock & run.
You mean knock knock ginger?
You mean knock knock ginger?
You mean Chappie?
You know you can still listen to whole albums on MP3 etc format, don't you? You don't have to have it shuffled.
No, really? Can you do that? wow, learn something new everyday... 😆 🙄
was talking about CDs...
You mean Chappie?
The movie?
