1995 Range Rover P38 4.6 HSE - Cool Running

[georgeb]

At that you could run it for a year then frag it if it gave you any trouble. Petrol or diesel?

Onto this morning's quick fix. Yes, there's always something isn't there, children. Last night when I was parking up I did what I try to remember to do at least once a week and that is run the box over from high to low a couple of times to make sure the transfer box motor is happy and will possibly then do what I want when I need it to. So it wasn't and it didn't. Ballcocks! So I quickly stuck the Nanocom on which showed no faults but, for some reason said that the box was in low, when it obviously wasn't. Deciding that getting outside a rather nice Shiraz was a more gratifying pastime, I left it to it's own devices overnight.

Trundled down this morning, pulled the fuse for the transfer box and ECU, thought they were a bit loose so pinched the connection together, replaced and lo, a functioning transfer box. On with the Nanocom and all readings were as they should be in both high and low. Looks like the ECU had lost contact with the case last time I was playing and thought it was still in low, hence not wanting to shift. Anyway, a result and all it cost was three batteries for my torch. And that's something else.

Why do they make things that need one less battery than you have to buy? You know the extra one will disappear by the time the batteries are flat, thus meaning you have to buy another four and so the cycle of doom starts over.

[Dr.AK]

This was an enjoyable read, you certainly seem to have a knack for writing!

[eternaloptimist]

Nov 9, 2014 0:01:27 GMT georgeb said:

Why do they make things that need one less battery than you have to buy? You know the extra one will disappear by the time the batteries are flat, thus meaning you have to buy another four and so the cycle of doom starts over.

An interesting point, but I'm not sure it explains the number of single lost shoes I see on the central reservation on the M4. Unless people buying shoes in threes somewhere when all they really need is a pair?

[THE_Liam]

Nov 9, 2014 0:01:27 GMT georgeb said:

At that you could run it for a year then frag it if it gave you any trouble. Petrol or diesel?

Its a diesel. To be honest it is pretty rough but it seems like the perfect winter daily, because I'm fairly certian that the 190E will be entirely useless in the upcoming snow-pocalypse which the papers are assuring us will definitely happen this year.

[georgeb]

Nov 9, 2014 2:37:21 GMT Dr.AK said:

This was an enjoyable read, you certainly seem to have a knack for writing!

Thanks and I'm glad you are enjoying it. The one real advantage I have is living here, as it lends itself perfectly to being written about!

[georgeb]

Nov 9, 2014 7:49:34 GMT eternaloptimist said:

An interesting point, but I'm not sure it explains the number of single lost shoes I see on the central reservation on the M4. Unless people buying shoes in threes somewhere when all they really need is a pair?

Funny you should say that, I may have the answer. When we were down in Matabungkay the other week, I was walking on the beach and counted 12 single pieces of footwear. Maybe there's a match?

[georgeb]

Nov 9, 2014 8:06:50 GMT THE_Liam said:

Its a diesel. To be honest it is pretty rough but it seems like the perfect winter daily, because I'm fairly certian that the 190E will be entirely useless in the upcoming snow-pocalypse which the papers are assuring us will definitely happen this year.

Good a reason as any. I can attest that they are superb in snow. When you're in low box, hit the "manual" switch to give you full engine braking. Handy on slippery descents.

I'm guessing that winter here will see temperatures plummeting to maybe even as low as 29 degrees C, so I won't be playing in the snow.

[THE_Liam]

Nov 10, 2014 0:14:29 GMT georgeb said:

Nov 9, 2014 8:06:50 GMT THE_Liam said:

Its a diesel. To be honest it is pretty rough but it seems like the perfect winter daily, because I'm fairly certian that the 190E will be entirely useless in the upcoming snow-pocalypse which the papers are assuring us will definitely happen this year.

Good a reason as any. I can attest that they are superb in snow. When you're in low box, hit the "manual" switch to give you full engine braking. Handy on slippery descents.

I'm guessing that winter here will see temperatures plummeting to maybe even as low as 29 degrees C, so I won't be playing in the snow.

I probably won't be either, they predicted this last year and we were buried under 16 inches of unseasonable warmth.

[georgeb]

Nov 10, 2014 8:17:11 GMT THE_Liam said:

I probably won't be either, they predicted this last year and we were buried under 16 inches of unseasonable warmth.

I'm going to get a job as a weather forecaster here, "Hot, hot, hot, hot, oops! Typhoon coming - wet and windy, hot, hot, hot". Looks fairly straightforward to me!

In the meantime I've just thrown a servicing order at Rimmers. 5 air, 5 oil and 10 pollen filters, a couple of spare serpentine belts and a spare tensioner as a just in case, so that should keep me going for a while. Made sure I was under the US$500 limit they've now imposed, so hopefully it should come straight through.

I think my next job up will be replacement of the radiator, hoses and thermostat as you definitely want the cooling to be in top notch condition here. I've got all the parts, just need the willpower now. Still undecided on the electric fan though. I have a new 17" Kenlowe here, but the viscous fan is fine at the moment however, fitting the electric would be a lot easier on the bench before the rad goes into the motor. Think I'll fit it but keep the viscous in the back as an emergency stand-by.

Oh, and find out which horn isn't working and why. That may be later today as the horn is essential equipment for encouraging crappy jeepney drivers to stay away and a slightly girlie squeak just doesn't cut it.

[georgeb]

Well, it looks like my mail to PhilPost has done the trick. Went down past the reception desk on Thursday and the girl said there was some mail for me. Sure enough, there's a card inviting me to go to Manila Post Office and collect a package. I noticed this was backdated to October 29, but only delivered that morning. Bless them. As I only have one thing coming by post I'm assuming it's my valve block seal kit. However, an on-fire Land Cruiser, bridge roadworks and a meeting prevented me collecting yesterday, so that'll be Monday's job. Posted from the States on 22 September, notified of arrival 13 November. Quality!

In addition, the filters I ordered from Rimmers arrived yesterday. Can't fault that. Ordered on the 10th and delivered on the 14th. Good service. Staying under the $500 limit meant they came straight through without having to sign the sniveling letter to Customs this time.

In other news...

Interesting place, is Malate. You’ve got some nice apartment blocks, some a bit run down and one, apparently, that was run down when it was first built. This is still, over 10 years on, incomplete with one tower still an empty shell amid allegations of corruption (surely not!) and the other day in a storm was without power for over 24 hours. A real “Des Res”. Several decent hotels are around including the Pan Pacific. You’ve got a typical Philippine town area of breezeblock houses and iron roofs, squatters and homeless along with a couple of pretty, and old, Spanish colonial houses. KTV clubs abound alongside some half decent restaurants and “many many girl, no-panty” bars. A real good mix up.

A top place to watch this strange little world go by is from the outside terrace of Café Adriatico, which I frequent now and again. Some piccys here:- www.google.co.uk/search?q=cafe+adriatico&biw=1536&bih=696&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=IrAkVL-7AZe6ogSdlYGYDA&ved=0CDEQsAQ

It’s located on Remedios Circle and if you check it out on Google Maps, there is a review of the area, by a Mr Yun of Korea, which describes it thus, “레메디오스 써클에 오면 휴마사지 찾을수 있음. 써클내에 있음.” and far better than I could ever phrase it.

Anyway, yesterday was to be a motorbike roadblock day and around twenty coppers spread themselves around the approach roads. Most of the “offences” related to no helmet (which the police don’t wear either), no licence, around 20% of those stopped, or no valid registration. Then it got exciting. They pulled one guy who looked quite calm and relaxed until the plod asked him to lift the seat up when he became a bit agitated. He then made a grab into the seat space and tried to bolt, showering an extremely large (for a guy on an old motorbike) bundle of cash in his wake.

He didn’t get far before two coppers grabbed him from behind and a third held his pistol about an inch from his nose with a definite, “Go on, if you think you’re hard enough” look.

Turned out he was a well-known snatch thief and drug addict who had just sold the fruits of the former and was on his way to purchase something to satisfy the latter. “Your nicked, son” and another victory for the boys in blue.

They've another one planned for today and I've got my seat booked!

[eternaloptimist]

^^Street theatre at its very best. Another top update!

[georgeb]

So today I'll go and get my seal kit collected, but in the meantime, I thought I'd share this with you.

Following the shenanigans from Friday, you can imagine I was quite excited as to what Saturday would bring and was sitting, with an icy cold one, in rapt anticipation as the forces of law and order marshalled themselves for another fine example of community policing.

Turns out Saturday and Sunday was also a fiesta in Malate, although for what was never really clear, but it brought out some interesting people and, unfortunately, many ugly ladyboys inappropriately attired in tight spandex outfits. Maybe more of that another day...or maybe not.

So, only 10 minutes into the operation a bike came through with rider and pillion. The rider had a helmet, the passenger didn’t, but that’s not an issue here. No, what caught their attention was the fact that the pillion was wearing a police uniform and the bike wasn’t for stopping. For some reason, this made them suspicious and as it accelerated away, six gave chase on foot whilst reaching for their guns (obviously) with two setting off on their bikes in hot pursuit.

All was quiet for a few moments and I thought they’d made good their escape but no, around the corner comes a young lad in said uniform with a police captain. The fact that the lad was now in handcuffs and the copper has the suspect’s arms levered straight back out from his body (looked a tad uncomfortable) and a gun at the back of his head, sort of made me feel that perhaps he wasn’t the genuine article. Turns out they’d been looking for this guy for a while as he was suspected of preying on tourists and having it away on his toes with any valuable looking goods and chattels.

Found out later, whilst chatting with the Boys in Blue, that the lad was a copper’s son who was “borrowing” his old man’s uniform for use in his endeavours. Whoops!

Anyway, just five minutes later, a known drug dealer was spotted in the middle of a transaction not 10 yards away from this major police operation. “Come along chummy”. Not very bright, your average Pinoy criminal sometimes. Finally, the two suspects were chained onto the back of two coppers bikes (no meat wagons here!) and ridden away to the local nick.

After this, you could see the police had peaked and were rapidly losing interest, for they all adjourned to Café Adriatico for a few drinks, a smoke and some lunch. But all in all, a good result I reckon.

It IS more fun in the Philippines!

I’ll try to get some pictures one day, but sometimes pointing cameras and men with big guns isn’t always a good mix.

[Smiler]

Cool, this is becoming a very cultured post

[vitesseefi]

Indeed, our man in Manila writes an amusing and informative report

Nick

[Xenocide]

Very well penned. Most enjoyable thank you

[georgeb]

Nov 14, 2014 23:01:43 GMT eternaloptimist said:

^^Street theatre at its very best. Another top update!

There's just so much of it here though. Sometimes too much to remember!

Nov 17, 2014 10:09:19 GMT Smiler said:

Cool, this is becoming a very cultured post

Oh dear. Sorry about that. More beer and totty needed in future!

Nov 17, 2014 20:29:44 GMT vitesseefi said:

Indeed, our man in Manila writes an amusing and informative report

Nick

Nov 18, 2014 10:03:37 GMT Xenocide said:

Very well penned. Most enjoyable thank you

Glad you are enjoying it. I sometimes worry that I'll get told off for straying a bit, but as long as you guys are happy, well...

[Sweetpea]

My dear chap, you stray as much as you like. I'l not complaining!

James

[adam73bgt]

^What he said, this thread is brilliant for the Range Rover content but also for the general Malate life updates

[lamsdale]

+1 for the thread love. Fascinating reading.

[georgeb]

Sometimes I don’t know what to think...

Many, many moons ago, back in January I think, I cleared all the faults that were showing on the message centre, among them being one for EAS that kept flashing up with a 55mph maximum speed warning – remember, we’re on coils at the moment. Anyway, the Nanocom shifted all these and there’s been no reoccurrence since.

Yesterday, I had a site meeting down in Calamba to have a look see where I was going to stick a new railway and headed off there, down the South Luzon Expressway at around 6.30 am. Now, the garage where we’re going to do the suspension swop is located just off the highway at a place called Alabang, around 15km north of where I was going. The old girl was romping along, obviously enjoying the early morning sprint when out of nowhere, just by the Alabang turning, off went the bloody EAS alarm!

I mailed the guy who’s going to help me later to tell him what had happened and he responded saying, “well we won’t bother with the TestBook, perhaps a priest and an exorcism?”

Maybe the missus was right when she blamed ghosts for the early electrical shenanigans that I reckoned were cured with a new battery!
Spooky, huh?

Anyway, tomorrow is fitting the valve block repair kit and that’s the last job before the swop, as apparently, my previously impounded height switch has now been released from custody and duly delivered. So we now have everything necessary and just got to schedule the time now to get it down there.

As I have a bit of downtime this morning, I’m heading off to this radiorepublic.ph/8th-manila-auto-salon/ . It’s a Philippine equivalent of SEMA as I understand, so we’ll see what’s what, but just don't expect HoTWire quality coverage!