Death Rattle ?

Alpine meeting so we took the  ...  Seven.

So up early and after packing away yesterday's load I cleaned the Caterham with detailing fluid. It was a bit cold so hardly dried.

Anyway off we went and about 5 mins away from home it got quite misty, uncomfortable, blustery and something started to rattle madly. Sounded like we might be very low on oil, a water pump bearing, or a loose belt or a - whatever will go wrong. Funny thing is last years 'knocking' has gone away ?

So after twenty minutes I stopped and checked the oil. It was OK - a bit splashed around the head but fine and high in the dip stick. Engine sounded fine too.

Off we went again and completed the 50 miles to the pub. Car felt fine - if a bit rattly - and that almost ruined it for me.

We went through a few big puddles and a ford then on the back roads just 100 yards from the pub another small puddle across the road. I hit it at about 40... It was a bit deeper than I had imagined and water shot up, over the car and over the windscreen, into the cockpit and soaked us. We arrived dripping with water ...

Run back was less of a problem - the rattle was still there but it seemed ok. Not such an issue.

Back home I had to clean the car again inside and out. It looked like camo. Before and after.

Then I also noticed that the exhaust was loose and rattling on one of the 4-2-1 pipes - I hope it's that. So I thought I'd end the day and swapped the cars around and Alpine out and ready for work.

Then decided to go out again in the SAAB to drop off some wood.

Then home.

I suspect that I'm getting too old for this shit v2.