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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland trip – August 2025 – days 6-10 of 10…

Continuing on with our trip, we left our digs in Abington and headed over to Biggar, where it was good to see Mike, as always, for the minor service on his 2004 TF 135, in British Racing Green. From there, we headed along the road to Carluke, for a gearbox-oil and engine-oil change on Bob’s Trophy. Initially booked in for an air intake system, found when we removed the cover he already head a ITG cold air induction in situ. So need to replace that as it’s one of the better ones.

We then went on to Airdrie, where we spent the night and then set off, on Thursday morning, over to Falkirk. The first call of the day was on a 2004 TF 135, in xpower grey. Great to meet Stewart who had booked it in on behalf of his son Josh. The car had developed a few issues in his short ownership with coolant loss etc and they just wanted to it get it sorted and give him peace of mind driving.

Head gasket replaced and cambelt service carried out. The expansion tank was showing signs of stress, so this was swapped out, new alternator belt and coolant cap and the cars good to go we’re pleased to say.

From there, we went a few miles along the road, where it was great to see Craig again and ‘Tiffany’ his 2002 TF 115, that was originally green, but is now silver. He’d found that the window regulators were being a bit slow so had bought two new ones along with new side windows, so these were all replaced for him, along with new windscreen surround rubbers. After doggy fusses with the lovely Marlow we were on our way to head further north, to Aberdeen for the next couple of nights.

Our call, on Friday morning, took us over to Bieldside, where it was lovely to meet Sandy and Trish. Their very well travelled 2002 TF 135, in Platinum silver, was in need of the cambelt service. Plus we also replaced the under-floor coolant-pipes with a stainless set. They’ve owned the car now for 17 years and enjoyed many adventures in it, we wish them many more.

On Saturday morning we went a little further north to Inverurie where it was good to see Paul again and his 1998 Mk I MGF in Tahiti blue. Head gasket replacement carried out, along with replacing the over the gearbox support arm, we’d taken one with us as this had been a fail on his last MOT. All done there, we headed back south and on to our next and final stopover in Hawick.

After a short commute over to Denholm this Sunday morning it was lovely to meet Giles. He had been having some issues with an irregular tick-over on his 2004 TF 135, in Anthracite. His local garage had tried to sort it for him, but were scratching their heads. He got talking to another chap we know, Alastair, who recommended he got in touch with us.

Following our investigation and carrying out a diagnostics check it was found to be due to a number of issues; the forward Lambda sensor, which was very sooted up, heat damaged coil packs, the spark plugs were a bit aged and black, the garage had capped off the idle air control valve, so we fitted another along with a replacement maps sensor, plus the throttle position sensor had been tinkered with. All-in-all the car is now running a lot smoother. Giles can now take it for its MOT, let’s hope it gets through on emissions and he can start to enjoy the car again.

From Denholm, we had a decent run through the borders and back into England for our very last call of the trip, in Bedlington, on Paul’s LE 500 (number 488), for the minor service and a gearbox oil change. Good to see Paul again and meet his lovely wife and beautiful puss Bob.

So we’re now on our way home and back to see our own lovely puss Binx. It’s been another full on and busy trip again, north of the border, but nonetheless a successful one with such amazing hospitality and friendly welcomes from everyone that we really do appreciate. Weathers been pretty good on the whole too. 🌞

We’ve had some really good digs, with only one very noisy night, last night, our fault for staying on a busy high street on a sunny Saturday! Too old and tired to join in! 🫠

1200+ miles, 15 cars, 7 hotels/B&Bs/guest houses and lots of tea and Tunnock’s! 🫖 Thanks Scotland, we will see you again! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 – https://ift.tt/e6lvbqn