Motorway - ugh

Made another bad decision today. Friday eve journey to take son to diving lessons in Reading is down M4. Only one junction and a short stretch down the A329M prior to that. Figured it was no a problem to give it a try. Another badly thought out idea. First problem - unpleasurable. Was not nice at all. Amy did 60mph plus, probably comfortably as far as she was concerned, but it did not seem comfortable to me, not being used to the feelings and noises that come with old cars.

To top it off, as we were approaching the M4 turn off, the power just started to fade. Couple of pumps to accelerator did nothing and had to pull to a gradual unceremonious halt on the hard shoulder. Was starting to think it had been a REALLY dumb idea and that I had broken her somehow. And that I was stuck on a motorway with no real means of doing anything about it. Scary, haven't had that feeling for a long long time.

Just before that, whilst still running, water temp was fine, oil pressure also fine. There was no real BAD reason I could think of for her to break down. But at the same time I was bricking it, because I had NO idea what I was going to do!!

You naturally try anything you can to get started and a few pumps of accelerator, turn of the engine, start, fade again, tugs on the choke, start again, fade again, then general panicking, and one last try ..... she started again and ran. Engine ticked over nicely (i'd adjusted the idle screw the day before) all seemed fine again so I pulled away.

And off the motorway at the next junction, Didn't even do the M4!!! Forget motorways. Not happening!

Carried on happily all the way to Reading and back, no trouble at all. Another lesson learned! I have got away with a lot so far. Been very lucky.

Cause.... can't remember my stuff yet, but best guess a bit of crud in the jets?.. That luckily cleared itself? That's my best guess. Car hasn't been used much in 5 years, what do I expect?

Unrelated to the above, but also done today, ordered 88' winter thermostat in preparation for the colder months! (Even before Christmas wrapping paper is in Tescos!!) Apparently she probably hasn't got one at all at the moment, so a job to be done.

Oil and water levels seem fine too. Oil needs a change for sure.

Need to figure out (and likely free up) heater controls in good time for when they are needed.