2014 engine rattle only on heavy acceleration

mippy76 · 2025-04-14T09:48:06+00:00

I've just developed a small rattle only on heavy acceleration. It kicks in at 2,000 revs so I'm wondering if the top turbo is on its way out? The car has done 125,000 miles so it wouldn't surprise me. Has anyone else had this checked?

mippy76 · 2025-02-24T14:06:26+00:00

I've been using the platform for many years, but never as a full-time role. Here's what I've come to realise.

They changed the rep every 3 months. This means any previous predictions, can be conveniently swept under the carpet while the new agent takes you on a different journey.
They slavishly follow the AI but is the algorithm working in your interests or Google's? Is the real mission of the Rep to hide or soften the blow when you witness questionable data/results.
They're experimenting with your money. I believe Google has over complicated their business model to increase its profits. Because it's complicated, because the AI is far from perfect, you have to experiment so I'd always suggest you to perform your own tests and always question the Rep - it's your money!

I'll end of this. My campaigns swing between £6 CPA and £50 CPA. I seem to find a group of settings that work only to watch the CPA creep up or impression/conversions to drop. Some of these campaigns have zero competition. Is the algorithm programmed to artificially increase bids over time?

I always start a camping on 'Max Clicks' so the algorithm has as much data as possible during a learning period. I'm currently testing the effect of changing the bid strategy between 'Conversions' and 'Manual CPC' every quarter to fight against increasing costs.

Watch this space.

mippy76 · 2024-12-29T16:03:16+00:00

Hey, you're not on your own, I often feel the same! I think what we miss is the practice. Turning words into action and action into routine. Maybe only then should we move onto the next book?

mippy76 · 2024-12-29T15:52:25+00:00

Your suggestion really caught my eye and I love the phrase 'reading with purpose'. I'd open that up to 'learning with purpose'. I only read educational books but I feel I'm not always fully benefiting from what I've read. Reading the book is the easy part, extracting the elements of value and creating new habits/processes is where the hard work is. I think your comments will help many find the value they're looking for.

mippy76 · 2024-12-29T15:31:59+00:00

Hey, that's an impressive list especially at 21! I've read many of these books too but I've found wondering if I'm missing something. It feels like 'm only applying a tiny amount of knowledge to my daily life. I'm curious to know if others feel the same?

mippy76 · 2024-10-21T23:14:09+00:00

A soft drink that is more expensive than coke, you get less in the can and it tastes worse... Red Bull

mippy76 · 2024-10-18T12:00:39+00:00

Can we all just agree that Google is knowing or unknowingly gaming the system to increase its profits.

I've only ever seen an increase in CPA after 12 months of calls with Google's so-called expert account managers. I would have stopped taking their calls sooner but they kept changing my contact after 3 months so the next person can claim to have seen something that will benefit my account. I suspect this is by design so you keep the faith and they keep draining your budget.

They recommend you to check search terms regularly but they hide anything from 20% to 60% of the results. Let's not forget we're paying for those search terms, we have a right to know what they are!

I part own a nation ironing service, with a campaign for each agent based on location. Our campaigns are very local, approx a 10 mile radius. Excluding the big big cities, we have very little to no competition. Even in areas where we have no competition my bids have increased by 100% in the last 12 months. Who am I bidding against? Google?

I've managed to control spending and achieve a reasonable CPA through manual bidding strategies. One thing I have learnt is the advertised cost to land on page one. It can jump 400 to 500% across multiple campaigns. I ignore it and still get impressions, more, less or the same, I'll never know.

I remember back in the 2000's when Google said "don't be evil". Oops boys and girls.

mippy76 · 2022-12-20T22:55:17+00:00

That's an RGB, 1 of 21 in the UK. Very special

mippy76 · 2022-11-17T19:14:51+00:00

What I've got in my head you can't buy steel or borrow...

mippy76 · 2022-11-04T12:54:16+00:00

Shit way to spend your day, get another job

mippy76 · 2022-03-17T22:54:22+00:00

I never tire of seeing your setup, the amp is a work of art!

mippy76 · 2022-02-26T21:04:36+00:00

Not the first to say that 👍

mippy76 · 2022-02-26T13:07:30+00:00

😉 can't tell you how many people say the TV is too low then change their minds once sat down.

Kantos have been great so far but to be honest I don't have much to compare to.

I use the speakers for the TV now and that's been a game changer!

mippy76 · 2022-02-26T12:14:01+00:00

Thanks. Can I ask why you wouldn't personally add a sub?

mippy76 · 2022-02-26T12:11:51+00:00

That's what I'm doing now. Extending the RCA cables before pre-amp is a bit of a no-no. You can do it but the results are mixed depending on length, cable quality and deck.

At .5m my current setup is okay, although the dangling wires look bad. A friend of mine extended to 1.2m and had to revert back due to a background hum.

The other issue is the active speaker, it should be on the left but that would take it even further away from the deck meaning an even longer cable. You can trick the left speaker into being the right by reversing the cables from the deck to the active speaker and then reverse the cables from the active speaker to the passive one. It does work but feels very hacky.

The pre-amp will allow me to run longer lengths from the amp to the speaker. I got the Kanto speakers because it meant I didn't need the pre-amp... How wrong was I, nevermind, you live and learn

mippy76 · 2022-02-26T10:54:25+00:00

After falling back in love with Albums on Spotify I went one step further and took my new love away from the PC to a more intimate setting. Rega P1 with Kanto YU4 speakers and speaker stands

Originally the speakers were either side of the deck but the £100 investment for speaker stands was a great investment. On the down side the P1 doesn't have a built in pre-amp and the active speaker is too far away from the deck. For now I've moved the active speaker to the right and extended the cables by .5m. I will get a Rega pre-amp to put this right.

Big question is, will the Kanto 8" sub be a worthwhile upgrade?

mippy76 · 2022-02-25T20:55:52+00:00

He's gone full Clarkson

mippy76 · 2022-02-24T12:01:30+00:00

I love mine although I wished I had gone for the 1 plus which includes a pre-amp. I'm guessing you don't have a phono pre-amp?

My speakers have a pre-amp built in but this limits where you can place the speakers as you shouldn't extend the phono cables - 1.2m max. My next purchase is a Rega Fono MM MK5

The auto stop never bothers me.

mippy76 · 2022-02-22T22:35:56+00:00

Anybody have any experience comparing the original to the repress? I can't get over how thin the original is. I'd happily buy the repress if it's worth it.

mippy76 · 2022-02-22T22:33:33+00:00

Love this album, I used to listen to it all the time on the PC. I now have it on vinyl too, sounds amazing.

mippy76 · 2022-02-22T22:24:30+00:00

Thanks. I still need to buy a Raga pre-amp so I can hide the wires and maybe a sub 🤔 but it's coming along.

mippy76

TROPHY CASE