2014/07/21 Restday

The heroes in the TDF are enjoying a day of rest so I decide to go for a long stage. First of all the rubber mat on the garage floor must be cleaned. I’m getting female assistance to remove the large amount of oil. Unfortunately the female has a pace that shows she is in a state of rest as well. A three toed sloth,undoubtedly U know these wonderful creatures, would be the first to cross the line in a sprint.

I have to assume the horizontal position (I still don’t make any money like this :D )

in order to get the oil pressure sensor on it’s spot. It’s not meant to be today since I had forgotten that one of the wires has to be lengthened, both wires are missing a plug and gaskets are missing from the tool box too. To make matters worse today is not just a rest day but it’s Independence day. In Belgium this means that people who don’t work are celebrated by working people who don’t have to work today. The “oil plan” is abandoned. But since I hate people who don’t have to work, even on days that aren’t holidays, I continue to work on the do list.

Ground points and connections in the engine bay are sanded and cleaned. Extra attention goes to the connections on the TSZ unit and the green wire. Inspection of the green wire shows why the engine stops and refuses to start once in a while. It’s gonna set me back about a 102€. There are people who have to work for money.

2014/07/20 Fused fuse

In stages, just like in the TDF, I grind and clean up up the fuse panel, ground points and relays. Contact spray is applied to all connections and all fuses are replaced with new ones. In 3 stages that take about 2 hours each, no mountain stages are present, the panel is shining in place in the car. Hopefully it it’ll prove to be working in a few days time but for now it can be marked with green marker on my to do list.

2014/07/14 The next fase is a fusee

The next phase in the to do list, is the removal of the fuse panel and relays. It’s a job that takes no more than 2 hours, which suits me fine since the Tour de France is on broadcast and there’s nothing that keeps me away from the TV screen during the TDF.

All fuses and relays are nicely sorted with some of them, along with the panel, showing some rust and verdigris.

2014/07/13 It is only one bolt

Basically it’s one bolt, but a bolt that keeps me busy for two, yes 2!, day’s. This MF is the oil pressure sender unit and placed in an unreachable position. I’d tried almost everything,even used an oil filter chain wrench, but to no avail. When using locking pliers there’s a small amount of movement but it’s only the housing that moves. After 2 hours on my back there’s nothing I’ve gained. (some people make a lot of money while on there back :-) but it’s clear it wouldn’t be a good career move for me.)

With destruction in mind, I’d already ordered a new sender unit but only the disassembly of the alternator will get the old one out and the new one in. With the alternator, who’s bolts were hard to get to as well, out of the way I finally manage to get the 24mm wrench on the sender unit. A blow with the hammer releases both frustration and the MF.

2014/07/08 Tight balls and squirts

The first week of july is spend working on the to do list. The door interior lining is removed and windows are kept in place with tape again. Both window motors are removed and the biggest problem is the passenger motor. The rotor seems to turn slightly off centre but if we push the ball in which the rotor spins, it works. A small piece of metal should hold the ball in place. 

Despite rebuilding both engines only a year ago, there’s a lot of debris around the sprockets. A piece of dirt along with a burr is the cause of failure in the drivers side engine. Both are removed and the sun can shine again at the drivers side but a “tight ball” doesn’t seem to help on the passenger side. A replacement is found and the passenger side can take some heat again.

I’d like to deal with the other electrical problems when the car can be parked in front of the garage since it’s a bit too small to work with open doors. It’s pissing down so I decide to flush the engine and drain the oil. As a side tip: If U have an old toilet brush U might want to give it a worthy pension, after all it’s been a friend for quite some time, in the form of an engine hood support.

After 10 minutes of running the engine, the collecting pan is put in a strategic position but the oil’s first squirt goes long about 4 inches. I remove the oil filter but leave the garage. I will inspect the result of tight balls and squirts again in a few day’s. 

2014/07/01 Electric gremlins

Today, july 1st, proof came that the car isn’t quite finished yet. After a short stop at the shop, the car wouldn’t start. A problem that had occurred before, it went away without ever knowing what caused it in the first place. Shaking the wiring harness a bit, usually made sure we could start again and today, luckily, is no exception. 

Some research leads me to believe it’s got to do with the TSZ unit and most probably the notorious “green wire”.

After arriving home, I dig into the electric gremlins at once. The rear fog light isn’t working and the left headlight, together with the left window engine, is on strike.

Working with an American wiring diagram on a European car makes things a bit more difficult but it’s time for some thorough action.First of all the fuse panel board will get some cleaning and for the upcoming week(s) this is the to do list:

-Fuse panel clean up

-Fixing rear fog light

-Fixing left headlight

-Remove moisture from headlight and clean all lenses

-Restore window engines

-Finish of interior lighting

-Deal with the green wire

-Change oil

-pass the vehicle inspection

-drive the car :-)