Six-cylinder Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 1 hour ago, Mrs6C said: Have you checked the operation of the transmission neutral safety switch that prevents the car from being started when it is (or thinks it is) in gear? It's worth checking the plastic/rubber bushes too that connect the various parts of the transmission selector linkage/rods/cables between the transmisison and the in-car shifter, to make sure they are all present and correct and not soft, worn or missing. If they are missing or in a poor way, there may be too much slop in the end-to-end mechanism to give the physical extent of movement required to activate the NSS when you go into Park or Neutral after stopping. You think you are in Park or Neutral and the shifter inside the car looks like it is, but heading towards the transmission end of things, the movement hasn't been enough to activate the NSS so the car thinks it is in gear and won't start. Guess how I know this ! Mrs6C knows this only too well as her Cadillac developed this fault. It would not restart for me at a Tesco petrol pump and then when I got help to push it clear it did. I know our transverse FWD car is completely different to yours but it must have something to do the same job. There was even a kit available in the US that someone on here helped us find to fix it. eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSdriver Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 We had a similar problem with our Saab floppytop not starting after a short stop. The advice given , if I remember correctly, was to throw cold water at the gearbox because a solenoid was overheating. We were in the queue for customs after driving off a ferry so it caused a certain amount of hilarity to those around us. CreepingJesus and eddyramrod 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out Run Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 3 hours ago, Low Horatio gearbox said: You spent ages adjusting it carefully.. the wrong way. Oh wait no that was me 🤦♂️ Tho my best was imperceptibly knocking my Xj's shifter from P thru N to D and wondering why it wouldn't start at all. In fairness I'd just stripped the interior out and was sitting on the front crossmeber 8 inches lower than normal.. contemplating why on earth I'd taken a shabby but entirely functional car to bits and then immobilised it.🤷♂️ Nice name. Someone listens to Smith and Smith? Low Horatio gearbox 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted January 8, 2021 Author Share Posted January 8, 2021 On 12/27/2020 at 7:37 PM, Mrs6C said: Have you checked the operation of the transmission neutral safety switch that prevents the car from being started when it is (or thinks it is) in gear? It's worth checking the plastic/rubber bushes too that connect the various parts of the transmission selector linkage/rods/cables between the transmisison and the in-car shifter, to make sure they are all present and correct and not soft, worn or missing. If they are missing or in a poor way, there may be too much slop in the end-to-end mechanism to give the physical extent of movement required to activate the NSS when you go into Park or Neutral after stopping. You think you are in Park or Neutral and the shifter inside the car looks like it is, but heading towards the transmission end of things, the movement hasn't been enough to activate the NSS so the car thinks it is in gear and won't start. Guess how I know this ! I had a word with my sparky this week. He seems to think you could be on the right track there! He said bring it round Monday or Tuesday, and if it doesn't start, he wants to come and see it intact, as-is-where-is. So let's see what happens... spartacus, Split_Pin, Mrs6C and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted January 12, 2021 Author Share Posted January 12, 2021 Went to Huggy this morning and... He started, no problem! So after a little warm-up where he sits, I took him round to the sparky, John... who wasn't in. I left him with the other mechanic who shares the premises and now I just have to wait for a phone call. Saabnut, Dan_ZTT, puddlethumper and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted January 12, 2021 Author Share Posted January 12, 2021 Well, the sparky couldn't make it do the same again, and it started fine when I went to collect. I don't know, and neither does he. Maybe I just need to use it more. Actually, there's no maybe about it. I know I need to use it more! But, where can I go, and what can I do when I get there? Bloody virus. It's letting my car develop laid-up niggles much faster than I can deal with them, not forgetting the big issues that await the next owner. Unless he's a banger racer... Low Horatio gearbox, puddlethumper and Mally 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low Horatio gearbox Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 Yay she runs. Yay* intermittent FTP, nothing like the will it/ wont it start now or at my destination to get home 😒 It may be worth checking your earths and electrical connections as ther has been previous electrical gremlins. Definitely use it and it gets better sadly we are all there currently.😢 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted January 12, 2021 Author Share Posted January 12, 2021 We are! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puddlethumper Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 2 hours ago, eddyramrod said: We are! I'm not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 It probably is just lack of use tbh Eddy, coupled with it being winter so damp old electrics starting to cause problems. I had it once in the Capri where I went out in it after winter lay-up, switched the heater fan on and it didn’t do anything, then a trail of smoke came out from behind the dash, then it started working fine! Just damp and dirty contacts I think! Not much anyone can do at the moment sadly. None of mine have been used since about November. There’s just nowhere to go and nothing to do, I dont even think going for a drive around is allowed at the moment is it!? Things will change though, might be a few months but it will get there in the end. Dan_ZTT, Low Horatio gearbox, nigel bickle and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs6C Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 Saw this in a BBC news article & thought of Huggy! Low Horatio gearbox, mk2_craig and eddyramrod 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted February 8, 2021 Author Share Posted February 8, 2021 And I can see why! But oh dear, those wheels... just NO! LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted February 27, 2021 Author Share Posted February 27, 2021 I went to start Huggy this morning... nothing in the battery. I wasn't really surprised tbh. This was the first time in weeks I'd even tried. In other news, I'm in a Cadillac group on Facebook. One of the American members has been looking for some plastic clips that hold the interior trim in place... the same clips I need for Huggy. Someone has suggested getting them 3D printed. Now, don't we have someone here who can do 3D printing? If so, could you please contact me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somewhatfoolish Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 There are at least two I think, perhaps more as prices of the machines are dropping steadily; @Zelandeth and @cobblers? eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelandeth Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 13 hours ago, eddyramrod said: I went to start Huggy this morning... nothing in the battery. I wasn't really surprised tbh. This was the first time in weeks I'd even tried. In other news, I'm in a Cadillac group on Facebook. One of the American members has been looking for some plastic clips that hold the interior trim in place... the same clips I need for Huggy. Someone has suggested getting them 3D printed. Now, don't we have someone here who can do 3D printing? If so, could you please contact me? If you have access to a 3D model of the part I can try. Only have PLA filament available here but it may well be strong enough depending on what it's holding in place. eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted February 27, 2021 Author Share Posted February 27, 2021 Just now, Zelandeth said: If you have access to a 3D model of the part I can try. Only have PLA filament available here but it may well be strong enough depending on what it's holding in place. The originals are the thick end of 50 years old, so they are pretty brittle. I'll see if I can salvage one to send you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetgricey Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Just for possible info, just seen that the next episode of "The Grand Tour" (love it or hate it, think its jumped the shark myself) has recently been filmed up in Scotland. They have each got an old American car to see if they could be used here. Believe James has a red Huggy. Know no more than this, but you might find prices going up a bit when its released. eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted March 16, 2021 Author Share Posted March 16, 2021 Can they be used here? Ask the bloke who lives in the Lake District, a region not exactly known for wide sweeping highways... Also, ask him to bring his local mate, who has a bigger Lincoln than Clarkson's... Prices going up? Well you never know, do you? May's is a 1975-6, which unlike mine isn't pillarless, but they're still Nice. I caught sight of some bodgery going on there though, of the aftermarket modification kind. Oh-oh. Thanks for the link though, I reckon I might have to watch it with the sound on sometime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted March 22, 2021 Author Share Posted March 22, 2021 I went to Huggy today to remove the battery, as sitting since Nooyears hasn't done it any favours. And couldn't unlock the driver's door! Fortunately I'd parked far enough away from the wall that I could unlock the passenger door and squeeze myself in. So, the battery is now on charge from my lovely new charger and there's a load of 3-in-1 inside the door in the hope of easing the mech. I feel like the car has now decided to fight me at every turn. Don't take it so personally? Too late! danthecapriman, Datsuncog, JeeExEll and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsuncog Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 'Like' for at least beginning the process of recommissioning! It's a hard thing to get car mojo working again, when there's nowhere to go and nowt to do. Especially whenever previous adventures have involved a return journey courtesy of the big yellow funbus with the flashing lights... But! Fingers crossed for better times coming, and in the meantime get the 3-in-1 splashed about everywhere that might need it! danthecapriman, Low Horatio gearbox and eddyramrod 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 ^^Whs. If blame needs to be issued blame the shit bag that is the British winter, oh and the China virus! Once you get it up and running again and go out for a spin it’ll all be alright! Now I’m unemployed I’m considering getting the Mercury out sometime soon. It’s not been run for a few months. The weather seems to be improving every day and I’m sure the salting season is now over, clocks go forward next weekend too. All that means it’s summer again! mk2_craig and eddyramrod 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted March 22, 2021 Author Share Posted March 22, 2021 Exactly why I've started the process! Surely we must be able to go somewhere - anywhere - sometime soon? danthecapriman and Datsuncog 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mally Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 29 minutes ago, eddyramrod said: Exactly why I've started the process! Surely we must be able to go somewhere - anywhere - sometime soon? From 29 March. No limit to travel. But advised to stay in your local area. eddyramrod and danthecapriman 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted May 9, 2021 Author Share Posted May 9, 2021 On 3/22/2021 at 5:17 PM, eddyramrod said: I feel like the car has now decided to fight me at every turn. Don't take it so personally? Too late! Some weeks later, and many doses of WD, I still can't get the driver's door to unlock. The key will turn so far and no further. Today I tried it from inside, seeing if I could pull up the lock button. Nope. It comes up so far and no further, and immediately and very determinedly returns to the Locked position. If I'm going to get inside the door to fix it, I need it to open enough to get the door card off! So I put a freshly-charged battery on, after taking two attempts to pull the hood, thinking I could start the engine and roll down the appropriate window (and maybe even go for a cheeky drive). I don't know if rolling down the window would help me open the door but it seemed worth a go. Turn the key: the dash lights up. Turn it one step further: nothing. the car has now decided to fight me at every turn You see what I mean! Obviously my next step was to lock it up and retire to the telly. Maybe I'll have another go tomorrow, with another battery. I've got two or three around me. I'm beginning to think I should change its name to Christine. Skizzer, Low Horatio gearbox, brownnova and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted May 14, 2021 Author Share Posted May 14, 2021 Today is May 14th 2021. May 14th 2016 was the day Roger and I took my Swoopy Saab over to Derby, and came back in convoy: Saab and Cadillac. Yes fans, I've had Huggy five whole years today. I don't think he's done 10,000 miles in those five years. I'm typing this at 8pm; five years ago at 8pm I think we were fighting our way out of Derby heading for the M6. Datsuncog, chaseracer, MJK 24 and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted May 26, 2021 Author Share Posted May 26, 2021 I changed the battery for a younger one with fresh charge in, car still won't try to turn over. However I did get the driver's window down and sprayed WD everywhere. It still won't unlock. Next door (6) is currently having some drain work done, so yesterday I got a letter telling me to make sure there are no cars parked where the workies need to be. So I had to move Huggy. By hand. On my own. I managed to push him to the back of numbers 4 and 2 (2 is empty) and bloody hell I was worn out! I've spoken to the workies this morning and asked for their help to push him back when they finish, which I think will be Friday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeeExEll Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 Eddy is there anyone nearby you can get help from, you can't struggle with this on your own. Even to get the Caddy mobile again. CreepingJesus and Low Horatio gearbox 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outlaw118 Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 1 hour ago, eddyramrod said: So I had to move Huggy. By hand. On my own Having pushed Huggy (with help) I can confirm he weighs a bloody shitload. 10 minutes ago, JeeExEll said: you can't struggle with this on your own This. You'll do yourself an injury, hopefully the workers will assist in getting him back "home". Edited to add: We're not saying you're incapable, but I'm twice your size and 10+ years younger, and would struggle on my own! We don't want Uncle Edd to keel over! eddyramrod, Low Horatio gearbox and CreepingJesus 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justwatching Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 On 5/9/2021 at 10:33 PM, eddyramrod said: So I put a freshly-charged battery on, after taking two attempts to pull the hood, thinking I could start the engine and roll down the appropriate window (and maybe even go for a cheeky drive). I don't know if rolling down the window would help me open the door but it seemed worth a go. Turn the key: the dash lights up. Turn it one step further: nothing. I had a similar issue with my LTD when I let it sit for a few months. Wouldn't crank. I cleaned up all of the connections on the starter circuit with sandpaper, starting with the battery terminals then working back to the starter motor. Turned out to be the power supply for the starter motor on mine. It might not help, but it's a reasonable place to start begin. Dan_ZTT and eddyramrod 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilA Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 Yeah, if you can get heater fan, lights, all on and also roll the windows down at the same time with the ignition on your battery isn't too bad. Sounds like the neutral switch. Will it start in P and N? I know a number of older cars had a cheap switch which meant P was the only option for the starter to operate. Sometimes a little bit of violent PRNDL-LDNRP action can either get the contacts worked enough to function or be pushed far enough to work. Sounds like the lock barrel got wet, you might find a Fandango with the lock button and the interior door handle may free it up enough to get it unlocked. Good luck. Yes, this does sound like UseItMore symptoms. Low Horatio gearbox and eddyramrod 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now