My 1973 Cadillac, Huggy Bear

[eddyramrod]

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...

[eddyramrod]

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.

[eddyramrod]

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]

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.😢

[eddyramrod]

We are!

[puddlethumper]

2 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

We are!

I'm not.

[danthecapriman]

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.

[Mrs6C]

Saw this in a BBC news article & thought of Huggy!

[eddyramrod]

And I can see why!  But oh dear, those wheels... just NO!

[eddyramrod]

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?

[somewhatfoolish]

There are at least two I think, perhaps more as prices of the machines are dropping steadily; @Zelandeth and @cobblers?

[Zelandeth]

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]

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.

[gadgetgricey]

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]

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.

[eddyramrod]

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!

[Datsuncog]

'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]

^^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!

[eddyramrod]

Exactly why I've started the process!  Surely we must be able to go somewhere - anywhere - sometime soon?

[Mally]

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]

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.

[eddyramrod]

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.

[eddyramrod]

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.

[JeeExEll]

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. 

[outlaw118]

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!

[Justwatching]

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. 

[PhilA]

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.

[montytom]

I've been reading this thread with great interest. I have never been a fan of american cars but lately I've been oddly drawn to a 1965-67 coupe de ville.

While yours is a bit newer it's a nice read.

I wish you all the best with the car.

5 years is some time. 

[eddyramrod]

3 hours ago, JeeExEll said:

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. 

That's exactly why I've been waiting (and still am waiting) for John The Sparky to do a housecall, like he said he would.

2 hours ago, outlaw118 said:

Having pushed Huggy (with help) I can confirm he weighs a bloody shitload.

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!

Yeah, he does!  Two and a half tons Imperial, give or take a couple of pounds.

The workies have said they will happily help when the time comes to push him back.  It's only a bit past twice his own length so it's not a big job, but it doesn't half sap me.

And thank you for those kind words! It's ok to call me incapable in this respect, I know it's true.

1 hour ago, Justwatching said:

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. 

Thank you, that sounds very likely.  If I was able to get under and clean up the contact points, I would; it's the kind of thing I wouldn't have thought twice about a decade ago, but not any more.  I need John The Sparky.

42 minutes ago, PhilA said:

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.

And thank you too Phil.  Neutral switch seems like a good contender and probably the first place to look once the contacts are all cleaned up.  Mrs6C said something similar upthread, and even back then I thought she could well be right.  I have tried running through the positions, because that at least is something I can do, but so far it hasn't had any effect.

The door... well I've tried wrestling with the button and handle.  Both inner and outer handle go through their full and correct tange of movement with no effect on the catch.  This, combined with the lock and interior button both stopping short of their Unlock positions, suggests to me that something has either got into the door and blocked the mechanism (possible, as the weatherstrips are not brilliant) or, just as likely, something has detached itself inside the door and has fallen into a position where it can't operate.  When I had the window down I did look into the door as best I could, but I couldn't see anything amiss.  It is, as Toyah sang, A Mystery.

And you're right, not using the car has done/is doing it No Good At All.

[eddyramrod]

4 minutes ago, montytom said:

I've been reading this thread with great interest. I have never been a fan of american cars but lately I've been oddly drawn to a 1965-67 coupe de ville.

While yours is a bit newer it's a nice read.

I wish you all the best with the car.

5 years is some time. 

Thank you.  I can totally understand why you'd be drawn to the 65-67 series: they are excellent cars.  My very first ride in a Cadillac was in a 66 Coupe deVille, in 1977, so there's a special place in my heart for that model.