It's grim up north…tales from the Primate House

16,156 · March 2

27 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

The ABS sensor has arrived but I’m not convinced it’ll sort it…

It has a brand new decent-brand (either Hella or GM) sensor and the diagnostics show good signal then sudden drop out, not an issue with the tonewheel disc - the CV joint washers are supposedly crucial and prone to cracking and you've got the last three I could get in the UK, and two new axle washers

The undertray fixing mess made it fun without a lift at the time but I did clip the cable afterwards. The axle washer I didn't have the right socket and by then the RX-7 was peeing fuel all over the garage when started, so it wasn't coming off the lift for fun...

13,892 · March 2

3 minutes ago, Bear said:

Yeah, but that wasn't actually the bit that pissed me off Moaning indeed 😂

To be fair, that rear bumper and splitter is a complete and utter horror show!!

It made me shudder and stuff like that doesn’t normally phase me!!

I think your influence is rubbing off on me as I’ve just ordered some spire clips for the front rubber splitter instead of cable tying it on!! 😂

16,156 · March 2

9 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

To be fair, that rear bumper and splitter is a complete and utter horror show!!

It made me shudder and stuff like that doesn’t normally phase me!!

I think your influence is rubbing off on me as I’ve just ordered some spire clips for the front rubber splitter instead of cable tying it on!! 😂

Ah, bugger, I knew I forgot something! Guess what's in a bag in the garage.

That damage on the sensor is interesting - that's only 500 miles at best? I wonder if there's something rust and broken in the hub, in which case the hub should sort it...

(Also all the prospective bumpers from breakers were in sodding Norfolk).

13,892 · March 2

2 minutes ago, Bear said:

It has a brand new decent-brand (either Hella or GM) sensor and the diagnostics show good signal then sudden drop out, not an issue with the tonewheel disc - the CV joint washers are supposedly crucial and prone to cracking and you've got the last three I could get in the UK, and two new axle washers

The undertray fixing mess made it fun without a lift at the time but I did clip the cable afterwards. The axle washer I didn't have the right socket and by then the RX-7 was peeing fuel all over the garage when started to it wasn't coming off the lift for fun...

The sensor does look recent but there’s bits missing out of the tip! I think it’s corrosion on and around the tone ring that’s damaged it and although it’s only £12 for a new Febi one, for the sake of £114 it can have two new complete shafts and joints. The nearside one is chucking grease out too so will need replacing anyway.

16,156 · March 2

Just now, NorthernMonkey said:

The sensor does look recent but there’s bits missing out of the tip! I think it’s corrosion on and around the tone ring that’s damaged it and although it’s only £12 for a new Febi one, for the sake of £114 it can have two new complete shafts and joints. The nearside one is chucking grease out too so will need replacing anyway.

I had trouble finding the driveshafts so if you've got the cheap/sensible ones sorted then excellent, that will improve it no end.

So.. the Ampera club people describe the ABS reference coming from like a flat disc, like a record, on the back of the hub.

Is it really that the signal is those three tabs on the washer? But if that washer cracks and splits away, that would explain gouges for sure and all the "it's that cracked washer" - I thought it was a grounding thing.

13,892 · March 2

I’m not 100% sure until I strip them down when the new ones arrive but I reckon there’s possibly a magnetic coating of sorts on the large flat ring that the sensor picks up a signal from inductively?

If that’s the case, then any corrosion under the coating will cause it to come in contact with the sensor and damage it causing the signal to drop in and out.

They should be here on Wednesday so we will see later in the week.

16,156 · March 2

That would make sense - and there's no ground pin or strap so I think the axle washer must need the spring of the right torque and contact to avoid interference on the signal. Still weird when you expect a toothed ring or band!

13,892 · March 2

17 minutes ago, Bear said:

That would make sense - and there's no ground pin or strap so I think the axle washer must need the spring of the right torque and contact to avoid interference on the signal. Still weird when you expect a toothed ring or band!

Done a bit more digging and it looks like the pick up ring is in the wheel bearing itself. The large ‘washer’ on the driveshaft covers the assembly and I reckon it’s distorted and damaged the sensor. Either that or the bearing itself has chewed it up but once it’s stripped down, it should be apparent. It looks like there may be a bearing to add to list but they’re the same as an Astra and Zafira one so cheap and readily available.

1,791 · March 2

1 hour ago, NorthernMonkey said:

it does look rough especially because of all the broken plastics but a lot of the brown staining is actually due to the lanolin stuff that’s been applied and I’m lucky to be able to lift it to a decent height so I can have a go at plastic welding the trim bits back together.

I was going to ask about this, how high is that building for you to be able to get the car up on that ramp at that height? Looking at building something here but can't work out if I can get away with PD heights or not.
Oh and as you are now very experienced at it, can I bring the volt down for a cleanup and BH underseal once its ready?😅

13,892 · March 2

19 minutes ago, robt100 said:

I was going to ask about this, how high is that building for you to be able to get the car up on that ramp at that height? Looking at building something here but can't work out if I can get away with PD heights or not.
Oh and as you are now very experienced at it, can I bring the volt down for a cleanup and BH underseal once its ready?😅

Not as high as I’d like it, unfortunately. My old unit across the yard was tall enough to put the ramp up to its highest with a L322 on it and I could walk around underneath but then this one became available with more than double the capacity for only £100 a month more...the downside is there’s a boxing gym upstairs so the ramp can only lift cars around three and a half feet in the air.

In reality, it’s not a huge issue…i just use an office chair on castors and scoot around underneath whilst sitting down! 😂

13,892 · March 2

If you’re going to build something at home, just get one of the generic mobile mid lift scissor ramps that are all over the internet for around the £2k mark…they’ll enable you to do 98% of what I can do on this current set up but at far less cost and more flexibility.

In fact, I’m seriously considering replacing my lift with one that I could position at the far end of my workshop as the two poster severely restricts access for getting in and out due to its position but the floor at the far end wasn’t of thick enough concrete to support the ramp as it was added on later.

16,156 · March 2

Lift Giant LX35T... it's awesome and lifted the Ampera no worries... and has no bars in the middle so you can drop a prop/gearbox or slim battery pack...

1,791 · March 2

2 minutes ago, Bear said:

Lift Giant LX35T... it's awesome and lifted the Ampera no worries...

Ahh yes, I saw your lift in your thread somewhere, think ill need to come and have a nose some time...

4 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

If you’re going to build something at home, just get one of the generic mobile mid lift scissor ramps that are all over the internet for around the £2k mark…they’ll enable you to do 98% of what I can do on this current set up but at far less cost and more flexibility.

In fact, I’m seriously considering replacing my lift with one that I could position at the far end of my workshop as the two poster severely restricts access for getting in and out due to its position but the floor at the far end wasn’t of thick enough concrete to support the ramp as it was added on later.

Yeah I was thinking something more scissor lift or 4 post, not keen on a 2post ever since I saw someone almost flip a mk3 escort on one trying to undo a bolt 😬 he wasn't the brightest when it came to things mind you.

13,892 · March 3

22 hours ago, Bear said:

That would make sense - and there's no ground pin or strap so I think the axle washer must need the spring of the right torque and contact to avoid interference on the signal. Still weird when you expect a toothed ring or band!

We’ve found the issue…

You can just see the remains of the magnetic pick up ring at the 3 o’clock position of the wheel bearing assembly.

It’s amazing it managed to pick up any signal at all to be frank!

The driveshaft isn’t too bad but there’s a pair arriving tomorrow courtesy of DPD and the nearside CV boot is split and held on with a rusty jubilee clip so, for the sake of £115, it’s getting both sides replaced.

The ABS sensor turned up this morning…£12 for a Hella one…so just need to order a new wheel bearing and it can all go back together.

I intend to keep an eye out for a couple of front dampers as they’re by far the crustiest bit on the car…funnily enough, the springs have been replaced…but they’re ok for the moment.

Just the rear bumper to do something with then but that can wait until it’s a bit warmer and I do the rear surface rust.

16,156 · March 3

That's grim, but I'm glad you've found a very obvious cause for it - I did think about replacement hubs but the car had already cost too much (which is why I sold it for what I thought was fair against others I'd seen advertised - had it been this price, no moaning whatsoever, but budget for hubs and other such things ).

22 hours ago, robt100 said:

Ahh yes, I saw your lift in your thread somewhere, think ill need to come and have a nose some time...

Anytime!

23,603 · March 4

On 02/03/2026 at 21:40, NorthernMonkey said:

Not as high as I’d like it, unfortunately. My old unit across the yard was tall enough to put the ramp up to its highest with a L322 on it and I could walk around underneath

Given that you're about eight feet tall, was your old unit a blimp hanger?

13,892 · March 4

A new wheel bearing was ordered this morning…can you tell which one is which?

Whilst everything is stripped down, the brake backing plate was attacked with the wire wheel and treat to a couple of coats of Lidl’s finest black rustproofing paint.

This…

became this…

In place and ready to fit the new bearing hub assembly…

…then it was time to swap the driveshaft. Not strictly necessary but they were on offer and are shiny…

Fitted, along with one of the new genuine washers that @Bear left in the boot…

…followed by another new sensor…

and it all went back together nicely…

After all that, we have no fault codes at all remaining!!

Still drives exactly the same (beautifully) but just with a lack of yellow lights on the dashboard 😂

At some point before the next MOT, I’m going to replace the front dampers so the new passenger side driveshaft is in the boot until then. Next up is the reattachment of all the splitters etc with new spire clips and stainless fasteners.

In an ideal world, I’d fit a new engine undertray as the old one has long gone but it’s certainly not a priority, unless I happen across one for cheaps.

16,156 · March 4

Ahhh, they were on offer - that explains why I couldn't find anything that cheap!

Undertray isn't as bad as whatever remains of the rear diffuser - and I reckon fixing that will get another 4mpg. I just had no ability to deal with it, and bills and lack of work, having chucked every penny I could at "getting a sensible car".

Edit - wait, is there another tray missing? I was thinking of the one below the radiator and edges of the subframe, I didn't realise there was one missing 😕

But with those codes gone (I am sure the evap one will reappear, but it's not a big deal) then you'll get the experience I got for the first couple of weeks with smooth regen and better economy - it'll probably put the charged ranged estimate up a fair bit as well.

Did you fit the rear pads? That was the bit the MOT tester said should be done ASAP and it might make the parking brake a bit calmer. Once that's done it'll probably feel like half the mileage when it's in use!

16,156 · March 4

For anyone still wondering about the moaning - the issue was that the price of half the mileage ones without the badly repaired cosmetics had dropped to £1K more than I paid for it by the time I'd done the deals to buy it - rather than £3K more when it was advertised - and I generally follow through on what I've agreed even if things are slightly off, thinking I'll recover it later.

The bits to get it to spec when I found out just how badly done the repairs were, coming damn close to that difference, plus it going wrong after two weeks - that was the first PITA. I paid £125 for a new foglight because of the abysmal bodge that had been done there, but hadn't realised that this was just a hint.

After 4 1/2 hours of driving the chances of me crawling around to look under a car are negligible 😕

It's all cosmetics, but I'm someone who will replace every rubber seal on a 12 year old car if I think the car is going to be my daily driver.

And then when I advertised it right after getting it, thinking I'd be honest about why, and condition, and prepared to take a loss for my poor judgement - I got private messages from people who had been to see it telling me it was hanging. So I just felt like an idiot and a mug.

Which would have been nice to get BEFORE seeing it, you know 😂

So if the impression is I undersold it and it was better than I said, honestly, I'm glad - because I'd rather that, than the other way.

It impressed me as a car but I just didn't have any money left to throw at it, and it added to an already stressful existence, rather than helping. I'm really happy seeing someone with the tools and experience and patience to get the stuff together sorting it out and getting the best from it! And if the cosmetics can be sorted, it will be a good looking car too - there are plenty of things in its favour like still having two mirrors!

13,892 · March 4

No, the rear pads are yet to be changed…I’ll probably try and eke a few more weeks out of them in the hope that I can tie in their replacement with a bit of rear end rust treatment and splitter fettling. If there’s any undue noise from them in the meantime, they’ll get pushed up the list.

Re the undertrays, there should be one under the engine itself, I believe…I’m pretty certain the remains of the mounting points are there, anyway?

16,156 · March 4

12 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

No, the rear pads are yet to be changed…I’ll probably try and eke a few more weeks out of them in the hope that I can tie in their replacement with a bit of rear end rust treatment and splitter fettling. If there’s any undue noise from them in the meantime, they’ll get pushed up the list.

Re the undertrays, there should be one under the engine itself, I believe…I’m pretty certain the remains of the mounting points are there, anyway?

I can't remember now but I do remember being able to see the engine and not removing any trays. Might explain why the under bumper set felt 'unfinished'! Hopefully that one won't be hard to find!

Now the codes are off, the hold lock and tap start on the remote should work for warming it up in the morning (I am fairly sure this works when it's plugged in as well as unplugged). It worked when I'd reset it and was very useful!

1,791 · March 4

2 hours ago, Bear said:

there are plenty of things in its favour like still having two mirrors!

Yeah, thats it, you gloat about having two fully functioning wing mirrors 😝 😅

When my three figure order from the US gets here I'll let you know 😭

13,892 · March 11

More workshop than car related but if anyone needs any substantial racking, these are currently on offer at Costco until the 15th for £99+vat

Properly heavy duty compared to the Chinese crap online and expandable too.

Trying to justify in my mind buying another couple for the main workshop!

14,288 · March 11

1 hour ago, NorthernMonkey said:

More workshop than car related but if anyone needs any substantial racking, these are currently on offer at Costco until the 15th for £99+vat

Trying to justify in my mind buying another couple for the main workshop!

Don't do it. The more shelves you have, the more stuff you buy to fill the shelves.

Then you can't find the stuff you want and have to buy more stuff.

13,892 · March 11

2 minutes ago, Mally said:

Don't do it. The more shelves you have, the more stuff you buy to fill the shelves.

Then you can't find the stuff you want and have to buy more stuff.

I don’t know what you mean.

I’ve still got a bit of spare shelf and it’s been up all afternoon!

20,502 · March 11

cannot have enuff tools

1,113 · March 11

5 hours ago, NorthernMonkey said:

More workshop than car related but if anyone needs any substantial racking, these are currently on offer at Costco until the 15th for £99+vat

Properly heavy duty compared to the Chinese crap online and expandable too.

Trying to justify in my mind buying another couple for the main workshop!

I've got those, or if not those exact ones, they are very similar. Mine were load rated to 900kg. Per shelf!! I could basically disassemble both of my cars and store them on there. In fact I had a good go with one of them 🫣

13,892 · March 17

Had a low pressure tyre warning on the osf Ampera wheel pop up yesterday as @Bearadvised. Took the wheel off to do a bit of nail finding and it turns out the leak was from the TPMS valve that just needed nipping up with an 11mm socket. Another easy fix 🥳

13,892 · March 17

Which brings us to this morning and another train, this time up to Glasgow (via Motherwell due to them knocking down the remains of the Blue Lagoon!!)

24,220 · March 17

YAY - are you rescuing that Astra?

It's grim up north…tales from the Primate House

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