The Current Driveway...

[TrabbieRonnie]

Another wee job ticked off today on the RX8... gearbox oil change.

There was (and still is a wee bit) a bit of gearbox whine in this car, and I wasn't sure if tadts or I had a worn one.  Anyway, as the car spends most of it life north of 6000 rippums (it really is addictive), and I don't know when it was last changed, it couldn't hurt to change the oil.

First up, jack up...

Never had a car up on this jack that's lifted it's other front wheel in sympathy, actually if you max out the jack, the rear wheel comes off as well, and you can rock it by hand.  I will obviously regret this one day when the jack goes through something, but still, impressively stiff!

Check out my new shiny things, cat and starter looking sweet...

Anyway, access didn't seem great for squeezing the wee oil bottle's contents in, and so I decided I would top up from above.  Some dismantling was required...

The above shows the route through to the 'box past the gearshift gaiter.  My kit was assembled,

and so I drained out the 1 3/4 litres it holds.  There was a fair bit of shite on the magplug, and the oil looked a bit grey.  Not too sparkly, so hopefully there's some miles left in them thar cogs.

At this point, it started raining quite heavily, so my 'top up from up top' plan came into its own.  I sat in comfort with my upturned bottle of gl4 in one hand, and this fine forum's content in the other, lovely.

Obviously, a test drive was in order, with the car driving much the same as before.  The gear whine is quieter, but still there and just part of the experience I think?  Other RX8 owners may be able to confirm or deny.  It's not unpleasant anyway, and I am slowly getting my head round this quite different car.  It comes alive completely when held at a minimum of 6000 rpm...  pick up is great from there, and the way it settles into corners (even allowing a bit of tail-wagging!) is summink else.

I've discovered the joy of 'turning around in the road' without using reverse... with the traction control off you can just spin her up and round with tyre-shredding fun wet or dry.  Excellent.

Really should paint it I guess!

 

Cheers all.

 

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Just filled up...  Real world mpg's of an old RX8 in the countryside =

17.92

 

Excellent 👌.  

[Kringle]

5.4mpg better than mine, I always got 12.5 from it by going carefully to the shops or driving the tits off it at Snetterton.

I don't remember a gear whine, but it was only on 19k miles.

Best colour btw.

[TrabbieRonnie]

Well, as the RX8 isn't quite done (bodywork), I thought I'd better pull my finger out...  and move on to something else!

The old jeep has been left off the road for a while now, but with the looming threat of winter, we want her back.  Unfortunately, she has become a bit of a project.  

We looked under the front plastic wheelarch flares... and there's nothing under there!

I need new wings.  However, they are out of stock in the usual haunts, second-hand ones are probably pretty knackered too by now, and I can't imagine the price/availability from Toyota would be pleasant!

Anyway, I have a welder... we're going to have a go at making them right, if a bit more 'off-road'.

This is after picking a line to cut that got all the rust, and bending a 75mm strip of 1mm steel into shape.  It will actually be tacked in with more of an down-ward angle on it, it just wouldn't sit that way for a pic.  Once attached, we'll trim the edge to a more natural curve too, and remove the excess from inside.

Then, we plan to cut and weld on the vertical strip, to finish off the edge, and make it safe.  She will end up with bigger wheel arch cut-outs, but that can suit these old things I think.

The bottom return edge will incorporate wee brackets to hold the rubber wheelarch liners we're going to fit, cut from some heavy-ish workshop flooring matting I've been keeping.  The good thing is that none of the body or mounts will be touched, so if this doesn't work out and we can find pattern wings again, they can just be fitted instead.

The project is proving ideal for my youngest to hone some metal-bashing skills anyway, there are plans for a custom bumper for the front too, of his design.

Can it be road-legal in time for the snow though?  Still have ball-joints and track rod ends to fit also...  too many motors, too little time!

[TrabbieRonnie]

Hi all.

I suppose it's pretty depressing that after four months, I don't have much to report fleet-wise.  The reason is a combination of me starting a new job, and one particular member of the fleet being more demanding than usual!

That's right, the BIG liability A8 finally bit back!

Pictured in sunnier weather, probably the last time she behaved herself...

Regular readers will know that over my time with this beast, I have replaced all the ABS sensors, the wheel bearings, and latterly the ride height sensors.

All chasing sporadic braking, traction control and then headlamp levelling issues.  This is thanks to the way 'moderns' are wired, using witchcraft, where everything relies on everything else!  Just great.

Well, I decided enough was enough, ordered brake discs and pads, and nonchalantly threw the ABS control module at a local computer repair firm.  This was a mistake... the unit was faulty, but not as faulty as it came back from the incompetents!  After 3 weeks, it was returned to me, with a 'Sorry bud, we can't fix it...'

Righto, having attempted to support a local business, I sent the bugger off to ECU Testing in Derby.  The experts.

They expertly explained that t'was indeed buggered, and that they also couldn't fix it.  Nevermind, eBay provided one with the exact combination of digits on it, that when fitted... refused to communicate with the car.  Off it went to ECU Testing, and back it came 'unrepairable'.

The seller was good enough to refund the £400 smackers paid, and so (re)began the search.  

No joy on the right part no. this time, however, I was assured by Facefook that a later model would fit, once coded to the vehicle (as they all have to be).  You may have already guessed dear reader, at how much use that £150 lump is... bugger.

I don't even know which one this is, just thought I needed a picture to break up the rant a bit...

The removal...

The removed...

It easy if you don't like your skin.

Anyway, to cut a looooonnnngggg story short, I have, today, fixed my car.  I have a twenty-year-old Audi without a single untoward light on the dash!

All it took in the end, was the purchase of the exactly right unit, from a reputable reconditioner, handily located in POLAND(!), with whom I exchanged 999 euros for the privilege...

I need a lie down, thought I was over it.

HMRC, the Dick Turpin bastards, then set about me, demanding another £118 for it's right to remain.  I know.

This all took months, I am broken, but it is done, parked innocently on the drive awaiting the booking of it's overdue MOT.

 

 

Coupe has valiantly carried the can, and made a new friend.  Same but different...

The Rover belongs to my friend's 19 year old son... Top lad.

The wee Audi's been faultless thankfully, performing family duties in all weathers, even doing well in snow, surprisingly.

Commuting for me has meant more Trabi time, spurred on of course by Zelandeth's latest adventures.

What a bloody awesome machine it is, although it has lowered the tone at the local (and very posh) distillery that now pays my mortgage.  I've no pictorial evidence, but I make it my mission to park in an electric charging bay whenever possible!

That's me for now, happy 'shiting all!

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

As one old Audi approaches roadworthiness, the other recedes from it...

Just back from Halfords, after buying A8 wiper blades, upon which journey the wee Coupe broke a front spring.   No damage done, sitting fine with the broken bit snugly sat in the bottom.  

The slightly lowered suspension is non-standard kyb stuff, need to see it in daylight tomorrow before deciding on replacement options.  There are loads of different suppliers for these cars thankfully, most seeming to provide a drop of 35-60mm from standard.

The current set up has been on for a lot of the cars life (and its 218,000 miles) I think, so hasn't done too badly.  

Should at least have the A8 tested as soon as the garage opens again, and Rosie's more than up to my work commute anyway.  

[Matty]

Man commutes a Trabi. God like 👍 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Big Audi is back in the game after passing the MOT with only an advisory for a tyre (was on the front, now on the back...this thing munches the shoulders pretty quick!).

Uniroyal Rain sports are lovely things, but sadly not up to this job, long term at least.  I'm doing less miles for work now, so they'll probably do a while yet (if I can resist the loud pedal).  Anyway, its driving lovely and smooth, and with everything working, we really have missed this car the last few months...

I hear we've more of the white stuff due so maybe just in the nick of time too.  Man maths on the A8 is still not too bad...

Purchased for £1500, tyres £600, and the ABS module at £1100.  Probably another £500 in wheel bearings and brake discs etc...  Roughly £3700 over the three years and 20,000ish  miles (edit... just checked, and somehow we've actually put 38,000 on this car?!).

Next thing will be the cambelt, will attempt this job myself in the summer I think.  In my head the car still feels like a bit of a bargain, just for the nice-ness of the driving experience really, there are obviously cheaper cars to run, but this is pure wafty goodness.

My hope was to invest a bit in a car that would last a good while, with the ally body and the stuff I've fixed, this should now be the case 🤞.  If/when my ship comes in, I'll get the S8 version, what a package those things must be!

 

Found what looks like a good option for new suspension for the old Audi Coupe, so just waiting on payday before pushing the boat out (£400ish for shocks and springs, 40mm drop again).  Although, she can stay off the road for winter now, so no real rush. 

 This old thing has really become a bastion of the fleet lately, out in all weathers and running beautifully.  Built with a different mindset these 80's I think, great car.

 

Rosie the Trabi has been doing well on the new b-road commute, buzzing along fine and for literally pennies too.  She must be pushing 50mpg again now, it's like running a wee motorbike!  Can confirm that Trabants are toasty inside even at -8 outside, and deal well with icy roads.  Mainly as you can feel everything, it's a totally connected driving experience.

 

Last update is the laddo's 323... he's racking up serious miles in this wee car, and it too is going well.  I've just ordered discs, pads and CV joints (very slight grumble when pulling off out of a junction), but nothing's very expensive for it, and it's a good car to work on. 

It's not quite as sparkly looking as the above pic just now, few blemishes creeping in, so the summer will see some rattle-canning no doubt.  White wheels are a bit of work up here too, they're maybe looking at a refurb in a more normal colour.

 

Cheers all.

Edited January 12, 2024 by TrabbieRonnie
Mileage correction!

[Tickman]

Great news getting the MOT sorted.

Quite the collection you have.

[TrabbieRonnie]

2 hours ago, Tickman said:

Great news getting the MOT sorted.

Quite the collection you have.

Thank you for that, I do think of them more as a collection rather than an assortment nowadays, they've all got something. 

I'm very lucky in both where I live and with whom!  Up to yet it's never really been that expensive either, although I'm hearing horror stories about insurance renewals doubling?  I generally pay to keep four insured on a multi car policy (sometimes changing the cars but not usually the amount), and the Trabi with Adrian Flux.  Doubling in cost would not be good!

We worked out the ownership cost of the A8 the other day after my previous post got me thinking about the spends so far.  A conservative estimate was arrived at, including initial purchase, parts and fuel, of 32p per mile.

I'm a great believer in that being the most valid comparitor when it comes to the value of a vehicle.  Doesn't seem bad to me, I might do the same for the fleet, and then compare against financing a new one, but I'll need to be very bored first!

I know it's only cheap because I'm not paying for someone's time in fixing them up, but there's a bigger payback there too in terms of gaining/passing on knowledge and skills, and arguably getting a higher standard of work than can be relied on at some garages these days.

 

Plus, got a V8, innit.

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Early shift at work tomorrow, leave the house at 05:30... should be fun!

We turned the ESP off and indulged in some hooning around  today, feels pretty unstoppable (hope I don't regret saying that in the morning!).

[JMotor]

On 12/01/2024 at 09:47, TrabbieRonnie said:

Recognise that area, The brig at Craigellachie.

Been there a few times. This and Sueno's stone were the fave spots to take car photos.

[TrabbieRonnie]

3 hours ago, JMotor said:

Recognise that area, The brig at Craigellachie.

Been there a few times. This and Sueno's stone were the fave spots to take car photos.

Aye, spot on...  Bit of OMGSNOKAOS down that way today, as the Macallan brae junction got jammed up with stuck cars/lorries.

We're tucked up at home, fire on.  Luckily not back on shift until the weekend...

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Running repairs on the big Audi (actually quite nice to be tinkering after the ABS saga)...

One thing that has bothered me for a wee while, is the deterioration of my driver's wing mirror.  Behold...

In typical Audi fashion, it is no ordinary piece of glass.  Heated and ful of LCD's(?) to provide auto dimming.  If you squeezed it, the brown liquid moved around, and oozed out the bottom... nice.  My friendly MOT man has been good enough to ignore this fault for the last couple of years, but it was getting annoyingly hard to see stuff.

Of course, every man and his dog wants one, so the leading reclaimed A8 parts provider had a £79 price tag attached to their eBay listing!  The 'make offer' button was employed, and to-ing and fro-ing resulted in a posted price of £65.  Still faintly ridiculous, but there we are.

You'll notice the black plastic trim around the old glass reader, this was missing on the replacement.  Oh well, I set about removing it ready for fitment... this though, required many precious minutes of painstaking work!  Yay!

It held the metal 'track' contacts for the aforementioned LCDness.  Imagine how delighted I was to discover (after teasing it carefully off the old one, sweating nervously), to discover the new mirror doesn't need it!  It's slightly bigger, the black plastic trim doesn't fit anyway, and the LCD connections are on the back surface of the glass, as opposed to laid around the edge.  Again, behold...

Are the designers the real "Audi wankers?!"

Onywye (as they say round here), it's all fitted now and looking, well... rearward.

And the drinker's side for comparison...

I don't know if the brown tint will appear on the new one when I switch the car on (or does it only switch when the headlights are on, or is there a light sensor, or do i have to plug the ol' VCDS in again?!), or if the passenger side isn't working and should in fact be clear?!

Who the flip knows (or cares...), I will keep you informed dear reader, cheers just now.

 

 

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Mazda 323 FTP... again?!

 

Been a while since the wee beastie blotted it's copybook, but last night as an overtake was attempted she sputtered and died...

Hence a 01:00 hrs dash out to retrieve the young'uns on board at the time, and make sure it was safely ensconced for a night out...  Thankfully my eldest had managed to coast her into a farm entrance on the A-road, only having to push it the last few feet.

I didn't much fancy towing it home in the dark at that time, so got up this morning and prepped the gear.

The towing eye socket on the big Audi was not the usual corroded mess you find, being aluminium and nicely covered up.  The Mazda's is just there, sticking out between a vent in the bumper.  Got the towpole hooked up...

... and headed back to base.  Unsurprisingly, 3.7 litres of Audi's finest didn't really mind pulling the 323, and made for a very comfortable recovery wagon!  Apart from the clunk on take off, you could quite easily forget it was there.

And so begin the investigations I guess, it feels like a fuel issue, the engine spins over fine, and the dizzy cap internals looked alright (bit of white build up on the contacts) last night.  Will check for spark, but there's absolutely no smell of fuel when attempting to start.  I'll lift the back seat and see if there's power to the pump.

All that is after sausage sandwiches have been consumed however, I'm actually off until the weekend (how do these old cars know?), so plenty of time to tinker anyway.

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Looks like the fuel pump relay has died...

A combination of a fault code decoder chart in the HBOL (actually very useful book in the 323's case), and my wee jumper cable did the job.  The car has a pre obd diagnostic port, that lets you test different circuits, bypassing their relays.  The fuel pump could be heard fine when thus tested, but was silent when not bypassed.

Sure enough, there's no continuity across the relay's coil.  Various sellers on eBay, used ones are plentiful and around £20, or new for £60. 

Like lot of 323 parts, the relay is shared with the MX5, so more common than I feared!

 

Edit...

Used working order unit ordered from Suffolk Mazda for £15...  The new one I'd seen came in at £78 with vat and postage, which seems an awful lot for a relay!

Will see how we go.

[TrabbieRonnie]

Well, Suffolk Mazda supplied a (used) relay that tested exactly the same as my faulty one (no continuity across the coil).  Unsurprisingly, it made no difference when fitted.  I suspect it's the wee diode that fails in these, I get a reading through the coil if I test it beyond the diode...

(I am almost instantly out of my depth when dealing with electrics, if that's not already obvious!)

Now, I cannot face spending £70 on a new* genuine Mazda relay... it's just a four pin job.  I took myself off to Halfords, bought a generic 4 pin relay and am just in from another failed attempt at starting the car.

At the fusebox relay terminals, I have two showing 12v all the time, and two showing 12v with ignition switched on.  I have the new relay connected thusly... pins 87 and 30 to the constantly live side, and 85 and 86 to the switched side (85 to the negative).  

There are no terminal numbers on the original relay to copy, so I'm hoping I've got the above right?  I'm basically going by the info on the Halfords pack...

As I understand it, because of the diode across the relay's coil, the polarity of that side matters, whereas the output side (87 and 30), doesn't really?

Pictures...

Old relay...

Shown as it sits in the car, basically just to show how terminals A and B are on the output side, and constantly live.  C and D become live when ignition turned on.

New relay...

 

Anyway, it turns out that this relay (under the bonnet) feeds another (under the centre console trim, yet to be dug out).  I can hear/feel my new one clicking, but no pump.  As I said in the above post, I know the pump turns when tested (relays bypassed via the diagnostic port), so I assume this other one is goosed also.

Seems strange that both would go, any thoughts/advice/similar experiences would be very welcome...👍

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Well, I'm learning...!

Turns out you can't test for continuity across a diode with a simple multimeter anyway... a diode needs a certain voltage applied to it to create a circuit.

My original relay may well be fine, as may be the used spare I bought.  In my defence, I was on my own during the first fault-finding phase... with an assistant turning the ignition on, I'd have been able to hear/feel the relay click (as i did tonight with the Halfords one).  A far better test than me relying on my very scant electrical knowledge!

Will be doing so in the morning, the generic one obviously works, but doesn't fit nicely in the fusebox...

 

That still leaves a problem however.  I have done some reading, and it turns out that the wee Mazda needs a few electronic ducks in a row before it will 'bring the thunder'.  

On ignition, the fuel pump is supposed to start, prime the line, then stop once fuel pressure is reached (and sensed), until...

The engine is actually started.  The vacuum created in the inlet tract operates a flap attached to a switch, which via the ECU, turns the fuel pump on again.  I believe this is in the MAF's vicinity, it can be heard flapping open during cranking.

If therefore, the flap/MAF thingy doesn't send the right signal, or the fuel pressure sender, or (apparently) the coolant temp sensor, or even a cam/crank sensor (which i have never noticed being fitted* but there we go)...  no start.

Also, the second fuel pump relay is still to be investigated.

 

Who knew a 1992 Mazda hatch would be so complicated?!  Will update tomorrow.

 

 

*Edit, might be connected to/part of the distributor, I do remember a few wires around there when fitting this engine...

Edited February 1, 2024 by TrabbieRonnie
Thinking out loud...

[TrabbieRonnie]

I think I might know what's up with this...

I found a list of the possible fault codes (blinky light flashes) on a Miata forum.  I'd dismissed the codes I'd seen as spurious due to the fuel pump failing, but did get 15, 3 and 2.  The little chart I had at the time only had an explanation for 15, as an O2 sensor out of tolerance.  

However, I now know that 3 and 2 relate to no signal from the cam position sensor...  maybe because it's not turning?  

Now, regular readers may remember the cylinder head and subsequent engine swap jobs on this car.  At the time, I found that the valves could indeed contact the pistons on this supposedly (according to the internet) non-interference engine.  When attending this latest breakdown, I did suspect a cam belt failure due to the sudden stop.  There had been no horrible noises however, and the engine spins over sweet as a nut as normal.

Hence me chasing other potential faults.  What if, and hear me out, the valves could only interfere on the old engine because I'd had the head skimmed?  Could this one have survived a belt snap, or just spat the tensioner and only gone out by a tooth or two?

To my great shame, I put this 'new' engine into service without changing the belt, which looked new.  I ordered a kit anyway, and planned to change it for peace of mind, but hadn't yet...  looks like I (and Junior) may have paid the price.  

It's my last day off work, I'm having a sausage sandwich before starting, wish me luck and I'll update later!  🤞🤞🤞

[TrabbieRonnie]

Well, it's not the cambelt anyway, all present an correct (cam observed to be turning through oil filler cap).

Cleaning the earthing points for the cam angle sensor got rid of that code, but still no start.  The one remaining code is for the air intake temp sensor.  It is physically ok, and checks out within specs on the multimeter also.  

There is a second fuel pump relay, looks in good order, but no power is being supplied to it.  I think the ECU would be in charge of that, can it really be stopping things completely for a intake temp sensor fault?

Annoying, but at least not catastrophic... in for a break and some more research.

[Mr Pastry]

This may not help, but are you sure you have the replacement main relay connected the same way as the original?

18 hours ago, TrabbieRonnie said:

Shown as it sits in the car, basically just to show how terminals A and B are on the output side, and constantly live.  C and D become live when ignition turned on.

This doesn't make a lot of sense.  From what I can see, not having the book in front of me, applying 12v  across A and B should cause the relay to click and that will connect C to D.

If so, looking at the sockets which the relay fits into,  C=30 which should be permanently live - test it to earth with a test lamp or voltmeter. and D=87 which is the output.   Bridging sockets  C and D with a loop of wire should provide power to the second relay.

 

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Yeah, you're right, I didn't explain too well...

The diagram in the book is of the terminals (sockets?) in the fusebox.  C and D have power only with ignition (which energises the coil and pulls in the relay's switch across A and B, which always have power).

The original and replacement relays all click with ignition on.  The issue is that there is no power to the second relay, which should be supplied by the ECU once happy with everything else.  I have again confirmed that the fuel pump runs with the relay bypass function in the diagnostic port.

There is also no spark, with either old or new rotor arm/dizzy cap etc.

It would appear that the car's brain is not allowing it to run, I just can't believe it's only the air intake temp stopping it?!  It's part of the Air Flow Meter assembly, and many mx-5 (very similar engines) owners have changed them for this reason apparently.  

Off out to clean all the earth points and connectors I can find!

[TrabbieRonnie]

Right, where am I?

Faulty Air inlet temp sensor remains faulty (part of Air Flow Meter), and still no start. 

I have cleaned all the earth points I can see.  Cleaning up the main battery earth resulted in the second fuel pump relay coming to life.  It can heard/felt clicking on start.  We took the back seat out and lifted the access panel for the pump, which we could then easily hear turning, quiet and smooth.  I suppose I should check it's actually moving fuel around, but there are no fuel pressure codes.

I wanted to confirm that the ECU was not allowing ignition, so disconnected the coil supply, and measured the voltage as my assistant turned the key.  There should be 12 volts there according to the manual, there was initially 5v, which decayed quickly away.  Not enough.

The battery has held up well throughout all this, but is now on charge in case that's becoming an issue.  It turns the engine over pretty easily still, but shows as weak on the load tester.  Currently supping at 2 amps, so did need a top up.

Off to peruse endless Mazda websites for clues, and possibly a 'new' AFM.  I haven't removed the ECU for a look yet, but starting to wonder about it...  1992 wasn't yesterday after all!

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Well, long story short... the wee Mazda is back on the road!

After barking up the wrong tree for a bit with the fuel pump/relays, we got to the right sensor.  With all codes cleared, I turned the engine over, and in frustration really, let it churn for a good 20 seconds.  This seemed to be enough time for the ECU to flash up a code again (it never had since the initial handful at the breakdown). 

The code was 2, which is 'crankshaft position sensor'.  The car doesn't have one, instead using the cam angle sensor mentioned earlier (just under the rotor arm).  I think this replaces the points in this halfway electronic set-up.  The CAS reads the cam position, and via the ECU, signals the ignitor (a wee black box) to fire the coil.

A read through the mx-5 forums showed that this part is now prone to age-related failure, although usually at start-up.  Trying to find a complete unit was impossible, I think all bar the very earliest mx-5/miatas had 'coil on plug' ignition, doing away with the rotor arm?  None of the castings looked exactly right either.

I set about the thing on the kitchen table, and was faced with a pretty simple looking set of pickups on a plastic plate.  It's a Mitsubishi-made part, and when I put the number into Google, up it came at a place down south!  On the shelf and £55.

Anyway, it arrived today, and within an hour it was on and going!  Running sweet as a nut (just as before), we're all very happy.

This wasn't a quick fix, with work shifts, weather etc... and there has been a bit of parts darts.  It got both fuel relays, a fuel filter, an ignitor, and of course the new CAS module.  However, I've learned a lot, and feel confident it is sorted.  I'm planning a service and a cambelt when work next allows, although it still looks very new.  For now it has been put back together and cleaned inside and out, and is just back from band practice (boot rammed full of guitars/amps/drums, just as it should be!).

Phew!

[TrabbieRonnie]

Non-car post...

Found (buried under a work bench) an absolute beauty of a welder at work today...

Took me back to my apprenticeship days, it's been a while since I saw a proper oil-cooled pot.

English Electric, couldn't see a date or serial number anywhere...

With scant regard for the PAT Testing regime, I plugged her in to be rewarded with that lovely quiet hum...

Funny the things that please me as I get older, what a time I had burning up the biggest rods I could find into the workbench!  Appears to work perfectly, smooth power... feels like it would go all day if you wanted, lovely.

Had to share it somewhere peeps, hopefully you can appreciate it! 😄

 

Cars are alright, new springs came for the Audi Coupe, racing red lowering jobs of course... Too much to expect an actual set though obviously, they've sent four fronts!  Anyway, it's fronts I'm really needing, the backs can be done when the to-ing and fro-ing is completed...

Wee Maz is going great, confidence in the fix is high.

Much excitement here for a mission tomorrow, we found a guy clearing out his garage... full of Hilux Surf parts!  Have arranged a lend of the work's van, and the initial deal is for a set of doors, and both front wings.  After speaking to him on the phone, it transpires that a great many other useful (and now hard-to-get) parts are there too!  I have gathered all my spare scheckels...

The ol' jeep's refresh has just been taking too long, this should be a shot in the arm for us.  Once it's up and running again, I'll be handing it over to no.2 son, for it's next driving chapter (and his first).  

 

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Well, what a day!

We headed out early doors to pick up the work's van and we're soon Transit-ing across to Inverness...

The guy selling the Surf parts was great, and had an absolute shed load of bits.  He'd had a long line of Surfs himself, and had plenty through his workshop for other people too by the sounds.

We were only really going for the doors and wings (all in great nick having been dry stored for 15 years), but were blown away by the sheer amount of stuff he had.

Inevitably, a lot of it is now here...!

You're looking at...

four doors, two front wings, a full new set of wheelarch plastics, a set of wind deflectors, two sump guards (one lovely aluminium number), most of the exhaust, a viscous fan, all engine pulleys (including two crank pulleys...), a boot load cover and fittings, x2 starter motors, x2 turbos(!), two or three ECU's, two complete sets of new tail-lights, a power steering pump and reservoir, two new torsion bars, a few throttle bodies, all the rear windows, and just about every relay/sensor there is.  There's loads of miscellaneous bits and bobs too, track rod ends, bearings, seals etc.

He even threw in a set of the big 'SURF' stickers to go down the sides of the new doors.

We can't believe it, the price was very reasonable, and as well as being very generous and knowledgeable, the guy was a genuine car person.  He was clearing out the garage to give himself more space to sort his beautiful Audi 80 Sport...

 

Feeling pretty lucky just now.

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

After a beautiful sunny day in the Highlands, I've had a good chance to take stock of our Surf spares.

I wanted to lay out all the big bits, and get them a wash...

All looking good.  There is a small amount of rust along the bottom of the driver's door, but nothing compared to what we've got currently.  I'd put checker plate panels along the bottom of the doors a few years ago to hide it, but even that's corroding now.

I cut and polished one of the new back doors and fitted the wind deflector, it's come out lovely, really deep metallic finish in the sun...

Slightly better than the old one...!

So we're now looking at finishing the jeep to a higher standard than we thought.  The original plan was to just gradually fight the rust and paint her black, but with the wings and doors looking this good, this would be a shame I think.

The bonnet and roof have serious lacquer peel, I might speak to the garage and see if the base colour can be saved and re-lacquered.  If not, we're considering a black bonnet, a-posts and roof, just leaving us the rear quarters to try and cut and polish to match up to the doors.

The young shiter-in-waiting who is to become the next custodian of this fine vehicle, also preferred the old black wheels... so they'll be making a comeback.  

I liked them too.

The front grille and bumper are off, the slam panel is vactanned and will be painted/oiled up before reassembly.

One of the new wings got trial fitted, as did one of the 25mm wheel spacers we found in the stash...

We also found a pair of spring spacers for the rear... I suppose they're designed as a cheap fix for the classic saggy rear end that Surf's suffer from, but I guess we could lift her up a wee bit with them (back springs are new), and tweak the front up when fitting the new torsion bars.

I'll have to see, as she already had a bit of a hot-rod stance, as you can see in the pic a couple of posts up!

We'll carry on fitting up new bits an re-painting where necessary, feeling more like a restoration now...!

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Hi all.

Wee service on the big Audi today... it shouts it's desire for fresh oil from the dash binnacle every time it is started, when it feels it hasn't had enough attention (very demanding things, A8's...!).

Anyway, as well as dispensing another 8 litres of Mobil's finest, this gave me the opportunity to survey the damage...  What damage you say?  Well...

Wednesday night saw me cruising home from work, after a ten hour shift ending at 11pm.  Regular readers will know that I live quite rurally, meaning the last five miles of my commute are along a sweeping and deserted (especially at that time), stretch of sweeping A-road.

Some modicum of speed was involved therefore, when an unforeseen and unfortunate creature thought my bumper looked like a safe space. 

I actually felt pretty horrible and don't mean to make light of this, it's not unusual hereabouts, although normally deer are the most common roadkill we see.

However, the sickening thud this time turned out to be some poor soul's cat...  I did not know this at the time, it literally flashed out in front of me before I'd even lifted off, never mind braked.  I assumed given the size of the animal and the deserted and houseless location, that I'd hit a badger or very small deer.  

I'm a little ashamed to admit that I did not stop, knackered and keen to get the last couple of miles in before the coolant ran out, I pressed on for home.  In my defence, I'd have been pulled over on a 60mph road in the dark, searching with a phone torch for an animal I felt sure would be dead anyway.

The Audi and myself got back without further issue, and to my great surprise, all vital fluids intact.

The next morning saw the following...

A badly deformed lower bumper... which pulled back out pretty well.

A very badly deformed air con radiator, which had somewhat protected the coolant rad.  However, both are now significantly closer to the engine than before...

A barely clinging on fog light trim, surrounding a popped-out fog light...

And lastly, a long list of exceptionally angry women on Facebook, lamenting the poor cat, and the disgusting lack of morals exhibited by the murdering lunatic who'd left it for the cold light of day to reveal.

I am thankful for my anonymity in this matter, but still have not dared to show my face (or bumper) in the village yet.

The car is ok.  The Aircon may not live to cool another day, but the engine remains untouched.  Only close inspection would show the damage to the chin of the beast, and the suspension compressor (immediately behind the fog light) appears unscathed...

 

Am I the bad guy?  Should I reasonably expect dart-quick moggies on such a road, at such a time?  Doesn't the owner deserve some flak, for the innocent cat's demise and my radiators' present condition both?

I'm sorry, I'm using you guys as a support group... What do any cat owners think?

 

[Tickman]

I don't think it unreasonable in your position.

As you say you didn't have time to react and judging by the damage caused it would have only one outcome probably known by the noise.

[High Jetter]

Yup, I agree. Happened once years ago to me when I was cabbing late at night. I confess I may* not have been adhereing to the 30mph limit when this 'thing' shot out of nowhere and head-butted my Bluebird. I saw it was a cat as it bounced away and felt a bit bad, but carried on.