N19's fleet - stretching the legs

[Matty]

Capri is very much in the right hands. Especially as it isnt a full on willy waving v6. Every credit for the work youve done and the care shown 👍

[N19]

2 hours ago, Matty said:

Capri is very much in the right hands. Especially as it isnt a full on willy waving v6. Every credit for the work youve done and the care shown 👍

Cheers - very kind words! I feel 'bad' every time I spot something like a chafed hose, or a patch of underseal that's flaked off and gone a bit rusty, but then again, I know you can't account for everything and that's why I keep an eye on it. Some might not use the car at all when it's wet - but it's not salty, and you can't be too extreme.

[danthecapriman]

2 hours ago, N19 said:

Cheers - very kind words! I feel 'bad' every time I spot something like a chafed hose, or a patch of underseal that's flaked off and gone a bit rusty, but then again, I know you can't account for everything and that's why I keep an eye on it. Some might not use the car at all when it's wet - but it's not salty, and you can't be too extreme.

That’s what I do with mine! 
It doesn’t leave the garage if it’s wet or raining or even if there’s a chance it might rain. The second the salt goes on the road that’s absolutely it then and it stays off the road until all that nasty shit is washed away in spring.

Stupid?? Yes. But I’ve spent waaay to much time, effort and money on that car for it to get ruined by this shit hole countries crap weather! The amount of wax it’s full of and coated with it shouldn’t be a big deal in all honesty but I don’t really get much pleasure from going out in winter or when the weather’s crap. Best off staying dry and warm indoors imho. 
Much respect though for those who use stuff like this all year round and still keep them looking as good as your Capri👍

[N19]

The Capri fan belt seems to squeal on fast runs. 

I thought it just needed tightening, but it's very tight. 

Going to put a proper meter on it when I get back, check the alternator is OK and not overcharging or stiff.

[N19]

I've slackened off the belt a little bit, in case that's it. Still 14.3v when running. 

PS - again, how on earth do modern cars have this parts delay madness? I rang the motorfactor at 3pm on Friday, and at 10am on Saturday he informed me that a new set of brake hoses had arrived. Brake hoses for a 46 year old car!

[Andrew353w]

Does the squeaking occur when there's more load on the alternator, like main beam lights and H.R.W.? If the alternator's working harder the resistance at the pulley's more, which might cause it to slip if the belt's a little slack. 

If you've eased off the tension and the charging voltage is still 14.3 volts and it's not speaking any more I reckon you've cracked it. 

I saw "that" Subaru Impreza outside your lock-up earlier....... 

[N19]

On 08/02/2026 at 15:23, Andrew353w said:

Does the squeaking occur when there's more load on the alternator, like main beam lights and H.R.W.? If the alternator's working harder the resistance at the pulley's more, which might cause it to slip if the belt's a little slack. 

If you've eased off the tension and the charging voltage is still 14.3 volts and it's not speaking any more I reckon you've cracked it. 

I saw "that" Subaru Impreza outside your lock-up earlier....... 

It doesn't seem to be. Maybe it was *too* tight? All was ok today although I didn't go on a long or high speed run.

The Subaru belongs to a neighbour! 

[N19]

Chafed hose replaced. 

[N19]

...the previous one having been, I think, rubbing against the tyre. I seem to remember there's a "right" way and a "wrong" way around. Clearly I chose the wrong way when refitting these originally!

[danthecapriman]

31 minutes ago, N19 said:

...the previous one having been, I think, rubbing against the tyre. I seem to remember there's a "right" way and a "wrong" way around. Clearly I chose the wrong way when refitting these originally!

Shit! You caught that in time. Right to the inner cords.

I’ll check mine now I think. I’m sure your right, one way makes them bend out towards the tyre the other bends inwards towards the inner wing Istr.

[N19]

3 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Shit! You caught that in time. Right to the inner cords.

I’ll check mine now I think. I’m sure your right, one way makes them bend out towards the tyre the other bends inwards towards the inner wing Istr.

Yes, I think it's one of those things which is fine when you're looking for it but often you're not are you.

Need to get the whole thing bled again now. I wonder if (next time) one of those plumber's pipe freezer things would work to 'hold' the brake fluid in position and not introduce air..

[Wibble]

4 minutes ago, N19 said:

Yes, I think it's one of those things which is fine when you're looking for it but often you're not are you.

Need to get the whole thing bled again now. I wonder if (next time) one of those plumber's pipe freezer things would work to 'hold' the brake fluid in position and not introduce air..

I’m going to say no to that thought. Otherwise none of us would have brakes in freezing weather.

[N19]

19 minutes ago, Wibble said:

I’m going to say no to that thought. Otherwise none of us would have brakes in freezing weather.

Just realised quite how dumb that sounds. So please ignore me (!)

[Surface Rust]

That sparked some curiosity so I had a Google; -40oC apparently for brake fluid, which isn't as low as I was thinking it might be.

Must be touch and go in the far North sometimes, any moisture in the system raises that temperature!

[danthecapriman]

2 hours ago, N19 said:

Yes, I think it's one of those things which is fine when you're looking for it but often you're not are you.

Need to get the whole thing bled again now. I wonder if (next time) one of those plumber's pipe freezer things would work to 'hold' the brake fluid in position and not introduce air..

I’ve heard of people using cling film over the opening in the reservoir bottle then putting the cap on top to hold it. The theory being the cling film will create a vacuum in the top of the reservoir and not allow air in so the fluid can’t drip out lower down the system.

But I’ve never tried it!

[High Jetter]

1 minute ago, danthecapriman said:

I’ve heard of people using cling film over the opening in the reservoir bottle then putting the cap on top to hold it. The theory being the cling film will create a vacuum in the top of the reservoir and not allow air in so the fluid can’t drip out lower down the system.

But I’ve never tried it!

I think I did! Years ago, had to bleed a small amount out, but not much, IIR. Tip in Car Mechanics, maybe.

[Mr Pastry]

1 minute ago, danthecapriman said:

I’ve heard of people using cling film over the opening in the reservoir bottle then putting the cap on top to hold it. The theory being the cling film will create a vacuum in the top of the reservoir and not allow air in so the fluid can’t drip out lower down the system.

But I’ve never tried it!

This does work at least to some extent, done it many times.

[N19]

Possibly of limited use if you're changing the hose though? Although it'd keep the fluid in the line going down to it, I suppose!

[danthecapriman]

Other thing I’ve done before is to get an old pipe fitting that fits whatever your working on, then fill the pipe hole through the middle with superglue/chemical metal/JB Weld etc etc to block it solid then screw that into the union on the car once the hose is removed. Just stops all the fluid continuing to piss out. 
Doesn’t stop the fact you’ve got to bleed the new hose and caliper/cylinder though.

Hose clamps are brilliant but obviously of no use at all if it’s the hose your changing.

[N19]

Yeah, I've used hose clamps or similar on the hose when changing calipers before, which means it just needs a quick bleed.

[N19]

Very seldom are all 3 in the same place at the same time, so some sorting-out gave the opportunity for a couple of photos.

[N19]

Successful long trip completed. 

Decided to get on with swapping the alternator. No fan of doing stuff like this on fwd cars with poor access but how hard can it be?

thats the alternator fixing bolt, unable to be taken out as it hits the inner wing. 

Either I'm missing something obvious, or whoever designed this was satanic. There seems to be referencing lifting the engine up... which is just insane. 

Oh and one of the high pressure fuel connectors sheared when I tried to undo it - old plastic, heat, hamfistedness etc. I don't think you can replace these with the sprung clips?

Not yet 10am and I've already gone, walk away, you'll do something you regret in frustration...

[sierraman]

It should let you pull the lower bolt out once everything else is loose, it drops out through the inner wheel arch.

[N19]

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

It should let you pull the lower bolt out once everything else is loose, it drops out through the inner wheel arch.

Am I right in thinking there's a third bolt which is part of the tensioner?

[sierraman]

49 minutes ago, N19 said:

Am I right in thinking there's a third bolt which is part of the tensioner?

Tensioner is a spring loaded one you put a spanner on and hold it back while you whip the belt off. It’s been a while since I’ve done one needless to say but it should have a couple of bolts holding the alternator on, one is at the bottom, a 15mm I think. 

[N19]

Ta. Got the tensioner wound back and belt off, will have a looksee later again. Thus far undone two 13mm bolts (incl the one that won't pull out fully) and seemingly no movement in the thing!

[N19]

@sierraman do you know what these clips are called at all? Struggling to find them anywhere - local motorfactors have nothing, Burtons know what I mean but don't have any, Ford parts desk suspected I could get one if I ordered an assembly (£145.00 and NLA). This is after some idiot (me) snapped it off trying to release it for better access.

[N19]

[sierraman]

Just now, N19 said:

@sierraman do you know what these clips are? Struggling to find them anywhere - local motorfactors have nothing, Burtons know what I mean but don't have any, Ford parts desk suspected I could get one if I ordered an assembly (£145.00 and NLA). 

Which clips? 

[N19]

Sorry - just put up the picture!