1987 Ford Sierra Sapphire 1.8L - (1)33,333 achieved - see page 47

[camryv6]

I thought the aerial was in the heated rear window element on these ?

[mk2_craig]

1 hour ago, camryv6 said:

I thought the aerial was in the heated rear window element on these ?

Probably was from new, then stopped working properly after a few years leading to a conventional one being fitted. So likely there’s a second connector lying loose behind the radio unit. 

[Peter C]

1 hour ago, camryv6 said:

I thought the aerial was in the heated rear window element on these ?

If that’s the case, I will struggle to find a an original Ford wing mounted aerial.

[Sheefag]

Rear window demist radio aerials use a diplexer. It's a plain metal box with a 12v pos and neg going into it as well as an aerial socket going to the hrw and one forward to the radio.

My Rover 820i had terrible radio reception. The diplexer was in tailgate and the constant slamming had broken two large copper coils off the board.

I resoldered it and it then worked. It's worth taking a look underneath the rear shelf for the diplexer.

[RoadworkUK]

17 hours ago, camryv6 said:

I thought the aerial was in the heated rear window element on these ?

Only on Ghia and XR4x4 at this age. The launch brochure shows a retractable antenna on the O/S rear flank.

[mercedade]

19 hours ago, Peter C said:

My wife has suggested a 50/50 water and vinegar mix to get the dirt off.

The YouTube youth swear by dry-ice blasting. I'm not sure of its merits beyond "dicking around with cool equipment" but there you go.

[EspenO]

2 hours ago, mercedade said:

The YouTube youth swear by dry-ice blasting. I'm not sure of its merits beyond "dicking around with cool equipment" but there you go.

Or possibly steam (carefully, not to warp anything) with one of those little steam cleaners? 

A little Owatrol Polytrol on them (and the bumpers/trims) afterwards should bring up the colour without binding the dust too much. 

[Peter C]

The problem.

I'm struggling to find a replacement tail light lens.

So I bought this, which cost about £3.

And achieved this.

That's not bad at all.

If I'm lucky, I will find a replacement tail light at an autojumble this spring / summer. 

[egg]

I think the lamp part number is 6157282 as listed here - 4 door saloon, LHS, pre-1990

Now, Classic parts shack has one where they have listed the part number as above - but describe it as hatch. Are they wrong or am I wrong?

https://www.classicpartsshack.co.uk/store/p4223/Ford_Sierra_Mk2_Rear_LHS_Light_Hatchback_Used_Light_Scratches__6157282_87BG-13A603-AA_Genuine_Ford.html

 

[Peter C]

14 minutes ago, egg said:

I think the lamp part number is 6157282 as listed here - 4 door saloon, LHS, pre-1990

Now, Classic parts shack has one where they have listed the part number as above - but describe it as hatch. Are they wrong or am I wrong?

https://www.classicpartsshack.co.uk/store/p4223/Ford_Sierra_Mk2_Rear_LHS_Light_Hatchback_Used_Light_Scratches__6157282_87BG-13A603-AA_Genuine_Ford.html

 

 

Thank you for looking this up.

I've taken a photo of the part number from my tail light.

That's the same number as the one listed on the advert: 87BG-13A603-AA

However, I wonder whether that number relates to the inner grey coloured element and this part of the number: 6157282 relates to the outer lens, which is different on a hatchback? 

[egg]

21 minutes ago, Peter C said:

However, I wonder whether that number relates to the inner grey coloured element and this part of the number: 6157282 relates to the outer lens, which is different on a hatchback? 

Yes, that seems right and explains things - is that grey plastic the bulb holder which appears common to both saloon and hatch then? Part 4 here...

 

[Peter C]

@egg

So, close but no cigar.

[egg]

5 minutes ago, Peter C said:

@egg

So, close but no cigar.

Here's one for silly money in Italy, but I'm sure they are around closer to home!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305088513909

[Scruffy Bodger]

How bad is the bumper? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302690680346?epid=7031190489&itmmeta=01HS1KT8ZXWKG4K0RTF3ZPH2D6&hash=item4679c53e1a:g:FhkAAOSwHu5b-~rR&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4DdviLPFR7hL1rO2REW6axPp4WyVkvf3faDreSCqXx%2BFd9q0aX4kV2NxWSRtfusB5W9BCs8NIFHnnrmn4QfPdIwqzyyHD7Z%2BAeeaA9u647hq3RV93bfOlOieZzzGtyTlPRJUAWCcaAcQICghf2cQb46tZf6L43Zm%2Fh2N%2FtI563ZDxiwOdEdEEQmSF3f1yUkETPu8rIbNHZdSLGbhqy19pxY4qw0Ld16SFgLWY46AVSABxEssV9Ue5okGSnLZ1OzMXeN3%2FlOlTINQHGJ8FEAA01dzjYPfHYngS7mr7QiiCo7j|tkp%3ABk9SR4iQ6bPIYw

I've used that to very good effect and it lasts really well.

[Peter C]

5 minutes ago, egg said:

Here's one for silly money in Italy, but I'm sure they are around closer to home!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305088513909

Looks great but I’m not paying £153 for a tail light lens!

[Peter C]

Just now, Scruffy Bodger said:

How bad is the bumper? 

The rear one looks horrendous and needs rubbing down and a squirt of primer and black gloss. If I’m doing the rear bumper, I will need to do the front one so they match.

[Peter C]

3 minutes ago, Peter C said:

Looks great but I’m not paying £153 for a tail light lens!

£187 with postage!!!

[egg]

1 minute ago, Peter C said:

£187 with postage!!!

Makes me want to start hoarding Mondeo tail lights in the loft 😆

[Marina door handles]

1 hour ago, Peter C said:

 

Thank you for looking this up.

I've taken a photo of the part number from my tail light.

That's the same number as the one listed on the advert: 87BG-13A603-AA

However, I wonder whether that number relates to the inner grey coloured element and this part of the number: 6157282 relates to the outer lens, which is different on a hatchback? 

I have had a quick look on Microcat (Fords parts system) the part number I am getting for the outer LH side lens for a sapphire is 6177669, hope that helps.

 

[N19]

I think one of the local motorfactors has one on the shelf. He did have a set of hatchback ones which ended up on the bASe a few years ago. I'll make enquiries.

[666jjp]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=6157282&_sacat=0&_odkw=6177669&_osacat=0

[Peter C]

1 hour ago, 666jjp said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=6157282&_sacat=0&_odkw=6177669&_osacat=0

You’ve searched for 6157282 but it looks like I need a 6177669 BUT some of the listings refer to sedan / Sapphire. I’m confused.

[Peter C]

9 hours ago, N19 said:

I think one of the local motorfactors has one on the shelf. He did have a set of hatchback ones which ended up on the bASe a few years ago. I'll make enquiries.

That would be great, thank you.

[Peter C]

A search for 6177669 brings up facelift spec tail lights, like these:

[Marina door handles]

Sorry about that you had the right number to start with - 6157282, there are rather more options than I expected, I should have googled the part numbers afterward! 

[666jjp]

1 hour ago, Peter C said:

You’ve searched for 6157282 but it looks like I need a 6177669 BUT some of the listings refer to sedan / Sapphire. I’m confused.

they looked right so hopefully something will work.

[Peter C]

@EspenO was right on the money.

I borrowed my wife's floor steam cleaner, which has a small brush adaptor that is just right for cleaning Sierra wheel arch liners.

Great tool. No noise, no mess, just steam that goes straight onto the desired surface. I could see brown water dripping down the liners, the steam managed to remove 95% of dirt.

The liners were clean but not shiny enough for me, so I gave them a wipe over with a tiny bit of this stuff.

The results speak for themselves.

I can relax now, knowing that when I drive the Sierra down the road, the wheel arch liners that are hidden behind the wheels, which no one will see, are now nice and clean.

The rear bumper is fucked. The greyish blueish paint coatings are peeling, it has numerous scratches and two vertical cracks in-line with the number plate lights. Some of the scratches are very deep.

I rubbed the heavily scratched areas with 120 grade paper, in a circular motion, which got rid off the worst imperfections. I prepared and cleaned the bumper and masked it off. 

And gave it a coat of primer.

The front bumper is in better condition but it is far from perfect.

The bumpers are not black and I have acquired an aerosol can of gloss black. On the basis that I have to fix the rear bumper, consequently I also have to do the front one.

I cleaned the front bumper and masked it off. The top section of the bumper is black and mostly ok so it will not be re-sprayed.

And gave it a coat of primer.

I will leave the primer to dry overnight and spray the bumpers black in the morning.

The chrome* strips in the bumpers are weathered, especially the front one. I have a cunning plan how to sort them out.

I had a two minute break for a cuppa and chocolate croissant.

The front grille was chipped and  cracked.

I filled the chip and crack with chemical metal.

Rubbed it down.

And gave it a squirt of primer.

I will spray it black in the morning.

A few minor cosmetic jobs aside, the Sierra is ready to hit the road. However, I still have tomorrow and another four man days (two weekends) to do a few more jobs before the maiden voyage scheduled for the 1st April. I want to clean and spray the front suspension components, clean and re-paint the engine sump and spend a bit more time touching up the brush painted areas. 

More tomorrow.

 

[Peter C]

I started early today as I have other plans for the afternoon. Yes, there is more to life than an old Sierra.

I sprayed the front bumper first. I applied a thin first coat to cover the primer, then a couple more coats for a deeper finish. I was going to give it another coat but already I was pleased with the result.

Then I started to do the same on the rear bumper.

And immediately I got this.

Why?

The primer adhered to the bumper just fine, there was no evidence of any incompatibility or contamination issues.

The primer had more time to dry on the rear bumper than the front, by approx two hours.

The primer is acrylic based, so is the paint, both came from Halfords. 

The workshop stayed warm and dry since the primer was applied.

Why did the process work on the front bumper but not the rear one?

I've locked the workshop doors for today. I will let the paint dry until I have time to rub down the entire rear bumper, preferably back to plastic and start all over again.

Bugger.

 

 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

That's frustrating. Why didn't you go for the OEM grey/blue colour, out of interest? 

[Peter C]

Just now, Dick Longbridge said:

Why didn't you go for the OEM grey/blue colour, out of interest? 

Because getting paint to match is virtually impossible and the original colour isn’t a million miles off black.