Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,013
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So, out with the old...  ...so what's the new? The Puma was economical, nippy, handled like it was on rails and really pretty simple. So why not go the other way? With my commute going from 45 miles of country lanes to 10 miles of poker straight, I fancied drifting into work in something big. Big and powerful. Big and powerful and soft. I want to waaaaaaaft... Now, despite there only being about 440 left on the road in the UK two such suitable luxobarges turned up near me - both within 20 miles of me, and within 10 minutes of each other.  Much to-ing and fro-ing between the two ensued in the past week - they were the same colour, only one year apart in age and both with the same (read only) engine that Honda supplied. Eventually a deal was done and a Legend takes its place in the stable.  Plans? Well, the current tyres are utterly FUBAR (I've genuinely no idea how they passed MOT - they're cracked, perished and slowly collapsing. As luck would have it a set of 17" (a whole INCH bigger than the standard) came up locally on eBay. Very quickly, a deal was done...  Lows? Well, yes, obviously - but since coilovers start at £800 we'll start with springs...  Now she does need some TLC. Flashing the ECU (piggybacking the diagnostic port with a paperclip!) indicated the following: ABS 1-5 Wheel sensor Rear Right TCS 3-1 TCS inhibition TCS 4-4 Right Rear Wheel Sensor EML 4-2 P0135 (42) Right Primary Heated Oxygen Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1, Sensor 1) The seller was kind enough to let me do this on his driveway, so we both knew what the score was and what jobs needed doing. Now it looks to me like the ABS and TCS codes all relate to the RR wheel sensor - so I'll be inspecting that closely when I change the wheels. The car had been stored and left to sit - and that tyre was utterly flat when I drove her initially so I'm hoping that it could just have been sending wacky data based on this. If not a sensor is an expensive import-only part (unless anyone knows if this part crosses over with another, more plentiful Honda/Acura?). Have already ordered a pair of o2 sensors to do both the upstreams as I may as well do both - she's overfuelling and power is down a wee bit, as well as getting hilariously poor MPG - and I'm reckoning that's why. So the plan is to get her fighting fit, a clean bill of health and smoke her all winter! |
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Last Edit: Apr 19, 2019 16:58:12 GMT by Paul
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Details about the legend please. Engine spec, drive line configuration etc. I know nothing about these hondas.
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Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,013
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Details about the legend please. Engine spec, drive line configuration etc. I know nothing about these hondas. Why thank you for asking ;-) Originally the Rover 800 was a joint project with Honda, and the original Legends were badged as such in the US. This is the KA9 model, which was only offered with a creamy 3.5 V6 engine mated to a 4 speed auto in FWD flavour. It's a rebadged Acura RL - as I've found when trying to source parts - with only a few differences (the main one I've found being the lack of OBD2 which was standard from 1996 in the states, but not here until 2000). Originally released to compete with the E-class & 5 Series she suffered badly from badge snobbery, although most reviewers agreed it was just as comfy, well appointed and luxurious as its rivals. As such it never sold well over here. At 1700kg and a smidge under 5 metres long she's a big old barge with electric everything...heated seats, mirrors, steering wheel, cruise, AC, headlamp washers, and a stereo where the volume knob goes around in correspondence to the steering wheel controls. I love that. It even has a hatch in the back for transporting skis - and the P/O even gave me a bag for them. At 20mpg (probably lower with the faulty O2 sensor) I doubt I'll be taking her to the pistes though. This particular example has just ticked over 100k, has 6 months MOT, and wafts along quite merrily over everything I've thrown at it in my whole 24 hours of ownership. So no doubt I'll find a way of breaking her now. |
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Great reply, thanks for the info. This is one car that I've not given much attention too until now.
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Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,013
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New shoes!  No major surprises under here either - mainly cobwebs. Quite reassuring actually The fronts fill the arches quite nicely...  ...feel like the rears could do with spacing out a little...  Massive improvement over standard though. Obviously needs dropping tho ;-) Now there's something you don't see every day...  Wait for it...  Oh yes...  |
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Last Edit: Nov 4, 2018 13:53:24 GMT by Paul
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Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,013
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Sadly bridging the 2-pin diagnostic port and resetting the ABS didn't wipe the fault. I was hoping it could be something really really simple.
Next step I suppose is to gingerly disconnect it and try and clean it up - although it looks like it would be safer to remove the disc and caliper for access. Whilst I'm there I may as well stick in some fresh pads.
Pair of o2 sensors already ordered - and from the look of the engine bay they're pretty accessible...which is a bonus!
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Nice motor! Never had a 'wafter' and know little to nothing of these, but looks good. Also, its amazing how much of an improvement a good set of wheels makes! there is something to be said for getting the car without the badge snobbery imo 🙂 gl chasing the electric gremlins, and will await the lows 😎
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Honda fanboy here, even if I know diddly-squat about Legend's.
Bookmarked.
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Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,013
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Honda fanboy here, even if I know diddly-squat about Legend's. Bookmarked. Neither did I until about a week ago. Most of what I've learned was by searching teh internetz for Acura RL forums. This is what happens when I have a week off work! |
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Honda fanboy here, even if I know diddly-squat about Legend's. Bookmarked. Neither did I until about a week ago. Most of what I've learned was by searching teh internetz for Acura RL forums. This is what happens when I have a week off work! Regardless, it looks like a winner. I think the first bit of preventive maintenance should be a g/box/diff oil change. Anyway, enjoy and keep posting. |
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Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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79cord
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,617
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Good looking new wheels add personality lost in Honda's (& period Lexus) efforts to chase conservative Benz styling.
Hondas efforts packaging the longitudinal fwd drivetrain certainly make Audi look silly/lazy.
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Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,013
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Not a lot to report after the first week of motoring as I've not been able to get her taxed until today - she needed a change of tax code...previous owner was registered disabled. Just spent an hour - and one skinned knuckle - changing an O2 sensor. Start her up...code still remains :-( Then I reread...  Ah - note to self. When you're finding research online from mainly 'Murican websites be sure to swap passenger and driver side in your head. I have changed out the left sensor - when it was the right that the ECU had flagged. Idiot. Still, I did buy two with the intention of swapping them as a pair :-) It's cold and dark now so that's definitely a job for tomorrow. |
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Last Edit: Nov 9, 2018 19:45:56 GMT by Paul
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Have no fear, you're not on your own!  |
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Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,013
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Nov 11, 2018 20:07:00 GMT
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Not a huge amount to report this weekend. Few little jobs done... Clearly Norm was feeling more lucky than me...fished these out from behind the passenger seat.  Sadly he didn't leave me a winner. Started giving the leather a clean/feed - ewww....  That was just off one seat - it soaked it up like a sponge. Think I might run out... Swapped out the other O2 sensor - guess what? Problem solved! Now I can watch the fuel needle drop at a slightly lower rate than before. Yes - this is a picture of a dash board without an CEL on!  Also swapped out the old tape deck for something a bit more modern.  Now the old stereo was an odd size - normally I'd just buy some adaptor from eBay for £3, but the equivalent part will cost £20+ to import. So I'm going to make one out of plexiglass and either spray or wrap it - not sure which yet. Now also reppin' tha crew.   Now here's an interesting thing that I found out. Took the old man out for a spin and when we parked up the side airbag light came on. It had gone off by the time I got back in the car. I find intermittent faults even more frustrating than fixed ones, so I wondered what was going on. As well as learning a lot about a recall that Acura did in the states I stumbled on this little tidbit:  So when he was playing around with the door handle and sat on the edge of the seat the side airbag had deliberately - and temporarily - disabled itself so as not to blow up in his face. Not bad for a 20+ year old car I thought. |
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Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,013
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Nov 18, 2018 15:44:34 GMT
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Not a lot to report this week - she's been my workhorse to glide to work in cushioned, comfy, heated bliss and all is well (apart from the ABS but I haven't got round to dealing with that yet. Set out to fill in the gap around the stereo - disassembled the stereo surround, made a template from card, cut it in plexiglass, started cutting the hole for the stereo and SNAP - my only sheet of plexi shattered. Disappointing. So did a few other jobs that needed doing: Fitted spigot rings to the wheels (although tbh I hadn't noticed a wobble) Debadged the rear (apart from the central H as it's got two big lugs behind it.  Looks good from 5 feet but 20 years have left their mark in the lacquer despite clay, mop, polish and wax with my proper orbital polisher. Also another stupid thing.  Sized up the interior bulbs for LED replacements having already replaced the rear numberplate lamps (had a couple kicking around the garage). Generally just wasted time...but what better way to waste time? |
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Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,013
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Nov 25, 2018 21:12:08 GMT
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So this week these arrived - in less than a week from Germany by the guys at Carnoisseur (who price matched another online dealer, and were able to supply them when another company had let me down). Can't speak highly enough of their service. Mmm...shiny...  Old boringness in situ at the rear - although perfectly solid. But we must kan haz lowz.  I had to marvel at the simplicity of the rear suspension setup - just one big long 17mm bolt holds the shock in at the bottom. The top 3 bolts are neatly hidden away underneath the rear parcelshelf speakers.  There they are! I don't know what we used to do in the days before the internet. I would have probably ripped the entire boot liner out looking for the topmounts. Never would have thought to look under there.  Shiny newness ready to go.  Whilst I was down the back I thought I'd investigate the ABS sensor that was throwing a code. Ah............  Ewwwwwww........  Well, at least I know what the problem is. The bolts came out just fine (I was worried they would shear). Didn't expect the sensor itself to disintegrate quite so badly. But this is a job for another day. New rear shock in position, all shiny and new.  Sadly ran out of time before I was summoned to the inlaws for tea, and light goes so quick during the winter months - I've made a start on the fronts but will have to finish another time. Pics of lows to follow... |
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ZXRob
Europe
Posts: 1,200 
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Nov 26, 2018 12:09:13 GMT
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Always liked a legend and find that they have some cracking technology in them! Looking forward to seeing how it looks after lowering. Good choice of car man!
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Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,013
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New wheels have been delayed, and it's been raining pretty much all week but here's an impromptu petrol pump shot to give an idea of lows. Not massive - it was never going to be on springs alone - but much more respectable...  |
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Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,013
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Dec 22, 2018 12:56:31 GMT
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Not a huge amount to report but I think I've got the stance where I want it now...  Looking a bit meaner and the arches much fuller :-) 18" by 8J, wearing 225/45/18s all round (would have preferred 40s but the wheels were a bargain). Came with 245s on the rear but happened to have a pair of tyres from my old RX8 ready to go. Had to roll the lip on the rear arches as they were scrubbing badly...seems to have done the trick ;-) |
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Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,013
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Neither did I until about a week ago. Most of what I've learned was by searching teh internetz for Acura RL forums. This is what happens when I have a week off work! Regardless, it looks like a winner. I think the first bit of preventive maintenance should be a g/box/diff oil change. Anyway, enjoy and keep posting. Preventive maintenance was the order of the day today... Oil & filter change for peace of mind...  That's handy...I've never seen that before:  Okay, confession time peeps. Filled with confidence I rushed onto emptying the car of ATF. Found the 3/8 plug, cracked it off no worries, waited for a rush of fluid and...about a litre of black gloop dribbled out. Interesting.  Unterred I carefully measured what had come out and replaced it - 1l out, 1l in - with the plan of flushing again when I got home from the petrol station some 3 miles away. Go - fuel up - come home, up on stands, pull the plug and...nothing. It would appear that in my haste I had drained the diff and now overfilled the ATF. It's not like they labelled it or...oh...  Yes of course the plug I needed was further back...  So now a 1-2 hour job becomes a mammoth task (including a 40 minute round trip to ECP and 30 minutes queueing) because I've now wasted a litre of ATF and have the gear oil for a manual in the garage - not an auto. Harrumph As it turns out the ATF that came out didn't look too bad...  Although the drain plug was rather sludgy..hmm...not much swarf in there tho   I shall take her out for another spin later to see if it's made much difference - although the kickdown seems pretty much in keeping with 90s luxobarges I've driven before. It's bumpy but not spine-shattering and I've not had any gear trouble...yet... |
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