Enbloc
Part of things
Posts: 353
|
|
Nov 27, 2023 20:11:02 GMT
|
Just caught up on all the fun from the beginning!
Bangernomics at its finest.
I was sad to see the taxi go. I was fascinated by their antiquated construction and lack of build quality!
|
|
|
|
Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,907
|
|
|
Just a mini update as not a great deal to report - swapped out the doughnuts at the rear with the smallest ones available - takes another half inch out of the back suspension. Now in other news my heating seems to be stuck on hot - like many early 2000s Mercs it would seem that the heating is electronically controlled, not (as is the case in most of my jalopies) by a cable to a flap. Which would obviously be much simpler and reliable. Because German overengineering. It's not really been a problem since it's been so cold - and the roof conveys a certain element of built in aircon - but on long runs in the rain I'd rather not crack a window. This tantalisingly accessible doodad is called a duo valve. Each valve is devoted to one side of the car and controls the amount of coolant that flows through the heater core, allowing one fan at the front to blow hot whilst the other can blow cold(er). They are known to gunk up, break electrical coils and fail. 1st test - simply plug and unplug it with the keys in the ignition should make the solenoids inside click obviously. No noise from mine. Opened mine up to find nothing especially gunky - the plungers were plunging freely, and nothing looks particularly grimy. If anything it's good evidence of using proper coolant over the 120k life of the car. Brought out the multimeter to test for resistance - it would appear that there's an open circuit across both valves. So I'm guessing the coils are done. Replacement ordered off the bay.
|
|
|
|
Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,907
|
|
|
Armed with the replacement valve I set about...ummm...replacing it. Each pipe (one per interior vent) is clipped onto the underside of the valve, and there's one spring clip securing the coolant line. Super easy to access Out with the old In with the nearly new Went for a spin to ger her up to temperature and...nope, still not working. Much head scratching and someone on another forum pointed out that their temp control fuse was missing. That's seems very silly and something I definitely definitely would have found...wouldn't I? Well apparently not. What makes it even more confusing is that the fuse box has a whole row of spare fuses in every flavour available. Why take it out and not replace it? Vents seem to be working fine now but I'm expecting something to go pop in the future and for me to realise why it was left un-fused. We shall see. So to feel like I'd actually accomplished something I changed out the spark plugs. Coil packs looks quite new and the rubber is still very rubbery and pliable, not hard and brittle. Old plugs show nothing untoward but we're probably ready to be swapped out Have added some engine bay decoration that sums up how I'm feeling Next job really ought to be brakes all round...
|
|
|
|
Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,907
|
|
Dec 26, 2023 17:09:27 GMT
|
What better way to spend your Boxing Day than changing out the front brakes on a 21 year old Merc? Current set up was looking more than a bit tired Brake discs were very lipped and I don't understand how the brake pad sensors haven't been set off. But they have worn evenly on both sides and pistons moved nice and freely. That's more like it Tomorrow if I'm feeling fruity I'll tackle the rears 😁
|
|
|
|
Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,907
|
|
Apr 23, 2024 18:36:44 GMT
|
Ridiculously overdue fleet update: Buick is Buicking, 911 is snoozing in the garage most of the time, Dodge is Dakota-ing (they have separate threads so I'm not duplicating content here) relatively faultlessly, campervan soldiers on collecting more and more advisories every year (and failing MOTs EVERY year on headlamp adjustment which makes me think the adjusters themselves aren't working right). Added this little nugget to the fleet to use as a commuter as I had to sell the non-ULEZ compliant BMW E87 - it's also got a thread somewhere. Throttle body clean and new gasket fitted and it's running pretty faultlessly - again more deets here: forum.retro-rides.org/thread/226742/2001-audi-a2-1-commuter And the SLK, once it had a new battery fitted, sailed through the most recent MOT without even one advisory. Could really, really do with some sunshine now. It's all going too well, waiting for something to explode...
|
|
|
|