Long overdue update

The respray was completed and the Golf came home but was not running at all well. We decided that the fuel distribution box was at fault and tried a couple of other units in the car but there wasn't much success.

It took some investigation to locate someone with the right skills and tools to diagnose the problems correctly. I ended up taking the car to Richards Bros. in Redruth as they still have the Bosch diagnostics equipment available. In the end the whole fuel system from the fuel tank (full of rubbish and a non-functioning low pressure pump) through pipes that needed replacing in sections to the fuel distributor that had to be sent for reconditioning and new injectors was reviewed and rebuilt. Once that was done problems were found with the cold-start and warm-start sensors so they were replaced too.

The car was running superbly from late 2015.

With a driving holiday in France planned there was some frantic scheduling of the new roof being fitted and getting a stereo in place and working. We covered 1000 miles in the week and had a wonderful time with the roof down most days. The car was faultless until the last day when a misfire appeared and we were down on power. We limped home under our own power but I think a trip back to Richards Bros is in the future to diagnose what has happened.

Still remaining on the list to do:

• Refurbish wheels - I now have 8 so need to pick the best 4 and send them off to be soda blasted and then fully renovated
• Repair and renovate interior. Front seats need re-padding, rears just need a good clean
• Suspension
• Engine - still a nagging oil leak here and there so new gaskets needed
• Dash - the mfa seems to have gone AWOL.
• Seats - the runners are not sliding quite right.

Sunday, Lovely Sunday

One Sunday earlier this month we had a drive out to Exeter. It was fiercely cold and the heater motor is still not working so there was little warmth to be had. Regardless, we had the  roof down.

What a fantastic experience it was. We chose the old road to Exeter rather that blasting along the boring dual-carriageway so we had very little traffic around us and sweeping corners and impressive views over Dartmoor and Mid Devon on either side. One thing we didn't have to worry about was the engine overheating, thanks to the weather. Last time the car was out it was getting hot if it worked hard or if it was moving under about 50. It is possible that the radiator needs flushing so that's one thing more for the list.

Jump forward another weekend and I have replaced the indicator relay - I asked for one in Halfords in Exeter and got a very blank look from the young boy at the counter. I walked out without one! I went to the local motor factors in the week and got one with no bother. My son actually replaced it, having had to take out 2 or 3 others until he found the one that was for the indicators. The handbook lists the fuses and their circuits but not the relays. We also replaced the lamp in the boot but that is refusing to light so I need to check there is power in that circuit. Next we had a look at the heater fan. Rather misleadingly I had been told it came out from inside, behind the dash. After taking the centre console out and seeing that it wasn't there for the removing I resigned myself to having to take it to a garage. I moved on to taking a look at the full-beam headlight alignment. They've been out of whack, pointing to a piece of road about 20 feet in front of the car, and its just a case of twiddling a couple of screw in the from of the grille for each light and hey presto. Screws twiddled, now I need it to go dark and try out my newly aligned spotlights.