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.

Grin Factor 60

Well, it's finally happened. The car is MOT'd, taxed, insured and the tank is full of petrol.

It's a right squeeze in the garage as I haven't really put the effort into clearing it out since the car left it months ago. Things are just piled higher all around it.

So we took it out, just a small hop along the road towards Moretonhamstead. It was dark, rainy, very windy and cold. My daughter insisted on keeping the roof up as she had just got ready to go out and didn't want to ruin her hair!

The car ran well with a few points that need attention:

• The passenger seat isn't wholly fixed in place by the adjusting lever.
• The blower for the heater doesn't work.
• The radio is missing.
• When the radio is back in place the heater control that is missing will have to be replaced too otherwise you wont be able to reach inside the dashboard to move the levers.
• The dashboard lights need checking, its very dark on the left.

I may get a chance to review some of these over the weekend.

Let's hope so. If the passenger seat gets sorted (and I hope its only a case of judiciously applying some 3in1) then we will certainly go out for a drive.

On the road (briefly)

So this week has seen the MOT passed for the Golf. It now needs a new immobiliser fitted, to be insured and then finally taxed so that we are road legal.

In order to get it from the garage to the immobiliser fitting firm I had to drive it just under 5 miles in to town. It was a real surprise how the clutch was much heavier that my current car. The steering is not power-assisted so that was hard work until the car got moving. I had also forgotten how different a petrol engine is from a diesel, the power curve and rev limit are so different! Really looking forward to getting the car on the road by the end of the month. The immobiliser should be fitted in the next 10 days so then its just paperwork (and writing cheques!) to do.

A few more parts

So, we purchased some suspension parts a while back and had to discover what the brake disc sizes were before we could get the new ones. Turns out they are 239mm. They are kept on the shelf in Launceston branch of Kevin Cooper so I have a pair of discs and a new set of pads to take over to the garage in the next day or two.

Still no real  idea of when the car might be ready for its MOT or back on the road but its still possible that we might get some miles done this Summer, hopefully!

Shopping list continues to grow

I have today ordered a pair of front coil springs, a pair of front shock absorbers, a pair of front brake discs and pads. With a following wind the suspension parts will be in by the end of tomorrow and I can get them to the garage to be fitted.

The brakes are however going to take a little longer to organise as there seems to be an option on the diameter of the discs. I got offered 9 1/2" or 10" discs, we need to measure whats on there and then get the replacement parts ordered so that will happen when the suspension is done.

Looking forward to the refurbishment part of the project I have been recommended to a company in Wadebridge, Cornwall for reconditioning the wheels, apparently  www.thepolishedwheelcompany.com are very good. Once we are on the road I'll be making a trip to Wadebridge to get them to take a look and tell me what can be done for me.

Another week, another problem

Well, its to be expected. The car has its dashboard back in now and it appears that the suspension is in dire need of attention, one of the coil springs is making noises that would mean its cracked or there is a problem with the mounting. Still should be up on the ramp in the next few days so we will be able to tell then.

Mechanically sound

Well, to my relief the garage are saying that the engine is in good order, they have started it and on the whole all went well. We are however building a shopping list of things we need. So far a new battery, new cam belt, new immobiliser, fuel and oil filter are required.

The requirement for a new immobiliser is a pain, the old one seems to have given up after all the time in storage. This means I need to locate a supplier/fitter and get that sorted before I can get the car insured.

The new cam belt has been installed and the car is starting with no problem now, this week it will be up on the ramp so that the underneath can be assessed for work required to pass an MOT. We are hoping that work can be done, or at least started, next week.