GrumpyGel · Jan 21, 2023

Mine's coming up for its 6 monthly WOF (MOT).

So today I did the pre WOF checks/maintenance - OK, I washed it. Always find a clean car helps it get a WOF.

She's beginning to show her 23 year age, but still scrubs up pretty well. However, the car has been parked under trees and the bonnet is covered in black spots that don't want to come off wish washing (rubbing with a cloth) using soapy water. Don't know if its stuff dropping from the trees or bird poo, is suspect stuff from the trees as there's no "big blobs", just the whole bonnet covered in dots. Any advice out there for getting rid of them?

Also noticed the plastic surround for the sun roof is warping and coming away. Haven't noticed any leaks, but doesn't look good.

Alibro · Jan 21, 2023

GrumpyGel said:
Mine's coming up for its 6 monthly WOF (MOT).

So today I did the pre WOF checks/maintenance - OK, I washed it. Always find a clean car helps it get a WOF.

View attachment 281718

She's beginning to show her 23 year age, but still scrubs up pretty well. However, the car has been parked under trees and the bonnet is covered in black spots that don't want to come off wish washing (rubbing with a cloth) using soapy water. Don't know if its stuff dropping from the trees or bird poo, is suspect stuff from the trees as there's no "big blobs", just the whole bonnet covered in dots. Any advice out there for getting rid of them?

View attachment 281719

Also noticed the plastic surround for the sun roof is warping and coming away. Haven't noticed any leaks, but doesn't look good.

View attachment 281720

If the spots are oil based (like tar) petrol works a treat, otherwise I guess something like washing up liquid.

GrumpyGel · Jan 21, 2023

Alibro said:
If the spots are oil based (like tar) petrol works a treat, otherwise I guess something like washing up liquid.

Was using washing up liquid on it - its my go to car care cleaning agent in a bucket of warm water

- didn't budge much.

Going to cut the lawns tomorrow (and cut the trees back around the drive!), will dab a cloth in the petrol and give it a go.

Cheers.

Nodge68 · Jan 21, 2023

GrumpyGel said:
Was using washing up liquid on it - its my go to car care cleaning agent in a bucket of warm water - didn't budge much.

Washing up liquid shouldn't be used to wash a vehicle. It's basically a concentrated salt solution, which strips the oils out the paint, removes any polish, and causes rust in hidden areas of the body where the water runs.

Alibro · Jan 21, 2023

Nodge68 said:
Washing up liquid shouldn't be used to wash a vehicle. It's basically a concentrated salt solution, which strips the oils out the paint, removes any polish, and causes rust in hidden areas of the body where the water runs.

I would only use washing up liquid to remove stubborn dirt or prior to spraying. It would need waxed after as the detergent will strip any wax.

rob_bell · Jan 21, 2023

Changed the key fob batteries, so no more “beep-beep” noise after unlocking the car!

One problem though: after changing one battery, the fob stopped working. Took the fob apart again and found that one of the battery cage terminals had snapped from the PCB.

Luckily, just enough remained for me to re-solder it back to the PCB (after removing the old solder with the trust solder sucker) and full operation restored. The battery is now a very tight fir, but hopefully this will be okay..

the unlock button remains a little intermittent though: not sure if that’s just the old case and buttons or the micro switch has become intermittent?

Will order a new case and take it from there…

andyfreelandy · Jan 21, 2023

You can also buy the switches but small soldering iron and good eyes required !!

Nodge68 · Jan 21, 2023

Finally finished replacing the EGR cooler, and blanked it off as well. That's 5 hours I'll never get back, it if it stops the coolant loss and pressurisation, it'll be worth it.

andyfreelandy · Jan 21, 2023

Hope it's sorted John.

I finally finished the V6 work. It has now had a replacement radiator, new thermostat and pipes + 'O' rings, new timing belts, new aux belt, new brake caliper. All fluids and oils changed.
Needs an MOT now, it has done 68 miles since the last one !
Shall be using it to get a return on the work put in. Drives really nicely now. No more water hiss noises when switched off and no more worries about belt snapping when MOT do their worst with the revs !
Question for @Nodge68 if you would be so kind. Engine oil quantity is shown as 5.2L. I drained 7 Litres out. wow..............
Took ages and a run then rest for the oil to show on dipstick but 5.2L shows now at halfway between low and high. It was obviously overfull and as it takes ages to appear on the dipstick I could have made the same mistake. Is this normal and it 5.2 L correct??

Alibro · Jan 21, 2023

Drove it up and down the lane on leccy power, pulled away in 2nd making smoke and squealing tyre noises.

Tried pulling away in third gear and it was nice and smooth, not silly fast but fine for normal traffic.

Now I have a big decision to make.

Nodge68 · Jan 21, 2023

andyfreelandy said:
Hope it's sorted John.

andyfreelandy said:
I finally finished the V6 work. It has now had a replacement radiator, new thermostat and pipes + 'O' rings, new timing belts, new aux belt, new brake caliper. All fluids and oils changed.

Well done. The belts are a bit of a game, but only because access is so tight.
It took me 20 minutes to do my V6 belts, but it was on an engine stand at the time.

Get some mile on it to make it worthwhile.

andyfreelandy said:
Question for @Nodge68 if you would be so kind. Engine oil quantity is shown as 5.2L. I drained 7 Litres out. wow..............
Took ages and a run then rest for the oil to show on dipstick but 5.2L shows now at halfway between low and high. It was obviously overfull and as it takes ages to appear on the dipstick I could have made the same mistake. Is this normal and it 5.2 L correct??

I think so. I seem to remember mine taking quite a bit less than 6 Litres, so 5.2 maybe 5.4L would be about right.
It's important to have the vehicle level, as the sump is wide and shallow, which means just a small change in angle makes a big difference to the level on the dip stick.

Nodge68 · Jan 21, 2023

Alibro said:
Drove it up and down the lane on leccy power, pulled away in 2nd making smoke and squealing tyre noises.
Tried pulling away in third gear and it was nice and smooth, not silly fast but fine for normal traffic.

Good to hear Ali, although having the AWD connected will stop all the smoke n stuff.
Question. Does the TC come in when it's spinning the tyres?

Alibro said:
Now I have a big decision to make.

Which is?

andyfreelandy · Jan 21, 2023

Just checked RAVE it says 11 US pints inc filter which is 5.2L so will keep an eye on levels and check on dead level ground. Thanks

Alibro · Jan 21, 2023

Nodge68 said:
Good to hear Ali, although having the AWD connected will stop all the smoke n stuff.
Question. Does the TC come in when it's spinning the tyres?

Mmmm, I didn't look TBH.

Nodge68 said:
Which is?

I'm at the point now where I'm almost finished installing everything so there's not really any point spending much more time on the test mule.
Everything needs removing and the boxes need sealed and painted but the weather isn't great for painting.
The ICE bits need removing from the other car but I don't want to leave the leccy car outside while I do it because corrosion. I would rather remove the leccy bits one by one, paint/seal/button up etc as I install it in the other car. I would also like to spend time on the other car tidying up a few things before installing the electrics.
I also need to start the process of re - registering it as an EV.

Maybe if I procrastinate long enough it will be spring, I will have a bit more time and everything will be a bit easier.

Nodge68 · Jan 21, 2023

Alibro said:
Maybe if I procrastinate long enough it will be spring, I will have a bit more time and everything will be a bit easier.

Why not just get on with the bits like brakes and other stuff you'll need for a complete conversion, which should take you up to spring.

What are you doing with the test mule once you've taken the EV bits back out?

GrumpyGel · Jan 21, 2023

rob_bell said:
Changed the key fob batteries, so no more “beep-beep” noise after unlocking the car!

One problem though: after changing one battery, the fob stopped working. Took the fob apart again and found that one of the battery cage terminals had snapped from the PCB.

Luckily, just enough remained for me to re-solder it back to the PCB (after removing the old solder with the trust solder sucker) and full operation restored. The battery is now a very tight fir, but hopefully this will be okay..

the unlock button remains a little intermittent though: not sure if that’s just the old case and buttons or the micro switch has become intermittent?

Will order a new case and take it from there…

Had those same problems.

I thought a watch repaired would be a good place to get the soldering fixed - but evidently not, don't suppose they solder much. I got it fixed at the local 1 man band computer sales/repairs shop.

One of our units has a difficult to use unlock button - but the rubber is perished. I know you can get replacement cases with the rubber bit, but a bit worried that swapping the gubbins over will damage it, so have not done it yet.

GrumpyGel · Jan 21, 2023

Nodge68 said:
Good to hear Ali, although having the AWD connected will stop all the smoke n stuff.
Question. Does the TC come in when it's spinning the tyres?

Which is?

My 2WD will spin the front wheels up and the TC does not kick in.

Other times though, on uneven ground usually, the TC will kick in.

I presume therefore that the TC only compares wheels on the same axle and when it does not kick in both wheels are spinning.

Jon Dor · Jan 21, 2023

GrumpyGel said:
Was using washing up liquid on it - its my go to car care cleaning agent in a bucket of warm water - didn't budge much.

Going to cut the lawns tomorrow (and cut the trees back around the drive!), will dab a cloth in the petrol and give it a go.

Cheers.

I'd respectfully suggest trying one of the "waterless" products. I've been amazed at some of the "stuff" these late generation products can deal with brilliantly.
M.

Hippo · Jan 22, 2023

GrumpyGel said:
Mine's coming up for its 6 monthly WOF (MOT).

So today I did the pre WOF checks/maintenance - OK, I washed it. Always find a clean car helps it get a WOF.

View attachment 281718

She's beginning to show her 23 year age, but still scrubs up pretty well. However, the car has been parked under trees and the bonnet is covered in black spots that don't want to come off wish washing (rubbing with a cloth) using soapy water. Don't know if its stuff dropping from the trees or bird poo, is suspect stuff from the trees as there's no "big blobs", just the whole bonnet covered in dots. Any advice out there for getting rid of them?

View attachment 281719

Also noticed the plastic surround for the sun roof is warping and coming away. Haven't noticed any leaks, but doesn't look good.

View attachment 281720

A tar remover may do it. Not sure whats available your side of the pond. Products I've used.
Gyeom q2m tar remover
Auto finesse ObliTARate

GrumpyGel · Jan 22, 2023

Hippo said:
A tar remover may do it. Not sure whats available your side of the pond. Products I've used.
Gyeom q2m tar remover
Auto finesse ObliTARate

I'm not sure if its tar based - its rock hard little dots.

Been to busy cutting trees today to get the lawn mower out, so haven't tried petrol.

Will get to it in the week.

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