Been fixin'

[s2avant]

All Martyn's recent work has got me in the mood for some repairs so I've set about all the little jobs that needed doing.

The worst one was fixing the electric windows and sunroof. As you will no doubt know the windows and sunroof should power off when one of the front doors is opened and closed. Mine didn't.

I replaced the control unit - no joy :mad:

I then rewired the permanent live feed and window output of the control unit properly, as opposed to the bizarre twin inline 20amp fuse holder arrangement that was joining the two circuits - still no joy

After much head scratching, I found the ingition feed was missing!!! The wire went up towards the control unit and sure enough went live with the ignition but it never got to the pin in the relay plate. I have no idea where it does go (presumably to yet another piece of 'heath robinson' wiring fitted by a previous owner)

I reattached the pin to the ignition feed et voila, all is well. Well almost. My TOAD alarm feeds the interior light for a set time after the igntion is turned off and until the light goes out the windows stay live. Oh well. At least they power down afterwards as they should.

I don't think I've ever seen so many bodged wiring jobs on one car. The guy who did it was either very forgetful or very lazy. Instead of connecting wires with crimp connectors or other means, it appears he started to use the old cut the insulation and solder the new wire to it technique. Not a problem with that, I've done it in the past myself. Only there's no solder on any of the joints, just a wire wrapped loosely around with a bit of insulating tape He must have liked this method though because it's been used for everything. Indicators and fogs, headlights, stereo, etc. You name it and there's probably a dodgy joint I've got to make right.

Ben

Thanks to Paul for the schematics. They helped out no end. I've ordered myself the complete current flow diagrams folder for future reference.

[Martynf]

watch it Ben, one job leads to another, which leads to another, which leads to another, which... arrrr you get the idea!! I feel for you tho man! I don't have any of your issues, just run o the mill stuff for me, just that I did it all at the same time :-). do it once.....

[s2avant]

Cheers Martyn,

Today I will probably chase down some vac leaks, the home fries have highlighted a few areas for improvement. And I've now got to replace the aircon re-circ solenoid as it appears to have come of worst in an argument with the girlfriends handbag or shoes.

My fault I suppose, I should have put the glove box back in. Especially now I've got all the proper bolts and strips. You guessed it, it was held in with self tapping screws at the top and what appears to be 'pure luck' at the bottom. No wonder it never closed.

It's only out still because I want to fit a boost gauge. Does anybody know where I can get an Autometer Phantom gauge without waiting three weeks???

Ben

[s2avant]

Replaced all the accessible (?) vac pipes in the engine bay. The only ones left are down near the WGFV and dump valve. They can wait till the front is off (either next week if I can persuade my mechanic or when the samco hoses arrive). I'll slap on a new WGFV while it's apart and maybe look at this intercooler spray system. The hose to the ECU of the back of the head had a lovely hole in it just before it joins the green plastic tube right behind the wiring loom across the bulk head. What a bitch to get to.


I now realise why so many of you guys have children. Their the only people who can get their hands down the back of the engine.

Ben

[Martynf]

Fun, fun, fun Ben :-) Bet you've never had your hands so dirty huh? ;-)

Those vac pipes to the WGFV and DV are not that bad to change, just remove the headlamp and deflectors behind it, easy enough to do (he says).

Keep up the good work mate :-)
Martyn