As always...car updates
Christmas wise we hosted christmas day at our flat for the first time ever. About 8 people round so it was pretty chocker. Fun, nice turkey, and lots to drink. Watched "It's a Wonderful Life" by the time I was very drunk and cried about 3 times while watching it.
I've been put on the insurance of Angie's 1992 MX5 at no extra cost! Woohoo. So having now driven the little beast proper, I love it. These are supreme handling little cars, and even though only a little 1.6 it's responsive, free revving and has a lovely little growl to it. Much, much nicer on the ear than the K-series in the MGF. It also goes quite well too, you just have to rev her.
She has already needed some work, but it's work I can do myself and i'm actually rather enjoying it. First noticed the fan wasnt coming in, so I tested the fuse, the relay, the fan motor (all worked) and finally the thermoswitch. It is indeed the thermoswitch not operating the fan, so that will be replaced. Luckily, running the aircon activates a second fan attached to the radiator so we're not stuck. Then I noticed a small hole in the top radiator hose, this has been patched with gaffer tape for now but a hose will be ordered along with the thermoswitch. While i'm at it i'm going to flush and refill the radiator as it looks like it could use it. All in all the car looks like it reasonably easy to work on, and given it is 16 years old I expected one or two things to need work.
The MGF has been standing a while now and so had a flat battery and some mold growing on the canvas. Thats been scrubbed with a stiff brush, and the battery put on a charger. Meanwhile, fixed the wipers on horace. We had our local mechanic fit the mechanism I got from the scrappers and they are now working a treat. It was a pig of a job in the end but he charged us a very reasonable £35 for it, including welding in a steel plate where it had rusted and was allowing water in.
The RX7 got a run out to Southport, needed jump starting as it was flat having been sitting in a garage for ages. Still running like a dream and amazes me all the time that car. Can't wait till summer, I wanted to go to Nurburgring last summer but couldn't afford in the end (the purchase of the RX7 leaving me a little light), but maybe we could manage it Summer 2009. Now that we have horace I was thinking of renting a trailer and taking the RX7 to germany on the back of a trailer. That way we can camp in Horace and I dont have to put huge milage on the RX7. Mind you, i'm sure that ferry or channel tunnel costs for a van AND trailer will be a bit on the high side :(
I've been put on the insurance of Angie's 1992 MX5 at no extra cost! Woohoo. So having now driven the little beast proper, I love it. These are supreme handling little cars, and even though only a little 1.6 it's responsive, free revving and has a lovely little growl to it. Much, much nicer on the ear than the K-series in the MGF. It also goes quite well too, you just have to rev her.
She has already needed some work, but it's work I can do myself and i'm actually rather enjoying it. First noticed the fan wasnt coming in, so I tested the fuse, the relay, the fan motor (all worked) and finally the thermoswitch. It is indeed the thermoswitch not operating the fan, so that will be replaced. Luckily, running the aircon activates a second fan attached to the radiator so we're not stuck. Then I noticed a small hole in the top radiator hose, this has been patched with gaffer tape for now but a hose will be ordered along with the thermoswitch. While i'm at it i'm going to flush and refill the radiator as it looks like it could use it. All in all the car looks like it reasonably easy to work on, and given it is 16 years old I expected one or two things to need work.
The MGF has been standing a while now and so had a flat battery and some mold growing on the canvas. Thats been scrubbed with a stiff brush, and the battery put on a charger. Meanwhile, fixed the wipers on horace. We had our local mechanic fit the mechanism I got from the scrappers and they are now working a treat. It was a pig of a job in the end but he charged us a very reasonable £35 for it, including welding in a steel plate where it had rusted and was allowing water in.
The RX7 got a run out to Southport, needed jump starting as it was flat having been sitting in a garage for ages. Still running like a dream and amazes me all the time that car. Can't wait till summer, I wanted to go to Nurburgring last summer but couldn't afford in the end (the purchase of the RX7 leaving me a little light), but maybe we could manage it Summer 2009. Now that we have horace I was thinking of renting a trailer and taking the RX7 to germany on the back of a trailer. That way we can camp in Horace and I dont have to put huge milage on the RX7. Mind you, i'm sure that ferry or channel tunnel costs for a van AND trailer will be a bit on the high side :(