[27matt]

About time I got on with some work on the Coupe, so I headed out this morning to try and resolve a few issues.

There is a car hiding under all that frost!

WP_20180106_10_45_11_Rich by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

The heater blower only works intermittently - I'm guessing the blower fan is knackered, but wanted to check the resistors first.

Glovebox out to get to the resistor

WP_20180106_10_55_36_Rich by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

Two screws to release it, nothing wrong here :(

WP_20180106_10_59_20_Rich by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

Onto the next issue, passenger side central locking has stopped working. Door card comes off quite easily - I need something to replace the yellow sealant around the door liner, its gone rock solid

WP_20180106_11_26_12_Rich by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

That allowed me to get a circuit tester into the wiring loom, everything seems to be fine with a pulse when locked or unlocked. I'll have to search for a replacement. Not sure which part number is the correct one, Rimmers list a part number for a coupe actuator for models with an alarm but it has a 4 way plug, mine only has a 2 way....I definitely have an alarm though so I'm slightly confused.

[crepello]

If it's not a huge job to get the actuator out, it might have a part number on it.

[ROVER Cabby]

You must have perished out there doing that in the cold.

[RoverRevival]

remember the unit rules, if you're cold, work harder

[27matt]

I also changed the headlamps on my 75, the lamp unit had separated from the housing and needing popping back on the ball/socket - I did have to go inside to do that, couldn't feel my fingers!

I went back to the Coupe later on to try and remove the actuator, I'm not sure if it was the cold or the fact it was getting dark but I couldn't get it out. I couldn't remeber how to release the lever from the latch to the handle...any tips?

[ROVER Cabby]

remember the unit rules, if you're cold, work harder

If your cold, put kettle on and fire up the BBQ *laughs*.

[27matt]

remember the unit rules, if you're cold, work harder

If your cold, put kettle on and fire up the BBQ *laughs*.

Slightly warmer this weekend

Lots of work to do on the Coupe this weekend, no photos, not that they were particularly interesting to look at!

Saturday involved getting the exhaust off as it was bloody noisy and that can't be helping with the it not running and idling quite right.

Back box was only replaced a couple of months ago, so the bolts actually came undone :shock:

The other bolts along the system were....unrecognisable. Unbolted the manifold from the head, dropped the rest of the exhaust from its rubber hangers and pushed the manifold down as low as I could.

Cut through the two down pipes as near to the manifold as possible, dragged the majority of the system out from underneath and pulled the manifold up out the bonnet - that was all easier than expected. I did however manage to bash the lambda sensor wiring to oblivion during the sawing.

I found lots of useful bits already in the garage, downpipe, spare cat, full gasket set, so have ordered a new lambda sensor and centre section.

Sunday involved investigation of heater motor and central locking motor. Heater motor came out without too much effort, had to loosen all the heater unit bolts and pull the carpet forward but that left enough room to drop the motor out. Plugged it back in to test, works fine when horizontal, stops when vertical. Replacement ordered from ebay.

Last job was to remove the central locking motor from the N/S door. Much fiddling with handles etc (and the compulsory removal of a spring that I have no idea how to refit) was done and the old motor liberated. A final quick test confirmed it was dead - thankfully ebay had one for me! Only one of the 3 screws holding the motor to the lock mech was actually fitted, probably didn't help extend its life.

Successful weekend (unless you're my wife, who now has a car with no central locking, heating or exhaust and is on axle stands on the drive)!

[ROVER Cabby]

I would say it was successful. ;)

[27matt]

Lots of packages arrived this week, although disappointingly not probably the most important part - the mid section of the exhaust.

Capture by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

Apparently this actually means, we'll spend a few days checking if we can actually get this item, and then inform you it will be 3 weeks and then another 2-3 for shipping.....frustrating!

Still, as we all enjoy* working on cars in the rain, today was an ideal time to start bolting things back together.

Pile of parts that did arrive

WP_20180203_10_16_00_Rich by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

First job was fixing the central locking. Actuators are NLA but found one on ebay, loom had been chopped off so repaired with some solder sleeves

WP_20180203_10_37_43_Rich by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

Fiddly job getting the handle back out the door, bolted up to the lock mechanism and then back in the door, but got there in the end and everything bolted back up. I did remember to test it worked before reassembly thankfully!

WP_20180203_12_45_51_Rich by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

Next up was replacing the plastic throttle body with an alloy one - hopefully this will cure the remaining idle problems, I can't say that the plastic throttle looked warped or damaged.

WP_20180203_11_46_12_Rich by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

WP_20180203_11_54_12_Rich by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

The rocker cover seemed to be leaking a bit and a new gasket was less than £2 from the local JLR specialist down the road so seemed silly not to change it. Cover was well stuck on, and took some persuasion to lift off once unbolted!

WP_20180203_12_14_21_Rich by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

Quick check of the plugs whilst I was in there, nothing too alarming there

WP_20180203_11_59_43_Rich by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

Quick clean and new gasket in place

WP_20180203_12_15_10_Rich by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

And all back together and torqued up!

WP_20180203_11_58_09_Rich by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

Last job I got done today was to finish refitting the interior. I refitted the heater motor one night during the week and tested it, so just needed to bolt everything back together. The two halves had split apart slightly and the foam dropped out, it was a bit damp and knackered (it is 20 years old) so the dangly bit went in the bin, there was only a slight leak of air into the footwell.

WP_20180203_12_50_36_Rich by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

Dashboard bolted back on and door card refitted, progress! I do need to get some sealant to fix the plastic liner back behind the door card - its on there but the existing sealant is rock solid so it may well leak a bit.

WP_20180203_13_13_14_Rich by Matthew Leigh, on Flickr

That's probably it for this weekend whilst waiting for the exhaust. I was going to refit the manifold and the new lambda sensor but the exhaust studs didn't want to go in the manifold (down pipe end). I'm sure both the head studs and exhaust ones are M10 so not sure what I've got wrong - might just pick up a new set of studs!

[ROVER Cabby]

Cracking weekends worth of work there mate, well done.