1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
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Saturday was a mixed day for me.
I was happy to be going to get my new to me 145,000mi 87 900T but the joy was muted when I realized that I had so much more in store than I thought to bring the beast back from neglect. I had only driven the car around the block once prior to purchase because the rear braked were munged and dragging, I basically knew I'd be looking at brakes all around anyway, I just wanted to see if the car started, ran and shifted.
I had agreed with the seller (an indie who had taken the car in trade for part of the selling price of his wife's 9000) that he would do some things to the car prior to pick-up.
-New pads all around and new LR rotor.
-Replace whining alternator with one from donor car out back.
-Lube and adjust bound pass side window mechanism.
-Replace clutch pedal with donor due to slop from elongated holes.
Those were the items that got the car 'ready' at the price we agreed on ($1,800). I splurged on a set of almost new tail light lenses from the donor that were just put on prior to it's death. ($40) to replace the wasted ones on the car and avoid more rain crapping the taillight assbly's.
The drive home was a learning experience, the car actually reached base boost (almost halfway into yellow) a couple of times but the joy was overcome by the incredible front end play and heaving (seemed like motor or trans mounts or a front end with no spacers or bushings or rubber) The front end would really clunk and shift upon accel and decel as if the entire motor/trans was bucking in the car. There was significant vibration at 65+ but not like drivers because it was not really acceleration driven, more like tires/wheels and or front end shimmy. I really think a lot is loose up there, but steering was OK and not too sloppy. I'm sure I'll have a LOT of questions on this as I learn more.
The rattles and squeaks were indicative of the PO neglect, *everything* is loose on the car. More later.
Upon reaching home, it was time to do some quick work to get the little niggly stuff done before dark (and for a South Floridian, it was cold) Here's the first day's 'feel good' work:
-Removed rear floor in hatach and rear seat to get 17 years of accumulated crap/crud out and replace missing mounting fasteners. Floor and seats are now actually screwed down and hinges attached instead of just 'sitting there'
-Pulled drivers seat and did same, no longer a rocking chair, pass OK
-Gave the entire interior a good scrub/shampoo, etc, all I can say is OMG
-Pulled door panels and reattached cloth which was hanging off, covering the door pulls, someday might replace, electrical tape works for now :)
-Replaced cluster lighting (with GE #168 bulb, BTW), pulled and cleaned rheostat and now all others, except A/C snowflake actually work
-Replaced almost every exterior bulb on the car, one headlight, two turn signal, one cornering, one parking in front, both side turns, two parking one turn, two reverse, both license and one park/brake in rear. I don't know how the PO used the car at night
-Checked all vacuum hoses under hood for rot, actually all OK, two or three connectors or 'T' fitting need replacing though
-Oil needs changing but full, tranny oil fine, brake fluid fine, P/S low
-Emergency brake sticks on LF caliper, tried to get luck by lubeing spring and cable but no luck, probably need to do caliper, no Ebrake for now unless I want to manually release inside wheel. It does hold the car though, so if I need it, I can use it.
By this time it was getting too dark and cold (40 deg in South Florida is cold, I know some of you work in 5 deg, but I'm a wimp!)
Sunday was the 'make it purty' day.
A wash and some compound to lessen the stripe where the car was keyed down the entire drivers side, remove some of the different colors of paint from minor bumps and dings, check out the rust holes in the trailing edges of the hood and that kind of stuff. The wheels are long past pretty as the paint is gone on much of them but they look good from across the street when clean :)
Unfortunately I found why the PS fluid was low as there was about a half ounce of PS fluid on the driveway from parking overnite, one big area and three others, a rack is in my future which bites due to the cost. I am going to see how long it take until I get noise from the pump, as I drove the 88 for two years with a leaking rack, but not as bad as this.
For those of you who were patient enough to read this far, I will give you a tip on what I found that impacted the auto door lock system, it may be a well known item but it really caught me by surprise and may help other from long searches trying to find a cure for malfunctioning door locks.
When inside the drivers fender to replace the fender mounted turn indicator bulb, I found that all of the wiring had *VERY* bad insulation. I mean it was falling off the wires and there were a lot of bare corroded areas. This was the only area on the car which had this type of insulation deterioration that I found. I don't know if winsheild washer fluid draining thru the cowl holes might do it or if some other corrosive material gets in there somehow but it is really bad. As I was reaching in the get the indicator holder, I moved some of the wiring which must have grounded the door locks and the car locked, a few more wiggles and the inside lighting came on as if the door was opened, one more and the car unlocked (lucky for me , as the key was inside :}) There is not a lot of slack in this wiring, so I'm not sure how to go about replacing the bad parts, but I will pass on anything of value as I go.
I have seen posts regarding the malfunction of the door locking system and thought this might be of use in t-shooting, if you have wiring like mine.
I know this was really long, but it helps to put it out there. Thanks for playing. Many questions to come, Im sure.
posted by 68.158.11...
, Mon, 20 Jan 2003 13:05:15
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