169 replies to this topic

[charie t]

Where should I add the relay? Between the fuses/bulkhead connector and the lamps?

Wow looks great now its out and driving oli,
Yeah basically the wires want to switch on the relay then a big live from the starter solenoid or other major power source to the relay and on to the lights, where you want the relay is up to you and how you want it to be wired to switch the lamps on

[oli8925]

Just arranged insurance for I think a pretty good price, and now got an MOT at 2.15. Nervous! Wish me luck!

[charie t]

Just arranged insurance for I think a pretty good price, and now got an MOT at 2.15. Nervous! Wish me luck!

Best of luck, sure you wont need it though

[oli8925]

Thanks Charlie

It passed. Got an advisory for slight play in the O/S tie rod inner joint which I'll sort out in the next few days, O/S rear brake inefficiency on handbrake, N/S rear brake inefficiency on foot brake, and some rusty stuff that I'll sort in the summer. Good thing about this tester is that I know he'll fail me if that's the case, but he'll check everything with a fine-tooth comb and find anything that might need doing. Top bloke!

Also need to get the suspension fully set up and get a new battery while I'm there. And then onto the next stage

[oli8925]

I took it in for full wheel alignment on Wednesday only to be told the steering isn't as it should be and it catches so I took it back to have a look at it after doing a few bits on the girlfriends Mini.

Only started on the Viva at 2ish and jacked the front up to take a look. I thought I'd cured the problem by chopping two of the bolts for the coupling down to stop them grinding on the column at certain turns, now two of the thick washers I'd kept from the old coupling were rubbing on the other side, so I had to undo the bolts holding the rack on to the crossmember and the rod ends to straighten the coupling and remove the two offending washers. Put it all back together and offered it up, and still wasn't happy with the acuteness of the angle, caused by all the other thick washers effectively making the column longer. So again I took it all apart, took all the thick washers out and stuck with just the smaller thin washers that came with the bolts, though these still spread the load over the metal sleeves perfectly. Put it all back together and it was much better except the bolts I originally cut down now stuck out much further again : so they had to be cut down even further in situ and at last, I think I've cracked it! Steering felt much better and not notchy.

Took it back to be aligned and they were happy but it took a good couple of hours, so my girlfriend got the right hump as she wanted to go home. Stuck a load of tools in the boot just in case of anything (and so I could do some work when she wasn't looking) and made the 80 mile journey to Hertford in the rain, and it didn't miss a beat, so I'm happy.

Oil pressure was 50-60 running and nearing 20 at idle, so could be higher but I'll hopefully be able to get on with the other engine now, which will give me a few more ponies too. On the motorway I really wished I had a a lot more power and another gear or two, but that'll have to wait.

For now, it works!

[oli8925]

Some fresh pictures. Maybe I'm just a bit stupid, but at certain angles it still looks quite high...especially the back end which could do with coming down another half inch or two. Never mind though, I'll reserve judgement for when the new wheels are on.



Got a new battery yesterday and slightly higher rated than the old 038 too, but it still has a problem cranking in the winter weather. I've redone the wiring around the batter, and the earths and cleaned up the solenoid connections. So not really sure where to go now ???

So no fun in the snow yet

[Calman]

Looks good oli, get some banded steels on there thogh!

[Sir Cheat]

Looks mint. Really like the shape!

[luvlygal]

so my girlfriend got the right hump as she wanted to go home.

Really? Selfish cow.

[oli8925]

so my girlfriend got the right hump as she wanted to go home.

Really? Selfish cow.

[oli8925]

UPDATE:

20/12/2010
I've absolutely had enough of cars at the moment though, and feel like burning them all and becoming a social recluse! I charged the new battery yesterday and it started near enough on the dot in the evening so we went for a little drive and it was fine. Try it midday today and no luck, got another brand new battery to jump it from and still nothing, check the radiator and its all frozen. I swear blind last I knew there was plenty of antifreeze in it, but my fault for not checking, will just have to hope it hasn't caused damage. Head down to tesco in my girlfriends mini with the help of a jump start, get antifreeze and supplies and come back. Chuck some antifreeze in and run an extension to the car to put my floodlight under the bonnet for some heat. Come back 10 minutes later and the bulbs melted so pack it all away. and give up on the Viva for today, but then I realise the ignition lights aren't on and there's absolutely no power. So the battery's on charge again.

Meanwhile my girlfriends Corsa C is completely dead so we have the new battery, but can't change it easily due to having to take half the trim around the bay/windscreen off, and that requires allan keys my gf doesnt have. So we moved it back to jump it off the mini to get it to a garage to get them to fart about with it, but when connecting the jump leads it was sparking a hell of a lot. Checked everything was turned of and it was all good, tried again and same problem. Now the mini's dead too. So 3 dead cars, and 3 batteries waiting to be charged.

I hate this time of year! Bah humbug!


21/12/2010
After charging the battery to full, leaving a few hours and then putting on charge again, showed the battery wasn't holding charge. Got the Mini running this morning although the radio's playing silly buggers again, and went back to the store to get them to test the battery. It was faulty so got a new one, stuck it in the Viva an it works...kinda. Noticed the ignition lights were on even with the keys out...oh joy! Turned it over and it started fine, shut the bonnet and then came a whirring/buzzing noise similar to an A/C pump...I wish! Alternator then? Will do some tests and fiddle when I've had some hot lunch and mulled wine.


22/12/2010
Found out the loud whirring was the starter motor engaging any time it wants. Found this out when I shut the bonnet and the car started off it's own accord, and then had to drive a friend home and the starter kept engaging itself. Only way to turn it off is to switch the key against the spring as if I were starting it, but it would engage every 10 or 20 seconds. Luckily it was a short journey. So the Viva's off the road again, and there's a new ignition switch in the post, many thanks to Adrian from the Viva forum for his help re switches!

Meanwhile the girlfriends Mini still starts first time, and radio's started working again, but since our last journey it's knackered its O/S outer CV UJ :evil: so now I have to get the Corsa running for her tomorrow morning so she can go to work :imsmiling:

[charie t]

So 3 dead cars, and 3 batteries waiting to be charged.

the things we do for love

Edited by charie t, 22 December 2010 - 11:16 PM.

[mini_mad69]

Sounds like you've had a bit of a rough time of it, I hate chasing electrical faults.


Glad your getting back on your feet with the cars though.

[oli8925]

Most certainly love or madness! And getting back on my feet...well I'm trying my hardest


New switch arrived today, installed it on the column and connected the battery...ignition lights are still on regardless of switch position and the starter still engages every time the car jolts or goes over a bump. So the problem still persists.

Adrian mentioned a connector lug between the switch and lock that I needed to retain from the old switch and put on the new one, I couldn't find this lug in the old switch at all. Could this be my problem? Although I haven't touched ignition in the two years I've had the car and this problems only just developed

Are there any ideas on what the problem could be? Could it be the ignition barrel and if so is it possible to take this apart and fix it? Or could it be the solenoid doing funny things, so should I take this off and clean it up, although I did this in the summer. A guy 10 minutes away from my home sells them new through ebay, though I'm stuck 80 miles away from home because of the car

I'm running out of patience with cars now! Although at least I managed to get the Corsa battery changed even it I did have to take off all the trim around the windscreen. Was surprised the ECU and immobiliser didn't start playing games, maybe I used all my monthly luck allowance on that

Edited by oli8925, 23 December 2010 - 02:00 PM.

[charie t]

Could it be the solenoid doing funny things

The solenoid is more likely to be the issue, is it the old style one that bolts to the inner wing simular to the older mini's or a relay?