Time for a quick update as I'm now getting to the end of the jobs that failed the MOT.
As the car has persistent leak problems that were getting worse (the passenger footwell was full of water), the car was stripped down on the drive - carpets and underlay out, dash top off.
It was a nightmare sourcing the leak - water seems to go wherever it feels like - so it's tricky to find the source. In this case it was multiple leaks, mainly the bottom of the windscreen and a bad grommet on the rear windscreen washer pipe through the bulkhead. The windscreen had developed a bad crack anyway so that was replaced by Autoglass. As a precaution I put tigerseal around any entry to the cabin I could find. Not the neatest job but so far it seems to be working! This is just behind the scuttle drainhole on the near-side:
Next job was the emissions. The cat that was on it was put on just before I bought the car but was a cheap ebay one. Still seems like it should have lasted way longer so this is a bit concerning. I installed a KTR sports cat and a new Bosch lambda. This is my biggest worry now for when it goes for a new MOT. The engine runs sweet but does use a bit of oil.
Getting the old lambda off ranks up there with the most hated jobs this car has to offer. The neighbor did not seem impressed with the language coming from under the car.
The easy jobs were next - changing the blue position bulbs at the front for regular versions
And a new rear spoiler brake light unit:
As the dash was out it felt like a good time to sort out the paint on the dash and the door handles. These have gone sticky with age so I attacked it with 60 grit sandpaper first:
This did not work at all, the paper just gums up straight away. After a bit of googling people seemed to recommend tar remover so I tried this. Much better although it still took a fair bit of time. I also thought the centre section of the dash above would have been removable but on mine it seemed to be fixed so I had to mask off before painting.
Bit of plastic primer:
And back in the car:
The colour is not the same as standard but it's as close as I could find. There's a few coats of lacquer on too so hopefully it's be hard-wearing enough. I'll be putting a new stereo in soon so the colour clash should hopefully be broken up a bit. You might also have seen the relays hanging down on the passenger side. The leak from the windscreen had soaked the UCH module that controls the lights/indicators etc. This had been repaired once already and is under warranty but I wouldn't think water ingress would be covered - it's not the repairers fault after all.
Anyway - I've ordered a replacement ECU, UCH and key fobs from cs_dave so this should sort it out nicely (I only had one key before too so it's nice to have a spare.)
As I'm now,
hopefully, done with the bigger jobs for a while it's time to do some of the nicer cosmetic jobs. The new stereo and subwoofer should sort out the interior rattling at any kind of volume so this will be ordered soon and and I've also pulled a couple of small parking dents out. I used on of the cheap 'puller' type tools that glues onto the dent and then pulls it out. I forgot to take pics but it works really well if you take your time.
A Corbeau Clubsport seat was installed (drivers side only as I have to give a couple of mates a lift to work sometimes so the passenger tilt seat is still needed) with one of Jon Foz's subframes. Superb piece of kit the subframe - no issues at all installing and very well made.
And finally a good wash ready for some wax over winter. The wax isn't on yet but it's looking as good as it has done since I got it. Thinking next year I might get a DA polisher and really bring it up to standard.
When the ECU is installed I'll be back off down the MOT centre. Fingers crossed, it may still get to Croft at some point.
