With work and much lazyitis, my workings and motor based musings have been somewhat lacking of late. However, a super sunny Sunday last week offered the opportunity to rectify such shortcomings.
The brother was summoned, and duly arrived in the irritatingly reliable 730i. As an aside, said vehicle is turning into the most shrewd investment of 2016 – good on the go-go juice (relatively), mega comfortable and utterly dependable.
Without further ado we set forth with the first part of the plan – an unholy electrical alliance betwixt French and Italian electrics. The Alfa was fired up and generously donated some electrons to the CX whilst breakfast was cooked and consumed.
2 Negatives can sometimes make a positive..
Alas, poor 10mm ratchet spanner, I knew him well..
The plan was simple. The CX would be loaded with fuel and batteries, then driven to the unit so it could be installed on some axle stands to allow for alternator bolt removal.
We drew it forward, and checked the tyre pressures (the old TRXs seemingly holding air pretty well). A couple of gallons of fines 95 RON were popped into the tank, and she sat purring contentedly.
We’re on the move!
So far, so good. But what is that smell and rapidly increasing stain on the tarmac? Is it LHM? Nay, tis but the glorious 95RON which had previously resided in the tank. Buggerations.
The CX looks on in shame after soiling itself.
We traced the leak to the pipe into the fuel filter- it looks like the rubber has failed after 35 years – replacement should be ok assuming the routing of the pipe can be determined.
Damn Drip is coming from the pipe running in front of the air intake (behind the horizontal coolant pipe)
As the chaps on the CX facebook page were to comment, at least it didn’t go on fire!
It was returned disgraced to its usual resting place.
Attention was turned to the 320i. I had recently connected up a battery and started it after 4 months lying – with suitably six cylinder sounding success! (View the Vid here!)
It needed a good cleaning before attempting to do anything to it, so we started at the back.. As usual, we had a cubby hole full of water.
Ehhhh, that looks mildly moist,,
Time to fire up some sort of liquid liberation device – what better than an old fuel pump from an e32 7 series?
LLD v1
Sadly, despite much spinning and screaming, the pump made no discernible impact to the water in the cubby hole, so it was time to turn back to tried and tested technology.
An e30 screen wash pump can shift a fair whack of water and propel it far from the boot in jig time. Some wire (with a plastic shield to stop the + and – touching), a battery and a decent length of piping was all that was needed.
LLD v2 Hard at work
It was lucky for us that it worked well..
Lifting the boot carpet in readiness for hoovering revealed that the spare wheel well was drenched too!
Much investigationings are required to trace the source of the leaks- its not going to be viable as a daily driver until they are sorted.
Bastard..
We stuck at it, and eventually had a gargantuan gaggle of gallons gushing towards the storm drain at the bottom of the street –
The last thing Scotland needs- more water!
Hosepipe hoorahs over, it was a relatively short job to get the interior spick and span, and the 320i tucked back up pending more work.
Almost presentable!
Gotta love a sports seat!
With some time off looming, and a desire to get moving on both the CX and the 320i, you can expect a glut of updates in the next couple of weeks!
fu'guttycars 