Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

[CitroJim]

Excellent Zel, body condition is everything... All mechanical and electrical issues can be fixed a lot more easily than any body issues!

Very interesting on how the carb works. That all makes sense and is entirely logical...

How to go about diagnosing the MIL being on though? Was there any diagnostic kit like a sort of basic Lexia ever available to help?

[Zelandeth]

It's a simple enough system that it's basically just a deductive process. The check engine light only comes on if there's a real time fault (doesn't store anything), and is basically just a "parameters out of range" indicator, only four or five conditions bring it on as I recall.

Oil and filter have now been changed, air cleaner changed and air cleaner housing is now bolted on to the top of the carb by three bolts rather than one (need to get one that's a bit longer for number four, and wait till the engine is cold to fit it).

Discovered that someone had for some reason disconnected the top solenoid from its feed from the AFR module and instead tied it into an ignition switched 12V line...no wonder it was idling rich...

The odd thing is that restoring the correct wiring has resulted in both solenoids now clicking away merrily, the check engine light going out as it should and the car running immeasurably better. Idle is still rough, but at least I have one fault to trace now rather than three!

[CitroJim]

Now that's good progress Zel

[Zelandeth]

Just scratching my head as to why they'd did that in the first place!

Best guess is they thought it was an anti run on solenoid or something? Will probably never know...

[CitroJim]

Just scratching my head as to why they'd did that in the first place!

Best guess is they thought it was an anti run on solenoid or something? Will probably never know...

That's very possible.. They were all the rage in late carbs... Even the venerable SU on British Leylands got them...

[xantia_v6]

Having had a good crawl over it I am even more staggered at the condition of the body, and am seriously giving consideration to shelling out of getting it professionally rust proofed at this point as it's so clean, especially as I have no intention of selling this one anywhere in the near future.

If you don't mind paying professional rates, I thoroughly recommend rust.co.uk they did a very good job on my XM.

[Zelandeth]

They were one of the first to spring to mind, always good to hear a personal recommendation though. I'm more interested in the quality of the work than the price to be honest in this case. These cars are really hard to find now (this has taken me since 2003 to track down!), so worth preserving.

[Zelandeth]

With me being me, one of the first orders of business on getting the Lada home was to give the interior a thorough clean.

Results speak for themselves I think...







Always hesitate to use the term "like new" when describing things, but the interior here really has cleaned up that well. Replacing two missing screws holding the left hand trim piece in the boot in place also cured the horrendous rattle from that corner.

Engine bay needs a good clean as well, though there's not too much point in going overboard there until I've sorted the (normal) oil leak from the rocker cover.





Most of the vacuum hoses have been replaced recently with fabric covered fuel line, I'll be replacing these all (as I don't trust braided hoses as you can't see what shape they're in) with white silicone ones to as closely match the original appearance as possible.

How could I resist the temptation to get a shot of these two together?



Not much done today save for changing the wipers for more sensible ones and giving it a very quick polish and wax.

Will still need a few more coats, but is a decent start I think.

[CitroJim]

Looking all very sweet Zel

[Xantianut]

Cor!

She's in lovely nick! Well bought, Zel!

[Zelandeth]

Firstly reconnected a whole bunch of the vacuum lines on the Riva which were unsurprisingly hooked up wrong. First warning there was the accumulator that was connected only to itself...

Then went on a merry old dance trying to track down a clonk that started yesterday, mainly under braking. After crawling all over virtually every steering and suspension component and readjusting both front wheel bearings, we traced it to a bit of play in a steering linkage idler mounting. At least now I know what's making the noise I'm slightly less worried that my wheel is about to fall off or something. Will get a new idler ordered.

Also ascertained that good quality fabric is expensive. Just dropped over three hundred quid on supplies for a project that is under way (and behind schedule), really don't want to think about how much is invested in that now...must be north of six hundred quid I reckon. Have bought (decent!) cars for far less than that...I really need to get me some cheap hobbies!

[CitroJim]

Did sorting out all the vacuum lines help the running at all Zel?

[Zelandeth]

It's definitely helped Jim. Under load now she is running perfectly, idle circuit still isn't quite right though. Have guests here just now who head back up north tonight so will try to dig the multimeter I've got which has a dwell reading setting to see what the top solenoid is actually doing at idle. Then I should have some idea what the ECU is doing and where to look next. I know it's been running rich for a while before I got the car, so it's quite likely the lambda sensor has been fouled, and the cat could well need a clean out.

Have turned the idle speed up a little for now so it doesn't stall anyway while I fault find.

[Zelandeth]

Today picked up a period full length roof rack for the Lada. Made by Saunders apparently, certainly feels like it's as tank like as the car!

Needs a tidy up, but will make getting all the bikes up to Sherwood a lot easier!

[CitroJim]

Made of iron girders is it Zel?