Range anxiety

 So I was on the M25, in a slow queue (as usual) and I noticed my voltmeter was showing 12.8v. I've mentioned before that I haven't been getting more than 13.3v recently but 12.8v is basically battery charge level ie. the alternator was not charging the battery. This is not a good thing - means that everything electrical (sparks, lights,ECU etc) were running off the battery alone. I'm not sure how long the battery would last like that but I couldn't take the risk, so I got off and went home.

What this did mean is that I lost the £80 MX5 drift session I had booked up in NW London!! Urghhhh....

Today, I did some serious staring at Zedster...and my knackered old brain remembered something. The brake warning light on my dash actually has 3 functions; tells you when the handbrake is up, if the brake fluid is low and, crucially, it is part of the exciter circuit for the alternator.

My light has always been flaky; the handbrake sensor is bolted (just) to the side of the handbrake and the plugs keep fouling on my gaiter, so the plug comes of quite easily. The light has not been working for a while (about the same time as my voltmeter has been showing 13.3v, in fact) but I didn't put 2 and 2 together. Until now...

So, 10 minutes to get the gaiter off, put the plug back on, started up and, voila, 13.8v on the voltmeter!!

Now, I have form for thinking I've fixed something, dancing around like a nutcase, only for it to break again a week later, so I'll hold off on calling this a fix until I'm sure. But looks promising...

The ride quality on Zedster has been a bit hard lately, even more so than usual. Some research (which I should have done BEFORE I bought them) tells me that the new Avons are utter junk in all areas but especially hardness; it seems there are several reports of premature cracking and hardening. Great...I don't want to give up on them just yet (£380 worth of tyres and they're only a few months old) so I took them off today and clicked the shock absorber settings softer by a couple of clicks - see if that helps. Also checked the rear pads (about half worn) and checked nothing else loose or hanging off - all looks good.

Ticking over

 Well, I've joined the ranks of the afflicted - 2 weeks of a positive Covid test isolation. I did feel very crud for that time, no breathing issues but just aches, lethargy.

I've had a few minor runs out just to keep Zedster ticking over - starting issues seem to be all sorted after the starter button install and new starter motor, which is great; lovely to have faith that Zedster will start first time, even after 3 weeks of inactivity. 

Went out for a quick run in the sun today, mainly to warm the engine so I could change the oil, which went fine. Just for my reference, this is the oil filter I used:

Surprisingly annoying to find the right size oil filter...

I've joined up with the Rogues again for a week-long trip in May in Central England - really looking forward to it BUT I may have to cancel last-minute; my wife has had some very bad news about her dad, whose cancer has spread. This is going to be a very hard Xmas and New Year... 

Death rattle?

I really shouldn't have rattled the cage of the Gods of Reliability in an earlier post...

Out for a drive and after pulling out from a junction and nailing it, an ominous rattle suddenly started up. I pulled over, assuming something had just come loose in the engine bay but nothing obvious. I slowly drove home - the rattle sounds like the same noise you get on cold starting, before oil gets round the engine. Only seems to happen over 2000 rpm and on gentle acceleration - hard acceleration doesn't seem to be a problem, weirdly.

A post on a forum brought forward ominous warnings of terminal bearing failure caused by petrol in my oil because I'm running too rich. OK, yes, I am running rich but not excessively, I don't think, and even if it was, could it cause that much damage in just 3k miles?

While looking for the problem, I also noticed that I was leaking coolant from the temp sensor in the top of the thermostat. I took it out and found that the plastic adaptor the sensor plugs into has cracked! Wonderful...ordered a couple from Emerald (1 for a spare).

I've been thinking about getting a wideband lambda sensor for a while now; ordered one and will see how that goes (specifically, will I be able to get the bung out of the exhaust). I've specifically ordered a Spartan2 because Richard L has one and he posts lots of very useful detail about it and I may need all the help I can get.

Next step is an oil change to look for metal particles, which will help tell me if there is any physical engine damage. I would like to also change the coolant - it's a horrible rusty colour - but I've got enough to do.

While I'm wiring in the lamdba sensor, I've also got a couple of other jobs I could do at the same time:

1. Get the water washer working.
2. Move the main beam switch away from the headlight beam switch, so I don't mistakenly turn off ALL my lights when trying to get main beam on.
3. Fix my USB charger port on the aux panel - seems to have stopped working (I've checked the fuses).

Not happy times....

Zedster's new clothes

With the weather being so cold, I haven't been able to get the painting of the wheelarches done. I was finally at home during the day this weekend and finished several coats of black on the one arch - it looks brilliant:

I initially only did the repaired arch, just in case the paint looked rubbish and i would have to resort to just buying a new arch to match the other side. Fortunately, I think it looks great, so I've primed the other side as well - no going back now. I've also put a thin silver pinstripe on the black arch - looks excellent but I'll save the pictures for when they're on.

Between coats of paint, i gave the car a wash, polish and applied the new sticker i got a few weeks ago:

Maybe it's just me but i flipping love it - I've totally fluked the colour and size and I just think it looks great.

My indicators went on the blink (strictly, that's exactly what they didn't do). After wasting some time on checking the bulb and wiring, turned out to be the indicator relay - the same brand (HC-Cargo) as my alternator that died a few months ago! Replaced it with a new one (unbranded)...

Such fun

A 2 week family holiday has got in the way of driving my car but I've managed a few more runs and several commutes to work,  bringing the mileage up to 680 and so time for a first oil change.

Got oil pretty much everywhere, slightly damaged the drain plug (new one ordered) and discovered that my dipstick has snapped off at the max mark,  making it tricky to see how much oil is in my engine.

I've not heard back from Softbits yet about my roof and it's been 4 weeks - I'll chase them tomorrow. I've lowered the drivers seat in  preparation:

I might do the passenger seat but I'm not going to have a regular passenger and none of my family are tall enough to be a problem.

Other issues:

1. Wipers still not working.
2. Windscreen glass has moved a bit and come out of the frame by a few mm on one edge.  I need to get some more gunk and seal it back in.
3. Slight design flaw with my light switches; high beam rocker switch right next to the dipped beam so when driving at night on dark roads, I keep missing the high beam switch and turning off ALL my lights! So I spend a frantic few seconds in pitch black,  trying desperately to find my light switch again! Cars coming the other way must think I've gone into stealth mode :-)

Also added a bit more bling to the bonnet:

I've got runs planned for the next 4 Sundays in a row (weather permitting) - cashing in all my brownie points with the wife! New video camera on order so I'll try get some videos up...