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.OMG I FIXED IT!!!
So I managed to take the alarm out, turns out it wasn’t that. Damn. Perfectly good alarm (with cat 1 certification) now in the bin and still none the wiser.
Then I had an idea that perhaps it was just the little switch which is triggered by the brake pedal – it’s on by default unless the brake pedal is fully back up. Guess what..it only bloody worked 😀
So whilst I’m a little annoyed that I removed the alarm for no reason (it was a no-going-back removal)…I’m absolutely overjoyed that I’ve *finally* figured out what the wiring issue was (and that there actually wasn’t even an issue).
I think that means I can actually work towards an MOT now.
There’s still some other little wiring issues like the wiring which comes out of the gearbox…I have no clue what to do about that but I see that as relatively minor in comparison and may not even prevent it from going through an mot.
\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/
at long last 😀
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damn now I need to make an actual list of things standing in the way of an MOT and hit that hard. The audi rear diff only has a few journeys left in it and I’d like to save one of them in case i have to go get the replacement diff, so if there’s any way at all I can get the syncro working, regardless how rough it looks, it needs to happen pronto.
– fix downpipe exhaust leak
– RR brake cylinder needs replacing (pipe twisted, may actually be ok, would rather replace tho. Have replacement cyl already
– Reversing gearbox switchy thing (probably not actually an issue for mot, only if need 4wd in reverse – REVERSING LIGHT?)
– properly affix the braided fuel lines to the underside of the car. Need to make brackets for that, currently ziptied
– fix stray cable on the FR headlight plug (soldering, easyish)
– put the bumper and chin panel on
– sensors – oil pressure, engine coolant
– add coolant sensor to current expansion tank (should be easy, have part already)
– needs windscreen wipers, old ones are shot.
– scuttle panel small rusty patch – treat & fill for now, weld once mot
– above windscreen small rusty patch – treat & fill for now, weld once mot
– timing/fuelling
– side repeaters – must have some somewhere.
– electrox RR arch and sill
Not essential for mot but fix if possible:
– heating/fan needs replacing (not MOT essential)
– front inner wings (? maybe, not mot req)
– driver side wing mirror broken (may have one on a spare door, possibly not actually MOT req), replace or remove
DONE – pull the wunderbar off (will come back to the wunderbar when mot not priority)
DONE – remove rear wiper (fouls the gti rear screen spoiler).
The timing needs setting by a grownup (or advice from) – currently it’s a bit like the engine is on an elastic band vs the accelerator, so the engine rpm doesn’t track the movement of the accelerator as rapidly as you’d expect so I’m guessing either fuelling or timing, haven’t really done much with either. Anyone with a clue what that might be please shout. The ISV seems to be in and working (buzzes before ignition). It starts and idles just fine, the fuel pump wiring seems fine.
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fixing the downpipe leak and the rear brake cylinder are not likely to be trivial but should both be doable. Might need to fix my compressor first tho as that packed up too recently (of course). Rear brake may actually be ok, at least for the short term, but I’ll need to have a proper look at least to check it’s not leaking or knackered.
The little spots of rust above and below the windscreen can just be filled for now, will get the screen pulled and weld them properly once mot. Otherwise I think I’ll just aim for “minimum viable product”, get it more or less the same colour and then work it from there.
Today has been EPIC progress though. The wiring was the only “absolute blocker” on the to do list and has been so for over a year I’m sure. Can’t believe it was such a simple thing in the end and that I had to rip a perfectly good alarm out to get to that point but whatever. I think my insurer will require another alarm and I have no problem with that when the time comes. Either way it’s now working and I’d still take that outcome vs alarm and not working 🙂
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So today I took the inlet manifold off so I could get to the exhaust manifold/downpipe join, took that apart and put some high temp sealant on both sides of the downpipe gasket. Hopefully that will fix the downpipe leak (which would be an MOT dealbreaker).
It had a fresh gasket on last time I put it together so I could see where the leak was from the soot marks on the gasket (sorry forgot to photo, now covered in goo and back in the car) – it was only a small leak and might have been partially because I seem to have forgotten (or been unable) to tighten one of the downpipe bolts.
This time all bolts definitely done up tight (likely thanks to the deep 17mm socket I probably bought last time and forgot to follow-up with), sealant on both sides of the gasket and when tightened down it squeezed out all the way around so hopefully we got a good seal. I’ll risk a bit of gloop on the inside of the pipes if it means we get closer to an MOT.
I’m going to let it set overnight or so before trying to start it but with a bit of luck we might finally have this leak sorted.
Remaining to-do list is currently looking mostly like this:
Mechanical:
– RR brake cylinder needs replacing (pipe twisted, may actually be ok, would rather replace tho. Have replacement cyl already. Could get messy re pipework so if possible to avoid, avoid). Maybe get MOT garage to do this?
– properly affix the braided fuel lines to the underside of the car. Need to make brackets for that, currently ziptied
– needs windscreen wipers, old ones are shot.
TO CHECK – timing/fuelling (get MOT place to sort it – do premier still exist?)
Electrical:
TO ORDER – side repeaters – must have some somewhere. Bulbs are working, missing one housing. order fresh pair
– Reversing gearbox switchy thing (probably not actually an issue for mot, only if need 4wd in reverse – REVERSING LIGHT?)
– sensors – oil pressure, engine coolant
– add coolant sensor to current expansion tank (should be easy, have part already)
Bodywork:
– pressure wash so we can see what’s muck and what’s paint
– do some filling/smoothing/electrox around welded areas?
– above windscreen small rusty patch – treat & fill for now, weld once mot
– scuttle panel small rusty patch – treat & fill for now, weld once mot
– electrox RR arch and sill
– driver’s wing mirror – looked to be a spare on one of the spare doors
DONE – fix wiring/plugs for the new front indicators
HOPEFULLY DONE – fix downpipe exhaust leak
DONE I THINK – fix stray cable on the FR headlight plug (soldering, easyish)
DONE – put the bumper and chin panel on
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