JohnnyB's 'lude

[JohnnyB]

Soooo... Good news and bad news

Bad news first... I'm pretty sure the smoke/fire was the alternator, I'm getting no charge at tickover but it is still limiting the voltage to 14.4V at higher rpms - I'll change the alternator asap and get new belts at the same time. I'll also take the opportunity to ditch the AC compressor and get the shorter non AC belt. They couldn't pick up an rpm reading when testing the emissions and the battery light and 4WS light were on when the test was done... She'd been sat at tickover for well over an hour at this point - I'm glad I'd been so obsessive about charging the battery in the garage for a few days every month for the last 4.5 years or she might not have lasted the test Fortunately they were able to test without the rpm signal and she got a delta of 1.004, can't really ask for much more!

Obviously she failed the MOT, she's been sat for so long I wasn't expecting anything less. What I wasn't expecting was (good news coming...!) she only failed because the ABS dash light didn't light up I've now fixed it, and will be popping her back in tomorrow to get a shiny MOT certificate and some lovely road tax

Honestly I can't believe it - I'm totally over the moon. I didn't dare go over 3k rpm on the way there in case I caused a CEL or something but on the way home I gave her a good thrashing and she runs like a dream



I suspect I will be burning a large amount of petrol tomorrow

[wurlycorner]

+rep


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[Vtecmec]

[Pushki]

Excellent work. + Rep.

[mercutio]

Thats Ludes for you they sulk if you garage them they love to be driven

[JohnnyB]

It's been a while coming, but I can now say I have a 100% insured, MOT'd and taxed Prelude again

I've burnt half a tank of fuel today and only came home because the dials dropped to zero and the dash lit up light a christmas tree - that'll be the battery dead then There are lots (and lots) of little niggles to sort out, mainly electrical, but I'm ignoring them until I get the charging system working properly as there's a good chance they're all related.

It's now on charge and I shall only do a few small trips over the coming days until I get the new alternator in, I don't want to kill the battery completely

She pulls like a train though and I have to admit to giggling like a school girl when the noise of the exhaust set off a car alarm as I drove past on the way back from passing the MOT

I've just met a friend of a friend that reckons they can do my rear arches at a good price too, I shall be investigating this further over the next few weeks and let you all know if it turns out to be a good lead I have mentioned there are several people looking for someone to do a good job at a good price so might be interesting...

VTEC - I've missed you

[bennyboy]

Fantastic news that you're up and running again.

[mart609]

Awesome!

[JohnnyB]

Still loving the VTEC, I've been able to drive her a bit more over the past week or so as wifey's Focus has been playing up so she's been taking my Astra to work

Anyway I got the 5g alternator fitted, swapped out the voltage regulator for a new 4g one off ebay and all is working perfectly I've also had a quote to get the rear arches sorted, £700 for both sides from a bodyshop that has come very highly recommended - the fact I know the owner has helped with the price but I'm confident I'm going to get a top quality job. Just need to find another 600 notes as it cost more than I'd bargained for to get the old girl on the road again With a bit of luck I'll have the cash in a few months and it'll get sorted over winter - until then I'm going to get some miles on her, otherwise whats the point

Need to get my arse to some meets now

[wurlycorner]

Excellent