Cheers Mike, i completely agree, top little shop, cant fault them for their help

 

 

Back to the Alfa. I have my new OBD2 leads, plug them in, got the drivers sorted, but still cant connect to the ABS module. I hear it click and the light comes on as if its communicating, but theres no response

 

Seems like a baud rate/latency issue. rumour has it certain ABS modules need a different transfer rate compared to the other ECU's I suspect this as the Laptop has successfully conneccted to the Engine ECU, Airbag Controller and Climate Control Module also.

 

So 3/4 but none are the ones i need!

 

Battery has also died as i left the ignition on too long lol (typical)

Another day working with seized rubbish...

Got the new wishbone clinch nut and bolt. Fitted them no problems.

I was going to move the car out to the road then bleed all of the brakes.

As the battery was flat i thought while waiting for it to charge. I would replace the rear nearside caliper bleed nipple i rounded off the other week.

Started off tricky then i thought i had success. Half a turn and i saw brake fluid start to drip out. But then i wouldnt budge either way.

It got smaller and smaller till i had got down to almost a 7mm socket. Then i tried getting heat into it with nothing more than an angle grinder or a Small camping stove.

The latter idea then melted part of the rear brake flexi so a new one is needed.

Eventually got fed up and as the brake flexi was on the brink of rounding off also i just cut the pipe and removed the caliper.

With it off thr car, the rattle gun wound out the flexi coupling which it did struggle with initially. So was well and truely in.

So with that done i set about drilling out the bleed nipple.

Got a few remnants left over but in all there is too little thread left in the hole due to my work to allow a new nipple to go in.

So either i drill it and helicoil. Or just buy a replacement caliper off ebay and a new seal kit.

In lighter news, 4 new tyres are here.

but in all there is no chance of this being at bedford either.

Getting quite down heartened at the fact this car hasnt made it to a single meet or track day yet. :(

It's an Alfa mate they're bred to test your patience! Have heart and think of that resonating exhaust and you driving it through tunnels when all is well and good again! Keep your chin up buddy!

Buys Alfa, complains when it lives up to the reputation?

Put your feet up, have a break and tune in ti QUEST tonight at 21:00 as Cars That Rock features Alfa Romeo.

 

That should lift your spirits a bit and there's always another track day for you to debut your car and you can only do it once so take your time and do it right.

Think what you are all missing its not becuase its an Alfa.

You leave a steel bolt in ally for god kbows how many years and you dont expect it to be bonded?

Its the corrosion due to screwing two different metals together. Not because its Italian.

Come on guys get off the bandwagon already

Stick at it mate.

Some setbacks but some good progress is being made and I would be proud of my achievements so far if I was you.

Thanks Jars. I guess i must count it as a success as i haven't had any off cuts rattling around inside the engine

In terms of bedford it is game over. But in lighter news it does mean that i have alot longer before any further track days or events. That should give me plenty of time to sort new parts and fit them to ensure the car is tip top before i do anything mad on track.

awwww, I wanted to be in it at bedford! are you booked on the track at the national meet?! lol...... you have until the end of June!

 

keep at it, it will be a lovely car if you can get it right

Been there, done it Taylor, took the v-storm to castle Combe before it was ready, rushed it to get on track, you know the rest.. Untold stress and annoyance.. Chill, don!t set deadlines, take your time and get it right, if you set yourself self imposed deadlines it takes away the enjoymnent. Once sorted and all working book yourself a track day that you,lol enjoy rather thinking about something breaking..

Right thread this time lol

If you are taking the Fiesta ST try to avoid the cones this time please.

As for the Alfa... It's going to be like that unfortunately.

17 years old and you are probably the most enthusiastic owner mechanically it's ever had.

Going to take a while to get it right.

Cheers Mike. Problem is so far its been deadline after deadline.

I had 5 days to do the belts and clutch and Richard didn't see how much i was flapping and rushinh around on the Friday evening. It killed alot of enjoyment.

Then getting ready for combe, now bedford.

Its a shame as i want to get out there and experience the car. Thats why i have it. but these deadlines were set when i had the Fabia. I booked trackdays planning on keeping the car. Obviously it went and i now have the alfa. Hopefully it should be ok and i should be able to enjoy it more.

Next deadline could be the national meet but thats two months away.

Quite right Richard. I dont think the last owner did anything unless he had to for the past two years. No maintenance only repairs.

So it takes a mug like me to buy a lemon and fix it to make very expensive lemonade LOL

But very sweet lemonade it will be once it's ready

Bigg Red seal kit turned up yesterday, the replacement caliper should be here this week.

Then ill replace the seals then get it on the car and bleed the brakes.

On the Alfa Owner's forum i was asked how much i had put into this in parts. I hadn't given it much thought till now, wow haha big numbers!

But despite my generally tight nature. I dont care haha. despite the hassle of the breakages. Im actually quite happy with my purchases, achievements and the ownership

Although this week i have been looking at the possibility of an Alfa powered kit car. Mid Engined, Rear wheel drive. but that's still being dreamt up haha

It's a labour of love, money doesn't come into it IMO. That's what I and the missus keeps telling me

Caliper is on.

Plan for tomorrow is to get a battery booster, jump start it, get it out of the garage so i can get around all 4 corners and bleed the brakes.

In the mean time i Started to check a few bits over, noticed some more marks/dents on tbe body and some rust on the rear arches

New tyres wont be going on till next week. So wont be taking it to the maidstone meet.

MoT is due soon so ill need to book it in

All this work now will mean. Any years of happy trouble free motoring great work as always Taylor

Just think how boring it would be if the car was perfect mate! I think it is brilliant what your doing, it's a cracking car and definitely worse the perseverance and investment in my opinion.

sent from my Galaxy Note 4

And just think how well you now know your Alfa, makes me feel better if I buy one I can ask you to do work on it!

And just think how well you now know your Alfa, makes me feel better if I buy one I can ask you to do work on it!

Lol If I was looking for an Alpha I'd be waiting for Taylor to sell this one!

sent from my Galaxy Note 4

Lol If I was looking for an Alpha I'd be waiting for Taylor to sell this one!

sent from my Galaxy Note 4

Well I was trying to not be so blatant but yes LMAO!

Lol If I was looking for an Alpha I'd be waiting for Taylor to sell this one!

 

Taylor's cars always make good buys as he just can't leave small issues unattended.

Everything has to be spot on.

Yep and then i get bored of not having anything else to fettle so i sell up.

MoT optimistically booked for Wednesday. I have to rebleed the brakes. They can fit the new tyres for me before the test too.

I found Saturday that the misfire is still there But from 5000 to 7000rpm. It also seemed to be running a bit flat, so could be a dirty MAF and a bad coil pack. But hopefully wont be an issue for the MoT.

Fingers crossed!

Yep and then i get bored of not having anything else to fettle so i sell up.

MoT optimistically booked for Wednesday. I have to rebleed the brakes. They can fit the new tyres for me before the test too.

I found Saturday that the misfire is still there But from 5000 to 7000rpm. It also seemed to be running a bit flat, so could be a dirty MAF and a bad coil pack. But hopefully wont be an issue for the MoT.

Fingers crossed!

Shouldn't be an issue, Clio passed MOT on 3 cylinders

Bled the brakes this afternoon, alot better.

 

However... This misfire. I posted on the Alfa Owners facebook page, about 90% said i have my cambelt timing out.... :/ But some suggested Coil packs as well

 

Heres my thinknig, it misfires (Warning lamp to indicate a mis or a ECU fault) when reving above 3500 rpm, but lets say you accelerate to 5000rpm, it will misfire, but once the throttle/engine revs are held stationary at 5000rpm, the misfire goes....

 

So surely any inaccuracies in engine timing would be constant?

 

 

Currently sitting on a Mk1 fabia seat base on axle stands, at the end of the garage taking the intake apart to get to the rear bank of coil packs... Long night ahead.