Test drive
21 MayWell, I was all ready for a triumphant test drive this morning, but it was postponed because the factory was having a new roller door fitted, and while this was happening there was no way to get the car into the car park.
I utilised the time by repairing the dash electrics, which turned out to take 6hrs. Most of the fuses had been replaced with items of double the correct rating, so I fixed that up too. I’m now far more confident that the car is electrically sound.
I also found time to secure the battery. It had been bouncing around and touching the bonnet, restrained only by the electrical cables! Of course this has taken its toll on the leads, and I had to fit a new earth strap.
Eventually I took the car out into the carpark in the late afternoon. Brakes are all good, but the test drive was cut short when I seemed to run out of fuel. Well, that was the simplest solution I could think of, so I got some more and it fixed the problem.
While I had it in the car park, I added a flushing solution to the oil, to try and remove all of that sludge. It seemed to work, the colour of the oil changed from semi clear to the darkest of blacks, and when I drained it lots of lumps came out. I also set the tappets while they were hot, but unfortunately I broke the rocker cover gasket putting it back together, and it’s leaking a fair amount of oil.
I’ve booked the car in for MOT tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
