Project Ronin

Well, my new job curtailed attention being applied to my on cars for a while. As a result I have now got a number of issues across the fleet.

Alfa has suddenly decided to randomly not recognise the key code (also needs a tiny patch welding on the floor plan), Porsche has no dash lights (I think the loom has shorted), the Citroen DS lost all power and was misfiring, then emptied its hydraulic fluid all over my drive (failed pump seal I think).

As for Ronin, well I am all but ready to throw in the towel. Built up a wiper motor from the components of the two I had and refitted it ready to submit the car for MoT this week and its completely dead - no idea why.

To make matters worse the car wouldn't start. . .again. It would turn over and catch but then kept dying after a few seconds (or immediately, if I touched the accelerator to try and bring the revs up). After a morning of canoeing around with it the pump is now not priming and the starter motor is seemingly dead.

Jus can't be bothered with it any more. It's doing my head in!

Comments noted , just sorted the dash lights on the Porsche. It deserved to be fixed - it's the most dependable of the lot!

I'm now abandoning the spanners and soldering iron and going to play my guitars for a few hours instead. . . they are more reliable.

I have a feeling the battery is the issue on Ronin. . .again. Its been charged overnight, but I haven't checked the output. Will do so later.  I seem to have endless battery issues (and clear coat peeling issues) with all my cars despite attempts to keep them all charged they are forever developing faults.

Feckin' cars. 

A new day.

It seems that fuelling AND electrics are the twin issues. The car will now turn over and catch but then dies. I'm not hearing the pump prime (although I can hear it whirr on ignition), so suspect it's either full of crap because the car has been standing such a long time, or it's broken.

I plan to change the pump (to Walbro HP 255) and swap out the fuel filter and see if that sorts it.

Second issue is the electrics. I think the immobiliser is playing up. Sometimes the audible warning carries on despite deactivation and prevents the push button ignition from activating the starter. Not sure what how to sort that atm.

Funds are tight, so will be clearing out a heap of parts that I've had sat around for too long. It will help free up some space in my garage too for the inevitable long autumn/winter evenings of maintenance that I can see coming later this year!

The mind boggles! I struggle to cope as it is. Really need to reduce the fleet and spend more money and time on those that I keep, to ensure they remain in fine fettle.

I find it easy to buy, but impossible to let go though!

Porsche 968 & Alfa Romeo GTV Cup now both for sale (my phone is buzzing every couple of minutes about the Porsche)!

Waved goodbye to my 968 this afternoon. Just the Alfa to go and then I can spend some proper money to finally get Ronin fit and shiny again.