by dapinky » Sun 26.05.2024, 20:09
After being a "billy-no-mates" at the campsite last night, I had a mixed night of rain and being hot!.... woke up to a bit of a puddle in the tent, but by 0900 and a slow but steady breeze, everything was dry enough to pack away. drizzle started when I got to the M4, so I timed it right. Mixed weather on the way home, but dry and sunny for unpacking the car on the driveway.
Great to see old and new faces, and thanks for everything that people contributed (whether material or help) to make it another success.
As it was the first 'proper' drive in Angies car Iw as expecting a few potential issues, and I wasn't dissapointed!
1) - It took a bit of effort to get it to start before leaving home... a squirt of "easy-start" told me that ignition circuits were fine as it would fire up, and it was a fuel issue..... Don't know why, it was okay when I put it away in September (even though it was 8 years old!!!!). So hitting the injectors with a screwdriver got it to fire up on 2, then 3 cylinders, and then onto 4..... but quite uneven. Dropped some Redex into the tank and went and filled up with Super Unleaded to try and wash it through. It took about 30 miles of driving until it cleared and the engine ran perfectly the rest of the trip.
2) There is a vibration directly related to road speed - as it happens everywhere between 5mph and 90mph I don't think it is wheel balancing issues. My thoughts are for a duff driveshaft joint or a front wheel bearing,,,, but haven't ruled out a bent wheel. Will be looked at as and when I get round to it.
3) The one which has me scratching my head is a bit off an oddity that I haven't heard of before, so I am hopeful that an electrical guru will know the answer..... as said, the weather was 'mixed' on the way home, and I haven't ever driven it in the dark...... so on occasion I had to put the headlights on. Then, after about 2 minutes of dipped beam use, the CEL came on but the gauges all looked fine and there was no noticeable change in driving conditions. When I turned off the lights, the CEL went out after 3 or 4 seconds. It did the same the next time I put the lights on.....
...... so, why? I don't know if it is because of the LED units I have fitted, or if it happened before with the OE lights as I never drove it under those conditions, so can offer no other information.
Dave
Just the one now, but this one's mine! - and it will be finished eventually..... - but also temporary custodian of a project until it is finished enough for Angie to drive it
...oh, and a 2006 Freelander destined for the jungles of The Gambia - 4500 miles across roads, desert and tracks - what could possibly go wrong?