Do you have days like these ?

Do you have days like these?

I spent yesterday preparing one of my cars for Winter
I dropped the engine oil and filled with new. Fitted new Oil and Air filters, checked and topped up the fluids then replaced the front brake pads,
before giving it a good wash and polish inside and out. I felt satisfied with my days work.

This morning (dark, wet and cold) I set off to town in the car and switched on the heater blowers - nothing!
I arrived at my destination, cold and damp, with all the windows open to try and clear the misty screens.
On my return home at lunchtime, cold, etc., etc., I decided to start my heater repairs.
Modern car electrics are a minefield to understand,
but after checking fuses, relays and various wiring I came to the conclusion it was the heater blower regulator.
This meant another trip to town to the dealers to buy a part that I could get on Ebay for a third of the price, and then back home.
I fitted the part, kneeling on a glove box screw and cracking my head on the doorpost, but it worked.
I then had my late Lunch.

After lunch I tried my heater again, and it still worked - for two minutes.
Again I dismantled the glove box to gain access to the regulator under the dash, and yep, it had blown, like the first.
I then decided to re-solder the damaged part as it looked simple enough but due to the awkward angle, I burnt my finger as well.
The repaired part was refitted- and it worked! ...for two minutes.

I finally gave up and the car’s booked into the Auto Electricians on Tuesday Morning.

I hate it when that happens.

 

Oh boy! have I had days like that. You have my emapthy Ron!!

Ron, sounds like you have a blower motor going out causing a high draw of power and over heating the regulator and yes I've tooooooo many days like that.  

LOL, give the job to some young geezer!

I think that's a good call on what's wrong John.

Reminds me of the days when we tried to install radios from cheap-o companies in our 1960s cars. We needed to be much smaller and working upside down looking up into the back of the dashboard with legs touching the inside roof. We'd cut fingers on drilled holes and lose screws, bolts, etc. Ah, those golden days! Thanx for your "bad day" it cheered me up!

Your story Harron reminds me of this episode.

A few years ago, I was installing the steering column to my kit car:



The forward mounting point for the upper column is via a U clamp, with the nuts on the
underside:



These coudn't be reached without 'going in' so I had to lie on my back, with my head, shoulders and arms, well forward in the footwell;......



.....and with my legs over the seat backrest:



Now getting in hadn't exactly been easy for a fifty eight year old, pot bellied old geezer but getting out proved nigh on impossible

The garage is detached from the house by about twenty yards and my wife was inside working. She was unable to hear my shouts of 'Help' or the panic begining to set it. It took me twenty minutes of struggling to get out, by which time I was absolutley drained and dripping in sweat.

I can laugh about it now of course but at the time it wasn't funny at all.!!!!!

Oh yes...been there too when the panic kicks in. Nice car Al...
....but those seats wouldn't do my back much good - but then that's not what it's all about, is it ?

Nope! She's no boulevard cruiser. Designed for speed not comfort.

I can sympathize as well! My 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix's Fan Switch has gone out. It blows on 5 and that's it. So it's all or nothing! GM (since Pontiac is no longer) wants to charge me $155 in labor, $185 for the part, and $65 dollars since its not a brand they have on the lot (makes no since but they do it to Saturn and Oldsmobile owners too!). I've looked at trying to replace it myself, but the "Rat's Nest" of stuff to get the panel to work makes my head swim! My 1996 Dodge (Chrysler to the Brits) Grand Caravan's blower motor was hilarious to get to as I felt I had to stand on my head while trying to square dance to replace it! So I think we all have had something similar happen to us.

OOH Skid that's a sweet car.... Looks like so much fun.

All the time. I'm an ex mechanic- and I've spent many 'fun' hours under dashboards.........
Both other peoples & my own.

On the blower motor front, I need to pull the one in the Buick. Just got to drop the inner mudguard
(fender) to get to it. Not looking forward to that one.

For the Record ...
According to the Auto Electrician, my blowing heater regulator was due to a blocked Pollen Filter.
Unable to suck in clear air, the unit was overheating and blowing.
I wouldn't have found that out in a month of Sundays.
Modern Cars, Huh !!

Whatever happened to the days when five people could have a party in the engine bay of a car!!!

BEAUTIFUL KIT CAR! What is it and what engine???? That would be something for one of us to scratchbuild something like. Very cool indeed!