Been busy working on the Scorpio, but nothing fun. Just maintenance and troubleshooting annoying issues.
- Fixed the rear window defrost grid ( I thought) had several small breaks from the previous owner and his window tint fetish. I got a kit from www.frostfighter.com. I now have continuity through the grid, but still no heat. I can measure 12 volts on the two tabs, so I am a little confused as to why I am not getting any heat.
- Trying to diagnose a slow starting car. This started about a month ago. It cranks, but doesn't catch for a good 5-7 seconds. I think I narrowed it down to a failing TPS. I don't have a new one on hand, but the original one measured a lower resistance than the one I had off of the parts car. After replacing it, the car did want to start quicker. I may still need a new one, but it appears the original TPS was telling the ECU that the throttle was cracked open a little, and maybe this was causing it to call for more fuel into the engine at start up
- Still trying to diagnose a stumble in the engine when the car is cold. I have had this problem for a long time. I have replaced spark plugs, wires, cap and rotor. Now yesterday with the swapped TPS it seemed a little better. This morning will be a definitive test.
- Installed the CV Half Shaft Bolt retaining clips that keep them from working loose. Somehow when I installed a new CV Half Shaft a year ago last summer I didn't re-use the ones I had. Of course I threw them away. Thanks to Jeff Herson at www.merkurmidwest.com I got a new set of them and got it fixed.
Again, nothing fun, just some maintenance. Even though the summer is over, I am still hopeful I can get the a/c system working in time for some efficient defrost for the winter.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
October 21st, 2012
It has been a very busy couple of weeks. I finally found some time and stripped out most of the parts off of the Blue Scorpio. I am hopeful I can get it out of the garage and off to the scrap yard by next weekend.
Had a some major maintenance: replaced the fuel pump. A big thanks to Jeff Herson for a "new" used pump for the job. Definitely a learning experience. Sorry, no pictures of interest.
Minor maintenance: had the air distribution motor on the climate control system crap out. Not sure what happened, but it is dead. I will look into it later, but luckily I was able to replace it with the one out of the parts car.
Replaced the EGR posiiton sensor. It decided it was time to fail also. Car ran "okay" just seemed a little off. My "early" 88 doesn't have a check engine light, so I didn't know anything was really wrong till I pulled codes. I got a (34) right away. Replaced the sensor, and it went away.
That is about it for now.
Had a some major maintenance: replaced the fuel pump. A big thanks to Jeff Herson for a "new" used pump for the job. Definitely a learning experience. Sorry, no pictures of interest.
Minor maintenance: had the air distribution motor on the climate control system crap out. Not sure what happened, but it is dead. I will look into it later, but luckily I was able to replace it with the one out of the parts car.
Replaced the EGR posiiton sensor. It decided it was time to fail also. Car ran "okay" just seemed a little off. My "early" 88 doesn't have a check engine light, so I didn't know anything was really wrong till I pulled codes. I got a (34) right away. Replaced the sensor, and it went away.
That is about it for now.
September 27th, 2012
Here is a little update. I am waiting for my a/c expert (father in law) to be available. He has the equipment, so I have been working on other projects. I decided to fix the HORRIBLE battery tray eyesore in the car.
Here is the before picture:
SEVERAL hours into the project:
I used a spot weld cutter bit I got from Harbor freight. It did okay, but man I drilled a lot of holes in that metal!
All cleaned up with a lot of holes going into the vehicle cabin. I wasn't aware of this until it was pointed out to me
Some magic filler stuff:
Clean up except for adding the plastic metal stuff
All cleaned up:
New Tray:
Battery and the original hold down hardware installed. I did clean up the hardware a little:
I am still planning on re-designing how that mess connects at the battery, but this will have to do for now.
Other things I have done, but haven't had time to post about: Fixed a little bit of rust on the passenger side wheel well, also am mostly done stripping the blue Scorpio down in my garage. Looks like a car puked in my garage. Parts everewhere!
One last obstacle to me getting some more work done:
Yes, we bought another money pit, er, I mean boat, er, family entertainment device:
Here is the before picture:
SEVERAL hours into the project:
I used a spot weld cutter bit I got from Harbor freight. It did okay, but man I drilled a lot of holes in that metal!
All cleaned up with a lot of holes going into the vehicle cabin. I wasn't aware of this until it was pointed out to me
Some magic filler stuff:
Clean up except for adding the plastic metal stuff
All cleaned up:
New Tray:
Battery and the original hold down hardware installed. I did clean up the hardware a little:
I am still planning on re-designing how that mess connects at the battery, but this will have to do for now.
Other things I have done, but haven't had time to post about: Fixed a little bit of rust on the passenger side wheel well, also am mostly done stripping the blue Scorpio down in my garage. Looks like a car puked in my garage. Parts everewhere!
One last obstacle to me getting some more work done:
Yes, we bought another money pit, er, I mean boat, er, family entertainment device:
August 26, 2012
I wasn't really looking yet, but I couldn't resist a great deal on this amplifier. I got it on Ebay. It is a Blaupunkt 5-channel amp. It was actually built by Zapco, which as I understand was a good thing. It is kind of big, weighs 15lbs, looks awesome. It should fit in very nicely with my all Blaupunkt system!
I had some time on Friday, so I got the a/c compressor out of the car. It is gross right now, but that is what 23 years and a leaky oil pressure sensor will do to you I have the hose connection point bagged and zip tied for now till I can get it cleaned up and then it will be time to r&r the shaft seal.
Here are the goodies that I have for the a/c repair. New filter/dryer, new expansion valve, and the compressor kit to replace the seal along with the compressor case o-rings.
If my father in-law isn't available in the next couple of weeks, I may end up buying my own set of gauges and a vacuum pump. He is very busy, but he does have the equipment. Not to mention a lot more experience with a/c than I do. Anyway, still hopeful to have a working a/c by September
I had some time on Friday, so I got the a/c compressor out of the car. It is gross right now, but that is what 23 years and a leaky oil pressure sensor will do to you
I have the hose connection point bagged and zip tied for now till I can get it cleaned up and then it will be time to r&r the shaft seal.Here are the goodies that I have for the a/c repair. New filter/dryer, new expansion valve, and the compressor kit to replace the seal along with the compressor case o-rings.
If my father in-law isn't available in the next couple of weeks, I may end up buying my own set of gauges and a vacuum pump. He is very busy, but he does have the equipment. Not to mention a lot more experience with a/c than I do. Anyway, still hopeful to have a working a/c by September
July 26, 2012 - A/C stuff
Awhile back I sent my A/C hoses off to get rebuilt. Now I have brand new barrier hoses.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Continued Update 7-23-12
Where was I? Looking my photobucket account helps me remember what has been done.
Okay, I finally got tires on the car this spring. I got a great deal on some Pirelli's from www.tires.com With the $100 rebate I got on them, the total cost with installation was under $300.
The car rides so much better and is so much quieter. The bad news with the new tires is with the smoother and quieter ride, it has revealed undlying sounds and vibrations that I wasn't able to distinguish before.
1st example is the passenger side front wheel bearing was "roaring" but I couldn't hear it because of the bad tire. The kit I got included both bearings and the seal for about $75 delivered. I got it from www.mc2racing.com
I was very fortunate in being able to pick up a speciality tool kit made for the Scorpio on Ebay.
This made the actual process of removing and installing the wheel bearings much simpler.
Now that the roar was gone, I turned my attention to the vibration coming from the rear. It felt like the drive shaft. I had replaced a u-joint in the car last fall, but there was definitely a vibration. Recently I swapped in the drive shaft from the parts car. It was still in good shape, and a lot of the vibration dissappeard. After a test drive I think the balance of the sounda and vibration is coming from the driver side cv-halfshaft. It is the original one and the boots are ripped on it. I was waiting for it to start that "clacking" sound they make on failure, but I will just replace it.
Unexpectedly I had the upper console fall apart. The two plastic tabs that attach it to the roof of the car broke. This is common on these cars, bad design. So I set about fixing it. I came up with some metal plates and used a connection point in the existing set up. Pictures below.
Okay, I finally got tires on the car this spring. I got a great deal on some Pirelli's from www.tires.com With the $100 rebate I got on them, the total cost with installation was under $300.
The car rides so much better and is so much quieter. The bad news with the new tires is with the smoother and quieter ride, it has revealed undlying sounds and vibrations that I wasn't able to distinguish before.
1st example is the passenger side front wheel bearing was "roaring" but I couldn't hear it because of the bad tire. The kit I got included both bearings and the seal for about $75 delivered. I got it from www.mc2racing.com
I was very fortunate in being able to pick up a speciality tool kit made for the Scorpio on Ebay.
This made the actual process of removing and installing the wheel bearings much simpler.
Now that the roar was gone, I turned my attention to the vibration coming from the rear. It felt like the drive shaft. I had replaced a u-joint in the car last fall, but there was definitely a vibration. Recently I swapped in the drive shaft from the parts car. It was still in good shape, and a lot of the vibration dissappeard. After a test drive I think the balance of the sounda and vibration is coming from the driver side cv-halfshaft. It is the original one and the boots are ripped on it. I was waiting for it to start that "clacking" sound they make on failure, but I will just replace it.
Unexpectedly I had the upper console fall apart. The two plastic tabs that attach it to the roof of the car broke. This is common on these cars, bad design. So I set about fixing it. I came up with some metal plates and used a connection point in the existing set up. Pictures below.
Finished Product
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Update on the car and life :)
So, it has been a little over 12 months since I last posted to this blog. The reasons why are varied, but lack of time is the most relevant reason. That being said I do want to update what is going on.
I have done a lot to the car these past two years, so I will try to update what I have done.
1st thing that comes to mind is the sound system. I have been thinking all along to try to keep the German flair to the car, so I decided Blaupunkt was the way to go for the sound system. After many nights scouring Ebay or any other place I could find, I picked up a few gems.
The head unit is a Blaupunkt Key Largo, CD / Stereo / CD Changer Controller.
The real gem is the IDC-AO9 5 Disc In Dash Changer. I have seen these around, but never thought I would be able to get one. The head unit was used, but the changer was brand new. They look outstanding in the car.
The stock speakers were not in good condition, and even new, they were never sounded good at all. So I picked up these little jewels
Front Speakers
I have done a lot to the car these past two years, so I will try to update what I have done.
1st thing that comes to mind is the sound system. I have been thinking all along to try to keep the German flair to the car, so I decided Blaupunkt was the way to go for the sound system. After many nights scouring Ebay or any other place I could find, I picked up a few gems.
The head unit is a Blaupunkt Key Largo, CD / Stereo / CD Changer Controller.
The real gem is the IDC-AO9 5 Disc In Dash Changer. I have seen these around, but never thought I would be able to get one. The head unit was used, but the changer was brand new. They look outstanding in the car.
The stock speakers were not in good condition, and even new, they were never sounded good at all. So I picked up these little jewels
Rear Speakers
Front Speakers
It sounds very good if I don't say so myself. Future upgrades will include a subwoofer and an amplifier. Hopefully also both Blaupunkt.
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