24 Hours Later

Up early and I had transferred all the tools and parts across to the MK2 Golf [which started fine] by 8:30.

I arrived by 9:30, phoned Ed and waited.  Lee already had the car up in the air and was putting more dyno seal in it so I left him alone and waited for the trailor.

After Lee had finished I started unpacking my tools and did the easy things - i.e. try to trace the electrical charging issue. I did not make much progress but eliminated simple things. 

Then Ed arrived [with a car on the trailer for me] then it took about 30 mins to get the SAAB on the trailer (including me taking bits off the car and screwing the tow hitch in) - but at least I know where it is now. I even had to winch the car onto the bed as it took so long and Ed was knackered doing it - as was I by the end.

Off he went just before 11:00 with the car on the back and I got back to work.

So what next ? Lee suggested fitting the new battery as that had arrived so I did - nothing changed. Then I thought I'd better check the earth on the regulator - fine. Next was to take the voltage from the dynamo. Ah - you can't get to the connections without getting burnet from the exhaust pipe so I decided to take the regulator off and do it from those connections.

Eventually after part dismantling the regulator and unscrewing the solenoid I had enough room to get a decent connection and guess what - 14v ! All fine. So I put it all back together again and it was perfect - no charging issues at all. We suspected I'd just shaken a loose wire closed so Lee wanted to re-do them all - but I decided to chance it. 

Next I took the Diesel SAAB back to Abbotts and chatted to Ed etc. Yes it was the crank sensor and yes it was quick to replace, but not very easy to do in a car park. But we're back on the road again. The only problem being by then I had three cars at Lee's again.

Next step was a test drive in the Alpine - Lee suggested the farm yard. That done I did about three miles on the road. Fine but 1. I had no indicators, petrol or temperature gauge and no horn; 2. I did the run with the hand brake on ! 

After a bit of fiddling and checking the wiring diagram it turned out the common feed was the ignition switch - so a bit of a jiggle and they were all back on. So I decided to chance a drive the car home. Lee was a bit shocked - "what now ?" he said. So at 2:40 the "Alpine had left the building".

The run was noisy, bumpy, the windows rattled, dirt flew up, the suspension crashed, and the carbs are still too 'racy' but we made it. 

Then four runs later to get the other cars and we were done. Lee seemed genuinely sad to see it go when I said goodbye. 

Unpacking took an hour and then we were stable again. 

Lots of work to do still, but six of the seven keys back on the hooks this evening.