Yesterday started off in entertaining fashion when the car wouldn't start. Dash lights lit up, clutch in and she refused to turn over. Not even a squeek from the starter. Which led me to rush around and fit a new battery, no change. Started to blame the Clifford alarm as I assumed the immobilser wasn't allowing the car to start. Ran through a few checks, confirmed no warning chirps or indications from the alarm so that was working fine.
Called the AA as I had started to run out of ideas.
While waiting, I did a bit of reading online (Standard fault finding practice, Google the poop out of the issue). Where I read someone say, check the clutch in switch. So ran back to the car and bent myself into the drivers footwell and check and I found the following.....
Under the metal tab to the left of the clutch pedal is the clutch in switch, and after looking at it, I saw there was no way that tab would make contact with the switch with the clutch in. So I checked around the area and under my drivers mat I found......
The offending white plastic item sits on the white arm of the clutch switch so when you depress the clutch it activates the switch so you can start the car like so....
With it now back in place with a dab of silicon to hold it in place, I could start the car and get it to TPS in Orpington for a major service.
Work carried out:
Oil + filter.
Coolant.
Airfilter.
Gearbox + diff oils.
Spark plugs.
Stock HT leads replaced with Magnecors.
Power steering & fan belts replaced.
Fuel filter replaced.
Replaced stock catback with Racingbeat catback.
Eagle eyed people may notice no brake fluid change in that list. This is because every fluid that came out of the car was pretty much brand new, so we tested the brake fluid for water % and it was extremely low. So I spent a good chunk of money replacing good fluids, but now I have the proof and piece of mind it has all been done. The stock HT leads didn't look the best and the belts had started to fray and crack so extremely happy it has all been done.
Stock exhaust
Racingbeat
The exhaust makes so much difference, a deeper tone with pops on the overrun, without being too intrusive at cruising speeds. It adds a bit more character to the car that it was sorely missing.
My Ohlins have been confirmed as being in the country but I am still waiting for them. I really want to get them on the car so it can be setup properly.
Sat in some aftermarket seats as there were 2 other FD's up at TPS. But noticed the biggest change for driving position was a dished wheel, so I may look at going that way once everything else has been sorted.
