1990 country squire resto/lowrider in UK

[andyfanshawe]

Oops! I've just spotted from the photos of the battery that I've fitted it the wrong way round!! Connected okay, but 180 degrees out!!

Bet you were all too polite to say :whistle:

Andy.

[87gtVIC]

I saw that but figured you meant to place it that way because it just looks neater with the wires not crossing.

[sly]

the battery in my 88 has the positive terminal near the fender, but away from the tie-bar... I figured you just couldn't get a battery like that (terminal reversed from the one you have) so you ran the wires over the top to keep it neat and not cross them.

[andyfanshawe]

Not had much progress with mine over the last couple of weeks. Really busy at work and its passed its annual test, so just waiting for my holidays to start the exterior bodywork.

In the meantime, I decided to upgrade the stereo to one that actually works and doesn't have a tape deck. Got this one quite cheap from a friend, and it has MP3 and plays the usual writable CD technology. Video out as well for future built in monitors.

Old connectors cut off and new ISO connectors wired in-using heat shrinkable sleeving of course



Heres the ISO connector in the back.



Intestingly, the wiring diagram on the unit itself was wrong!! Good job I spotted it first!

I even utilised the old rear "railing" system for it



Heres the new look. yeah I know it looks out of place but it sounds good!! May paint the surround black though.



Andy.

[87gtVIC]

Looks good to me. And damn is it easy for you guys with the updated dash to access the back side of the radio. 89 and down...forget about even snapping a picture lol

[andyfanshawe]

Okay, before the big bodywork starts in my holidays (5 weeks), lets sort out a few issues.

Flashing airbag light first. Really annoying. Supposedly been on for years.

Flashing code 8, which is a ground problem to one of the front 3 sensors.

So, each one out and tested and bolted back down to clean metal





Front right and front left give good readings and are reinstalled. Ground circuit to PCM from both is fine.
So it must be the centre one then?
Heres a view of it removed



The steel has corroded and pushed away from the circuitry and has got an actual hole in it.

Heres a view from the underside and you can just see a gap where the steel has parted.



Whats the chance of water and pressure damaging the PCB inside?
And whats the chance of getting hold of another sensor like that?
Anybody got one lying around?!!

So, what other jobs need doing? After I fitted the stereo, the LCD clock is on full brightness and the stereo won't power down when the key is in acc or run????????

So, stereo out and wires checked. Must have been something I have done.

There is continual power to the yellow/black wire that comes from fuse 11 in the fuse box. This should be hot in acc or run, not all the time. So fuse pulled and guess what? Still power to the yellow/black wire!!! WTF?

According to the wiring diagrams I have (dealer), the yellow black wire feeds power to the power antenna (haven't got), amp for old radio (haven't got), and LCD dimming relay for old radio (relay removed) and new stereo (removed). But still power exists on the yellow/black wire!???????????

So, this offending wire is receiving no power from the fuse box (fuse removed), goes up under the dash and appears at the lcd dimming relay, the power antenna switch and the stereo. So it shouldn't have 12 volts to it. But it has!

The only possibility that remains is a melted wire within the loom. But how? So it looks as if the dash is coming out to remove all the old wiring insulation tape and check the entire dash loom for damage.

Oh well, more dismantling to do. At least its damn sunny here now, and far better than the -6 degrees I worked in during the winter!!

More to come..............................Seriously looking forward to the bodywork though.

Andy.

[1990LTD]

Andy I believe if you check the for sale forum you'll see a wagon being parted out. Might have one of the sensors in there.

[andyfanshawe]

Thanks 1990LTD.
I'll look into it.

By the way, did you receive my reply to the PM you sent me? Can't see any evidence I sent it!! Sorry for the bad manners if you didn't get it.

Hows your car jobs going?

Well, finally solved it! What a stupid thing it was.
Almost embarassing, but not.
The fault was assuming. I know, I know, you should never assume.

When the factory wiring was checked out, it was fine. When the new wires were soldered in, it wasn't fine. So it makes sense that I had done something wrong. But I double and triple checked the wiring colour to colour and it was okay.

Have a look at this photo, especially the black tape just above my finger



Now I ASSUMED that the tape was just holding the wires together. After all, what stupid idiot would join a permanently hot wire to an accy feed wire?

Heres a photo of it with the tape removed



That is a professional crimped join/splice. And that is where the power was being transferred to the yellow/black wire. But why would it be there? Remember this is a new stereo with no hacked wiring.

A few mins later and the crimp was off, the wires heat shrink insulated and we are back firing on all cylinders! So to speak.

Just 1 crimp was causing the electric windows to operate without the key, the LCD clock to stay illuminated and the stereo to stay powered up with the key out without manually switching it off. Still can't believe it.

We live and learn!

Andy.

[1990LTD]

yes I did get a reply, thank you! my car stuff is coming - slowly but surely

[andyfanshawe]

Nice one! keep us posted.

Tonight, I intended to start the process of removing the inner rear wheel arches and reduce the outer wheel arch lip in width and start reconstructing it all-including reprofiling the rear lower quarter panels.

BUT, got involved in servicing my dads car :whistle: Enjoyed it too much though. Took me away from the jobs in hand!

Tell you what though. Went out in it yesterday to the local country park with my youngest son (7) and my good lady Wife. I drove, my Wife sat on the passenger front and my little lad sat inbetween us on the bench seat! Was fantastic. All 3 on one seat, and still plenty of room.

Now what car can you do that in these days? Eh? Those days are gone! But not for us!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andy.

[andyfanshawe]

Heres a bit of mojo for me! A new set of rear light units for my wagon! $25 each. $20 shipping to the UK and a further $30 customs charge!!



Is it my age, or do they look sexy?!!!!!!!

Now must start the wood removal and get this thing in a state for paint. Been a bit lax lately. Been catching up on jobs that I didn't do over the long cold winter working on the wagon! Like servicing my Wife's Grand Voyager, my Dads Toyota Yaris and my custom camaro. All forgotten about since last october when it all started.............!

Andy.

[gadget73]

$30 cusoms fee to have something shipped in? Wow. Are those NOS lenses? If not, they look awful nice.

[andyfanshawe]

$30 cusoms fee to have something shipped in? Wow. Are those NOS lenses? If not, they look awful nice.

Hi.
They are in fact OEM!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-OE-TAIL-LIGHT-LAMP-CROWN-VICTORIA-83-84-85-86-87-88-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5ad82ea403QQitemZ390173991939QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Andy.

[85crownHPP]

wow... That's a good enough price to buy a pair to hang onto in case I ever get a country squire!!!

[1990LTD]

$30 cusoms fee to have something shipped in? Wow. Are those NOS lenses? If not, they look awful nice.

My headers cost me 40 bucks in customs fees. They love seeing car parts going across the U.S border.


Those tail lights look awesome.