Jonty Wild

Wise man!

Yes you are correct there is no more heat going in, but equally no air cooling. I have had several cars in the past, e.g. Ford Capri, Ford Orion and I think my Audi Coupes (probably others too) plus my Robin Hood 2B, when the fans often came/come on a few seconds or even minutes after the engine had been turned off - sometimes several times. This suggests that the temperature at the switch had risen enough to turn the fan on again, and I have certainly had cars that boiled over after stopping and, although running hot, not while running (usually because of a fault).

Err it could be a problem because if the coolant isn't circulating the engine could continue to get hotter without the fan going, Are you sure that isn't working? i.e. does it come back on at all, even say after a couple of minutes?

No problem, welcome.

Just finishing off chat (probably!): So I went for tracking and asked for between 1 and 2mm toe in. They said we only work in degrees and minutes now. . . . . doh! I couldn't convert that without a tape measure and pen and paper and some time, so I asked them to aim for a smidgin or a tad of toe in "as officially recommended by the experts at the club", which they seemed happy with. I have ended up with 1 degree 58 minutes. I have to say that it is much better than toe out (no surprise there!), but if I am honest, I am not sure that it is better than it was before I replaced the steering gaiters and track rod rubber boot, but is it as good . . . . . umm . . . . . still thinking. It almost sailed through the MOT . . . . . almost! Having checked the car over beforehand . . . . all the normal stuff - lights, indicates, wipers, tyre pressures etc., oh and the horn. The latter several times, and it was definitely working when I went for the above tracking (Sat), driving to the MOT (Mon) not a peep! So obviously it failed on that, despite me desperate looking for a loose wire, bad earth that I could fixed in the 5 minutes before the MOT. No luck, so obviously it failed on that. I have not got a sound out of the horn when testing it directly on the battery, so waiting for a new one. Could be worse I suppose, but b****y annoying. Hurry up Amazon. Beep, beep!

I think it it is a wee bit more than a smidgen.

Thanks Spannerman, that is interesting and logical when I think about it. The noise stopped later the day I heard it for the first (only) time, maybe after I drove it and used the indicators. If it happens again I will follow you advice straightaway. Thanks

I thought maybe a tad.

Just to finish this one off. I ordered one track rod end for an Escort - definitely wrong as it had no offset - there are loads like that. Found some offset ones that look right, but most have no measurements, some are much longer and I don't think these would fit. Found some Sierra ones, that are indeed offset but they don't look like the ones on my car as they have a have triangle on front of each - I have a sneaking suspicion that these would fit, so I was holding these as a reserve. Found one described as for any Sierra based kit car and looked perfect, but the wrong side, so I rang them and asked of they had the other side, they pointed me to another which looked completely different. I pointed that out and they said the picture was wrong on the one that looked right . . . . damn! Found others that look the same, but although listed for various Fords are not listed as for a Sierra - I have a sneaking suspicion that these would fit too. By this time I had followed Foz's advice (above) and ordered some Sierra replacement rubbers and have fitted one. I think it would have been better if it had been a slightly tighter fit, but I think that it's done the job and I will just monitor it periodically. Tracking tomorrow, just got to decide how much toe in to ask for. Then MOT Monday.

Just Googled the rubbers, loads around. I wish I had measured it while it was off the car!

Thanks for the info I am thinking Sierra too now, but there seem to be several versions so I still need to be careful when ordering. Very few show the joint from above which would really help! I wasn't aware that you could just get the rubber, that is all I need really - it has split might have been me getting it apart to replace the steering gaiters, not sure. Any ideas where I could just get the rubber from?

I need a pair, or at least, an offside track rod end. My understanding is that the rack on my car is a Ford Escort, not Sierra - maybe they all were? Certainly the steering rack gaiters were ordered for an Escort and they matched and fitted. My existing tie road ends are sided - see photos of the o/side - the nearside is a mirror image. I ordered a pair of Quinton Hazel items for an Escort (or at least I thought I did as there were 2 in every picture!). Only one has arrived and clearly it intended to fit either side and doesn't look like to would my car any way. I Googled the number on the item, but didn't get any hits. Can anyone advise on a part number or source or the car it would have come from? Could it be that the track rod ends are Sierra fitted on to an Escort rack? Looking at images on line perhaps I should add that mine have a tapered end that fits into the hub carrier. Some of those I have seen on line don't appear have that.

Thanks. It will be interesting to know what is it now, and I am not sure that I want to change it too much anyway.

Indicator switch changed and steering gaiters replaced, now ready for MOT - Yippee . . . . fingers now crossed! Although, there were no previous problems (e.g. steering, pulling either way or braking angled), and I have put the tie-rods back to their previously marked positions. I think that I should get the front wheel alignment checked. Does anyone know what the toe-in should be? I presume that I will need to tell them what I want the readings to be. The Sierra donor would be '2.0 mm (0.08 in) ± 1.0 mm (0.04 in) toe-in', but that would be a much heavier car. Visually there does look to be a toe-in, obviously that is unreliable and anyway I reserve judgement as haven't driven it yet (I finished the job a bit late and it is actually raining this morning . . . shock, horror!). Out or curiosity any comments on cant angle? On a completely separate issue, but also out of curiosity I recently experimented with increasing the tyre pressures, I run at (18 to 20 lbf/in2) to 25+, the ride was absolutely terrible and my confidence in the handling nose dived. I hadn't realise what difference that would make - I just provide this information for interest.

I would love to join you on the 20th but unfortunately I am leading a walking group that day, also as I am about to change the steering gaiters pre-MOT, so I can't be sure the car will be drivable - it should be of course, as it shouldn't take long, but you never know. If I need other bits (e.g. tie rod ball joint) I will have to find and order them.

I will next time (if/when) it happens, but I think that will definitely stop because it must be electrical, unless there is something wind up that mice are playing with. I don't have a live by pass as far as I know. Surely all green eyed monsters have long legs so at least they wouldn't be able to drive it!

I think would be sensible (if not already in place) for members to have a card or details on a window sticker or their membership card, which they pass on or leave in/on the car, if they sell it. Obviously (probably) only when reprints need to be done.

Congratulations

I do have a wiring diagram (as far as I know it it is for the car). It does have fuses. The child would have to be so small I can stuff it under and behind the dash - maybe a baby would fit but then they are not good at pointing to noises! But by yesterday it had stopped - or does that mean I have got passed the age I can hear it - is that a solution?

Yes I know there are lots, and I know that identifying odd noises, when you can't hear them doesn't really work . . . . but: I wandered into my garage yesterday and heard a strange quiet noise. At first I ignored it thinking it was the freezer, then I realised it wasn't. When I went near the car, I eventually realised it was coming from around the steering column area behind the dash. It is quiet, like a slight tinkling, or for those of a certain age, like a very quiet telephone modem as heard through a telephone (in the olden days!). It is constant, i.e. it is there whether the ignition is on or off, so if it is electrical it must be live when the ignition is off. It is not using much power as I have been away for 10 days and the battery is fine. I drove it yesterday and it was still there after coming back. I do have a GPS speedometer, which has been random lately as to whether it works immediately when the car is started - sometime it requires stopping and starting again or a longer pause before driving, but I don't suppose that is live until the ignition is on. It might have just started or may have been there for ages, with me ignoring it because of other noises, or maybe it is aliens trying to make contact. Any ideas?

Good luck, always a stressful time.

And the light when they are working or when they are not?

That's clever where did you get those from?

Unfortunately I was at the Lincolnshire so couldn't make it . . . . .sorry!

Have you added your location to the Community Map (https://www.rhocar.org/index.php?/communitymap/) and looked for others who maybe nearby?