Toe Out Solved Somewhat

Finally I did the alignment to STELLAR.

It has 6mm of toe-out! That's quite too much actually.

He's adjusted to 2mm toe out.

Suffice to say, I drove fast all the time last night. Max speed on the wet road 100kph. No sign of drifts and drags I should say.

Good job!

Also did the oil change.

And then bought Nasi Ayam Hainan at the famous Melawati Food Court near Telekom.

List Of Problem

I have compiled a list of possible problems since STELLAR went back from Haji the mechanic.

• Dashboard indicator light intermittent
• Fuel gauge shows low, or under redline (recently happened)
  
• Oil pressure very low
• Misfire at idle
• Bubbling at part throttle
• Bang or explosion on acceleration
• Toe out at front

STELLAR has not been tuned properly, especially the ignition timing. But I have tinkered with the mixture.

OK that is all.

Wrong Way Around

I just found out, that I have actually adjusted the fuel mixture the wrong way around!

Lucky I know it the same day I misadjusted it, only later in the evening while heading back home

The rich-indicating smokescreen (almost) made it seem natural that something is utterly wrong somewhere. Thus I turn it "anticlockwise" rather than "the wrong way around".

So OK, I think the fuel consumption is quite ok lah, though I have not had a clue about the gauge position, as now it acts up.

But now the occasional explosions came back. I am still clueless whether that is the thing they called pinking, pinging, or was it detonation? It's like when you start up a Lambretta scooter, and it refuses to start, the last sound you hear is the sound I hear when it happens.

Toe Out

Preliminary checks, with the aforementioned wood, shows, that my car is probably having toe-outs at the front side.

I think the rear should be fine.

I will check in detail probably tonight.

By the way, the wood is not really straight, but I took that into account already.

Must Be The Fuel

I have been wondering, lately, why is it that both my car refuses to revert back to their much nicer fuel consumption of old?

STELLAR used to do 16-17km per liter at 60kph. The Warrior used to do similar figures too, at as much as 110kph.

They both do 12-13km per liter now. Like what!? Even 2 liter cars can better 20km per liter. My dad's 2004 Camry sees 40km per liter all the time, even at 120kph!

So I accepted the limitations the Warrior have over mileage, but, at least, replicate the old consumption of yours please.

I know that Warrior has been decarbonized, had its throttle body cleaned, had it's oil changed back to thinner viscosities, and so on.

Then it dawns on me, it must be the fuel then.

I have been using RON95 lately, because RON97 is currently the premium priced petrol of choice.

I think, I must revert back to RON97, for both cars, and see how things goes.

This Wood Is A Keeper

I believe I have an idea about checking STELLAR's alignment.

It will involve, instead of the traditional use of long sewing threads, the use of a three meter long straight wood.

The wood, or beam, used to be a refuse of our home, which origin or purpose is not known.

It has been sitting idle inside our porch for a good month, and has also been outside our house gate for about a month, until I accidentally imagined using it as an alignment checker.

So the wood is spared, and inside it went again, last Saturday.

I will check first whether the wood is truly straight. Whether it is "true", like most bodyworks repairmen will usually say.

And then, one side of the wood will be used as the checker for the front side toe, and one side for the rear toe.

The two more sides will be used to check other measurements, like the distance between the front and the rear wheel centers (wheel base).

I will have to straighten out the steering wheels first, and then the check will follows.

i have not had any idea with the type of marking to use, whether with correction fluid, or marker pen, or just a pencil. But i think a pencil may be more suitable. My son's colored pencil will be a very useful candidate in this case.

Each side will only be used for its own purpose.

And then, probably, I will use it to check on Warriors' alignment too.

Yes, I am going to just check first, and still let the alignment shop do their work. Only thing is, I can make educated guess, before and after the alignment shop do their stuffs.

The wood will definitely stay with me for a little while.

Not Waking Up

Starting, non-starting.

The latter, happened twice today.

Crazy!

I was in Shah Alam meeting a supplier when the first happen.

Then at night, at Petronas Precinct 9 Putrajaya, it happens again.

With all options checked, I have probably left out the connection at the battery posts. Must check that one later.

I even managed to switch sides the signal toggle switch in the process of opening the steering console.

The Five Year Plan

Plans.

Yes, people have plans.

Everybody does.

Truth is, it's only money.

Thus, this is my plan for STELLAR.

First, it will be the floor board. I probably will need 2 to 2.5 grand for this.

Then, the wheels. Budget, 1.5 grand.

Then, I want to rebuild the current bodykit, with sheet metal instead. This one probably will cost about the same as the floor board.

Then, the exhaust. I will need to find an RC40 unit. Single box.

Then, the engine. I want to have a hill climb profile. Three quarter race cam or something. This probably will need 10 grand.

Then, lowering him. As in, very low. A-la Coyote the McCormick car. But no going under a trailer anytime, if at all. This will need some body cutting for both front and rear arch, and structural welding for the rear arch.

Phewww.. I guess that is all for a 5 year span. Yep. It is a long process. But priorities are already set.

Or I just do the floor board only. Maybe next year. Or just a simple reshell.

Idle Run

STELLAR still do idle runs when I ease off the throttle.

I think the fuel mixture is still rich.

I don't know whether its the carb, the timing, or the needle profile.

But I'm gonna start experimenting myself with each of them

Since two weeks ago, there's this sound coming up from STELLAR's right front wheels.

It's a squealing sound.

Apparently my earlier session three days ago to eliminate the sound didn't really work out.

Mr Jasmie did a brake disc skim, and replaced my brake master pump pipe.

The sound did disappear for a few kilometers, but then it reappears bit by bit again, until last night.

It really gets on my nerves.

The thing is, on the straights the sound was a pulsating one, increasing in frequency as the speed increases, and a light corner augments the sound. A heavier corner eliminates it completely until you go straight again.

This morning, the sound persists until 25km, when I reached a toll booth. Then it disappears completely. What gives!?

I can only hope, coz I really do think it's the wheel hub bearing acting up.

Plug Cable

STELLAR starts with a backfire or two most mornings.

To describe the sound, it's like an air compressor tripping. With a loud "pssst".

But I think I cured it, by changing the plug cables.

Now it rarely does that.

But I still need to idle for a while. Or run slowly if I ever need to move straight away.

Single Box Now

After cringing too much everytime metal meets tarmac, I finally decided to dismount the center exhaust box.

In the end, I swapped the backbox too.

And STELLAR has a different sound now.

And true to words by others, single box are still loud.

But I kinda like the sound. Only thing is, I have to start STELLAR outside the house. I think it might vibrate the walls and the sliding door if I did it in the porch.

Not A Weber But Still..

I don't think STELLAR has its fuel consumption as low as before.

I did 16km per liter before its overhaul.

Now I think I can only best 13km per liter.

I guess more adjustments are in the works. And probably the distributor needs a proper timing done too.

Spares Purchase

The purchasing of parts is commenced.

I should be receiving them in a weeks time.

Hopefully not when I am in Penang.

Registration Needed

Thinking of starting up a small enterprising company.

That particular company will trade in Mini spare parts.

Will start with maybe a small range of critically replaced items like Swivel Hub Ball Joints, or Water Pump, or maybe that thing called Radiator Cap?

I will have to think about this.

Engine Out

The visitation last night was quite a turning point.

The engine is out of the car, and usually that means a hefty price has to be paid.

But fortunately, most items can be reused.

Only some things like piston rings, main bearings, gaskets, tappets and oil seals needs replacing.

I was thinking the piston, the clutch plate, the camshaft was having problem too!

We'll see how it goes.

Mouse In Him Somewhere...

Finally I sent the creaking and squeaking STELLAR to Haji Yahaya.

Hopefully the repair's not that costly.

I was hoping the best, but still I have to prepare for the worst.

Methinks he needs some TLC too, after all that hard work he was entrusted to do.

In Car Entertainment

I prefer to keep my car STELLAR simple.

No radios are present. Instead I use the MP3 feature I have on my handphone to listen to music through earphone or small headphones.

I don't have spotlights. With this limitation, I usually drove slowly come nighttime.

In fact I drove slowly most of the time. I call it, fuel saving mode.

But then again, I do entertain myself sometimes. All I do is to downshift to third, then press further a bit the throttle. Then I listen to the carburettor emit the lovely sound I look forward to.

And then we flew together.

Pure bliss I would describe.

I Feel An On-Ramp

Finally I found some time to repair the exhaust bracket.

I sent it at the Everco muffler shop opposite the Wangsa Melawati masjid.

When I saw that the shop also have oil recycling tanks, I asked him to do the oil change as well.

What's frightening though, it is done on a ramp, and I have to drive it up there myself. I am so afraid of STELLAR falling down sideways in between the ramps. Driving down is another nerve wracking episode.

Ouch!

Interior Clean Up

My youngest son has a vomiting spree. So there goes one MC!

By the way, he recovered, and finally slept, so I found myself some alone time with STELLAR.

So I finally feel like cleaning up his undercarpet. Cleaning spree you could say, since I was inspired by my now-polished-look AP Racing wheels, I feel I didn't do justice to the rest of the car.

Opening the front driver's side first and foremost, I found lots of mud or grime like substance, quite slimy at first.

So that needs a full lifting of the carpet. To see the whole extent of the accumulation, plus I need to see the extent of front side floorboard rust too. The carpet was then duly folded, driver's side only.

While washing the grime with soap and water, and draining them by pushing the water towards the hole made by rust damage, I found that the water keeps coming back, even though I thought I have drained them. This needs further investigation. Then I saw the drip.

The carpet was retaining water, probably for an elongated length of time. It still drips water for about 20 minutes after being folded. Yes I took that long to clean the mud.

I decided to pull the whole front carpet, which covers the driver and passenger side, out. Thus I have to unclip the passenger side as well. Then I saw another problem.

The front passenger side carpet, surprisingly, contains, quite expectedly, an ant colony, each holding a larvae or egg with it.

So I, being quite shocked by the encounter, decided to just rip the whole front side carpet altogether, partly because of the fear that they may spread around the car, and start another colony under the remaining carpeting.

The carpet I rip out, I hung it to dry. Let it relax for a while.

I may plug that rust hole with the more durable duct tape sometimes later. If I didn't, it may still let water in when it rains.

I guess it's time not to use any carpeting for a while.


PS: Here is another tip. Baby wipes are durable enough to clean grimy car surface or parts.

Little Tips

If your dish sponge is too far gone to clean anymore dish, don't throw it away just yet!

Use it to wash your car instead!

The same goes for dish scrub, usually found in dark green color. You may remember cleaning your frying pan or pots with it.

Use that to scrub your alloy wheels then!

I didn't take any photos of my scrubbed wheel, but suffice to say, the silver coating has never looked better in my opinion.

The Shrill

Lately there's this shrill sound coming out from the engine bay area.

It is pretty much audible all the time. I think it corresponds to the wheel or something, coz it only sounds when the car is moving.

And then, the exhaust is hitting the rear skirting. Visual check reveals a broken rear bracket.

The car is near it's next service too. About time huh!?

Majical

I dreamt of this lately.

Even nightmares!

I am so into it

And I will get it sooner or later...



The AutoFashion Majic Clubman Bumper...

Body Paint

While washing STELLAR a week ago, I noticed several paint bulges at different places.

Some peeling were also apparent.

I think just doing a respray is not enough. The car needs total paint stripping.

I am now learning to do it. A slow learning. I haven't even started.

But before all those, the floorboard needs attention too. And the front bumper, probably needs treatment, or better/worse yet, a replacement.

Almost 150?

While on the highway last night, I think I pressed the throttle too much.

Way too much.

I finished the 140kph meter, and did a further estimated 20 or 25 extra undisplayed kph. That's around 160 or 165kph total.

Calculating that for every kilometer reflected on the meter is actually 0.9kilometers on the road, I reckon I actually did 144 to 148kph!

That's a new personal record.

The previous owner did mention once that the Mini can reach 150kph. I don't doubt that now.

But it was not a pretty experience. The car chassis was totally vibrating. I got myself a prolonged nervousness that stays for 10 minutes after I ease off to 90 again.

I think the floorboard needs replacing first, before another reattempt can commence.

I will stay at the stipulated speed limits from now onwards, except for overtaking.

Belt Slip

For several days, I thought I heard the fan belt slipping.

So today I really did something to cure that.

I pulled the alternator a bit more upwards, and tightened the nuts.

I also eased off the clutch adjustment nut a bit, hoping to get more throw.

I hope all goes well when I drive it this evening.

Hazard Light

While I lost my headlight, I found out that I hazard indicator lights are working and available for me to use. And I found this today by accident.

It was not working in the past, probably due to multiple problems in the electricals.

While testing the switches a day or two ago, I must have switched on the hazard by mistake and let in stay on. Since I don't really mind if the switch is on or off, so I thought nothing about it, because Haji the mechanic also thought the switch might be problematic. And it did nothing, so there.

But as I drive just now, I indicated to the left, and instead both indicator sides lights up.

The hazard is available! And I am surprised that it does.

I think as I see things go, the hazard might function only when both switches are on, the hazard main switch, and either side of the indicator, unlike most cars which have a single switch to activate the hazard.

Either way, I am relieved. Finally I can proudly use it in case I have a breakdown. Not that I am eager for a breakdown or anything.

No Lights

I found the first electrical fault today.

The headlight went off, and on again, and off again, several times.

Few minutes later, it died the penultimate time.

I had to hold the toggle switch to beam mode to illuminate the dark LDP streets near the Limkokwing stretch.

I may think the lighting switch is at fault, or was it the beam-to-headlight toggle switch?

Either way, the beam was fine. So I'll be using that as substitute for now. I guess the illumination is better with the beam mode on.