Right... put in my order for parts... yikes...

Ordered recon steering box, ATF, Engine Oil, Diff oil, Dot 4... realised I forgot to order oil filter... bollocks!! But can get one locally before the weekend.

I've already got new PS pump that's been sitting about for awhile. Can't get new sealing washers easily.. they appear to be obsolete in a lot of cases, so fingers crossed my original ones are OK!

I just need to clean up the reservoir on my replacement modulator and refit it back to the block (thinking about leaving it soaking in parts washer fluid for a day to try and clean the filter screen) and then I should be set.

I'll have all my normal tools, Nanocom, etc. Big compressor in the workshop, but there is only one air line outlet and one air line at the moment, so bit limited on using that. If someone has extra air line and splitter then great.. I think it's about 150L tank, so it's not a small unit and can handle multiple tools at once.

I've got a 3T trolley jack, and some axle stands (some are in use but can get a couple back easily and once the disco is move there will be a couple of big ones free too). There are a couple of wheel ramps too which are my mates, but should be fine to use.

Can't think of anything else at the moment...I'm about to go do a day of corporate work... yay... not.. but it will help pay for the bits I've just ordered!!!

Sloth wrote:

I was thinking of coming up for the Saturday, but as I've got nothing better to do I'll come back up on the Sunday too - bit further than I remember but that's no biggy, might be able to scrape both days in one tank of LPG :) Depending on the amount of bits I bring up it might make it a bit easier anyway! Always worried about putting holes in the leather. I do have a working drivers side blower if you've not got one Marty.

My breaker will be going the week after (sans engine, will have two if you still want one at some point Marty) - I have picked it pretty clean of bits I'm keeping as spares (or already used...), but if there is any odd bits that anyone wants that I don't already know about, let me know. I do have a set of clear rear lights and indicators from it going cheap. Relatively new GEMS radiator - I think it is Britpart, probably did 1500-2000 miles on the car before I gave up with it. If anyone wants it, I'll bring it, of no use to me now! I have a single exhaust rear brake hose from the chassis to the axle, unused, I won't need that either.

EAS blocks sound good! Do you want me to get ATF or was that factored in your 10L? I can get filter etc. If there is time, it would be handy to change my rocker cover gaskets, but I have the week after that weekend off so it can wait.

I have a 35 litre Waeco fridge/freezer that lives in the back of my RR and another little 14 litre box I can bung in, so I can bring a fair bit of food with me too.

I think we should be good on ATF... I'm planning on getting 5L (RAVE says PAS System takes 1.7L) and I know I still have some in a 20L drum up at the workshop, but can't remember exactly how much (I think I've done 1 autobox fluid change and a couple of transfer case changes from it), so there should be enough to fill your autobox aswell as RAVE says the system is 9.7L but I think you only get about half of that out from the box as the rest is in the cooler, lines, and TC. If you want to bring some then that's fine too.

I can't remember what parts I asked for to be honest... would you mind dropping me an email with what you had aside for me? It's been so long! I might be interested in the GEMS radiator, as I will probably be replacing the one on my Restoration P38s and one of them is GEMS.

Rocker cover gaskets... if you have them with you, then we can try and get them done - I think there should be time on the Sunday if you come back for round 2...

Morat... I'll have a look at the other thread with the EAS bits, though I'm sure someone will probably beat me to it aswell!!

Your other half is right... blokes, RR's, tools... what food? oh sh*t, is that the time! etc... If everyone is up for it, then maybe we do some BBQ food at the close of play on Saturday...

I know I've got a couple of heater blowers in the workshop from old P38's that we've scrapped - I'm pretty sure there is a driver's one there - but you can take a look on the weekend and if you want one, then we can work it all out... Likewise - belt buckle, I think I'm likely to have one kicking about - the grey covers are the same on all of them, regardless of trim colour. I might even have one from the other side or something silly like that, which can have the cover pinched off it... that is if Sloth doesn't have a complete unit kicking about...

Enjoy fitting the new microswitches.... I'm getting to the point where I'm sick of looking at door latches... last count was about 30 of them in bits in the garage... and I'm only half way through cleaning/degreasing all the parts, before I can then even start rebuilding them, yet alone fitting new microswitches!

Worst case, reset the fault, manually pump up the system so it's riding on air, and then pull the ECU connector or delay timer relay - it will then have air in the springs, but not control the valves to let it out... then we can look at it when you get here :)

A couple of bits of wire in the ECU connector will also just give an EAS MANUAL message on the dash, rather than all the beeps and hard fault messages...

Right.....

I've dropped a PM to Sloth, Morat, and No10Chris with the workshop details.... Orangebean, I emailed them to you earlier today... and GilbertD - you've been there before, so just let me know if you need them again, otherwise I'll take it that you know roughly where to go!!

Grrrrr from Landyzone is going to pop by on Sunday to say hello, as his other plans have cancelled - but other than that, I think I've had contact with everyone in some form or another now.

My mate is coming up on the morning of the 2nd to move the Disco shell out of the workshop, so I am sure we will be able to give a bit of a hand if necessary - that will give us one workshop bay. The Green P38 that we are 'working' on is in the other half, so going to try and get up there on Friday afternoon and get the wheel arch liner and wheel back on, so that is driveable and it can then be moved outside to give us both workshop bays.

I think a worthwhile plan will be to get mine in one side Saturday morning, as I've got a fair bit to try and get through - but with the aim of completing that on Saturday. I live a fair way from the workshop (OK, not as far as some who are attending! But about twice as far as the accommodation that some have booked!) so if mine can be done/finished Saturday then I can drive home/back on Sunday. I'm also happy to help out with lifts to/from accommodation as it's 'on the way' if we then have a couple of vehicles in there overnight being worked on.

Saturday, in the second bay I think it is worth getting Orangebean's one in so we can get the accumulator stripped out so he can work on the BMR kit on the bench. I know there are some other bits of interior he's hoping to change and steering column and brake service.

Sloth, I will bring my EAS calibration blocks - and we can give them a go, even though they are 20mm not 30mm diameter, so might be a bit of messing about, but happy to try them out. I can't remember if you are staying up or just coming up for one day? Once mine is done, then I think we put yours in the workshop and get stuck into the autobox fluid/filter change. If you are staying over, then we can always get it draining on Saturday, and then do the filter/refill first thing Sunday?

Morat - We can find a time I am sure to look at the ABS/EAS bits that you are wanting to check out. I'm thinking maybe Sunday for that - though might get a chance to hook it up to diagnostics and get an idea of what's happening on Saturday!

I think Grrr wants me to have a look at swapping a power/logic board over in his BECM, but that should be easy enough to do outside the workshop.

GilbertD, was there anything on yours that you are wanting to look at? Also you mentioned to me on text about possibly bringing your BBQ? Is that still happening? - if so what do you think about us all bringing a bit of food/drink and then having an informal BBQ on Saturday evening before we disband for the night? I know that on Sunday that we will probably be aiming to finish up mid-afternoon so everyone can get home before it's too late in the evening!

I'm not sure if I'm missed anything out or not - let me know if I have...
My shopping list for this week...
Recon Steering Box
10L ATF (can't remember exactly how much I have left and I'm sure I will use it!
10L 10w/40 engine oil
Oil Filter
5L EP80/90 gear oil
5L DOT 4 brake fluid
New PS system washers for the lines to the pump/box

Is there anything else that people want me to get as part of the order so it's all there ready?

Looking forward to next weekend....

Marty

But leather wipes clean....

Innovative fix!

If you want me to take a look at it at some point, then I have SMD soldering equipment that I can use to replace the smaller components...

I haven't updated my side of things on the HEVAC either... I ended up getting a bunch of the LCD connectors made in China (minimum order was 500!!) and have used them in 4 or 5 HEVAC units now, with good results on all of them for fixing faulty pixels.

I have also found a way to light the LCD with white LED's - and can now also do an option of either standard green backlight, or white (for the LCD):

I have also got for testing/fitment checking replacement ball bearings and springs for the rotary fan knob 'clicking' as I've had a couple where either the ball bearing or the spring has gone 'ping' when I've taken the unit apart... so figure it might be handy to be able to supply spares of these at some point!

Marty

I am sure we will be able to organise lifts and the likes where needed...

In theory if we can get the modulator swapped and the PS pump/box done on mine on Saturday, then I can also drop people off as Alexandra house is fairly well on my way home anyway - so happy to do that.

I'm still not 100% sure on the steering box, I'll look at ordering that next week assuming the funds allow... otherwise it will just be the pump being done for the moment!

Sounds like there's going to be a few of us there then...

Sloth... shouldn't be a problem to do the autobox fluid/filter.

The disco is going to be moving outside on the 2nd according to my mate... so might have to help get it out of the workshop, but after that will have space again!! I'm going to head up there and get the wheel arch liner and the wheel back on the green RR so it's movable aswell.. which should give us 2 workshop bays for most of the weekend.

No problem if anyone can't make it - I am sure that there will be another one at some point in the future!

Oldshep - no hurry on the kicker - I am not needing it for anything else at the moment. I will have a look and see what compressors I have on the shelf which are finished and tested. I haven't really had a chance to get anything more done on most things RR... This week being back has been somewhat of a strain on the system for a variety of reasons! Still, I got my LPG system replumbed and it seems to actually be running on gas OK now... so happy days there!! Will have to tweak the map a bit at some point - but I'm just happy that it's actually running semi decently on gas, and not throwing the petrol side of things out too much either!

Nice workaround!

I have been considering what to do on mine for a long time, as it is a very common P38 problem, yes.
I did look at repairing mine (I think it is just wear on the plastic for the 'flash' that contacts the pad that causes the problem - over the years it's just worn down enough so that it doesn't activate before the stalk is pulled all the way back.

I did manage to fix mine, and it worked for a few weeks, but then went back to 'normal', and I haven't had time to go back in there and have another go.

I also don't use the speed limiter button, so might be a good modification for me to do aswell... I had wondered about fitting an extra switch, or maybe modifying the current switch in the stalk to make the original design more reliable - but it's currently still just 'on the list'

Yeah, it got a new MF31-1000 battery put in... still - the one that came out was a MF31-750 and lasted just over 4 years, which I think in a power hungry P38 which is left sitting idle as often as mine get left at home alone, is pretty good.

Was so nice to get out and drive again last night though... been 9 weeks since driving anything, and hearing the V8 again was just lovely :)

Just got to get the LPG all working happily again now... I remembered getting a whiff of gas under the bonnet before I went away so have bought leak detector spray, and a few new bits of hose and clips etc to hopefully get it narrowed down and then I get try getting the gas tune done!

Interested to hear how the extra relays/wiring goes!

Right...

So the good news is I'm back, and gearing up for the Summer Camp weekend... I've got a few bits I need to buy to be able to complete my service list on the RR before I get her MOT'd, so hopefully I can get as much of it done as possible on the summer camp weekend...

My list is pretty much as follows:
Replace Power Steering Pump
Replace Steering Box with reconditioned one (i'm sure mine has a LOT of play in it, and it makes sense to me whilst the system is open and drained to do them both!)
Replace ABS modulator block with my spare one
New brake fluid/bleed
Engine oil/filter change
Diff oil change

I've canned from my original thoughts/plans the radius arm bushes and replacing the VC. Gearshift mechanism is something I can do separately when I get a chance, and it's going to be taking too much apart to get to it - so I can't be bothered with that either at the moment.

I also would like to sort through the wheels/tyres I've got up there and swap my current ones for 4 different wheels/tyres to see if that cures my death wobble.

So, parts I am looking to get:
Recon Steering Box
Engine oil filter
10W40 engine oil
EP80/90 gear oil
Dot 4 brake fluid

I know Orangebean is wanting to do some work on his brakes too (BMR kit in the modulator) so will get enough brake fluid for us both to be able to bleed/flush the system.

If you are still planning on coming (Sloth, Gilbertd, Morat, Oldshep?) then if you can just give a rough idea now that we are a bit closer to the time of what you want to look at/get done - then we can all work out a plan on doing it :) Also if you want me to get any parts as part of a bulk order, then let me know...

Right, now onto the bad news... even though I've asked multiple times to make sure that both workshop bays are usable for the first weekend in July, I think that there is still a heap of shit sitting in one half of the workshop, as my mate has been too busy/lazy/whatever to actually get up there and get it scrapped. Even though I've been told numerous times that it would be gone by now. Also, the Green P38 that myself an same mate have a half share in each, hasn't had anything more done to it since I finished putting the exhaust manifold back on and getting that all buttoned up. Luckily it just needs the wheel arch liner and the wheel put back on and it's driveable to move it outside to give us one half of the workshop free.

So, my thoughts are that we might have to either just cope with the one workshop bay (not ideal) or find a way of moving the Disco outside to free up the second bay. I think there is a bit to do to it to get it back on 4 wheels to actually be able to move it, and it is missing engine/transmission/any form of braking - so it might be a pain to get out of the workshop, given that it's a fairly short access and it's a downhill slope...

Also as a side note, my mate wants out of the workshop altogether, so it's going to end up being down to me fairly soon to stump up the other half of the rent on it to be able to afford to keep the workshop space going. Which is frustrating a bit, as I feel like I've been paying for a space I can't use for the last nearly a year that the Disco has been there.... and I can give the space up, as I've got 2 other RR's that I have nowhere to put or no way of moving! I know I'm just ranting now, as it feels like I'm being lumbered with it all, and have no real choice in the matter! but I do think that when I can get the other 2 restored and moved on, I will be looking at shutting up shop there and either finding somewhere closer to home, or just sticking to my electronics side of things that I can do from home!

Looking forward to the 2nd/3rd July...

If you can reply quickly with if you are definitely coming and what you would like to achieve, then we can do a final tally and work out which is the best order to do things in. I've also had word that one of the guys from LZ - Grrrrr isn't coming now as he has a family occasion that weekend and won't be able to get over to us - but maybe next time!

Cheers,
Marty

Well, the battery was totally dead on the RR... showed 1.8V when I put a meter on it... so a new MF31-1000 should be delivered today, and I'll get that installed and see if the old girl actually still likes me when she starts up...

Re lamp monitoring... As far as I know (I will check though to be sure once I'm up and running again!) Police mode in the BECM does not change anything to do with the lamp monitoring on any of the circuits. I know that my BECM is set to 'Police' (was like that when I got it officer...) and again, pretty sure it tells me if a front fog lamp has blown...

In regard to your question Sloth, the monitoring is constant all the time - it's actually done off the status pin of the MOSFET, so if it is driving a lamp, and it then blows, then it the MOSFET will suddenly register no load on it, which will activate the lamp failure message. So if you have a separate relay operating the front fog lamps, then turning the fogs on from the switch will most likely throw an error up.

It's on the back burner at the moment, but I am looking at making a 'bypass' for the lamp monitoring to allow being able to use LED lamps in the indicators/stop lamps etc - without load resistors. At the moment if you try to do it, the MOSFET will drive the low current LEDs, but you get the bulb warning - so I am hoping to be able to modify a BECM power board to bypass the lamp warnings altogether. But it's quite a way down the list of things to look at... The 30 door latches sitting in bits on my bench waiting to be cleaned and rebuilt are the first priority at the moment as I've got a list of latches I need to try and get done for people!

They are MOSFET driven, yes. And they should have bulb monitoring on the circuit. Mine will tell me if one has blown...

Bit strange that Gilbertd's one doesn't throw up an error... Though some vehicles with a Low Line BECM (older ones) didn't have the fog light MOSFETS, and the wiring was added afterwards to control the fogs separately through a relay, which won't have lamp monitoring on them...

I am back now... yay.... o a different note.. noticed that the security LED isn't flashing on the RR anymore :( so I think that I'm going to be replacing the main battery! Will have to investigate that today... guess 9 weeks was too long for it, even with the MK3 receiver!

I wonder if it is worth checking the reluctor ring on the LHF to see if there is any damage to it at all... I've head of the rings having chipped a tooth or even cracked before - which might only show up if it gets a sudden shock...

Chances are the ECU is OK though if you can consistently (well as much as possible for an intermittent fault!) get it to do it on one corner.. It's worth keeping the other ECU though as they are stupidly expensive second hand if one does fail (another reason why I want to look and see if they are repairable!)

Morat wrote:

I can't bring myself to rip out the standard NAV which is still working after 15 years, even if it is woefully out of date (there were a LOT of roundabouts on the A1) so we use phones and Brodit mounts which are extremely practical even if they can only ever look after-market.

What year maps do you have? is it still the original 2001 discs? If so, then i can probably help with a map from 2012/2013.... I'm trying to see if I can find later 2015 maps aswell, but know I've got something more recent than the originals (I looked into it when I first got mine before I found the nav drive was faulty and went with my aftermarket option...)

Is it a black box? I can't remember the part number off the top of my head - but the earlier ECU's were grey/silver and the later ones for Thor vehicles were black.

Can't hurt to try swapping it over if it is a spare ABS ECU...

I installed an all-in-one kind of navigation thing in mine in place of the stock navigation system, (writeup on rr.net) but it isn't android, it runs embedded WinCE.

I am however looking at options on retrofitting an android device to run everything - radio, nav, the works at some point - it's just a case of finding a unit I'm willing to butcher to make fit in the RR dash, given that most of the units I see are all double din and won't fit depth-wise...

Haha... I have some blocks already cut, yes - but I am a little bit hesitant to try them as they are only 20mm, not 30mm nylon rod. I did order 30mm but they sent me the wrong stuff and by the time I realised (I should have measured it to start with, I know - but I stupidly assumed that the eBay seller specialising in plastic products would be able to send what I'd ordered!!) I had already cut most of them to length!

I can bring them up and we can try them - I do mean to replace them with 30mm at some point though, more for my piece of mind (and the fact they will hold themselves in the bump stops then!) but it's one of those things 'on the list'!

Haha... I have to double check emails I send as sometimes I type too quickly that I miss the T out aswell....

no10chris - got your PM re summer camp... If you have a look in here: Summer Camp 2016 there are some details... I'm going to be posting up again in there soon to confirm details, who's coming etc.

Marty