Ok, with a 15 year old car, there were bound to be a few things to fix and tidy up. So far I've done the following:
1. Battery: When I test drove the car it didn't start at one stage and needed a jump start, so I knew it needed a new battery. Didn't know the old battery was so knackered though that after driving it home from Auckland to Hamilton the old battery was scorching hot and had fumes spewing out of it! Quick trip to Repco (in my other car) and new battery in - tick.
2. Battery Bracket and Boot Liner: The battery is in the rear of the MX-5, so found the battery holder bracket was missing and the boot floor liner was missing. I've fabricated my own battery bracket and, thanks to a TradeMe deal, now have a nice Roadster boot liner.
3. Gear Shift Boots: After driving the car around a bit it was quite noticeable that the centre console got quite hot and there seemed to quite a lot of gearbox and road noise. A quick Google search suggested that the rubber gear shift boots (upper and lower) were probably worn and split. I bought some new ones and set about replacing them, only to find the upper shift boot was totally missing! Basically the centre console and interior of the car was open to the elements, and the heat rising from the exhaust and the noise from the gearbox and road. So, installed the new shift boots (using the 4 bolts that were in the glovebox - "ah, that's what they were for") and amazing what a difference it makes. No heat and now nice and quiet!
4. New Radio and Antenna: Car had a Japanese radio - quite a good one by all accounts with fancy touchscreen, navigation, harddrive for map, video and music storage, bluetooth handsfree for you phone, etc - but, the controls, including the touchscreen, were all in Japanese. Google failed to find any details on whether the touchscreen language could be changed, so the radio had to go. Thanks to TradeMe again, and a replacement antenna from Repco, the car now has a nic new radio.
5. Convertable Roof Patched: A couple of small holes in the convertable roof. Once the car is in the shed being converted I'll take the roof off and send it to a canvas shop to be repaired properly, but I've patched the holes (canvas patch on the inside and sealer on the outside) just to make sure it's waterproof for now.
6. Seat Covers: The fabric on the driver's seat is a bit stained (too many spilt pies and drinks I think). Tried cleaning it, but couldn't get rid of the stain (think it's bleached the fabric). So, time for some new seat covers. Found some nice ones at Repco. While fitting the covers I found the rubber sealing strip that was missing at the top of the engine bay firewall (seal between the firewall and bonnet) which was in the seat pocket behind the passenger's seat. See next item...
7. Refit Engine Bay Seal: Removed the pastic clips, reattached them to the rubber seal and refit the seal to the top of the firewall in the engine bay.
8. Wash and Polish (Rust!): I always like to give a new car a good wash and polish, as it let's you have a really good look at the bodywork. Quite surprised how tidy the body and paintwork was. However, a couple of small rust spots by the look of it (a couple of bubbles in boot channel and inside the bottom of the driver's door. Not bad enough to attack now, but will do once it's in the shed being converted, and prior to it being painted. Also noticed the headlight lenses were a bit cloudy, so gave them a polish up too.
Apart from the above, still a great car I think. Awesome to drive! However, taking it to local garage for a full service and WOF later this week. So, will see what Sean (garage owner and race/sports car fan) reckons...
1. Battery: When I test drove the car it didn't start at one stage and needed a jump start, so I knew it needed a new battery. Didn't know the old battery was so knackered though that after driving it home from Auckland to Hamilton the old battery was scorching hot and had fumes spewing out of it! Quick trip to Repco (in my other car) and new battery in - tick.
2. Battery Bracket and Boot Liner: The battery is in the rear of the MX-5, so found the battery holder bracket was missing and the boot floor liner was missing. I've fabricated my own battery bracket and, thanks to a TradeMe deal, now have a nice Roadster boot liner.
3. Gear Shift Boots: After driving the car around a bit it was quite noticeable that the centre console got quite hot and there seemed to quite a lot of gearbox and road noise. A quick Google search suggested that the rubber gear shift boots (upper and lower) were probably worn and split. I bought some new ones and set about replacing them, only to find the upper shift boot was totally missing! Basically the centre console and interior of the car was open to the elements, and the heat rising from the exhaust and the noise from the gearbox and road. So, installed the new shift boots (using the 4 bolts that were in the glovebox - "ah, that's what they were for") and amazing what a difference it makes. No heat and now nice and quiet!4. New Radio and Antenna: Car had a Japanese radio - quite a good one by all accounts with fancy touchscreen, navigation, harddrive for map, video and music storage, bluetooth handsfree for you phone, etc - but, the controls, including the touchscreen, were all in Japanese. Google failed to find any details on whether the touchscreen language could be changed, so the radio had to go. Thanks to TradeMe again, and a replacement antenna from Repco, the car now has a nic new radio.
5. Convertable Roof Patched: A couple of small holes in the convertable roof. Once the car is in the shed being converted I'll take the roof off and send it to a canvas shop to be repaired properly, but I've patched the holes (canvas patch on the inside and sealer on the outside) just to make sure it's waterproof for now.
6. Seat Covers: The fabric on the driver's seat is a bit stained (too many spilt pies and drinks I think). Tried cleaning it, but couldn't get rid of the stain (think it's bleached the fabric). So, time for some new seat covers. Found some nice ones at Repco. While fitting the covers I found the rubber sealing strip that was missing at the top of the engine bay firewall (seal between the firewall and bonnet) which was in the seat pocket behind the passenger's seat. See next item...7. Refit Engine Bay Seal: Removed the pastic clips, reattached them to the rubber seal and refit the seal to the top of the firewall in the engine bay.
8. Wash and Polish (Rust!): I always like to give a new car a good wash and polish, as it let's you have a really good look at the bodywork. Quite surprised how tidy the body and paintwork was. However, a couple of small rust spots by the look of it (a couple of bubbles in boot channel and inside the bottom of the driver's door. Not bad enough to attack now, but will do once it's in the shed being converted, and prior to it being painted. Also noticed the headlight lenses were a bit cloudy, so gave them a polish up too.
Apart from the above, still a great car I think. Awesome to drive! However, taking it to local garage for a full service and WOF later this week. So, will see what Sean (garage owner and race/sports car fan) reckons...
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