:: Saturday 6 November, 2021 ::
The new switch arrived a week ago but again, I've just been too busy with work to get on to fitting it. But today, I have a wee while in the afternoon, so let's see how far we can get, between rain showers, before it gets dark.
The first step is to fit the switch in the dash - getting the bezel onto the spindle "blind" is a pain in the arse - but eventually I get it fitted and tightened up to the dash. Then I find that the wiring loom connector won't fit - some of the connector tangs seem to be slightly bent and won't fit the connector on the loom, and I can't see what I'm doing to straighten them. Ok... remove switch from dash again, which turns into a nightmare because the wee button that pleases the nob is much stiffer on the new switch than it was on the old one, and you need fingers like a vice to press it and pull the knob at the same time.
Then I fit the connector carefully, making sure all the female bits on the switch itself fit properly without bending. The old switch connectors are much stiffer and don't bend nearly as easily. Not an exact replica then...
Anyway, after a short pause while a rain shower passes, and with the connector fitted, I refit the knob and try the switch before refitting it to the dash. Sidelights tail lights, everything works except the panel lights - the problem I started off with. I faff around with that for a while, before I accidentally touch one of the panel bulbs with my hand, and it swings against the steering column and flickers on. Of course! What a brainfart! They're not going to illuminate if they aren't earthed!
So with that resolved, I pop the knob back out gain (it's a lot easier when it's not upside-down behind the dash) and refit the switch. Everything works!
So the next step is to refit the instrument panel. I plug all the bulbs back into the right holders, and connect up the gas and temperature gauges. ThenI attach the wee wire that works the gear indicator and refit it all into the dash - 4 screws round the front and two nuts on the back. Check again - panel light all work!
Unfortunately, however, the wipers and radio now don't work. I have obviously pulled a wire off somewhere. I can't see anything obvious though...
So... I remove the dash panel again so that i can have a rummage, and I find that I seem to have pulled the pink wire off the fuse box. That supplies the "ignition" side of the fusebox, so that will explain it. Reconnect wire, everything works!
At this point the rain comes on again, and the day gets several shades darker... so the answer to the original question "how far on will I get" is "not very far - about 15 minutes work achieved in 2 hours". It's a good job I'm not paying by the hour!
:: Monday 8 November, 2021 ::
Much better progress today - as they say in all the best Halfords manuals "replacement s the reverse of removal".
First the dash panel - replace all the bulbs into the right sockets, and reconnect the gas and temp gauges, hook on the wee gear indicator wire and screw it into place. Then get my hand up the back to reconnect the speedo drive. Test lights etc - everything works!
Then I refit the wee seal and the gear level cowl (which is easy, it just slots into place) and then the indicator switch - which is not so easy because getting the wee screws into the 3-pronged bracket is a nightmare! With that done, I replace the gear lever - push it into place and knock the rollpin back through then cover with the wee gaiter.
Then I can refit the bracket and the lower cowl, and then the heater control panel, all with one cross-head screwdriver. If only modern cars were this simple!
Next I reft the steering wheel - first the spring, then locate the wheel on the splines and tighten up the centre nut.
Finally, the horn ring - there's a metal spring plate then a plastic washer, then the horn ring is screwed through all that to the wheel centre with 3 screws. Tighten the screws too much and the horn stays on all the time - not tight enough and it rattles. This takes a lot of trial and error and random tooting.
The last bit is the central horn trim, which screws on through two holes in the back of he wheel.
Another test - everything still works!
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