Starting (or not!) on cold mornings!

Post by **Stig** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:05 am

Slight topic drift but can I recommend using RainX on the windscreen so you won't need the wipers so much. It works best at speed rather than stationary but it still helps a bit.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:01 pm

And does it not cause any 'flare' on the screen when driving into oncoming headlights ?

Post by **Kevin** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:14 pm

My point, really was that in the days before alternators cars didn't all regularly grind to a halt.

But the traffic was much less than nowadays.

Post by **alex_holden** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:48 pm

So what was the final outcome, Furrtiv? You mentioned elsewhere that you've gone for an alternator upgrade instead of fixing the dynamo...

BTW I've joined Redemption, so if you do decide to go along, be sure to track me down and we can compare Travellers

If you can't find me try asking at the Orbital 2008 stand.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:05 pm

Yes indeedy - how did the 'Minor Specialist' get on with this one ?

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:36 pm

Orbital 2008 stand.

Hmm that must be for prototype sanders then

Post by **alex_holden** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:48 pm

Kevin wrote:
Orbital 2008 stand.
Hmm that must be for prototype sanders then

Might be, might be... Why not come along and find out?

Post by **JimK** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 10:04 am

A good test for cold-starting this morning, it was -4C when I left home. The car was a little reluctant to idle, but not as reluctant I me

My heater valve is knackered and the air coming from the vent was tepid at best. I have cold tootsies...

Post by **Furrtiv** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 6:41 pm

Ah yes, got the car back yesterday, and it seems to be running fine now with the alternator - which looks brand new, but I have a layman's eye so wouldn't be able to tell you anything more than that it was shiny and a different shape to the dynamo! Ector also seems to be running a wee bit smoother, and has a bit more ah, aggression? Hm, maybe eagerness is a better word? Definitely a more lively rise!
Alex, I have booked time off work for Redemption, so will try to make it there and seek you out.

And BMCecosse, my garage is most definitely a Minor specialist and is quite well known in Leicestershire and has a very good reputation, why so cynical?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 7:44 pm

Great news - just there are some cowboys out there - glad they have done a good job for you - credit where due! Now - the big Q - does it start in the morning ?

Post by **alex_holden** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 8:33 pm

Great stuff. Looking forward to seeing you at the con

Post by **Kevin** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 7:41 am

Might be, might be... Why not come along and find out?

Dont think so Nikki sounds a bit too frigtening to me.

My heater valve is knackered and the air coming from the vent was tepid at best. I have cold tootsies...

Jim have you tried the old sock or similar modification to improve you heater output.
I n case you dont know what I am talking about (not unusual in my case

) where the 4" flexi pipe from the front of the car connects to the right hand side of the heater slacken the jubilee clip and pull the pipe off, then plug the hole in the pipe with an old sock, scarf or piece of cloth that fits and leave it like that until the warmer weather returns, this stops the blast of cold air from the front of the car cooling down the heater matrix and turns the heater into more of a recirculating type of heater with a better output

Post by **JimK** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 7:55 am

Thanks Kevin.

I'd thought of restricting the airflow by blanking off some of the intake. Problem is that the position of the valve control has no effect, so I thought I'd replace the valve.

Post by **Kevin** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:00 am

Yes if the valve is iffy that will restict water flow so changing it will help, dont worry about restricting the airflow some have tried an assortment of valves flaps etc without to much sucess a piece of cloth is cheap and simple.

Post by **JimK** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:56 am

I was going to cover part of the intake, it seemed easier.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:29 pm

Obviously you must ensre full hot water flow to the heater. If you have that - and a nice 88 degree stat fitted - there should be ample hot air! One extra trick is to move the open end of the heater intake pipe so it takes warmish air from just behind the top of the radiator - that helps too. And if you don't do traffic - consider removing the fan blade in winter!

Post by **Furrtiv** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:23 pm

Yay, my car now starts in the mornings! And without that irritating onipresent glow of red from the ignition light, too!:)

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:30 pm

Ah, you never mentioned that before. Red light = not charging the battery.

Post by **Kevin** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 9:23 am

I was going to cover part of the intake, it seemed easier.

You can of course place a blanking piece in front of the rad behind the grill as well and dependant on local driving conditions you can make it a size to suit, and one of Willies tips is to make sure that you have a piece of wire from it going around the radiator filler so its quick to remove if needed.