Tim's BB4

[Tim]

Transferring myself over from the new members post.

Very happy to be ending the year with a MOT pass

Failed first time around on emissions. Talking to the garage they were giving it a full cat emissions test, but my understanding is that as a pre-95 import the BB4 model is not in the emissions standard book so should be given an easier emissions test. If anyone knows for sure I'd be interested to know.

[wurlycorner]

Hi Tim
Good news on the pass.
That's correct - a BB4 should be tested to non-Cat emissions standard.

[Drax]

great to hear Tim! keep any updates to the car coming, big or small

[toadster]

Lo
Great stuff
Cheers
Toadster

[Tim]

First breakdown of the year, the starter motor stuck with no advance warning. At least it was at home at the time. Looked accessible but the bottom bolt needed a big extension. When taking the expansion bottle off found the rubber tube was split and the plastic pipe was blocked, lucky to spot those at the same time. Then the battery retaining clamp was threaded, took one off a sleeping Hillman Avenger which fits nicely.

Come to use the car yesterday and the engine light came on almost immediately pass me a paperclip

[JEBB4]

Nice work
What fault code did you get?

[Tim]

Code 41 was the new one. Thinking back, I topped up the clutch fluid right before it came on, I had a look to see if I disturbed any wiring but can't see anything obvious. Also have code 17 regularly as the speedometer connection drops.

[Drax]

error codes
kb/viewarticle?a=4

17 - VSS: Vehicle Speed Sensor - P0500 (circuit malfunction), P0501 (range/performance)
41 - Primary Oxygen Sensor Heater (HO2S) - P0135 (circuit malfunction), P1166 (system electrical), P1167 (system)

[Scott560]

I have found that previously if the starter motor gets stuck on / doesn't disengage, it can play funny buggers with the voltage and make the car throw a few codes. If disconnecting the battery for an hour and a bit of driving doesn't clear any of the codes then it could well be true (whether caused by the starter issue or not - if you haven't driven the car much faults might just start to crop up coincidentally).

[Tim]

A year of Preluding in a few lines and photos

The car gave me a few issues last year, first the EML started staying on more and more so I swapped the lambda sensor. It was as hard to remove as it looks and took all the usual tricks and a special tool to shift it. Trying to work out part numbers was not easy, the one I got has a longer cable which I clipped up out of the way.


Then the clutch master went, my fault really as it’s been losing fluid for about six years but chose to let go with a rescue pigeon in a box on the passenger seat so picked its moment. The slave looked past its best so I did both, bleeding the system took ages I thought there must be a problem somewhere then the pedal firmed up and all good again. Both parts were Blueprint and a good fit.


I couldn’t remove the driver’s seat because of this mangled bolt, so working in the footwell got me into all sorts of shapes I didn’t think were possible.


I did some MOT prep freeing up a stuck door handle, replacing damaged wing mirrors, checked things over. I poked at the rear arches and they fell apart, my mechanic came round to take a look and said it would go through an MOT with some tape over the sharp edges but where they meet the sill there is a soft spot so I didn’t put it in for the test and took it off the road waiting for bodywork.
Final thing I did was fit a new steering wheel, I’ve had this a while but found it hard working out which boss to use, after a bit of searching on here I found reference to a Works Bell unit which to be fair was cheaper to direct import from Japan than anything I could find in the UK. And it fits. I’ve driven it all of 10 meters on and off a beavertail.



So the black car has gone into storage and out has come this white BB3 which I bought nearly 2 years ago to take some parts from but have done nothing with. It’s quite a smart looking car but was a Copart private entry so I’m expecting something to be wrong with it, it doesn’t start but there is a photo of it running on the auction listing so the engine might be OK.


So far I’ve taken off the sill covers & got underneath it to check the rust situation.



The interior has also come out as the car smells really bad and we've had perfect weather to dry it out after a proper wash. Hardest part was getting the rear seat base hooks out of the floor to release the carpet.




I don't think these fossilised almonds behind the rear panel were responsible for the smell but they can go


I’ll carry on poking about before I decide what to do with it but for now am without a Prelude on the road.
Tim