[cigma2312]

Water in the spare wheel well and dead OE ballast. Drained the water from the trunk/boot and disassembled the ballast from the headlight housing. Current searching for a replacement ballast and ordering gaskets for the tail lights. The originals are old and cracked. Prepping to repair the trunk lid seal as well, PO had a leak prior because the water in the well was aged. There is a small section of rot under the driver's tail light which will need to be mended. PO included the lower trunk lip and I have a welder.

Will probably write a DIY for the replacement of the piece.

 

[cigma2312]

I probably have a pre-lci sedan/touring xenon ballast kicking around, if that would work. Just cover shipping and it's yours.

I don't think the part numbers are different, send me a convo and let me know. That would be super appreciated.

 

[cigma2312]

After a summer of 87 octane, filled 1/2 tank with 91. Fuel trims promptly dropped to 4-6 from 10-12 -- and performance improved. Wh00t

I've always used the highest octane I can get, maybe it's a little bit of the stupid in me but it just seems to run better.

 

[cigma2312]

Drained and repaired the spare wheel well today.

This here is a drain plug, you can see a little of the gasket material on the right side of the circle

With a little persuasion the plug came out and drained all the water to the ground. I left the trunk to dry over night. Then started sanding down the rust and bubbled paint.

You can see the drain hole a bit more pronounced now that I've removed a few layers of rust.

Almost there. I also used a brass brush to loosen any other rust not easily accessed by sand paper.

After a final pass with some 120 sand paper I applied a layer of rust stopping primer. I used gray because this is just the spare tire well and isnt going to seen frequently.

I also cleaned and applied paint to the other side of the plug to prevent it from spreading beneath the undercoat. I have now popped a 1 inch body plug into the drain hole.

TOMORROWS PROJECT: removal of rear bumper and sealing the body from future leaks.

Here's where the water is coming in, note how the fabric pad for the wheel chock is soaked. During this project I have discovered that the vehicle has been in an unreported accident. There is impact folding on the spare wheel well on the same side as the leak. It doesn't seem too damaged and could probably just be adjusted and sealed. It looks like someone backed into something or scrubbed a guard rail trying to drift it.

 

[cigma2312]

Didn't end up doing the bumper today, instead I went to disassembling the Xenon control unit P/N 1307329023 from the headlight assembly.

Corrosion present on Xenon control unit bracket and wiring harness. Power is present to connector, so wiring harness is still intact.

Control unit had 3 philips head bolts, all three showed signs of deterioration. 2 of the 3 were no longer usable, with an electric drill and a metal bit I drilled out the heads of the two non-serviceable bolts. Seems like an M8 size at 18mm long

Removal of the entire assembly was necessary to reach the control unit mounted on the underside of the headlight. Held in place by 2 Philips screws through the control bracket into the headlight assembly.

The assembly is now ready to accept a new ballast, during reassembly the connectors will all be weather proofed with silicone grease after being cleaned from corrosion.

 

[cigma2312]

Didn't end up doing the bumper today, instead I went to disassembling the Xenon control unit P/N 1307329023 from the headlight assembly. View attachment 961660
Corrosion present on Xenon control unit bracket and wiring harness. Power is present to connector, so wiring harness is still intact.
View attachment 961661
Control unit had 3 philips head bolts, all three showed signs of deterioration. 2 of the 3 were no longer usable, with an electric drill and a metal bit I drilled out the heads of the two non-serviceable bolts. Seems like an M8 size at 18mm long
View attachment 961659
Removal of the entire assembly was necessary to reach the control unit mounted on the underside of the headlight. Held in place by 2 Philips screws through the control bracket into the headlight assembly.

The assembly is now ready to accept a new ballast, during reassembly the connectors will all be weather proofed with silicone grease after being cleaned from corrosion.

Quick update - Thanks to @yjsaabman installed a used ballast and the bulb turned on!! Reassembled the headlight assembly and tightened everything up. The 8k bulbs look very nice with the dark blue of the car.

Called in an automotive lighting expert for the final touches.

 

[cigma2312]

We had some exceptionally nice weather today so the poor thing got a way overdue bath! Followed that up with a fresh rain treatment on the windshield.

That's a nice looking wagon, color scheme works well.

 

[cigma2312]

Breather tube for crankcase to CCV came in, gotta replace that tomorrow. Some sorry individual broke it in its tender state. It's me, I'm the one.

 

[cigma2312]

Took the car for a hot drive, engine fix held nicely. Also, its the cars birth month. 🎂

 

[cigma2312]

Got around to installing the new CCV pipe (VC -> CCV), what a pain in the neck to do without removing the IM. I got it done, trick was to install ccv side first cause it doesn't like to go straight on with top already in place. Consumed oil after breaking the pipe and temp fixing it with duct tape. (Shade tree tactic #23) Here's to hoping the CCV still works.

My flock of technical advisors. Bunch of bird brains if you ask me.

 

[cigma2312]

No offense but your place looks like it’s for the birds…

None taken, it's an old place. 4 walls and a roof, doesn't need to be much more than that. It was my grandmothers years ago before she passed. Driveway doesn't help the clear coat, but I'm a detailing enthusiast so it's lots of practice.

 

[cigma2312]

None taken

jest

Yeah absolutely, none taken at all. I know the place is for the birds. It's an old horse farm with no more horses anymore. Definitely not a modern place. Tucked in the woods of maine. I'll take a dirt driveway and quiet than tarmac and neighbors.