Hello from Aberdeenshire

[overdrive]

Hello,

Just won my first ebay auction for a nice 200 plate MK2, in blue. she needs some TLC but will throw up some pics when i pick it up this Sunday (by trailer).

Should be an interesting wee project!

[sarahlc Sarah Close]

Welcome to the forum.

Looking forward to seeing your new project

[drumtochty Eddie Cairns]

Where are you based as I'm retired again might come keep you off your work when you are trying to work on your car.

eddie

[overdrive]

Hi Eddie, I'm in Kinneff. Retired again? Sounds ominous.....

Where you based?

[drumtochty Eddie Cairns]

I'm only 20 minutes away, we are in Drumtochty Glen.

When are you going to collect the car.

eddie

[overdrive]

Sunday Morning. Should be event free, as i have a flatbed lined up. Diagnosing the fault should be interesting though. Apparently the car is emptying the battery in a rapid way. Either it needs a new alternator, or there is a hole in the bottom of the battery...

[drumtochty Eddie Cairns]

Sounds like blocked rear drain holes.

Rain water has no where to go.

Floods under passenger carpet.

Carpet is waterproof so does not feel wet.

Water in front foot well where the ECU is placed and it governs charging voltage not the alternator.

18.5 volts from alternator damages battery.

Battery does not hold charge. Or maybe just needs a new battery.

If that is the car from Falkirk that you won on ebay, it is a 1.6 engine so no ABS I assume.

His comment about the battery looks as it may well be an adventure.

At that price if it only lasts until the MOT expires it looks to be a bargain.

eddie

[overdrive]

Jesus, that sounds like quite a diagnosis!!

It is indeed the Ebay MX5:



It does sounds like it could be a 'mare, but for 450 quid im not worried, plus i have a contingency if it all goes orribly wrong

[overdrive]

Has that got the potential to cook the ECU then? To be fair, either a battery, alternator or ECU wil be needed, hopefully not all 3, so still quids in on a 200 plate...

[The Pram]

Hello there. I cooked my ECU and it was exactly how Eddie described! Nearly wrote off the car but thankfully Super Eddie to the rescue and I am back on the road again. Sadly, my battery, the replacement, is buggered again but it is flat and capoot rather than boiled! I just need to drive it more often. 23,000 miles and the car is 8 years old!

[drumtochty Eddie Cairns]

It's still under warranty as i bought it after I started the BP, job summer 2011 so if you still have it we will claim it from mx5parts

[The Pram]

oooo excellent! I was wondering about that. How do I do that then? I was about to order a new one this weekend too! Phew, lucky escape!

[drumtochty Eddie Cairns]

I will phone you tomorrow. That battery may be OK as the clever battery chargers sometimes get it wrong when they say it is goosed and it can be recharged with a low powered trickle charger that is not clever enough to accept the battery cannot be charged.

eddie

[The Pram]

I have the wee trickle charger from Lidl and it worked last time I needed to charge the battery but this time, a big fat nothing! I dont have another charger to try either!

[drumtochty Eddie Cairns]

The Lidl one is a clever charger that can get it wrong and I have had that problem. A few hours charge with a very simple trickle charger that does not have its own computer brings the battery back up to 12v as it does not know any better . Then back on the Lidl one to take it to fully charged.

[The Pram]

Ah ok. where do I get such a charger Eddie? Not that I can get one tomorrow as nae able to drive!

[Laverda 3ce Sandy Smith]

There's a second hand battery for sale in Dundee. I was picking up some other bits from the guy and he was looking for £10 for the battery.

[overdrive]

I know I'm fairly new and all, but trust me, buying a used car battery is a false economy!

Anyway, picked the car up today. First impressions are ok. Usual rear arch rust but still some solid metal there, so that can be saved. Rear bootlids a goner though, tinworm won that battle.

On to the electrics, it had bugger all in it when I arrived. Threw my booster on for 5 minutes and I got power, but not enough for the engine to crank. Eventually my flatbed arrived so I have it a jump from my passat. Fired up first time (touch of blue smoke but its been day a while)

Tested the battery while it was running and got 10.3v, so I'm leaning towards a duff alternator at the moment. Looked for moisture under the carpets but its pretty dry. There is internal mould on the hood, suggesting a damp interior at some point though.

Pics soon!!

[overdrive]

Needs a clean!

[tjay tom + Jen mcginnis]

Hi overdrive and welcome to Mx5 ownership.not a bad looking car as the saying goes it has "potential" lots of things that you can do/fit to make it "your own"
If you decide to fix those rear wheel arches i have both the wing repair panelsin my shed for a Mk2/2.5 plus some other bits and bobs too. Whatever you decide when summer does come (heard on tv today that we may still get snow up to and including June !!) you will enjoy it plus if you are hands on they are easy to work on to, a bonus.