Farrar's car blog

[Farrar]

Side note: if I ever get a garage, I am throwing a garage-warming party. I can't wait to be able to work on my car when it's dark outside. This "a few hours a week, or every few weeks, before the sun sets" crap is just old.

Farrar

Another thought: the Hella dome light does not work in "Manual" mode (i.e. flipped forward, the light should come on regardless of whether the doors are open; mine does not have this function). I forgot about this because it has never worked in my car, but with a new dome light fixture I should have this function. I checked today and it's still not there. So evidently there's more wrong with that circuit than I thought.

Good grief. All I want is the dome light to come on when I open a door, and turn off when the doors are shut. It should not be this difficult. I think the courtesy light circuit is Dunmurry's revenge.

[DMCTek]

Side note: if I ever get a garage, I am throwing a garage-warming party. I can't wait to be able to work on my car when it's dark outside. This "a few hours a week, or every few weeks, before the sun sets" crap is just old.

Farrar

Another thought: the Hella dome light does not work in "Manual" mode (i.e. flipped forward, the light should come on regardless of whether the doors are open; mine does not have this function). I forgot about this because it has never worked in my car, but with a new dome light fixture I should have this function. I checked today and it's still not there. So evidently there's more wrong with that circuit than I thought.

Good grief. All I want is the dome light to come on when I open a door, and turn off when the doors are shut. It should not be this difficult. I think the courtesy light circuit is Dunmurry's revenge.

As far as the dome light not working in Manual mode. I think you have it wired incorrectly. There are three wires connected to the light one B+ (purple) and 2 ground (purple/white and black). The locations change depending on which light you have, but all use one power wire and two grounds.

[Farrar]

As far as the dome light not working in Manual mode. I think you have it wired incorrectly. There are three wires connected to the light one B+ (purple) and 2 ground (purple/white and black). The locations change depending on which light you have, but all use one power wire and two grounds.

I connected the wires according to a photograph I saw here on DMCTalk, but it's worth double-checking. Thanks!

Farrar

[Farrar]

Working on the car has become much more painful recently... time for new door struts.

Also on order: LED units to replace front and rear directional indicator bulbs and all side marker bulbs.

Farrar

[stevedmc]

Working on the car has become much more painful recently... time for new door struts.

Also on order: LED units to replace front and rear directional indicator bulbs and all side marker bulbs.

Farrar

Ron mentioned to me that you can get cheap door struts at Advance Auto if you walk in there with a part number. The downside is they will have to special order them.

I got my door struts from Amazon.com

Door Struts $24.35 each (Free shipping) StrongArm 4107

[Farrar]

Too late -- I ordered Hervey's "Soft Lift" struts already. I got Grady's last time and saw no improvement on pushing power -- and at least these will stop the doors from bouncing in summertime.

Edit: Even with new struts, my doors still sag badly in cool weather. I'd like to get together with you and Fred and do a torsion bar adjustment some time.

Farrar

[stevedmc]

Edit: Even with new struts, my doors still sag badly in cool weather. I'd like to get together with you and Fred and do a torsion bar adjustment some time.

Mine sag a little bit in the winter too yet work perfectly in the summer. I've decided to leave it alone since it isn't that bad.

Drew expressed interest in having a torsion bar adjustment done on his car. Perhaps we could plan something in the near future. I wouldn't mind riding out to Fred's, even if my doors won't be getting adjusted.

[Farrar]

Mine sag a little bit in the winter too yet work perfectly in the summer. I've decided to leave it alone since it isn't that bad.

Mine sag way more than "a little bit." If I were in your shoes I'd probably leave the torsion where it is, too. But my car's open-door position suffers a lot in cold weather. I don't think the previous owners ever drove it in cold weather!

Farrar

[stevedmc]

I just thought of something. How about bringing me that dome light on Sunday and I'll bring $31.

[Farrar]

I am bringing yours and Brian's; he got one, too.

Farrar