General Land Marque Barchetta

[Dave Henry]

Spent a few hours this afternoon trying to get the colour back to its former glory

This is the result









Reasonably happy with the result but still a long way from the original colour. This is most evident on the panel that covers the soft top when it is down.





I have only compounded it by hand at the moment but might need to dust off the mechanical polisher.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks

Dave

 

[Dave Henry]

The ticking could also had been the wiper relay; mine was ticking before it gave up.

Thanks, certainly worth checking as I was using the wipers before the ticking started.

 

[Dave Henry]

Not quite weather for taking the hood down today



Glad I took advantage to the tropical 4 degrees centigrade yesterday

 

[KC3]

Spent a few hours this afternoon trying to get the colour back to its former glory

This is the result









Reasonably happy with the result but still a long way from the original colour. This is most evident on the panel that covers the soft top when it is down.





I have only compounded it by hand at the moment but might need to dust off the mechanical polisher.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks

Dave

Dave,
Looking much better, but oxidised /faded paintwork can only really pop back by machine polishing unless you want to develop some serious hand /arm muscles.

 

[Dave Henry]

Time to bring out the big guns then! Thanks

Might wait until the snow melts though

 

[KC3]

SNOW Yes! Think that would be best..

Sorry! I,m looking out the window to clear skies and sunshine..

 

[biscotti]

Morning kc3,cpuld you recommend a machine polisher?and morning Dave,I am enjoying looking at your photo's,especially as I won't be seeing my car until tomorrow,again.

 

[gar074]

Looking good, Dave - keep up the good work!

 

[KC3]

Morning kc3,cpuld you recommend a machine polisher?and morning Dave,I am enjoying looking at your photo's,especially as I won't be seeing my car until tomorrow,again.

I use a Flex3401, which is a forced rotation Dual action polisher, Its generally safe to use on most paints with a small learning curve, also have a Rupes rotary and also a smaller DA6pro Dual action polisher I use to glaze paint.

My favorite is the Flex.

Although there is a new DA machine and polishing system from Rupes called the big foot which is getting rave reviews amongst the detailing world.

 

[Dave Henry]

In the snow yesterday, I managed to test the traction control without putting too much strain on the drive train. Basically, it doesn't work. Tried all of the settings but the wheels would spin with no hint of power being cut to the engine.

However later in the day, whilst on the M8, she developed a misfire! If you imagine the sound a Subaru Boxer engine makes, that was what she sounded like. So back to the garage for some more head scratching.

The plan is to take the Racelogic system out of the equation as it isn't functioning to see if that improves the situation and also make sure all the earths are ok.

With it being -7 in Glasgow yesterday, the power steering pump was making one hell of a noise so they are going to give that the once over too.

I was hoping that the to do list was getting shorted not longer.....

 

[KC3]

Dave, not to worry to much, I,m always finding I have a list to do to my B even when she is running fine.

Good luck

 

[Dave Henry]

Hi All

The Barchetta is still in the garage at the moment. No progress to report from them.

I have made contact with the original tuning company (thanks KC3 for the details) to find out exactly what electronic modifications were made. Aside from the Racelogic traction control there should also be a Dastek Unichip piggy back ECU http://www.unichipeurope.co.uk in there somewhere. If it is missing that could be part of the reason for the lack of power and misfiring. I have also asked the garage to check if the original chip is still in the ECU or whether it has been replaced.

Hopefully get an update soon.

Also, I have broken three bones in my right foot so driving is off the cards for the moment anyway

 

[HP]

Nightmare, get well soon.

 

[KC3]

Hi All

The Barchetta is still in the garage at the moment. No progress to report from them.

I have made contact with the original tuning company (thanks KC3 for the details) to find out exactly what electronic modifications were made. Aside from the Racelogic traction control there should also be a Dastek Unichip piggy back ECU http://www.unichipeurope.co.uk in there somewhere. If it is missing that could be part of the reason for the lack of power and misfiring. I have also asked the garage to check if the original chip is still in the ECU or whether it has been replaced.

Hopefully get an update soon.

Also, I have broken three bones in my right foot so driving is off the cards for the moment anyway

Oh No!

Not having the best of luck are you.
How did you manage that then.
Did someone wish you the saying break a leg within your lucky charms..
But I know the feeling! So wishing you well and a speedy recovery.
and also hope the B gets fixed too.

From what I have read and research on piggy back ECU's is that the original Hitachi ECU of the Barchetta seems to reject them and revert back to a standard programming state.

A better idea is to have the Eprom chip replaced or use stand-alone ECU management.

Anyhow.

Keep us posted!

 

[Dave Henry]

I was hill walking and went for a bit of an unscheduled detour I won't be asking for anymore lucky charms any time soon....

Not sure what ECU is in my Barchetta but I had also read that the Hitachi unit can't be remapped.

We will see if the Unichip unit can be found hidden under the dash anywhere. If not I have found a garage in Falkirk that is a dealer for the Unichip units and they also have a 2WD rolling road for live mapping.

 

[biscotti]

Well hopefully you will both be ready when the heat wave hits us in a few weeks time,my car is also having a little trip to the garage this weekend,its driving fine but I'm still getting the injector warning light after a few miles,they have replaced the crankshaft sensor and the camshaft phase sensor but still it comes on,its great owning a barchetta.

 

[KC3]

Dave! The early Hitachi ECU can have its eprom chip changed.

I had mine replaced by a plug in type that can be reprogrammed.
It cant be live mapped but can be removed and read and the tuning map changed.

I've owned two Barchetta's with this type chip, the one I have now and my old Barchetta turbo.

 

[Dave Henry]

Dave! The early Hitachi ECU can have its eprom chip changed.

I had mine replaced by a plug in type that can be reprogrammed.
It cant be live mapped but can be removed and read and the tuning map changed.

I've owned two Barchetta's with this type chip, the one I have now and my old Barchetta turbo.

OK, I have got myself a bit confused. So is it only those early Barchettas with the ECU's mounted in the passenger foot well that can have the chip replaced? Would I be correct in saying that some of these are made by Hitachi and some not?

So later Barchettas with the ECUs mounted to the rear of the inlet manifold can't have their chips replaced with reprogramable ones?

My Barchetta has its ECU in the footwell and my brother's is mounted on the engine so it would be good to find out what works with the different ECU versions.

Thanks

 

[KC3]

YEP!

Early Hitachi units found in the foot well are the one's that can have their chip changed and reprogrammed.

 

[gar074]

Sincerely hope that both you and your B are mended very soon!