Argh!
Once again, one of the famous known problems for Bee Series rears it's ugly head again : overheating.
I was stuck at Jalan 222, Petaling Jaya [ goddamned long traffic light wait ]. Then I saw the temperature meter slowly creeping up. I started to panic.
The temperature meter kept going up, until luckily, the traffic light turns green. As I was the first car, I immediately pulled out because the temperature meter is only 1cm away from the red mark [ because once the meter reaches the red mark, means the head gasket is blown! ].
After 2 - 3 seconds later as I drove away, the temp quickly dropped down to slightly under the middle mark. I was relieved!
On my way back to the shop, I encountered the same problem again, everytime I'm stuck at the traffic light, or crawling slowly with the rest of the morning traffic.
As soon as I arrived at the shop, I left the keys with the mechanic's staffs and quickly posted my problem in HCOC's forum.
After some lengthy discussion [ including face - to - face discussions with HCOC Committee members during the Honda Racing F1 party, which is in another blog of mine ], it's dictated that.....
The numero - uno culprit is suspected to be the fan. Yes, the fan do spin when the engine temperature reaches certain level, but how fast is it spinning?
Culprit number two is the water pump, and number three is the thermostat.
I think, I might want to replace all three with brand new original parts. Because all these parts are pretty old, and never got replaced [ whilst it's in my Track Refugee bay lar ]. Heck, the thermostat and fan switch came with the engine, which I dunno how many thousands of KMs worth of mileage the engine ran!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Oooopppsss!
Just scrapped a little bit of the RHD side of the rear bumper. Now how the hell am I going to drive the car around with a sekon - han bucket seat + my brand new Bride Type FG rails?
I love the feel of driving around with my head only peeking out a bit. Ha! My pal's setup [ he's a Spoon freak btw! ], Spoon's Kevlar bucket seat + old skool Bride rails : only his head is seen, and it's parked right on the bottom of the door [ more specifically, where the door glass ends lar when you scroll the window down! ].
The main problem with driving around in this setup is : you hafta see forward, much forward than previously. This can be a bit risky especially when driving fast on public roads, not a prob when in the track.
Also a prob when reversing etc. Remedy : place a clip - on large curvature rear view mirror, replace side mirrors with Spoon items [ those are blue - tinted so won't glare ] and practice parking often, especially reverse park!
I love the feel of driving around with my head only peeking out a bit. Ha! My pal's setup [ he's a Spoon freak btw! ], Spoon's Kevlar bucket seat + old skool Bride rails : only his head is seen, and it's parked right on the bottom of the door [ more specifically, where the door glass ends lar when you scroll the window down! ].
The main problem with driving around in this setup is : you hafta see forward, much forward than previously. This can be a bit risky especially when driving fast on public roads, not a prob when in the track.
Also a prob when reversing etc. Remedy : place a clip - on large curvature rear view mirror, replace side mirrors with Spoon items [ those are blue - tinted so won't glare ] and practice parking often, especially reverse park!
But to purchase a nice sekon - han bucket seat, at least RM 800.00, up to RM 1.5k for a nice CF one. Kevlars can reach RM 2k wooohhhh, used summore!
I'm going to try to replace the door locks by myself again tonight!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Fresh Update : March 2008
It's been such a long time. My poor Track Refugee have been sitting, collecting dirt, dust etc since September last year.
Then, fast forward to January 2008. I sent the Track Refugee to be repainted, all dents knocked out, replaced front left headlight, front bumper, the works. The cooling problem is now solved with the head skimmed, and a new 2nd hand radiator replaced.
All ancillary belts replaced, water pump hose replaced, fresh alignment job, aircond problem solved....the cost is quite long actually. Cost is around RM 3500++, not sure yet because my mechanic have yet to pass me the bill.
So, since about a week ago, I started driving the Track Refugee in short distances from the shop to check the feel of the car, especially the aircond and engine temperature. For this time, I'd say everything is ok.
Last Saturday night, I went for a really long drive. From the shop, I went to Bangsar [ from the Jalan Travers traffic light towards Bangsar, I revved the car up and it pushed to 180kph++ easily as I arrived near the Bangsar LRT station! :) ], then towards Taman Tun Dr Ismail. Aftewards, to Damansara Uptown, then Kelana Jaya, Sunway, Subang and finally Shah Alam.
Then I used the same route back to the shop. Result : chassis is bumpy! But I like it, a lot better than the previous suspension setup, which was too hard but, with really little sway when swinging from one fast corner to another. Now, the sway is slightly more pronounced, maybe due to the dampers now much stiffer than previous. Maybe a bigger rear ARB?
The car, with those Ohlins suspension kit, and those sticky AD-07's, made the car feeling slightly like a go - kart. Engine - wise, it's pretty yummy, with the exhaust spitting at high rev gear shifts, and spitting again when the rev drops to around the VTEC changeover point [ 4800 RPM ].
Sadly, there's some niggling squeking sound from the front left area of the car. Also, the old squeaking sounds from the rear panels and dashboard is still there [ hafta buy a 2nd hand good condition dash and fix it properly ].
Sound system is a bit problematic [ due to the stupid fuse again! ]. I've made up my mind to remove the sub and two amps at a later stage, then strip all the rear panels, cover with a good piece [ or pieced up? ] hard - wearing cloth / carpet trim, do a custom build rear box from MDF [ which I may want to tackle by myself! Hehehehe, I love DIY! ], wrap it up and bolt it to the car with some removable brackets!
Future plans are :
- Strip the rear panels + box, replace box with custom MDF box. Cover rear area with hard - wearing cloth / trim / carpeting. Place some sound deadening material around this area too.
- Relocate the battery to the rear with a battery relocation box / kit [ maybe custom aluminium? ], will try to fit it around / on the custom MDF box.
- Replace complete dashboard with a sekon - han EG6 / EG9 black dash.
- Replace the cupholders with a sekon - han EG6 / EG9 dual DIN black case [ oledi have it! ].
- Change all bushes with Hardrace hard rubber bushes.
- Change front camber, rear camber and rear toe with adjustable Hardrace items.
- Buy a brand new set of Defi 1 DIN meter cluster [ engine temperature, engine oil temperature, engine oil / fuel pressure ].
- Buy Mugen / Spoon etc fan switch and thermostat.
In my dreams :
- Complete vehicle knockdown [ remove all bumpers, fenders, bonnet, hatch, glass and all interior parts ] for a full repaint to super - sparkling - extra - metalflake graphite black.
- Custom 6 point rollcage that clears the dashboard and still allow passangers at the rear.
- Roof replacement with a sekon - han EG6 sunroof - fitted roof, with a working water escape hoses and rear wiper water spray.
- B16B block + EK9 4.785 FD gearbox, stroked up with B18CR internals, tuned with Crome.
- Toda 4-1 header.
- Buddy Club Spec II complete after cat exhaust system.
- Bride Zeta III CF / Kevlar driver seat with Takata's.
- Spoon Momo steering wheel.
- Complete EG6 yellow interior [ seats, door trims and long arm rest ].
- Spoon 4 piston front calipers with DC2R '99 rear brake kit.
- Fully adjustable dampers [ on budget, GAB SS Series. If really rich, Tein Mono Flex! ].
- Spoon CF front bonnet, front lip and rear spoiler.
Then, fast forward to January 2008. I sent the Track Refugee to be repainted, all dents knocked out, replaced front left headlight, front bumper, the works. The cooling problem is now solved with the head skimmed, and a new 2nd hand radiator replaced.
All ancillary belts replaced, water pump hose replaced, fresh alignment job, aircond problem solved....the cost is quite long actually. Cost is around RM 3500++, not sure yet because my mechanic have yet to pass me the bill.
So, since about a week ago, I started driving the Track Refugee in short distances from the shop to check the feel of the car, especially the aircond and engine temperature. For this time, I'd say everything is ok.
Last Saturday night, I went for a really long drive. From the shop, I went to Bangsar [ from the Jalan Travers traffic light towards Bangsar, I revved the car up and it pushed to 180kph++ easily as I arrived near the Bangsar LRT station! :) ], then towards Taman Tun Dr Ismail. Aftewards, to Damansara Uptown, then Kelana Jaya, Sunway, Subang and finally Shah Alam.
Then I used the same route back to the shop. Result : chassis is bumpy! But I like it, a lot better than the previous suspension setup, which was too hard but, with really little sway when swinging from one fast corner to another. Now, the sway is slightly more pronounced, maybe due to the dampers now much stiffer than previous. Maybe a bigger rear ARB?
The car, with those Ohlins suspension kit, and those sticky AD-07's, made the car feeling slightly like a go - kart. Engine - wise, it's pretty yummy, with the exhaust spitting at high rev gear shifts, and spitting again when the rev drops to around the VTEC changeover point [ 4800 RPM ].
Sadly, there's some niggling squeking sound from the front left area of the car. Also, the old squeaking sounds from the rear panels and dashboard is still there [ hafta buy a 2nd hand good condition dash and fix it properly ].
Sound system is a bit problematic [ due to the stupid fuse again! ]. I've made up my mind to remove the sub and two amps at a later stage, then strip all the rear panels, cover with a good piece [ or pieced up? ] hard - wearing cloth / carpet trim, do a custom build rear box from MDF [ which I may want to tackle by myself! Hehehehe, I love DIY! ], wrap it up and bolt it to the car with some removable brackets!
Future plans are :
- Strip the rear panels + box, replace box with custom MDF box. Cover rear area with hard - wearing cloth / trim / carpeting. Place some sound deadening material around this area too.
- Relocate the battery to the rear with a battery relocation box / kit [ maybe custom aluminium? ], will try to fit it around / on the custom MDF box.
- Replace complete dashboard with a sekon - han EG6 / EG9 black dash.
- Replace the cupholders with a sekon - han EG6 / EG9 dual DIN black case [ oledi have it! ].
- Change all bushes with Hardrace hard rubber bushes.
- Change front camber, rear camber and rear toe with adjustable Hardrace items.
- Buy a brand new set of Defi 1 DIN meter cluster [ engine temperature, engine oil temperature, engine oil / fuel pressure ].
- Buy Mugen / Spoon etc fan switch and thermostat.
In my dreams :
- Complete vehicle knockdown [ remove all bumpers, fenders, bonnet, hatch, glass and all interior parts ] for a full repaint to super - sparkling - extra - metalflake graphite black.
- Custom 6 point rollcage that clears the dashboard and still allow passangers at the rear.
- Roof replacement with a sekon - han EG6 sunroof - fitted roof, with a working water escape hoses and rear wiper water spray.
- B16B block + EK9 4.785 FD gearbox, stroked up with B18CR internals, tuned with Crome.
- Toda 4-1 header.
- Buddy Club Spec II complete after cat exhaust system.
- Bride Zeta III CF / Kevlar driver seat with Takata's.
- Spoon Momo steering wheel.
- Complete EG6 yellow interior [ seats, door trims and long arm rest ].
- Spoon 4 piston front calipers with DC2R '99 rear brake kit.
- Fully adjustable dampers [ on budget, GAB SS Series. If really rich, Tein Mono Flex! ].
- Spoon CF front bonnet, front lip and rear spoiler.
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