Rear window defogger repair
The rear window defogger now works. Primary replacement part was a new relay from RadioShack. The relay is the same type that runs the horn. Thanks to Chris for finding the RadioShack source. Funny thing is it is a standard part that all stores carry. The relay simply allows one circuit (the switch) to control another independent circuit (the window defogger). I had to replace some terminals to make solid connections and the fuse (in the engine compartment near the relay) was blown.
This now completes the electrical system repairs, except for the passenger's side door switch. Now that I've gotten the hang of troubleshooting the circuitry, I almost wish there were more things to fix! Most all of the electrical repairs boiled down to: loose terminals, blown fuses or relays and reversed polarity from previous repairs.
I also repaired the rear defrost/heat control. There is a tube that the cable runs through under the rear seat. The tube is welded to the wall that seperates the rear footwell from the area under the seat. The weld had broken and the tube was loose, so the cable couldn't push the louver closed. I just had to use a metal strap to secure the tube in place and the cable now works just fine. Since there are no vent covers in the front, I've rolled up some extra pieces of interior carpeting to stuff in front of the vents. I've now got a small bit of warm air at the windshield on both sides. Of course this is only to be expected, the system even in perfect repair never would deliver much warm air to the windshield. May have to investigate sometime one of the booster kits.
The adjustment on the accelerator cable that Chris recommended really improved the operation of the engine. It now idles at a lower rpm and starts easily everytime. I think it was flooding before and this made it hard to start and lowered the mpg. I'll see this week if my overall milage is improved.
This now completes the electrical system repairs, except for the passenger's side door switch. Now that I've gotten the hang of troubleshooting the circuitry, I almost wish there were more things to fix! Most all of the electrical repairs boiled down to: loose terminals, blown fuses or relays and reversed polarity from previous repairs.
I also repaired the rear defrost/heat control. There is a tube that the cable runs through under the rear seat. The tube is welded to the wall that seperates the rear footwell from the area under the seat. The weld had broken and the tube was loose, so the cable couldn't push the louver closed. I just had to use a metal strap to secure the tube in place and the cable now works just fine. Since there are no vent covers in the front, I've rolled up some extra pieces of interior carpeting to stuff in front of the vents. I've now got a small bit of warm air at the windshield on both sides. Of course this is only to be expected, the system even in perfect repair never would deliver much warm air to the windshield. May have to investigate sometime one of the booster kits.
The adjustment on the accelerator cable that Chris recommended really improved the operation of the engine. It now idles at a lower rpm and starts easily everytime. I think it was flooding before and this made it hard to start and lowered the mpg. I'll see this week if my overall milage is improved.
posted by Doug Druckenmiller at 12:56 PM
2 Comments:
Remember that most of the time defrosting the windshield is best accomplished with fresh air flow from the outside. The problem with the Ghia in this respect is there's no fresh air flow unless you're moving! That's why I was thinking of hooking up hair driers inside the trunk to the fresh air duct work, partially to get more heat but also to force fresh air on the windshield.
I wonder if they make one of those air booster kits for the front vents just like they make for the rear heater ducts?
I know what you mean by running out of things to work on. When the car isn't working quite right it's frustrating and you want to get them fixed. But, the process of fixing it is so much fun that by the time you get it in tip-top shape you miss the fun of working on it!
You really only have one option at that point: upgrades. Heh heh heh ... Yeah, you're makin' the big bucks, aren't you? Buy a new set of Weber dual carburators and I'll take your 34 pict for myself!
Ooh, or a new muffler, even. That would not only be less-restrictive and increase horsepower but it would quiet the engine and make it sound cooler.
Either that, or take a welding class and get to work on those rust holes in the under carriage :).
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