Hitting refresh

This was a long time coming, I've been meaning to do a "top end refresh" for a while now. The seller claimed the car was previously owned by a mechanic who did his own servicing "hence no history". Well we all know that's bollocks.

So I amassed a box of goodies to install, and today in a fit of pique I fitted them.

First in was a new air filter. Here's the old one...

Then I fitted a new BMW "cyclone" type crankcase breather. These replace the original design toilet roll with one that only needs a clean every 2 years. LR suggest the toilet roll is renewed every 12000miles, here's the old one...

I don't think it's ever been changed.

While I was at the back of the engine I renewed the leak off pipes, and replaced the brittle plastic connectors with brass ones.

How gorgeous do they look. This was a tip from forum member "Arctic2", who seems very knowledgable about the M47 engine (credit where credits due).

Here's a shot of the rear section with the loveliness fitted.

Next I moved to the front, I'd bought an EGR bypass and silicone hoses, and these were fitted easily enough. (Although I ordered the wrong hose set, I ordered one which included a sensor pipe but mine doesn't have the sensor. I'll probably get an aluminium joiner to make ends meet). 

Here is the inside of my EGR, not as bad as some I've seen so quite happy - the engine must be running correctly. 

The completed refresh

The car certainly feels a bit more willing now, but it's peace of mind that it's done. Due to lack of access underneath I still need to take it to a garage for a fluid change though. 

RIP Leonard Nimoy

I was never a massive Trekkie, but there is no denying the brilliance of Leonard Nimoy. Of course, the original series was better than the rehashes that followed (with the exception of the movie reboots), but it was wonderful how he reprised his iconic Spock for almost every series or movie (or indeed lend his voice for the Big Bang Theory).

My wife being a massive Columbo addict...yup he cropped up there too as a scheming surgeon. Always an air of gravitas to his performance, even when Vicky Petersen of the bangles gives him evils...

http://youtu.be/Zj7OJeyhq2Q

I can't even scratch the surface of his many cameos but that video makes me smile.

RIP Leonard Nimoy. 

Brighter than the sun

So I've a bit of a light fetish. It's led me to install an LED work light at the back of the Freelander, to help out if I'm working (duh) at the rear or as an additional reversing light for dark lanes. 

It is a fairly inexpensive LED light from China, and I mounted it using a short steel bracket bolted to the cross bar of the roof rack.

The wiring is fed down the rack and behind the tail door hinges, where there is a waterproof connector, then through a grommet to the inside of the car. The connector is there if I need to remove the rack, I can do it all easily and quickly. 

Inside the car there are 2 switches, one in the back next to the C pillar:

And one in the front to the right of the voltmeter:

I have wired these up as 2-way, so that I can switch the light on or off from either position, and can switch it on from the front and off at the back (or vice versa). 

The light is pretty good for this, it's a diffused type and gives a good spread of light.