The day after Agnetha was delivered I disconnected the starter motor (the engine isn’t seized but neither does it rotate!), connected a battery to see if anything worked, and nothing did. I made new battery cables from a set of 500A jump leads (because economy), tried again, still nothing. I cleaned up the main fuse box – the fuses were all good but everything was covered in a thin layer of surface corrosion. Still nothing. Then I started taking things apart.
The loom was in good condition although where-ever there was a connector it was the same story with corrosion. I took apart the ignition switch which was cacked-up with 46 years of congealed dead skin, cleaned it with turps and a wire brush, same with the hazard light switch. Then things started to happen. The oil warning light came on.
Then the dipped beam and main beam started working, and after a little persuasion the windscreen wipers started turning as well. Quite incredible for a car that was last tested in 1988 and hasn’t seen a road since 1989! There are also signs of past modifications – two dangling connectors hang out of the grill – they’re connected to the main beam so presumably someone long ago needed a few extra candles to piece the long dark nights of the arctic circle, and they probably looked good too. Various attempts at installing a radio too…
“But what about the frickin’ headlight wipers?!” cried the internet.
These don’t work – yet. The switchgear and satisfyingly clicky relay are fine. The washer pump is jammed but can probably be freed up if I clean it, and there seems to be a discontinuity somewhere in the wiring. The main problem (but also probably not serious) is the connector to the limit switch on the motor, which is severely corroded. I need to open it up and perhaps it can be reconnected. Failing that it just seems like an ordinary BL/Lucas wiper motor so shouldn’t be a problem to replace if it’s properly dead.
There’s no debate that a car’s not a car unless it has a horn. Agnetha had some aftermarket cheapo thingy that was full of mud and the diaphragm had hardned so all it did was make a crappy “dunk-dunk” noise. So I splashed out, bought a 2-tone (red and black to make the car faster), and fitted the 510 Hz unit – maybe I’ll fit both one day – but for now it has a very cheeky “PARRRP” which suits her nicely.
I’m going to take a short break now but here’s a to-do list for Part 2:
- Short-circuit on front side-lights
- Corroded external light fittings and bulbs
- Replace faulty indicator flasher unit
- Rear lights, number-plate lights, break lights, reverse lights
- Missing/not working dashboard lights
- Windscreen washer pump
- Headlight washer pump
- Headlight washer motor
- LH door switch
- Make a walkaround/demo video when the headlight wipers work
Basically a lot on chin-stroking, multimeter beeping, industrial language, and Dremeling – living the best life!
Projekt Agnetha 