An happy 75 owner's blog - Page 23

Dorchester2 · 23rd August 2019, 08:11

Next Wednesday
Appointment made with the mechanic for next Wednesday:

- oil & filter annual service (Mobil Super 3000 fully synthetic 5W40 - '5' to ease ethanol start up in winter)
- swap of all four tyres on my new crown alloys (cheap worn Chinese -> my good Goodyear that were left on the contour alloys). The spare wheel, crown alloy as well, had been already made.
- SS exhaust line fitting

I'll try later to make a recording of the new exhaust sound.

Dorchester2 · 23rd August 2019, 08:13

MIJ Exhaust stainless steel
And here is the visual result:

Dorchester2 · 23rd August 2019, 08:14

A brief sneaky listening when idling:
http://arnaud.aurejac.free.fr/Rover/SSexhaust.mp3

Dorchester2 · 23rd August 2019, 08:16

Elementary my dear Watson...
BTW the same day the SS exhaust was fitted (I'm relieved it is not at all too noisy, just as I wished it to be, smooth, sexy & elegant - at least I hope it appears to be so to everyone!), I've got my boot locking barrel.

As we are hosting one 5 y. old grandson, as everybody may guess I can't have enough peace of mind to do the job. Nevertheless I can think of it.

As everything I'd done on my cars was done for the first time nearly every time, I cannot be too cautious in order to avoid any wrong doing.
I'm not at all a mechanic, even not a scientist at all, what worried a bit my dad - an engineer - for a while long ago... But that's another story...

Hence a very simple & elementary idea.

First beginning by the spare one (in case of a mess, no harm would have been done to the genuine one still in place, thus back to square one), I intend to take it apart piece by piece (that's the way I'm told to follow by the how-to linked above) but:
- taking a picture at every step of the process to memorize the position,
- putting every piece one after another on a long cardboard from left to right, sticking each with a piece of tape.

Then I shall learn & know how exactly it is built and how it is to be rebuilt.

When the time is arrived I shall have to begin to strip off the original one, I hope I shall be less uneasy & less clumsy. However same move on a second cardboard.

Then will begin the time of rebuilding with the original key barrel as the main part (because of the key indeed, in order to continue to use the same original one), and adding everything in the reverse order piece by piece & step by step beginning with the right side of the cardboard #1.

Doing so I hope I shall be able to get it right & again back in function.
What do you reckon?

Dorchester2 · 23rd August 2019, 08:19

"Epically detailed thread on your 75 Connie; great to see someone taking such care of a car.
I think your thoughts on the boot lock barrel should work. I recall a thread on Rovertech (now no longer accessible) where someone did the same with some locks for a Rover 25 so that they could keep using the same key.
Only other thought I have had on your car was (lack of) access to T4; it may have been suggested elsewhere, but a Land Rover/Range Rover dealership may still have one, though I get the impression that finding such near where you live might be (very) difficult.
Keep up the good work !!
Edit - Oh and the comment about the 75 looking like a Jag, I also have had such comments about my 600 when people have seen the front end poking out of a line of parked cars."

Thanks a lot ... for your kind & warm comment.
You're very welcome.
Regarding a T4, it may be helpful but as far as the car is driving fine, no compulsory need at the moment.
I know I may have access with a software to all the parameters but I don't want to use what I'm not able to master. It might be very damaging.

Dorchester2 · 23rd August 2019, 08:22

"Hmmm. My Jag has never been mistaken for a Rover.
Is that good or bad?"

Fashion, trend, name it as you like, any car with 'Jaguar' written on it will sell... Same with 'BMW' & the like.
The difference is: a Rover isn't at all 'any car'!

That's one of the reasons as well why good British brand went wrong two decades ago & was sold to foreign brands... People went snob...
Anyway I too like genuine Jags indeed.

Dorchester2 · 23rd August 2019, 08:25

And the culprit is...

Well two pictures being worth much more than a long story, here is my cardboard with the pieces from the Ebay barrel on the first line and the same pieces from my 75 on the second one.
Then a zoom in on the broken piece (3 bits), still in place and maintained by the others but that fall in pieces when I took them apart.

A lot of swear nevertheless (but neither tears nor blood!) because taking off the fourth one (mind you: twice!) was a pita job but I did it.

All put back in place (genuine barrel + good used pieces 2 to 5 from Ebay) and working perfectly with the inside latch & the key outside.

I think I've well deserved a brave good gulp of a gorgeous single malt!

Dorchester2 · 23rd August 2019, 08:28

Potholes in... 1498!

Just a bit of fun - if only I'm allowed to do so because it's of the first importance for our cars - translating from latin one of my ancestors will, John Stockes, a wealthy man living in Seend, Wiltshire, giving his last requirements on the 20th of June 1498, he told the clerk: 'to repair the common ways existing within the parish of Seend, I give £20', which was a very sensible sum, because it was absolutely the same he gave to every of his children and to maintain his parish church.

So 'nil novi sub sole', nothing new under the sun!
And maybe some 'rovers' already wandering in the woods nearby...

Dorchester2 · 23rd August 2019, 08:31

Better to be far-sighted

Finally I took the plunge.
Given that ghastly brexit, I don't know what will happen next year with custom taxes, shipping delays & the like.
Moreover I'm to speculate as well on the parity GBP / Euro.

Hence it will be wise to gather on the shelf some key stuff mainly when there is a bargain or a clearance sale.
In the recent past I bought an instrument pack from Rimmers for a ridiculous price (£25 + postage) just in case my own IPK could be lost.

Now since a while I was wondering about a full cambelt kit with the 3 belts, water pump, tensioner & idler.
DMGRS (Mat price) offers at the moment the best opportunity: a full set - Dayco & genuine OEM Rover - for £134.99 + postage.
I haven't found any elsewhere with such reliable quality & better price neither in the UK nor in France. Best price here - and for an aftermarket (second choice) one - is the equivalent of £180.

Here it is: https://www.dmgrs.co.uk/products/gro...t190-825-oem-q
'Our belts are very fresh from Dayco, so have many years of shelf life. We don't buy ones that have sat around for a while - I understand some owners will shelve them for a good while before fitting.' I was told by Mat.

It may seem a bit hurried but if it isn't so good for the wallet after the exhaust line & some other expenses, it may look wiser for the future: my full belt service having been done in April 2014 (I've got the bill) at 118,816 km (73k mls), I should think of that around 2020/2022. Now the odometer is around 169k km (105k mls), hence 50k km (32k mls) already done, and I use to drive around 10/11k km a year (6.5k mls). And the timing belt is given for 90k mls / 6 years, even lots of guys have often done (much) longer for not so many k miles.

If anyone is interested, don't be shy if you need it.

Dorchester2 · 23rd August 2019, 08:32

ECT wires

Where could be located and mainly accessed the ECT cable with both its wires?
I can't find it out even with the Haynes manual in hands: those black & white pictures are useless... Even the Rave manual doesn't help me more.

Is it an easy find without taking off lots of stuff?
Can I see it when I only take off the engine top cover?

I would like to access to it (anywhere, near the plug or elsewhere, it doesn't matter) to insert a wire with a resistor (fit on purpose, ready made & usable I was given *) to help the cold start (it simulates very cold water) because when fuelling with full ethanol that trick allows to use the starter only once instead of twice when the engine is cold.

* it's a push button. If you don't use the device, it's like it wasn't fitted and all is working as usual. But when pushing it when starting the engine, then the circuit with the resistor is closed, asking more fuel to the ECU as long as you let your finger on the button.

Thanks a lot. Picture (in colour!) much appreciated if possible.

23rd August 2019, 08:11	#221
Dorchester2 incurable Rover addict Rover 75 Saloon V6 2.5 1999 - Rover 25 1.4 2002 - Rover 214i cab 1994 - Rover P5b coupe 1968 Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bioule. South West of France. Posts: 1,643 Thanks: 612 Thanked 385 Times in 223 Posts	23-08-2018, 18:46 Next Wednesday Appointment made with the mechanic for next Wednesday: - oil & filter annual service (Mobil Super 3000 fully synthetic 5W40 - '5' to ease ethanol start up in winter) - swap of all four tyres on my new crown alloys (cheap worn Chinese -> my good Goodyear that were left on the contour alloys). The spare wheel, crown alloy as well, had been already made. - SS exhaust line fitting I'll try later to make a recording of the new exhaust sound. __________________ Rover 75 V6 2.5 Auto Connie born 1 July 1999, 24 kOhms resistor, 10 kOhms manual starter, full E85, modified airbox, full derestricted SS exhaust line, power & torque remap -> 202 bhp This vehicle was the 7,517th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 1,190th 75 2.5 V6 Contemporary to be made out of 8,214 This vehicle was the 2,032nd 75 in Atlantic Blue Pearlescent (code: JEY) to be made out of 2,572 Atlantic Blue Pearlescent 75s

23rd August 2019, 08:14	#223
Dorchester2 incurable Rover addict Rover 75 Saloon V6 2.5 1999 - Rover 25 1.4 2002 - Rover 214i cab 1994 - Rover P5b coupe 1968 Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bioule. South West of France. Posts: 1,643 Thanks: 612 Thanked 385 Times in 223 Posts	29-08-2018, 22:18 A brief sneaky listening when idling: http://arnaud.aurejac.free.fr/Rover/SSexhaust.mp3 __________________ Rover 75 V6 2.5 Auto Connie born 1 July 1999, 24 kOhms resistor, 10 kOhms manual starter, full E85, modified airbox, full derestricted SS exhaust line, power & torque remap -> 202 bhp This vehicle was the 7,517th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 1,190th 75 2.5 V6 Contemporary to be made out of 8,214 This vehicle was the 2,032nd 75 in Atlantic Blue Pearlescent (code: JEY) to be made out of 2,572 Atlantic Blue Pearlescent 75s

23rd August 2019, 08:16	#224
Dorchester2 incurable Rover addict Rover 75 Saloon V6 2.5 1999 - Rover 25 1.4 2002 - Rover 214i cab 1994 - Rover P5b coupe 1968 Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bioule. South West of France. Posts: 1,643 Thanks: 612 Thanked 385 Times in 223 Posts	30-08-2018, 15:35 Elementary my dear Watson... BTW the same day the SS exhaust was fitted (I'm relieved it is not at all too noisy, just as I wished it to be, smooth, sexy & elegant - at least I hope it appears to be so to everyone!), I've got my boot locking barrel. As we are hosting one 5 y. old grandson, as everybody may guess I can't have enough peace of mind to do the job. Nevertheless I can think of it. As everything I'd done on my cars was done for the first time nearly every time, I cannot be too cautious in order to avoid any wrong doing. I'm not at all a mechanic, even not a scientist at all, what worried a bit my dad - an engineer - for a while long ago... But that's another story... Hence a very simple & elementary idea. First beginning by the spare one (in case of a mess, no harm would have been done to the genuine one still in place, thus back to square one), I intend to take it apart piece by piece (that's the way I'm told to follow by the how-to linked above) but: - taking a picture at every step of the process to memorize the position, - putting every piece one after another on a long cardboard from left to right, sticking each with a piece of tape. Then I shall learn & know how exactly it is built and how it is to be rebuilt. When the time is arrived I shall have to begin to strip off the original one, I hope I shall be less uneasy & less clumsy. However same move on a second cardboard. Then will begin the time of rebuilding with the original key barrel as the main part (because of the key indeed, in order to continue to use the same original one), and adding everything in the reverse order piece by piece & step by step beginning with the right side of the cardboard #1. Doing so I hope I shall be able to get it right & again back in function. What do you reckon? __________________ Rover 75 V6 2.5 Auto Connie born 1 July 1999, 24 kOhms resistor, 10 kOhms manual starter, full E85, modified airbox, full derestricted SS exhaust line, power & torque remap -> 202 bhp This vehicle was the 7,517th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 1,190th 75 2.5 V6 Contemporary to be made out of 8,214 This vehicle was the 2,032nd 75 in Atlantic Blue Pearlescent (code: JEY) to be made out of 2,572 Atlantic Blue Pearlescent 75s

23rd August 2019, 08:19	#225
Dorchester2 incurable Rover addict Rover 75 Saloon V6 2.5 1999 - Rover 25 1.4 2002 - Rover 214i cab 1994 - Rover P5b coupe 1968 Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bioule. South West of France. Posts: 1,643 Thanks: 612 Thanked 385 Times in 223 Posts	31-08-2018, 15:19 "Epically detailed thread on your 75 Connie; great to see someone taking such care of a car. I think your thoughts on the boot lock barrel should work. I recall a thread on Rovertech (now no longer accessible) where someone did the same with some locks for a Rover 25 so that they could keep using the same key. Only other thought I have had on your car was (lack of) access to T4; it may have been suggested elsewhere, but a Land Rover/Range Rover dealership may still have one, though I get the impression that finding such near where you live might be (very) difficult. Keep up the good work !! Edit - Oh and the comment about the 75 looking like a Jag, I also have had such comments about my 600 when people have seen the front end poking out of a line of parked cars." Thanks a lot ... for your kind & warm comment. You're very welcome. Regarding a T4, it may be helpful but as far as the car is driving fine, no compulsory need at the moment. I know I may have access with a software to all the parameters but I don't want to use what I'm not able to master. It might be very damaging. __________________ Rover 75 V6 2.5 Auto Connie born 1 July 1999, 24 kOhms resistor, 10 kOhms manual starter, full E85, modified airbox, full derestricted SS exhaust line, power & torque remap -> 202 bhp This vehicle was the 7,517th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 1,190th 75 2.5 V6 Contemporary to be made out of 8,214 This vehicle was the 2,032nd 75 in Atlantic Blue Pearlescent (code: JEY) to be made out of 2,572 Atlantic Blue Pearlescent 75s

23rd August 2019, 08:22	#226
Dorchester2 incurable Rover addict Rover 75 Saloon V6 2.5 1999 - Rover 25 1.4 2002 - Rover 214i cab 1994 - Rover P5b coupe 1968 Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bioule. South West of France. Posts: 1,643 Thanks: 612 Thanked 385 Times in 223 Posts	31-08-2018, 17:45 "Hmmm. My Jag has never been mistaken for a Rover. Is that good or bad?" Fashion, trend, name it as you like, any car with 'Jaguar' written on it will sell... Same with 'BMW' & the like. The difference is: a Rover isn't at all 'any car'! That's one of the reasons as well why good British brand went wrong two decades ago & was sold to foreign brands... People went snob... Anyway I too like genuine Jags indeed. __________________ Rover 75 V6 2.5 Auto Connie born 1 July 1999, 24 kOhms resistor, 10 kOhms manual starter, full E85, modified airbox, full derestricted SS exhaust line, power & torque remap -> 202 bhp This vehicle was the 7,517th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 1,190th 75 2.5 V6 Contemporary to be made out of 8,214 This vehicle was the 2,032nd 75 in Atlantic Blue Pearlescent (code: JEY) to be made out of 2,572 Atlantic Blue Pearlescent 75s

23rd August 2019, 08:28	#228
Dorchester2 incurable Rover addict Rover 75 Saloon V6 2.5 1999 - Rover 25 1.4 2002 - Rover 214i cab 1994 - Rover P5b coupe 1968 Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bioule. South West of France. Posts: 1,643 Thanks: 612 Thanked 385 Times in 223 Posts	05-09-2018, 16:20 Potholes in... 1498! Just a bit of fun - if only I'm allowed to do so because it's of the first importance for our cars - translating from latin one of my ancestors will, John Stockes, a wealthy man living in Seend, Wiltshire, giving his last requirements on the 20th of June 1498, he told the clerk: 'to repair the common ways existing within the parish of Seend, I give £20', which was a very sensible sum, because it was absolutely the same he gave to every of his children and to maintain his parish church. So 'nil novi sub sole', nothing new under the sun! And maybe some 'rovers' already wandering in the woods nearby... __________________ Rover 75 V6 2.5 Auto Connie born 1 July 1999, 24 kOhms resistor, 10 kOhms manual starter, full E85, modified airbox, full derestricted SS exhaust line, power & torque remap -> 202 bhp This vehicle was the 7,517th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 1,190th 75 2.5 V6 Contemporary to be made out of 8,214 This vehicle was the 2,032nd 75 in Atlantic Blue Pearlescent (code: JEY) to be made out of 2,572 Atlantic Blue Pearlescent 75s

23rd August 2019, 08:31	#229
Dorchester2 incurable Rover addict Rover 75 Saloon V6 2.5 1999 - Rover 25 1.4 2002 - Rover 214i cab 1994 - Rover P5b coupe 1968 Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bioule. South West of France. Posts: 1,643 Thanks: 612 Thanked 385 Times in 223 Posts	07-09-2018, 21:31 Better to be far-sighted Finally I took the plunge. Given that ghastly brexit, I don't know what will happen next year with custom taxes, shipping delays & the like. Moreover I'm to speculate as well on the parity GBP / Euro. Hence it will be wise to gather on the shelf some key stuff mainly when there is a bargain or a clearance sale. In the recent past I bought an instrument pack from Rimmers for a ridiculous price (£25 + postage) just in case my own IPK could be lost. Now since a while I was wondering about a full cambelt kit with the 3 belts, water pump, tensioner & idler. DMGRS (Mat price) offers at the moment the best opportunity: a full set - Dayco & genuine OEM Rover - for £134.99 + postage. I haven't found any elsewhere with such reliable quality & better price neither in the UK nor in France. Best price here - and for an aftermarket (second choice) one - is the equivalent of £180. Here it is: https://www.dmgrs.co.uk/products/gro...t190-825-oem-q 'Our belts are very fresh from Dayco, so have many years of shelf life. We don't buy ones that have sat around for a while - I understand some owners will shelve them for a good while before fitting.' I was told by Mat. It may seem a bit hurried but if it isn't so good for the wallet after the exhaust line & some other expenses, it may look wiser for the future: my full belt service having been done in April 2014 (I've got the bill) at 118,816 km (73k mls), I should think of that around 2020/2022. Now the odometer is around 169k km (105k mls), hence 50k km (32k mls) already done, and I use to drive around 10/11k km a year (6.5k mls). And the timing belt is given for 90k mls / 6 years, even lots of guys have often done (much) longer for not so many k miles. If anyone is interested, don't be shy if you need it. __________________ Rover 75 V6 2.5 Auto Connie born 1 July 1999, 24 kOhms resistor, 10 kOhms manual starter, full E85, modified airbox, full derestricted SS exhaust line, power & torque remap -> 202 bhp This vehicle was the 7,517th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 1,190th 75 2.5 V6 Contemporary to be made out of 8,214 This vehicle was the 2,032nd 75 in Atlantic Blue Pearlescent (code: JEY) to be made out of 2,572 Atlantic Blue Pearlescent 75s

23rd August 2019, 08:32	#230
Dorchester2 incurable Rover addict Rover 75 Saloon V6 2.5 1999 - Rover 25 1.4 2002 - Rover 214i cab 1994 - Rover P5b coupe 1968 Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bioule. South West of France. Posts: 1,643 Thanks: 612 Thanked 385 Times in 223 Posts	09-09-2018, 20:27 ECT wires Where could be located and mainly accessed the ECT cable with both its wires? I can't find it out even with the Haynes manual in hands: those black & white pictures are useless... Even the Rave manual doesn't help me more. Is it an easy find without taking off lots of stuff? Can I see it when I only take off the engine top cover? I would like to access to it (anywhere, near the plug or elsewhere, it doesn't matter) to insert a wire with a resistor (fit on purpose, ready made & usable I was given ) to help the cold start (it simulates very cold water) because when fuelling with full ethanol that trick allows to use the starter only once instead of twice when the engine is cold. it's a push button. If you don't use the device, it's like it wasn't fitted and all is working as usual. But when pushing it when starting the engine, then the circuit with the resistor is closed, asking more fuel to the ECU as long as you let your finger on the button. Thanks a lot. Picture (in colour!) much appreciated if possible. __________________ Rover 75 V6 2.5 Auto Connie born 1 July 1999, 24 kOhms resistor, 10 kOhms manual starter, full E85, modified airbox, full derestricted SS exhaust line, power & torque remap -> 202 bhp This vehicle was the 7,517th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 1,190th 75 2.5 V6 Contemporary to be made out of 8,214 This vehicle was the 2,032nd 75 in Atlantic Blue Pearlescent (code: JEY) to be made out of 2,572 Atlantic Blue Pearlescent 75s