Took the opportunity of a dry and warm Sunday last week to attend a local car show.

I'm not really one for showing the car- but this was on a more relaxed- roll in, and roll out when you want to. And it went quite well.

Mine was the only Coupe present, and in fact Italian vehicles were in the distinct minority. But she drew a fair bit of attention. I'd spent some dedicated time prepping her under the bonnet-first time in a couple of years and a really focused wash, hoover, polish and she looked good if I say so myself.

All of this is part of the shakedown tests for a mini UK tour starting w/o of 22nd June - off west to try and find the Harrys Garage Test route, and a few days away in that location. May pop by and surprise Joe at FCCS if I get that far up.

Annoyingly the usually reliable A/C has stopped. I've tried the "how to" guide, but no luck with fuses, wiring It was regassed just last year and stopped running. Then started again. And now again dead. I think I will try and get under the car this weekend to see if I can locate and check the pressure sensor at the bottom of the dryer is ok. If not may throw another regas at it...other then that I suspect its my turn for some expenditure to get it resolved.

Regardless - just to say should you see my Red Coupe making time in traffic- feel free to waive! I use the car far too little. A trip to route the EU was on the cards- but time was too limited so far this year to commit to something a little bit more exotic. So UK it is- and there is nowt wrong with that!

Hope your all making the most of your cars now the sunny period is (kind of ) with us!!

Regards

MM

Yes if it's never been changed the pressure sensor is worth a punt. To memory you need a long-reach 22mm socket? And maybe an elbow joint to help access.

You don't need to de-gas when you change it.

Thanks Edinburgh!

Enjoy your trip

Paul

Well, the lesson really is if you have a coup with A/C and you plan to drive it during a heat wave - you need to address it.

I got under the car a day or so prior to leaving but on axle stands and lying on my back could not adequately reach the pressure sensor to undo it. I battled to get what felt like a good lock on the sensor to undo it - but after much effort it alluded me. At one point I thought I have a solid hold and was tempted by then to give it a heave-ho! But common sense kicked in and I just knew I'd have rounded the whole thing off-or simply broken the whole thing.

I sprayed some lubricant in the wiring connection - and gave up.

Then cometh "the heat dome".

The plan was 4 days driving to and around the Cotswolds, in search of interesting roads as much as the normal tourist traps. I did think of taking a different car- but reasoned that there is no point having a coupe if you can't use it - so stuck to the plan and took the coupe.

The heat quickly became the dominating factor of the trip. The first hour or so, whilst hot- having the windows open on the mways/dual carriages was manageable - occasional presses of the a/c button (it has worked before) did not revive the italian a/c system. But after 3 hours-the heat sink really started to set in and it started to resemble some sort of top gear road challenge.

A stop for lunch and some cool soft drinks-needed- revealed a very rapidly deflating front left. So now the coupe was carrying a 2nd issue-and not even half way to the destination. Re-inflated, and now committed (or is that should be committed?) the decision was to press on and make the best of it.

Leaving the traffic behind and turning on to B Roads was better- arriving into the Cotswolds- there are some cracking roads. "Harrys Eau Rouge" did not dissappoint (b437 from Chadbury heading east) was spectacularly good- a former Evo road of choice too - checking the tyre again for pressure-I went over it several times- its another special bit of uk road.


Just before arriving at the accommodation - I stopped by a tyre garage - near on 5:00. They could not see me then and there (they looked heat exhausted and all in, but suggested I called back in- but did check on tyre options (practically zero and all needing 2-3 days ordering). But they could look at the cause of the leak (I presumed a screw or nail for a UK mway).

At least it was an offer of help on one issue.

The next day- I checked on the coup before it got too warm suspecting the tyre would be flat- bout found it fine. In fact just 1 psi from what it should have been. It never came back as an issue again.

The heat though continued to climb-and whilst the coup had no further issues- other then being hot under the collar-and the fans coming on the second it was in traffic for more then a minute. Over the course of the 3 days the heat increasing each day-it just started to become a marathon.

Took the decision to drive back the night before I had planned - searching for cooler air and less traffic then a day time drive the next day. The car craved the cooler temps and 23c/24c evening temps suddenly felt like a much cooler autumn eve - and the turbo just started to come back in and feel much more with it as the air started to become denser.

So some great roads, and the car did not let me down. But I've clearly got to get on it now with the A/C.

Also - I have to start thinking tyres. My are new - but running the Plus wheels - options for 225/45 r16 are slim. More options for 225/50/r16s. They may look less racy...but if they are accessible and maybe even improve the comfort ...I'd be interested to hear if anyone has made the switch.

Anyways- hope your all well and planning on enjoying your coupes in the sun!

Regards

MM

"Harry's Eau Rouge" - haven't heard that one

MM, you don't need to get underneath to access the pressure switch.

I don't have BB to hand atm as it's still awaiting parts otherwise I'd send a pic.
To memory you may have to slightly clear a path in order to get the socket on but youy need an elbow joint on the extension to achieve sufficient access/leverage. A T-handle, with some good weight behind it, should do the job - you've already lubricated it.

Cheers Edinburgh,

Likely why I was so unable to reach it - I'll have another go at it from the top down this time see if that improve things. Also a re-gas so I can assess to see if system is holding pressure or not.

I'm hoping its something small - but if needed a refresh of the system will have to be done.

But-it would not be a Coupe without being a bit tempremental sometimes!

Regards

MM

Yes, changing it is one more thing checked off the list.