PVerdieck

I recently got my FD running again, after not using it for about 6 years. It had 4 issues, coolant leak, electrical drain/short, oil line rubbing steering column and air bag light.

The most serious of which was the coolant. I did an AST elimination. I mostly have it ok, but I will need to do something about the nipple on the thermostat housing. As it is, the Rotary Extreme VMount I installed runs intercoller piping/hose really tight on that nipple, I had to cut some off to get the line in there before. I am pretty sure the coolant leak was coming from that connection before.

I followed Rob Robinettes instructions for the AST elimination. I originally had a 3-4 inch fuel line with a bolt at one end and had it attached to the nipple, another to the radiator. I have the 2nd gen filler neck on, so that is going to the overflow tank. After running for 4 days, I found the t-housing plugged line had cracked, and currently have the heaviest gauge vacuum plug on it, clamped down. I know it is not the best solution, and am thinking I will remove the housing, cut off the nipple, then thread it and put a plug in there.

As for the oil return line (CWR kit (yes I was an *** putting it on in the 1st place instead of leaving the stock R2 setup on)) it was rubbing the steering column. When the car was up at firestone, having them check the tires, I couldnt see where it was rubbing. I will have to look at that again.

For now I am simply disconnecting the ground on the battery when I park, and will deal with the short later.

PVerdieck

Back to that airbag issue. The last week I was getting 3 flashes, a 5 second pause and then it repeats. Continually, it never stopped.

Things got exciting, in that way that only an FD can have this afternoon.

I was going to get it inspected today, and about 200 feet from the shop smoke started coming out from the center vents, I pulled it in to the shop, and smelt burning plastic. Electrical short/fire/issue of some sort.

I shut it down, and started checking. I smelled no plastic from the engine side of the firewall. I tentatively started it and there was some more smoke. I pushed it to a parking spot on the lot and called AAA. One of the guys at the shop called someone he knew and he came over 15 minutes later to diagnose.

Neither one of us saw any damaged wiring under the dash in the driver footwell. Everything looked fine, and that included all the lines from the mods in there (6 gauges, Profec, Power FC, power and box for Escort, power line for Valentine.

We started it briefly, and there was a little bit of smoke, but it could be seen that it came from around the gas pedal, the right side of the footwell.
At this point in time, the airbag warning light is no longer blinking, it stays on.

The other guy then proposed that it was the airbag electronics/box. It is located in that area, he said it felt warm/hot.

We subsequently disconnected it. The vehicle starts, runs ok, and there is no longer any smell of burning plastic.

Does this sound copacetic to you guys?