[DML] help is on the way

[Gus Schlachter <gus@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Nate,

Congratulations.  I guess.  You've got some problems with this car, but 
there is some good news: you only spent $13,000.  The "Rule of 20" 
suggests that you'll spend about $7000 to get this car in good condition 
for daily driving, but I think you can do it for far less.

The parking brake has it's own calipers and pads.  On my car, the parking 
brake handle had almost zero resistance.  The 25-year-old adhesive between 
the pads and the backing plates gave out, and once you lose a single pad 
the whole system fails.  You can get brand-new pads for about $40:

  http://www.usadmc.com/dmcstore/ViewPage.asp?PageID=72

They can be installed in about...one beer.  Just don't PUSH on the 
caliper-end of the cable while the pads are out, or you'll need to take 
the parking brake handle apart to re-thread the other end.  The brake 
indicator malfunction is probably a dirty/misaligned switch on the handle; 
look under the carpet trim around the handle, it should lift right up.

The door marker lights are notorious for remaining on, even when the door 
is closed, due to the switch staying open; most D's I've seen have a piece 
of rubber hose or some other extender to make sure the switch closes. Some 
owners simply disconnect the switch under the dash (which I'm guessing 
happened to you).

Regardless, you should do a major electrical service: replace fuses, 
clean/replace relays, clean all grounds, etc.  You'll find that this will 
make many of the "poltergeist"-like problems disappear.  If you like to 
read, we can accommodate you:

  http://dmcnews.com/techmain.htm

Don't forget to register in the DeLorean Owner's Directory:

  http://dmcnews.com/directory.html


Gus Schlachter
VIN #4695
Austin, Texas


P.S.  If you ever see a bridge for sale on eBay...run Nate, run!


> Alright, I picked up #06859 this afternoon that I won in an ebay 
> auction (auction # 4566780231).  The car was described as excellent 
> condition inside and out and was owned by a mechanic, so I 
> thought....this is the one.  Well, I'll cut to the chase and say that I 
> need help.  If anyone lives in the DC/Maryland area or more 
> specifically near Calvert County, I need you.  I'll get into the 
> specifics about the transaction below, but the car has some major 
> issues that I'm going to need help with and would appreciate it if 
> someone could take it for a drive and look at it and tell me what you 
> think the problems are.  Here are the major issues so far that I have 
> uncovered:
> 
> First, the parking brake will not engage.  This is major because it 
> won't pass a Maryland inspection.  The parking brake light will go on 
> if you pull the brake up one notch, after that, it goes out and the 
> brake will not hold.
> 
> Second, and probably more serious, I suspect a fuel system issue.  The 
> idle is racing.  When I sit at an idle (with or without 
> airconditioning) it revs between 500 and 1100 RPM.  It is constantly 
> reving almost like I am tapping the gas pedal every second. 
> 
> Also, which may be related, when I lift my foot off of the gas it 
> sounds like I've got a trail of "Just Married" cans being pulled behind 
> the car.  It's not quite a backfire, but it isn't what you would expect 
> a fine automobile to sound like.
> 
> Also potentially related is the fact that the car makes a loud banging 
> noise whenever I take a hard left turn.  I saw a posting some time this 
> week that had someone with this sound whenever they made a hard turn 
> and they suspected a suspension or bearing issue and it turned out to 
> be something with the fuel system. I don't know what forum it was, but 
> I'll be looking for it tonight.
> 
> Another issue is that the Oil Pressure gauge seemed to function 
> normally during the three hour drive, but about half way through it, 
> the gauge went all the way past 80 and was point to the "I" in Oil. 
> After a while it went back to normal.
> 
> Now before you suggest I go buy the shop manual, that was one of the 
> things the car was SUPPOSED to come with.  However, integrity seems to 
> be lacking in the individual that sold me this car.
> 
> None of the marker lights on the doors will light.  I haven't even 
> tried to track that issue down.  This could be anything from a 
> pulled/blown fuse.....I think I'll get to that one last.
> 
> The body is not in the excellent condition that it was described to be 
> in either.  The stainless isn't too bad, but there are several dings in 
> various spots and a deep scratch across the grain of the steel on the 
> hood.
> 
> A brand new steering rack was installed this morning and it feels a 
> little loose.  I have no experience with cars without power steering, 
> so maybe it is supposed to be this way, which brings me back to my need 
> for someone to drive it who is "in the know".
> 
> Now before you say, Nate, why did you even go on with the transaction. 
> Well, that is funny you should ask.  The racing idle issue was 
> immediately apparent.  However the clunking sound when you take your 
> foot off of the gas and when you make a hard left turn were not 
> immediately apparent.  The dings aren't THAT noticable (the utter lack 
> of any weatherstripping was though!)  But the main reason was that I 
> met this guy on the Jersey Turnpike so I didn't have to drive all the 
> way to Yonkers (I'm one of those federal law enforcement types working 
> a midnight shift with no days off in sight).  My wife (who I must thank 
> because she rarely says no to me .......outside of the bedroom, anyway) 
> had to make an appointment at 2:30 and the knucklehead was late showing 
> up.  So I got left at the rest area in New Jersey like cheap luggage. 
> The Delorean had now become my ride home with no back-up.
> 
> So the moral of the story is this:
> When buying on ebay READ BETWEEN THE LINES!!!
> When it says "headliner recently replaced" look into the fact that the 
> guy has a Johnny Bravo type of hairstyle that requires 15 W 50 to keep 
> it up. The headliner again needs to be replaced bacause I don't want 
> people thinking that crap came from my head!!!
> 
> When it says interior and exterior in excellent condition.....well that 
> one is kind of like my single days at the Federal Law Enforcement 
> Training Center and the rating system for women there.  A "6" in real 
> life was a FLETC "9" when you factor in the pool of applicants and the 
> last time you actually saw a female.  I'll rate this car a fair as it 
> sits now.
> 
> Anyway, I'd probably be a lot more upset right now if it wasn't for the 
> fact that I know that Delorean owners are a rare breed and take care of 
> each other.  I'm hoping I can restore this girl to her original glory 
> with your help!!!!
> 
> Thanks,
> Nate
> AKA "Really mad I sold a perfectly good Porshe Boxster for this car"


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






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