95 Mark VIII Convertible

[warden]

 

[warden]

Re-post

So, thinking the unthinkable. I'm thinking of upgrading to a sl65 as my 1 toy. Thinking of selling the vert. The only reason I would sell is due to garage space. If you are interested shoot me a pm. I'm busy this weekend otherwise I'd be down in CT test driving one. If it's still there the weekend after then the vert may be pushed out doors, with a cover. Then it'll just sit there.

 

[Lvnmarks]

Tixer is interested....don't believe him if he says he's not.

 

[tixer]

Wow. and of all of the convertibles out there, this is the one to have.

 

[warden]

I've come back to my senses.

 

[tixer]

This is good. Thank you.

 

[billcu]

Glad to hear you changed your mind Jeff.

These convertibles are great. I've been driving mine for the last 2 weekends, it's still a Mark VIII, but it's got a lot more fun put into it.

 

[warden]

Not much to update. I'm liking the ce shifter, and the new head unit sounds really good. Got to fix the antenna cable next.

 

[steve]

Needs a CE steering wheel now, can you get one in black or you can dye it?

 

[billcu]

Beautiful!:thumbsup:

I'm guessing yours is the only convertible with a Gen 2 interior.

 

[tixer]

Those CE shifters are the way to go. They feel so much better in the hand than the leather ones.

What did you end up with for a Head Unit? Any additional work on speakers, etc?

 

[warden]

The shifter feels so much better. Now I need a wood steering wheel.
I went with the pioneer nex 6200 in the vert. It has the little detachable security tab on the left, and antiglare screen which is not great in direct sunlight. I'm still rocking the original speakers and they sound great compared to the stock unit. Might just throw a sub in it and be done, but I do have more plans for the audio. Looking at a few other upgrades before the stereo is finished.

 

[warden]

Had to replace the Air Compressor Relay Connector and Wire up past the 90° bend into the harness. Was down for about 5 weeks. Jeremi told me exactly what the problem was on day 1. At first I just tried a new relay, didn't work. Tried prying the tabs out in the connector to make better contact. Didn't work. Got a new connector, cut old connector off close to the connector to maximize wire length in case of whatever. I soldered and heat shrunk the connections. Worked. Was excited. I changed the oil, put back on the bumper cover, bundled everything up. Turned on the car, front dropped, compressor wouldn't come on. Had to take the whole bumper off again since the wire harness is from a gen ii and there's no way to get to that connector. I was talking with Bruce about an hour earlier. He said (too late, after I already soldered the first time) that he recalled the problem occurring further up the wire where it took the hard 90 into the harness. I squeezed the harness and the compressor kicked on. FML. So i proceed to cut open the wire harness as much as I needed. Recut the wires much higher past the 90. Re-soldered the new harness, and all is good. Tested multiple times before reassembly.
The original harness

The first attempt cutting right at the harness. I didn't take a pic of the final final connection, but it was a lot more even.

 

[billcu]

Good job!

I've had to do this a few times before, on various Marks, replacing the connector, and/or replacing a wire going to it.

Usually just cutting the wire back until it is clean copper works, but sometimes I've just run a new wire all the way back to the module.

I don't know why these fail so often, the ABS and secondary air injection pumps on some years, use these same relays, connectors and wires, but those don't seem to fail as often.

My first guess is low quality lightweight wires and the fact that air ride relay is used more often.

 

[warden]

I would guess the usage, heat, extreme vibration, and the tight radius at the 90 into the connector. Typically want about 10x the diameter of the wire for a bend radius for optimal cable performance.