hammertime.... at last!

[vaninblack]

Hello everyone,

I finally own the car I have consistently desired since I first saw one in 1999!!

Black / Black/Red 1998 MC.

I've got a couple of questions if you'd be so kind :)

Mine goes into first very easily when cold but when it's hot first can sometimes become hard to select and the bite in general becomes annoying low. I'm hoping the braided hose mod I've heard about will do the trick.

This is the first car I've owned and this made me think about my driving style in traffic. What is the best way to drive the car in heavy traffic? In Mondeoville I find myself going into neutral a lot, even at short stops. Is waiting in gear with the clutch fully depressed a bad thing to do, or is it actually better than continually going into neutral and then back into gear?

Also, how cold does your a/c run? Mine seems to work a bit but it's not very cold compared to the 407/mondeo type stuff which can usually freeze your fingers (and your gf!)... Should the MC a/c be really cold? Is it easy to tell if the compressor is knackered?

Thanks for the forum, reading some of the posts from owners here convinced me to just go for it, get the MC and worry about the practicalities later... and I love this car!

ben

[jules78]

Well done on the purchase. Do you have the M Coupe grin yet? It should kick in about 5500rpm and never go away.

The air con sounds like it just needs regassing. Had mine done last year and after it had been done it was very cold. Tried it over the weekend and it's no where near as cold so reckon it needs doing again, funnily enough I got a letter from my garage this morning reminding me to get it done so it'll be booked in. Should cost about £60.

As for traffic, if it's bumper to bumper I normally sit in second and hold it on the clutch rather than first as it gives a softer pickup but I suppose it's each to their own. Never found it difficult to get into first though!?! Is your problem when you're at a stand still or whilst your still rolling?

[vaninblack]

M Coupe grin present from ear to ear! Yep, kicked in the first time I'd got the car up to temperature and 'accelerated briskly' in 3rd from about 4,000... no need to post asking if my throttle cable is set for full power :D

I'd say the first gear problem appears first whilst rolling, so at first I thought syncro.... but then it does definitely seem to come into play later even when completely stationary. having said that it was fine this morning driving to work.. the problem does seem to start only after quite a long run.... I guess it's worth trying the braided hose in case that helps the problem...

[maahny]

Welcome to MC ownership. Mine has had the same problem which I believe occurs when the clutch hoses gets hot. Mine is having a braided hose fitted at the moment which should cure it.

[jules78]

Thinking about it some more I find that if the car is rolling and I go from second to first there is some resistance. I've never really thought of it as a problem as I know you're not really supposed to go from second to first whilst moving. I'm not even sure whether this change is synchromeshed!?! All I normally do is move it from second to first till I feel the resistance and hold it there, after a fraction of a second the resistance then goes away and it pops into first quite easily.

[pdwarren]

I did three laps of Covent Garden on Sunday trying to find a parking space. It was a reasonably warm day, and after 25 minutes of this 1st and 2nd were both a real pain. Normally only first is occassionally difficult, and going 2nd then 1st normally sorts it.

Paul

[Greenbat]

Welcome to MC ownership vaninblack. 6 months on from ownership I am still grinning. Always take the long route home now.

Anyway to your questions,
1. Holding down the clutch pedal does wear on the master and slave cylinders because you're maintaining that higher pressure needlessly. In time the springs and seals and eventually will wear you'll get no pedal feel.

2. The AC I have been told should run between 5 and 6 degrees

Cheers

Greenbat