Gremlins Strike Again

[centurion 455 ragtop]

I often wonder if it only happens to me. My cars are stored away properly for the winter. Prior to storage they are both in top working order., cleaned and prepped. Yet in the spring I break them out of storage and something is always is broken or not working. Last year with my GS the fuel pump regulator didn't work for reason unknown. Now this year it's my Centurion. Last October 5th I stored it away, it was in top shape and crystal clean. Well the first bad sign was the smell of a dead animal once I opened the car bag. Somehow a mouse decided to EAT thru the sealed car bag, I guess it couldn't find its way out, pissed all over the place, ate thru both car covers, pissed on them and promptly built a nest under the horns and died from starvation. OK, so I threw out the car covers (had mouse piss stains) thank God no damage to the car other then lint balls from the mouse. Had to re-wash, wax and clean the car... again. The car bag now has two good size holes, so thats toast too.

OK, I installed the charged up battery, primed the oil pump, changed the oil, filter and trans fluid and she started right up. Well what happened....for reasons unknown the master cylinder decided over the winter storage to break. Brakes were working fine when I put her away. Go figure, Must be gremlins, cause the peddle goes to the floor, and the brake light is on. I checked the fluid in the master and the rear reserve was empty...hmmm no sign of brake fluid on the ground and the rear backing plates all look dry. Maybe the mouse drank it. So I refilled the master and attempted to pump up the peddle, No good, the peddle doesn't pump up, I rechecked the master and there was no fluid loss, I'm figuring the master cylinder is shot.

On the bright side of things it was a beautiful day out and my Centurion is out of storage, bad side is I couldn't drive it aware.

[Smartin]

I bet your power booster is nice and full of brake fluid

[My3buicks]

Rick, sounds like a day in my life - those gremliins do get around!

[Robroy]

Rick,
Glad to hear that the mouse didn’t deicide to try a taste of the Centurion interior.
They can destroy quite a lot once they get started if they like the taste; it’s also amazing how they get in through really small openings.
My parents had their car standing outside a workshop a few weeks after a car accident in the late 70’s. A few mice discovered how delicious a 68 Volvo upholstery was and had themselves quite a party in there, not a pretty sight…

It’s typical during long cold winters like this one that animals seek food elsewhere getting desperate

Regarding your brakes it sounds like a faulty master cylinder to me too.

Speaking of brakes, I’ve been meaning to replace my wheel cylinders for while now but keep postponing it since its been so darn cold .

[Robroy]

Rick, sounds like a day in my life - those gremliins do get around!

Good to have you back Keith

[Phil Genario]

I can only say that sucks and thank god the mouse got full after it ate what it did, and not your wiring, or interior! Yeah, I hear you! Sound like me too! I can lay a bet that everytime i put one of my cars away (after everythings perfect) it always happens,its like they have to tap you on the shoulder and say,REMEMBER ME!!Im the one you spend all your money on!Saturday,the second i opened my garage to get my Camaro out for the first time and theres this tiny narrow teeny trail of trans fluid all the way the length of the car under it,then at the end of the tiny trail,theres a small thin pool of it in back of the car,whats more bizzare is the floor is totally flat! of course the fluid reads full and the underbody is bone dry,went 40 miles,It drove fine . I always get these bizarre problems, nothing ever falls off and just breaks.always stupid stuff!It always makes me stop and think,This hobby is sick!

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Part 2: Interesting day today. First thing went into the house garage where I had the Centurion for the next few days. Saw (2) baby mice outside the car on the floor. Grab the two boogers and threw them into the woods across the street. Now I'm wondering "babies"? Backed the car out and went over it with a fine tooth comb and found nothing. Anyway pulled off the rear wheels and found a wheel cylinder that had been seeping. Off to the parts store and in no time the brakes are working properly. Now comes the fun. As I took the interior apart searching for mice evidence (found none) I decided to take on a project on changing the main bracket that holds one side of the convertible top frame to the car. I had a spare frame so I went to work. Man what a JOB! Took my time and in a few hours and the help of some muscle from my son I had it done and the top is back to good working order. I posted pics of the broken bracket and the replacement.

Now wait its not over... once done while putting the Centurion back in the car tent and doing clean up I spotted one of the baby mice. I went to grab it and it ran down my driveway (some 100 feet) then turned and ran into the woods. GOOD. I put everything away and started to make this post, when my son went outside to walk the dog, on returning he told me while laughing that he saw a baby mouse running across the driveway into the car tent where my Centurion is. GREAT just f'ing great!!! Sometimes you just can't win. I'l pick up traps tomorrow and snap the little bastards neck and take the car out for a highway spin to shake who ever is left out.

[Phil Genario]

The screwiest designed convertible top assembly in General Motors history !

[Centurion717273]

Screwy, yes!! But the additional room it allows in the back seat compared to the traditional stacking ones is substantial.

[73 Centurion]

Hi Rick,

I've had problems with mice and can understand just how annoying they can be. I remember splitting some wood at my parents house and lifted a log to reveal a mouse nest complete with mother and babies. The mother stood on her rear feet and gave me a good long lesson in mouse swearing. She then picked up a baby and scuttled off somewhere. Moments later she was back, gave me another earful grabbed another baby and scampered. Her swearing was tremendously effective as it left me helpless with laughter each time she returned. It was an amazingly brave little mouse. It would have been a very different story if it had been in one of my cars.

One last mouse story that will be more relevant. One spring I brought out my motorcycle for the spring rebirth. The engine was reluctant to fire but eventually caught. I revved the throttle and blew mouse nest material and a very startled mouse several feet across the driveway. Since then I've learned to put a little styrofoam in the exhaust for storage. You might want to make sure the exhaust is flowing equally from both pipes when you next start the car.

Perhaps the mice were returning for another try at flying. If you see them again listen closely for a high pitched "Weeeeee" when you throw them into the woods.

John

[Robroy]

There are devices that send out a low frequent signal impossible for the human ear to hear that scare mice off. I have never tried them myself though.

A ghetto blaster with some heavy metal could work too if you wane go low budget or a bowl of antifreeze (the cruel way).

Finally I have uploaded a pict that got nothing to do with this but that I know you will like Rick!

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Oh you made my day, that is funny!!

[dewbers]

Wow... so that gremlin visited Rick, then Keith, then made it's way to Delaware! What in the world is going on!?!?!
My baby is in my garage, under a car cover. It's on a trickle charger and I start it up once a month... I mean like many of you, it's not uncommon in Delaware to get a 50 or 60 degree day in the middle of winter and I'll get her out to take a ride! Well, this year... not so fast!

1. Battery was stone cold dead. Can't find the reason. Remember, it's on a trickle charger.
2. Master cylinder is shot.
3. Top barely goes down or up. Barely!!
4. Mouse made a super nice bed in my trunk out of the micro-fiber towels I left back there. Never did catch the little bugger!
5. Motor is "pinging" terribly!

She was perfect when I parked it last... what in the world is going on?!?! OR, is this like any other lady? If you don't use them every so often, they stop working like they did?!?!

I had to get my buddy, who is also my mechanic (remember, I am not terribly talented at this like some of you are!) invloved... He can't find the source of the electrical problem. We did find a brand new master cylinder at the local NAPA store, which has now been replaced. Can't really do much about the top till we trace the electrical issue, as it might be related... and the pinging might just be b/c of this garbage gas that is being produced now! I did put Sunoco 93 octane in it with an octane boost. Full tank prior to parking it!

Wow... how aggravating all this can be!

[dewbers]

Wow... so that gremlin visited Rick, then Keith, then made it's way to Delaware! What in the world is going on!?!?!
My baby is in my garage, under a car cover. It's on a trickle charger and I start it up once a month... I mean like many of you, it's not uncommon in Delaware to get a 50 or 60 degree day in the middle of winter and I'll get her out to take a ride! Well, this year... not so fast!

1. Battery was stone cold dead. Can't find the reason. Remember, it's on a trickle charger.
2. Master cylinder is shot.
3. Top barely goes down or up. Barely!!
4. Mouse made a super nice bed in my trunk out of the micro-fiber towels I left back there. Never did catch the little bugger!
5. Motor is "pinging" terribly!

She was perfect when I parked it last... what in the world is going on?!?! OR, is this like any other lady? If you don't use them every so often, they stop working like they did?!?!

I had to get my buddy, who is also my mechanic (remember, I am not terribly talented at this like some of you are!) invloved... He can't find the source of the electrical problem. We did find a brand new master cylinder at the local NAPA store, which has now been replaced. Can't really do much about the top till we trace the electrical issue, as it might be related... and the pinging might just be b/c of this garbage gas that is being produced now! I did put Sunoco 93 octane in it with an octane boost. Full tank prior to parking it!

Wow... how aggravating all this can be!

Didn't mean to hijack this thread Rick... moved my reply to another thread, called "calling all experts". Sorry!!!


Ok, so here's where we are... The car is up and running and purring like a kitten!
1. replaced master cylinder - all ok with brakes.
2. voltage regulator was burned up - replaced - all reading are perfect
3. points burned up b/c of voltage regulator - replaced
4. tuned her up, changed fluids, etc...
5. fluffed and buffed her to a mirrored shine!

Really surprised all this went south as she sat for the winter. Just proves these lovely ladies don't like to be "away" for any length of time. Seems the more I drive her and give her attention, the better she responds!

Bottom line.. she is really running great!! She is looking great!!
I was looking like this all weekend!

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Never a problem Steve. Real glad you worked out the winter bugs.