What did you do to your Reatta today? <ongoing thread>

[DAVES89]

I looked for over an hour on the forum using the search. No luck. The search worked well if one is looking for stuff over 5 yearts old.
So I went off line and googled headlight restoration. Found what I needed there. They even had it by forum, so I clicked reatta forum. The original poster of the restoration was Recian and he used Sylvania headlight restoration kit. His instructions were great and for additional info I went to Youtube where they have a demo there...
I have an extra taillight and will try the kit. I already buffed up my back up letters to install.

[89 Maui]

When I bought my '89 a year ago I had a code E026. I had started looking for the culprit that was causing my E026 since last October. I waited out the winter and began again in March. I can say that much time was spent looking and testing but I finally found it. I will be posting it on the original thread after we get back from Concord. All of your inputs from the posts were definitely, NO, extremely helpful.

So now I was able to start on the other projects of maintaining her. I replaced the oil pan gasket, but not as a hint, but do yourself a huge favor by purchasing the gasket with a center sealer section. It costs around $30 but you won't regret it, it seals excellently and has more firmness and detents that keep the gasket in place while you are holding the pan up and inserting the first bolts. After 2 weeks I have noticed a little leaking from the intake manifold gasket, but that is another project this coming fall.

Next was replacing the brake fluid. I started suctioning out the reservoir and couldn't get the lower section. I then went to Ronnie's website and read to cut the hose and the lower section started draining. I couldn't tell you how old that brake fluid was, but it was nasty. Then I got out the floor jack and jack stands, but found removing the wheels would be the best way to bleed the lines. As Ronnie's website states, fill the reservoir and let the pressure pump bleed the lines. That maybe the easiest brake fluid change that I ever made. After a few days I see the reservoir fluid is getting a little brownish which is telling me that the brake fluid is cleaning the system and I will do the brake fluid change again later this summer.

Currently I am waxing her and cleaning the interior getting ready to leave for Concord tomorrow.

[Mc_Reatta]

I looked for over an hour on the forum using the search. No luck. The search worked well if one is looking for stuff over 5 yearts old.
So I went off line and googled headlight restoration. Found what I needed there. They even had it by forum, so I clicked reatta forum. The original poster of the restoration was Recian and he used Sylvania headlight restoration kit. His instructions were great and for additional info I went to Youtube where they have a demo there...
I have an extra taillight and will try the kit. I already buffed up my back up letters to install.

Ronnie, how did you miss this one? Bet you could also add a kit to your store too.

[Ronnie]

Ronnie, how did you miss this one? Bet you could also add a kit to your store too.

Looks like I did bookmark it for a tutorial but just didn't follow through with getting it done. I will have it on the new website update. It should be done before too long. Thanks for pointing it out to me to geter done.

[jerrykiefer]

Got the black 90 convertible back from the shop, he was in to get the cam sensor magnet replaced. The boys couldn't figure out the system to getting remnants of the old magnet out and installing the new one with the brim removed with a mirror as illustrated by Padgett in his summary.
They felt better taking the timing cover off and since they were in there replaced the water pump that could have been the original. They also changed the oil and filter.
Bottomline, when everything was said and done, they charged me 187.50 but I supplied the sensor and magnet.
Coupe guys from EL Salvador who worked about ten years in New York but got tired of the cold and lack of Mango trees so they moved to South Florida. Have a nice little shop in Deerfield Beach.

[Corvanti]

spent the last couple of days cleaning the wheels and painting the "black" part of the wheels with wheel paint - even the "buick" lettering...

wasn't that much "fun", but sure looks a lot better!

[DAVES89]

After I saw how clean kdirks car was I felt a little neglectful of my car, so I washed it, cleaned the chrome wheels, detailed the interior. Still not on a level of Kevins, but lookin good!
Then cleaned the MAF sensor, no reason to, just because. Then on to rear taillight as I had a burned out bulb.
When Kevin and I went out to Gibsons I grabbed a wiper switch, just installed it to test it, works good. Then as long as I was in the dash I thought I would swap out some switch buttons on the headlight side. As I was doing that I thought I would also spray some contact cleaner on the headlight switch contacts as the pod back lights would go out when I switched to high beams. Got that done as well.
Enough for today.
Happy hour has just started!

[KDirk]

Dave,

thanks for your kind remarks! Actually, the tail lamp on your red car looked so good I decided to do both of mine yesterday, using Novus #2 to buff it back to being shiny then finishing with Novus #1. Actually today I picked up some Meguiars plastic polish on a clearance rack at the store. Haven't tried this particular product before so will give it a try on the 88 which is still a little sorry looking after yesterday's work.

KDirk

[89REATTAJIM]

In the last 3 weeks or so, I replaced my pass side window motor, replaced the lumbar bladder, and had the headliner redone. Have a Dash Mat on order, so it will be spiffed up for Silver Springs GMC show.... Jim

[89 Maui]

While on my way back from the 2012 Buick meet my fuel pump decided it was history. I found a shop that would replace it. While my 89 was on the lift I proceeded to get a good look as to how the under chassis looked since it was a northern car and salt had taken its toll. I found my fuel lines were more corroded than I thought. A couple of weeks later I found a 90 being parted out. I requested the fuel lines and the fuel tank, then I looked at the rear chassis and it had only surface rust which could be easily brushed off. So I decided to take the rear chassis also.

My 89 is now sitting on jack stands, fuel tank removed and ready to remove the fuel and brake lines. Spent time removing the calipers, rotors and rear struts, then I will start brushing down the purchased rear suspension getting it ready for some fresh paint. After that I will start brushing down the purchased fuel tank. Then installing the new fuel and brake lines.

I really could not pass up the opportunity of replacing the old rust corroded parts and installing fresh parts.

Eventually I will be working forward and replacing corroded parts.

But I am enjoying it.

[RaverReatta]

I found out my battery wasn't even charging itself, and I die in the middle of the road! Soooo, I determined it's time for a jump start and a new alternator (already know that's the problem).

[my3buicks]

This eve I changed all the tail lights, all the front lights, fog lights, and headlights - also changed the 3rd brake lights - my hands look like I had a fight with the cat lol

I think car designers should be required to work on repairing the parts they design before a design goes into production -

I also got the driver door panel attached correctly and put two new struts on the trunk lid.

I have a function I want to take the Reatta (aka Zorro) tomorrow, when I get home tomorrow eve, the CRT is coming out and getting sent away.

After it gets back a little trouble shooting and pulling the seats to check some splices.

[DAVES89]

Kevin, My tailight looks good because I did the Sylvania restoration kit. Very happy with the results.
Keith you might want to take a look at Ronnies website. He has been uploading tutorials, many deal with what you might be considering...

[Gary D]

Today is the day before the Portland OR All Buick show...so a complete detail was the order of the day. The highlight was the under-hood insulation. It looked NASTY...and no amount of cleaning would make it look better. So - Macgyver to the rescue. With the insulation off the car I painted the darn thing with flat black paint. WOW! It looks good for now. Who knows if this will be a long term fix...but if I messed it up - I have another piece of OE insulation from a Reatta at the Pick N Pull.

[my3buicks]

Kevin, My tailight looks good because I did the Sylvania restoration kit. Very happy with the results.
Keith you might want to take a look at Ronnies website. He has been uploading tutorials, many deal with what you might be considering...

Been there, done that, was even there this eve when working on the lights lol

[my3buicks]

Took it on a nice 120 mile round trip run and then when i got home I pulled the CRT out to send away - It amazes me you can do that in 5 minutes, but it take HOURS to change every light on the front of a Reatta.

[handmedownreatta]

i drove mine to the charlotte pull a part where i pulled the cassette player,instrument panel,headlight switch,wiper switch,window switch,mirror switch,both seat controls,glove box,and the little tv from a 1989 riv.i hope some of it works.the car had a nice blue interior with the 16 way seats which wasn't very nice any more and the wood grain dash which i left.i did get the power antenna or the bcm because i wasn't sure if they work in a reatta.

[DAVES89]

What do parts go for down in Charlotte?

[handmedownreatta]

the total was 100 dollars eventhough the girl didn't know what some of it was.

[DAVES89]

Good for you! Pretty cheap on the parts for not much time. Do they charge admission?

[handmedownreatta]

two dollars.i swapped some of the parts today to see if they work.the dash seems to work fine.the little tv{crt?}works but its a little fuzzy at the bottom,might need cleaning behind the touch screen.headlight switch works but hard to turn lights off,not as bad as the switch that was in the car when i got it.wiper switch works.the play button doesn't work when the 'new' cassette player is installed but the eject button does.i was hoping to seperate the electronics of the tape player from the tape player and stash them behind my satelite radio hoping that would keep my input working.bummer.

[rjfranken]

My wifes 90, my vacation. Started swaping parts from the parts car. Deck, hood and insert below hood-it had a broken nose and the deck had a odd black spoiler put on it. (didnt look origanal, anybody want to see a picture of it, had a nice matching curve to the back of it but you couldn't open the deck with the radio on).
Both inner tie rod ends and suspension links. Found the rear caliper pins loose in the carrier. Swapped radiator from heavy origanal brass that started seeping at the seamsfrom this hatefull summer. Align, found caster a bit positive on the driver side,oh well. Siliconed pasted the door seals and adjusted the door latch pins a little closer in. Lubed all points. Rotated tires. IAC was not always working right-clean and then swapped that too; worked well.
Refurbing the plastic on turns and tail next. A new nose makes it look a lot better!

[DAVES89]

Was driving home after a dental visit and started hearing a high pitched whine from the back of the car. Turned off the radio, A/C, car still there. Opened the trunk and listened to where it was coming from, decided to disconnect battery. Still making noise. Pulled out me portable power station [battery pack] and it appears that these units have a low battery warning sound.
That was it, reconnected battery and all is good. Now I get to reset all the stuff again...

[DH Comet]

It was a good couple of days for my "new" '88 coupe: on Saturday I picked it up from the upholstery place with its newly recovered grey suede driver's seat bolsters - looks great! And today my repaired radio came back from Precision Audio - put it in and it works really well! I haven't had a radio at all with this car so far, so that's a big step forward. I know it's old stuff for most of you but I'm new at this and it's a lot of fun!

[NCReatta]

It was a good couple of days for my "new" '88 coupe: on Saturday I picked it up from the upholstery place with its newly recovered grey suede driver's seat bolsters - looks great! And today my repaired radio came back from Precision Audio - put it in and it works really well! I haven't had a radio at all with this car so far, so that's a big step forward. I know it's old stuff for most of you but I'm new at this and it's a lot of fun!

Any pictures of your new suede??