New MKIII after Break-in

[Heidelberg]

Hi all,

This post is very timely from my perspective as I hope to be commencing the "running in" or "shake down" process for my new SPF this weekend!

I thought that I'd pull together a checklist of the higher priority items to check based on the collective wisdom & experience from contributors on this forum...please feel free to add to it and I'll compile it at the end for future reference for any other new SPF owners!

I know that these lists can get totally out of hand, but I thought that I'd give it a go!

Here's the list to date:

Inspection/tightening
- Frame
- Suspension
- Shock mounts
- Axles
- Driveshaft connections
- Spinners & Safety wires (use anti-seize on back mating surface and pins)
- Headers
- Heads
- Valve covers
- Water pump
- Alternator
- Transmission
- Brake pads
- Wiring ties
- Fuel and Oil line mounts
- Hinges and mounts on doors and trunk & hood struts
- Seats/seatbelts
- Dashboard and guages

Grease checks
- tie rod ends
- ball joints

Fluid levels


Regards....Paul

[drj]

I had an interesting situation develop on my fairly new SPF last Summer. I started getting a slight clunking sound on low speed deceleration. Took it to my mechanic and asked to check out the drive line. He tightened the back of the drive shaft and took it for a drive. Nope. Still some clunking. Visual inspection of the wheels showed the spinners and safety wires unchanged. They put the car back on a lift and one of the mechanics happened to bump one of the rear wheels. It was loose. Both were, actually. Without the car on a chassis lift it would have been impossible to figure this one out. While we don't have a definitive answer, the best guess is that the repeated heat cycles of driving and some very hot weather (SoCal) caused the wheels to seat a little deeper on the spindles, resulting in the slight wobble. All fixed now but I will definitiely be checking the car with the wheels off the ground from now on.

John
SPF 2486