Its MOT time, well it was at the start of Nov - just getting it done now. Took it to a garage for a quick once over before paying for a proper MOT and he said that my steering rack was away. There is noticeable play in it (left to right slight turns), with a knock coming from low down (hard to identify where). I don't want to go swapping out the rack if its a common UJ or bearing issue, also have play in the bottom ball joint of the offside front, and a little play in on the nearside front. Could the ballpoints be causing the play, or is it likely to be the whole rack too, if so how hard is it to retro fit power steering on a manual steering 8v.
Now the solenoid, I was having starting issues, and I pinned it down to a dodgy solenoid, got a new one fitted, but have still been having trouble getting her going (battery keeps going flat, straight after the car starting fine). Its not the alt or bat. Anyway, I started the car fine today, pulled it onto the ramps to fit my exhaust, went to start it again - and nothing...completely flat. So I hookup my mains booster, and with the key OUT the ignition, the engine starts cranking, very slowly, barely completing a revolution in 3s, and the starter is struggling like hell to move. So I pull the IGN leads off the solenoid and turn on the booster again, and it was still doing it - with just the 12v battery feed, so it must have been stuck engaged. Took off the 12v, put it back on, turned on the booster, nothing, started the car with the key, and it was fine.
Is it the starter or faulty solenoid or what here, its no good the car starting fine, then I drive for 20mins, stop the car, and the battery is completely flat.
