Delivery issues and fuse box plan

Maybe it is a good thing to lack insights into how the UPS customs Department functions. Otherwise, I might completely freak out about the fact that the package with the spares for the Mini 40 project is being held back since Dec 9th – without any communication.

The tracking info said that the receiver has been contacted and an additional entry that the package has been cleared. The tracking information on Dec 9th was then updated with Dec 12th as delivery date. Both my email and phone number are on the waybill but they never contacted me.

I stopped counting on how many times I called UPS “customer support” since Dec 12th. The date changed to the 14th – then to Dec 16th and finally just to “on its way”. Every time I asked what the problem was – I was told that somebody would contact me. Finally, today after another call, this callback occurred, and I was told that they need the invoice and proof of payment. I provided this right away today but find this ridiculous as MiniSport always puts the invoice in an envelope on the package. In addition – this was ordered via a company with EORI number, and the details electronically transferred.

The new PVC tape, a PVM controller for the heater and some additional wire colors I ordered are also still missing. The only item that I got today was the new fuse box. It is a cheap plastic box for 12 blade fuses and 4 relays – which are part of the package. My initial idea was to extend the old fuse box mounting bracket and put it on top. But as you can see from the pictures below – it would stick out into the engine bay quite a bit. A bit too much for my taste – therefore the entire fuse box mounting bracket will be changed. Maggie has a small 4 blade fuse box in the same location from the Frontline upgrades. I wasn’t too bothered with Maggie’s cabling in the past – but looking at it now makes me realize that I want this much cleaner in Mildred.

Changing the bracket and keeping the location is ideal because only minimal cabling changes are required to replace the existing fuse box as well as the inline fuse from the ignition switch to the wipe and heater motor switch. The inline radio fuse (coming from the heater motor switch) would be the next. Even though I wanted to get rid of all inline fuses – I now consider leaving the one in front of the Hazard Warning Flasher unit – at least I will sleep about this for a few nights.

Ok – so the current fuse box plan looks like this:

Wait – did I say that the new fuse box has space for 12 fuses only? Well, it does but it turns out that the box is “modular”. As I will leave the starter relay outside the box, I only need 2 relays – well, three if I do switch to a heated windscreen someday. So, if I had the correct inserts – I could add 15 fuses and 3 relays.

Getting rid of the dirty old PVC tape took a bit more than an hour – another hour was spent checking connections. Next task is to clean and check the rear part of the loom. And maybe I should also fetch the dashboard – after all I am switching from RHD to LHD and this will require further cabling changes….