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31

General Car Chat / Rover 200 Head Gasket

« on: 21 June 2011, 12:55:58 »

Hey - after some advice on whether it's worth trying to fix up a 1.4 '98 Rover 200.  Garage diagnosed head gasket (it's well down on power and steam out the exhaust - sniffer test confirmed.

Anyone done a headgasket on a 200 before?  Garage have quoted 500 quid for the job - that sounds expensive to me (especially since I'm quite prepared to get my hands dirty).  I've seen the kits on the auction site for about 40-50 quid, so how much labour is involved?

Thanks in advance!

32

General Car Chat / Removing a rounded hex bolt

« on: 06 March 2011, 11:18:56 »

I've got a problem I need to solve today.  There's a 6mm hex bolt (male drive) which currently attaches my front brake caliper on my Polo.  Whoever has been in there before has made a right mess of rounding the thing out.  What are my options to remove it?  I do have access to welding equipment, but that seems extreme.  I've thought about grinding flats on to attempt getting a spanner on.

Just about had enough of this car - bought as a cheap runner and it's turned into a money pit.  Alternator, two wheel bearings, gearbox appears to be an issue (bloody clunky gear shifts), discs/pads.. and more.

May not be a problem soon as I may just have to give up and rent somewhere closer to work during the week given the current trend of petrol prices.  *sigh*  - one of those days...

33

General Car Chat / Charging Problems

« on: 08 January 2011, 14:27:05 »

My Polo has already run into problems (I do seem to pick 'em).  12.6v on the battery with engine off, drops to 11.5v with engine on.  Measuring the alternator and it's not putting out more than 11.8v.  What's the diagnosis?  I'm thinking new alternator.

It happened on the way home from work yesterday, I changed gear(5th to 4th) and simultaneously the battery light appeared on the dash.  It stayed there for about 10 minutes and then everything came back (lights brightened, battery light out).  About 4 minutes after that we're back to normal.  The only thing I could think of at the time is that it's the first time I've driven it through hard rain so perhaps water had something to do with it.

Bit annoyed now.  This is the third car in a row that's likely to cost me money through faults that occur within a week after purchase.   

34

General Car Chat / VW Polo Clutch

« on: 30 December 2010, 16:13:41 »

Seasons greetings!   

It's cold outside, which in my book usually means that there's something needs doing to a car.  I've now abandoned my Corsa, or rather pushed it further up the drive, and taken on a diesel polo estate.  I think it's going to need a new clutch in the near'ish' future - gears are stiff (not the clutch).  Anyone ever attempted clutch change on a polo?  Was wondering what sort of tools I'd need to get hold of apart from my fairly standard set of spanners/sockets.

It's just over 100,000, and on a 1.9D (non-turbo) seemed reasonable.  Only one other owner from new on the logbook.  It's got the usual VW lock issue which I've just ordered a repair kit for but seems otherwise in good nick.  Will be becoming my commute-mobile for the year so would like to sort out the stiff gear change.  I think it's a bit easier when it's cold than hot which is why I'm thinking clutch and not the pedal box issue which I know some of these are troubled with.

I'd ask on a VW forum, but after looking around them I still think there's loads of mechanical knowledge and friendlier advice on here.

35

General Car Chat / Corsa Trouble

« on: 30 November 2010, 12:36:01 »

Well I think my Corsa's finally died.  Started up on Sunday and a torrent of oil and water poured out under the car.  I got it up onto ramps to have a look and noticed that where it had been parked were two small silver discs - a bit like a jam jar lid, but one being the size of a 5p piece and the other about three times the size.  The bigger had deposits similar to years of coolant and the other was clean as a whistle.
My thought are that these used to belong in the block somewhere, but they've been blown out - anyone ever seen anything like this before?  Think I may have to get another small motor to commute in but may spend some time stripping this one down just to see where they've come from.

36

General Car Chat / Batteries

« on: 02 May 2010, 23:18:27 »

Whereabouts would folk recommend getting new batteries from?  Got 8v reading across mine, so think it may be time for a new'un. 

Lost count of the times it's been jumped, charged, etc  and after a 45 min run with nigh on 13v reading across as soon as I switched off it dropped back down to 8v.  Now my car electrics are worse than my mechanics, but I reckon the alternator's fine, but the batteries knackered, unless something's taking a hell of a current somewhere that's draining the thing as fast as it could charge?  :-/

37

General Car Chat / Passed!

« on: 27 April 2010, 20:49:49 »

After a failed MOT a few weeks ago the Jag has been stood on the drive as I contemplated it's fate.  The garage had quoted £1600 to get her back on the road, and that just didn't seem at all like viable economics to me.
Thanks to this forum where I've quietly watched many people sort their cars with the support from those in the know, and through my tinkering with the two omegas that I've had, I decided to have a go myself.
Car has just passed today after a couple of days spent wrestling the suspension and brakes into working order.  Total cost?  £280

The garage were quite suprised to see the car again, but not as happy as I was to not have to give them £1600 quid! 

Happy spannering everyone!

38

General Car Chat / Brake Caliper bits

« on: 11 April 2010, 00:16:24 »

I've got calipers that sieze every now and again, and it's because there's a rubber boot missing on the calipers where the sliding pins emerge from the carrier.  I know this because they're missing on one caliper and in a crap state on the other.  Being rubber I'd expect these to be known to wear out and it to be possible to replace them, but I've looked all over and wondered if anyone knew of any specialist companies that are involved in caliper refurbishment that may sell individual components.

Spent two hours removing one of the sliding pins from the rear caliper on the Jag (took a lot of penetrating fluid, gas stove, angle grinder, spanners and a vice to get one of them out).  100 quid for new caliper, yet it's only the rubber bellow cover thing that's missing/knackered.

Can't remember if these even exist on the Omega brakes...

39

General Car Chat / Car jobs this weekend

« on: 03 April 2010, 19:43:31 »

I'm trying to get my Jag S-Type prepped to go back throught the MOT.  It only had a few 'ahem' minor jobs.

It's got double wishbone suspension I think (so top arm and bottom arm) and the lower ball joints failed on both front.  Spent a long time wrestling with bolts that were done up incredibly tight.  Resorted to resting the spanner on the jack head and raising it a bit at a time to get going on two of them  :-?

Lower rear wishbone removed this afternoon just in time for it to rain, so tools away and start again tomorrow.

Just read all the torques that Jaguar recommend and my Torque wrench only goes up to 50Nm - they're asking for 150Nm for each bolt that holds the suspension together!  That's f'in tight!

Got the upper rear wishbone on the other side to do when that arrives too - and that needs the hub to removed which is supposed to be at 410Nm.

I can't afford another torque wrench at the minute, so they'll just be getting a treatment of loctite and then done up (on the ground) as tight as I can get them.  I reckon if my back, elbow or shoulder goes 'click' then that'll be tight enough 

Still, quite a satisfying day all in all... now sat with beer and curry and looks like the kids might even go to bed on time 

40

General Car Chat / Balls

« on: 23 March 2010, 22:20:06 »

Not the hairy kind but the steel ones found in lower suspension arms.

I'm looking at changing the lower ball joint on my s-Type to get it back through the MOT but I've read on the not so helpful jag forum and they need pressing out and new ones pressing back in.  Does anyone know anywhere in the midlands I could take the arms to that would be willing to do the change?  I'm thinking more along the lines of engineering firm rather than garages...

41

General Car Chat / Mot Doom

« on: 19 March 2010, 08:01:11 »

Finally stuck my Jag in for an MOT and spent all day yesterday crossing my fingers.

I'd put it in asking for an MOT and oil change, so they merrily went about the oil change before the MOT, and then as they went through the MOT when they came across something they didn't like they had a go at changing it.  My indicators weren't 'orange' enough for their liking, and a wiper blade apparently wasn't up to scratch, so they've replaced them.

Got the phone call at about 4pm with a list that went on forever.  Rear wishbones, rear upper arm, front ball joints, both rear callipers...  bill to get her back on the road would be 1600 quid.  The car had no advisories last year!

Since they changed the oil and replaced bits as they went I've got a bill for over a hundred quid just for putting in for MOT    If they'd done the MOT first then called me then I'd perhaps have not bothered with the Oil change just yet - it might just be going the distance if that's the cost to repair.

And as he rounded off the conversation, the bit that's really got me annoyed was that the MOT tester's said that if you're going to get rid of it then he'll give me 500 quid for the car, because he likes the number plate.  It's on a private plate - I bought it like that and have no real attachment to it at all. 

I just feel like that cars had that extra bit of scrutiny and been through a harsh MOT because the MOT man's taken a shine to the no. plate.  And these days, with everything being computerised I can't take it elsewhere for a second shot at the MOT.

Still, I've had a look around for bits and I reckon I can get her back on the road for about 500 quid and a weekends work.

Trying to talk SWMBO in to car loan and using the scrappage scheme against something.  With the amount I'm paying to keep motoring these days I think it'd be almost cheaper  :-/

42

General Car Chat / Corsa Control Arms/Balljoints

« on: 18 August 2009, 23:04:04 »

Hello my car fixing friends   (Can you tell I'm crawling yet?)

I'm after replacing the ball joints (guide joints) and control arms on my lowly Corsa 1.7D (96), but not sure exactly the part numbers and cost at the stealers.  I don't suppose there's anyone with a parts list for these (and even better a rough idea of what to expect from VX?)

I've seen a couple of genuine VX bits on fleabay so might go with those, but I've not got the part number for the exact control arms and balljoints that are on my car.

Thanks in advance for any replies (nice ones with part numbers please  )

43

General Car Chat / Corsa 1.7D

« on: 02 August 2009, 23:04:41 »

hi all - I've got hold of a diesel corsa to make my commute more financially viable, but I've just parked up on the drive with the front wheels turned on full lock.  A quick glance at them showed considerable wear on the inside edge.  If this was one of my omegas I'd have been looking for new wishbones - but this little FWD thing seems to have a different setup.  Anyone had any experience with these?
I think I'll be looking at changing some bushes somewhere in the front suspension (possibly a lower control arm) but not entirely sure.

44

General Car Chat / VX 1.7D Cambelt

« on: 27 June 2009, 22:19:35 »

I'm considering getting a second motor, a little VX Corsa with a 1.7D engine, but I'm unsure of the cambelt history so if I do take the plunge with the car it's the first job on the list - but how big would it be?  I've tried to find a bit out on the web but without much luck, other than there's some kits on eBay which include the tensioner (so I guess that's a common replacement to make when changing belts).

Has anyone done one of these?  Any ideas on the pitfalls - and would I need any cam locking tool of any kind?

Appreciate any helpful advice!!

45

General Discussion Area / Good Save...

« on: 10 June 2011, 13:28:41 »

Can't work out how to embed the video... but this is an incredible 'moment'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jSYiU-JdRw

[media]http://youtu.be/9jSYiU-JdRw?hd=1[/media]