Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: ronnies_brother on 17 November 2007, 17:22:08

Title: Last post from me
Post by: ronnies_brother on 17 November 2007, 17:22:08
Hi everyone again. Last post from me I am afraid. I am off back to South Africa tomorrow and won't be back on here then. I thought I would give you one last update on Ronnie.

He changed the engine on his wife's focus. 4 days later and the timing belt slipped and it destroyed 8 valves and 2 pistons. So, Ronnie being Ronnie bought another (his 3rd) engine hoist, located another engine and promptly changed it in 7 hours flat. bear in mind that to get the egine in/out of a ford Focus, you have to remove the whole front of the car - Bumper, bumper iron, slam panel, all rads, all wiring harnesses etc. On completion this bugger would not start. He tried everything and finally stumbled on what it was. The focus engine is the same in every respect whether it is fitted to a manual or auto... EXCEPT for the crankshaft sensor housing, which is ATX or MTX dependent. In a nutshell this meant removing the engine and box, splitting them, removing the flywheel, removing the rogue cranshaft sensor housing and fitting the correct ATX one, then reassembly. Started immediately. Hat's off to Ronnie. I would have taken a large hammer to that car by now.

Result? He now has a rather nice Focus worth about £5k that owes him £2200. It would have been less, but he broke one £375 engine!

I know his Vauxhall Omega 2.5 Estate CDX is now up for sale and so is his Corsa CDTi. Last time I mentioned his cars, he swore a bit and promissed to never buy another  ****ing Vauxhall.

Anyway, there you go. Flight in the morning and then I am back to some proper weather. I hate to say it, but I am going back to the start of the summer at home and tempertaure today was 28c. Nice to be a small part of this place for a week or two. Seems like a nice bunch of fellas on here and once again, thanks for supporting my brother over the last year or two. I am sworn to not say, but he has been through hell and back with his health and if you knew what was actually wrong at the time you would be astonished that he even kept going. As said in a previous post by me, that is all over now and he only has his back to whinge about.

So, so long everyone. have a great Christmas and a healthy and prosperous new year.

Cheers
Al.
Title: Re: Last post from me
Post by: Auto Addict on 17 November 2007, 17:24:47
Been nice knowing you, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you :y
Title: Re: Last post from me
Post by: MikeDundee on 17 November 2007, 17:26:26
All the best and have a safe journey :y
Title: Re: Last post from me
Post by: Kevin Wood on 17 November 2007, 17:31:55
Quote
Hi everyone again. Last post from me I am afraid. I am off back to South Africa

I'm not jealous, honest  >:( Spent a very nice 3 weeks in and around Cape Town last year - our honeymoon. A lovely part of the world.

Quote
He tried everything and finally stumbled on what it was. The focus engine is the same in every respect whether it is fitted to a manual or auto... EXCEPT for the crankshaft sensor housing, which is ATX or MTX dependent. In a nutshell this meant removing the engine and box, splitting them, removing the flywheel,

Ah, that old chestnut. The same for the Zetec petrol engine. Automatic driveplate places the timing marks in a slightly different position and you get no signal with the wrong sensor housing. The sensor housings are slightly different and it's an engine out job to change them. Been there, done that!  ::)

Well, have a good trip back, AL. Thanks for the update on Ronnie and wish him all the best.  :y

Kevin
Title: Re: Last post from me
Post by: Elite Pete on 17 November 2007, 17:32:48
All the best Al
Title: Re: Last post from me
Post by: Entwood on 17 November 2007, 17:54:33
Take care .. and if you get the chance .. wish Ronnie all the best for me .. :)
Title: Re: Last post from me
Post by: STMO123 on 17 November 2007, 18:02:22
Cheers Al. All the best to your jammy rugby team :y
Title: Re: Last post from me
Post by: TheBoy on 17 November 2007, 18:11:34
Have a safe trip, and stay safe in SA Al :y

Give my regards to Ronnie :)
Title: Re: Last post from me
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 17 November 2007, 18:25:12
Al the best Fin Al... ::)
Title: Re: Last post from me
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 17 November 2007, 18:25:40
Quote
Al the best Fin Al... ::)

Don't mince your words Mark...  :P
Title: Re: Last post from me
Post by: Danny on 17 November 2007, 18:40:08
Quote
Hi everyone again. Last post from me I am afraid. I am off back to South Africa tomorrow and won't be back on here then. I thought I would give you one last update on Ronnie.

He changed the engine on his wife's focus. 4 days later and the timing belt slipped and it destroyed 8 valves and 2 pistons. So, Ronnie being Ronnie bought another (his 3rd) engine hoist, located another engine and promptly changed it in 7 hours flat. bear in mind that to get the egine in/out of a ford Focus, you have to remove the whole front of the car - Bumper, bumper iron, slam panel, all rads, all wiring harnesses etc. On completion this bugger would not start. He tried everything and finally stumbled on what it was. The focus engine is the same in every respect whether it is fitted to a manual or auto... EXCEPT for the crankshaft sensor housing, which is ATX or MTX dependent. In a nutshell this meant removing the engine and box, splitting them, removing the flywheel, removing the rogue cranshaft sensor housing and fitting the correct ATX one, then reassembly. Started immediately. Hat's off to Ronnie. I would have taken a large hammer to that car by now.

Result? He now has a rather nice Focus worth about £5k that owes him £2200. It would have been less, but he broke one £375 engine!


I know his Vauxhall Omega 2.5 Estate CDX is now up for sale and so is his Corsa CDTi. Last time I mentioned his cars, he swore a bit and promissed to never buy another  ****ing Vauxhall.

Anyway, there you go. Flight in the morning and then I am back to some proper weather. I hate to say it, but I am going back to the start of the summer at home and tempertaure today was 28c. Nice to be a small part of this place for a week or two. Seems like a nice bunch of fellas on here and once again, thanks for supporting my brother over the last year or two. I am sworn to not say, but he has been through hell and back with his health and if you knew what was actually wrong at the time you would be astonished that he even kept going. As said in a previous post by me, that is all over now and he only has his back to whinge about.

So, so long everyone. have a great Christmas and a healthy and prosperous new year.

Cheers
Al.

good to see he's taking it easy then ::) ;D

have a good flight back :D
Title: Re: Last post from me
Post by: Crazydad on 17 November 2007, 18:50:27
All the best Al, thanks for keeping us posted, Good work on the Rover Fin :y :y
Title: Re: Last post from me
Post by: Nickbat on 17 November 2007, 19:08:56
Have a safe journey and good luck.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  :y