Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: johnh001 on 11 April 2009, 21:58:36

Title: Newbie to Migs
Post by: johnh001 on 11 April 2009, 21:58:36
Hi all,
Just been given a 2000 2.0 16v facelift auto saloon mig thats been sitting on the guys drive for 2 years ( long story but the garage he traded it in to never picked it up and that was 2 years ago  :D )

Managed to get into the car eventualy (deadlocked and locks seized up ) and got her started.

Spent 2 days cleaning and polishing it all up and now looks ace ( still got another 2 days cleaning of the interior to do though  :( )

Took her in for the MOT today and failed  :( and that was with taking dougnuts for the lads  ;)

2 x rear springs broken, n/s/f tyre down to cords on inner edge ( does pull to the left so hoping its only tracking ) and a washer jet blocked (should have checked them before going ) Oh and was told the front brake pads are ultra low.

I noticed when I left the MOT station that the revs kept dropping off and dieing when coming to a stand still. If i dropped it into neutral and keeping the revs up on throttle then it wouldnt die. Was fine on the way there though which seamed a little odd. At one point the revs were raising and dropping on their own.

Now after reading 40 or so pages of the forum  :o I guess the best place to start is the breathers and Idle valve. How do you clean out the idle valve and is it a knuckle bleeder to get to?

2nd question is where is the best place to get springs? Im on a serious (low) budget so cant afford silly prices. Anyone got a pair kicking around thats not a million miles away from Romford?

I need to get all these things sorted by next weekend so could do with sourcing the bits quickly ( just my luck that nothing is open over the easter weekend grrrrrrrr )

Makes note to speak to VX dealer about a TC ( work for Wolfarce  :D )

All in all i like the car and its a step in the right direction from the Vectra we just gave to the mother in law  :P

Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated  :y


Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: Agemo on 11 April 2009, 22:05:05
GIVEN??? Brill, you will fit in here nicely. Have a look in the "How to's", you will find the cleaning instructions there.  Cheapest springs will be from a scrappy, there will be more stuff to be had when you see it in the scrapyard. Not a great list of failures there. Welcome to the club.      :y
Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: djm1964 on 11 April 2009, 22:08:59
Hi and welcome to the forum  :y
Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: mark.adams on 12 April 2009, 09:35:39
Great start and welcome to the best Omega Forum on the net.
There's a huge load of how-to's on here so dig in and keep us informed of how you're getting on.
Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: johnh001 on 12 April 2009, 10:13:03
Thanks for the welcome peeps  :)

Been browsing through the site for what seems like weeks and found loads of usefull info ( although some of the pics in the maintenance section seem to be missing )

Going to get started on it next week as cant get any bits this weekend  :( been hunting around for springs flebay but will try the local factors when they are open.

Fitted most of the in car entertainment system ( wasnt that fun getting looms etc through the bulkhead and up under the dash  >:( )

Still goto decide what rims to fit but dare say it will end up with something a little bigger  ;)

Will try and post some pics when i get a chance.
Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: TheBoy on 12 April 2009, 13:34:55
revs - clean ICV, nice and easy :)

tyre wear - sadly, that won't be tracking, that will be camber - you need full geometry done on it - I recommend http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk and mention this site :). Or PM wheels-inmotion who is a member here :y

Springs, again easy enough, good guide in Maintenence Guides section, but you do need to lower subframe.

Brakes, again, nothing difficult :y
Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: johnh001 on 12 April 2009, 17:03:24
Quote
revs - clean ICV, nice and easy :)

So speak to the local vicar then?  ;)

It was fine when I left home and for about 30 miles ( I did try and give it a good clear out officer  ;D ) but it was when i left there that it started to play up.

Wonder if i dislodged some poop. Maybe another good thrashing will help  ::)

Brakes i dont have a problem with. Just a little unsure of teh rear springs. Guy at the MOT station said it was just drop the shock and they pull out and push back in. Me thinks he was telling me porkies  :(
Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: TheBoy on 12 April 2009, 18:30:55
Quote
Quote
revs - clean ICV, nice and easy :)

So speak to the local vicar then?  ;)

It was fine when I left home and for about 30 miles ( I did try and give it a good clear out officer  ;D ) but it was when i left there that it started to play up.

Wonder if i dislodged some poop. Maybe another good thrashing will help  ::)

Brakes i dont have a problem with. Just a little unsure of teh rear springs. Guy at the MOT station said it was just drop the shock and they pull out and push back in. Me thinks he was telling me porkies  :(
He is telling porkies.  See Maintenece Guides section of this site, Marks DTM Calib did a good guide on how to change springs - dead easy :y

ICV = Idle Control Valve, give a good clean, then lube with a small drop of light lube
Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: johnh001 on 13 April 2009, 21:00:48
Thanks for the tips guys  :y

I couldnt get any parts over the weekend so thought I would have a go at the breathers and ICV and see if that sorted the stalling and idle problems.

I followed the write up in the mainenence section and it was spot on. The ICv was filthy and also the air valve in the manifold was clogged up solid.

One thing i did notice is that if you remove the throttle body it make getting to that valve a whole lot easier. Re assembly was simple without the throttlwe body there. Gave me a chance to give that a good clean up at the same time.

I would sugest that someone adds the recomendation of removing the throttle body in the write up. I think without removal I would have struggled like mad (big hands and fingers  ;D ). Besides its good maintenence to give the throttle body a good clean anyway IMO  :)

All in all it now runs as sweet as a nut and no idle problems or stalling. Thanks again to those in the know  :y

Will keep you posted on the other faults as and when I get them sorted  8-)
Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: jjleonard on 13 April 2009, 21:15:55
Just to add my two cents - if the n/s/f tyre is wearing on the inside edge then I reckon you need a new steering idler - £30 off fleabay and about an hour to replace.

Rear springs - I got mine from buypartsby (http://www.buypartsby.co.uk), at £35 each (KYB RJ6227, but they were rear springs for a facelift saloon with self levelling suspension). Took me about six hours to fit, but that was my first crack at doing them (following Marks DTM's guide) and included popping out to buy spring compressors halfway through (you WILL need them!).

Parts are cheap, the work is easy to do, and you have a FREE car! Nice one, mate! :y

Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: johnh001 on 14 April 2009, 21:16:39
Managed to order all the bits i need now. got a full service kit coming, front pads and sensors and the dreaded rear springs.

Managed to get KYB's for £25 each plus Vat ( and the factors I use had them on the shelf  :y )

So as of tomorrow evening at about 6.30 pm you will hear the air go blue in Romford im sure lol
Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: johnh001 on 14 April 2009, 21:18:05
Just for the record I did try VX for the springs and they wanted £280 a pair  :-?

They wonder why Motor factors do so well  ;D
Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: jjleonard on 14 April 2009, 21:57:47
Quote
Just for the record I did try VX for the springs and they wanted £280 a pair  :-?

They wonder why Motor factors do so well  ;D

The only thing recommended to be VX brand is front discs and pads. And oil. and camcover gaskets. Apart from that, VX tend to screw the everyday Mig owner.  >:(
Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: johnh001 on 16 April 2009, 23:23:08
Well just got in from fitting the rear springs ( hoping for the MOT re test tomorrow ).

I must say that the 2.0 16v 2000 facelift saloon looks nothing like that shown on the "maintenence" Pages. it would appear to be a completly different set up and was a real pleasure to do NOT  ;D

If it was light I would have taken some pics and tried my own right up but then I know I would have had to leave out all the swear words and the throwing parts at next doors dog bits out.

All in all its job done. With the help of spring compressors, crow bars, huge amounts of brute force and ignorance and ending up standing on the hub to get it down far enough its all done.

So new tyre, front pads and a full service in the morning and she should be ready to roll. Fingers crossed for the MOT  :y
Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: Richard148 on 16 April 2009, 23:28:29
welcome jon001 to the best omega forum out there. enjoy :y :y :y
Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: Turk on 17 April 2009, 00:15:02

Check the wishbones.
I had a full geometric two weeks ago and the car is still pulling slightly to the left. I have my suspicions that it's a worn front bush on the l/h wishbone. I changed them when I bought the car about two years ago and that would tie in with the time scale they usually last me.

Had a similar issue during a geometric set up a few years ago. The car was spot on when I took it out to test it and once the brakes had been applied the tracking would be out by a fair bit. Jacked the car up and let it down again and the tracking was spot on again. Only out when the weight bias was to the front under braking. New wishbones sorted that out.

Does anyone have the dimensions of the front bush ?
I'd like to get poly-bushes made up. I had kept the old wishbones intending to get the dimensions but just can't find them.
Title: Re: Newbie to Migs
Post by: Turk on 17 April 2009, 01:55:49
Quote
Just to add my two cents - if the n/s/f tyre is wearing on the inside edge then I reckon you need a new steering idler - £30 off fleabay and about an hour to replace.

Rear springs - I got mine from buypartsby (http://www.buypartsby.co.uk), at £35 each (KYB RJ6227, but they were rear springs for a facelift saloon with self levelling suspension). Took me about six hours to fit, but that was my first crack at doing them (following Marks DTM's guide) and included popping out to buy spring compressors halfway through (you WILL need them!).

Parts are cheap, the work is easy to do, and you have a FREE car! Nice one, mate! :y


I dropped the diff slightly. The springs will then go in without compression.
With the car on axle stands, put a jack underneath the diff for support and to control the lowering and raising. If I remember right, there are four bolts securing the diff and something rings a bell about disconnecting abs leads. If all goes to plan, shocks and springs should be comfortably done in an hour and a half.
 :y