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Seanl82

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 10:55 am

Joined: Apr 19, 2017
Posts: 4
Trade Rating: 0

So, I've just introduced myself so here is a little more about the car.
Apologies in advance as it may take some time!

I bought the car in August last year for £210 from ebay. Its a 2003 1.1 LX, auto lights, auto wipers, A/C, leccy window, and 146k on the clock! It was a cheap as chips little commuter that I didn't really care if it would last past the 10 month MOT. The bodywork was/is pretty poor (though I've tidied it up a little). I have however grown quite attached to it! Its been so reliable and takes all the abuse I give it without a grumble.

When I bought it there was no paperwork what so ever. The clutch and exhaust back box and centre section had just been replaced though, and HG had been replaced a couple of years previously (according to the previous owner (though emissions were very good so engine is healthy)) - who was a woman that had owned the car for 8 years. It had just got to the point where it was becoming un-economical to keep repairing the car at MOT time with what it was worth.

On getting the car, I gave it a full service (oil,filter,brake fluid,coolant, cam belt,aux belt, and front pads), which were what I observed it needed for peace of mind.

I've just had it MOT'd and it failed on a few things. I'm relatively handy with a spanner but I didn't want to start prodding around beforehand, as I wanted to know what I had as a base. It failed on a few things, they were;

N/S headlight too low
O/S beam pattern wrong
N/S front strut leaking excessively
Number plate bulb out
2 x front tyres below limit

Advisory for ARB droplinks.

Thought that was pretty good and cheap enough to sort myself especially with GSF constantly having around a 50% sale on, and it would be a budget aftermarket parts throw together.

I've adjusted the N/S headlight, replaced the numberplate bulb, rubbed down with 600 then 1000 wet n dry before polishing both headlights with 3M fast cut plus on a yellow 3M pad - but the beam image still looks way wrong to me. I'll send it back to MOT though as its re-booked for tomorrow when the 2 new tyres get put on. I think it'll fail again though so I've been researching replacement headlight options.

I replaced both front struts (always do in pairs and all that!) with a pair of top mount bearings as well, which was an utter utter nightmare btw and took me about 14 hours in total to do both! I did all 4 corners on my Corrado in 2.5 hours! Anyway, I replaced the drop links whilst I was at it, and I managed to pull a driveshaft out too far when doing the strut so spilt gear oil everywhere, and had to renew that which was an additional expense, and I also knackered one of the ball joints so replaced both lower arms which was another expense.

On further inspection, it seems I've also nicked the inner CV boot so that'll need replacing shortly, and I noticed (how the garage didn't I don't know!) the O/S track rod end is well past its best, and the cat has a small hole as there is a build up of carbon around where the bracket is.
The rear beam looks well past its best as well so I think a refurbed one is on the cards soon too.
These bills are all totting up, and even an aftermarket cat doesn't come cheap. I'm determined to save it from the scrapyard though, even if it costs me twice what I paid in parts alone to get it through!

Just thought I'd share this, as although its not a real project in the usual sense, I can see it being a project to keep it on the road!

Cheers!

Sean

Last edited by Seanl82 on Wed Apr 19, 2017 12:34 pm; edited 1 time in total

VorTechS

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:10 am

Joined: Feb 08, 2010
Posts: 2369
Trade Rating: +15
Location: Gloucestershire, UK

Welcome. Sounds a bit like my project, although you are already ahead of me in terms of what you know about cars!

Front lights are nice and easy to replace though (as I'm sure you know), and you should be able to pick up a decent set pretty cheap fairly readily if they fail again. Given the rear beam is such a problem, I'm still thinking about refurbishing the one I just took off mine, there's a particularly good video online about doing it. Plenty of nightmare stories out there of refurbed ones only lasting 12 months, which is why I just picked up a carcass and swapped out the axle. Of course, there's nothing saying that's not likely to go in the next 12 months!

Next time you're doing something, feel free to take and upload some pics. it could be handy for people like me who are on steep learning curves to have as a handy reference!

Seanl82

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 12:41 pm

Joined: Apr 19, 2017
Posts: 4
Trade Rating: 0

Cheers mate. Will get some pics next time I promise. There are a few guides on Youtube, and I've got a haynes manual which always comes in handy although the pics aren't that good in there.
My rear axle is pretty shocking where it meets the strut, which is why I think I'll have to replace it.
A refurbished axle will probably have to do, though I have some epoxy paint www.rust.co.uk/epoxy-m...nt/c28117/ which I'm doing my Corrado running gear with, so I'll slap it on top of the refurb axle to ensure it doesn't die in short order.

gazza82

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 7:38 am

Joined: Jun 19, 2010
Posts: 1600
Trade Rating: +4
Location: South Bucks

Check the bulb is in properly in the O/S lamp. We have after-market headlights after some tw@t backed into ours and cracked both and one was a right pig to get the bulb to seat properly.


	Down to just the 1.4 HDi. Cayman Green 2.0i CC sold.

Seanl82

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 12:44 pm

Joined: Apr 19, 2017
Posts: 4
Trade Rating: 0

Cheers gazza. It wasn't that unfortunately though. Tried to align the other side by eye last night and it was obvious that the O/S was knackered even after polishing the lens. Thought I'd have to have a 30 mile drive to the nearest scrappy for a used one. Whilst having my tyres fitted though I had a walk round and stumbled on a garage/breakers! As luck would have it, they had a replacement so £10 later I was all good! Re-test was 30 minutes ago and passed with one advisory which I'd forgotten about! Corrosion around brake servo but not considered excessive. Previous owner used to park it under a tree. As mentioned previously it was a mess when I bought it, and I pulled a ton of leaf litter from around the scuttle. Pretty sure this was the cause as the corrosion is below the servo, and just above the chassis leg where there was quite a bit of damp foliage originally. I'll get a wire wheel on it, get some rust remedy on and give it a quick lick of paint. It's not urgent though so I'll do that in my own time.
Thanks for all the suggestions and comments, much appreciated!

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