Reg Nutsack's TOP TEN 2-LITRE BEATERS - NEW BEATER CHIN SCRATCHING

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Thanks KOBBLAZ, must admit I was hoping you'd clock in here. I think you might be right about the resistor in the clocks. the problem seems to miraculously go away on a long drive (when the interior gets properly warm) so it could be related to that. I think I will try to return this new alternator to GSF first of all then maybe try to actually solve the problem.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

No-one's seen any decent pics of this car yet so here are a couple.

 

 

 

Been a remarkably painless experience so far for a £200 car!!!! Massive boot too - ideal car for someone who's moving out of his house in a hurry I found.

[KruJoe]

What? Has the long-suffering Ms_Ballz finally kicked you out?

 

It's a handsome little bus, and no mistake. And almost in the same league as the Daihatsu Applause for hatchback-pretending-to-be-a-saloon-ish-ness.

 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I’m not gelling with this car at all sadly. It’s a shame as it looks mint and is totally unmolested, but it has a few electrical niggles which are chapping my ass big time and spolinig the ownership experience.

 

• Electric windows only going down not up. I’ve had a look at this once, stripped the drivers door down but I couldn’t find any problems in there, checked the wire at the notorious a-pillar junction and all looked OK although I didn’t open up the wiring loom and check every individual strand. I have taken to basically not using the windows which has been fine during the cold weather but now its starting to really grate. So recently I started opening them and accepting that if I want to close them I have to get out and use the door key. This is OK, but then a couple of times that has closed all the windows except the drivers one. Closing everything from the passenger door lock also works except that again sometimes the drivers window just will not close. Yesterday I took the door apart (again) and inspected the wiring (again) and failed to find a fault (again) but I am convinced there is a fault inside the door somewhere. Faffing about with the door wiring encouraged the window to close eventually. Its hassle you just don’t need though.
•  
• Radio doesn’t work – no code. Eventually I found the code written in the handbook, tried it and the radio lit up. Still no sound though, on closer inspection the roof-mounted aerial is buggered. I took the aerial base off and scoured eBay – inevitably theres billions of universal aerials on there but they all seem to have the wring plugs on the co-ax cable the opposite way round to mine for some reason. Theres one guy selling what looks like exactly the right part for £14 (secondhand, removed from a Mk3 golf) which seems a bit on the salty side but I don’t have any better ideas.
•  
• The charging light is on. This gave me no end of stress when I thought the alternator was kippered. Eventually I worked out that the alternator was fine and that the light is just a problem with the clocks. The ABS light comes on dimly at the same time, making this fault an MOT fail even though I’m quite certain the alternator and the ABS are working OK. Sometimes after a long drive when some warmth gets into the clocks both lights go out and function properly for the rest of the day, but that doesn’t happen very often. Occasionally a good WALLOP to the dash top can also restore function to these lights, can’t be doing that too often though. So I took the clocks out with the intention of inspecting the PCB on the back of the clocks and re-soldering any dodgy looking joints. I got it all out then discovered that you need a microscopic torx bit to open the clocks up, I haven’t got one of those I had to put it all back together unfixed which is how it remains.

 

Now I know as a shiter that you have to put up with silly foibles when you drive old bangers. But IMO a charging light is obligatory as are windows that go down and up, and a radio is not much to ask either, and I have none of these. Its not good enough but I have failed to make any progress at fixing any of these faults despite some moderate efforts.

 

On the upside it has been utterly reliable, it drives perfectly, is fast and economical (got an indicated 48mpg average on one granddad-style journey!!!) and doesn’t look too embarrassing parked outside the new Ms_Nutsack’s flat which is important.

 

However seeing as I only gave £225 for it and its probably worth £125 on the scales I think as soon as I rustle up some other wheels its probably going to get weighed or offered for weighbridge money. I’m just not feeling it.

[cobblers]

BOLLOX MAN, don't bridge it. My mate needs an engine and I need a gearbox out of one of these, let me know what you'd want for it even with the rims etc. I quite fancy it as a car for myself but I don't think I have the coin.

 

EDIT: New ms nutsack? you don't fuppin hang about kiddo!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

NEW BEATER PURCHASED!!!

 

 

Just been and bought this Primera GT that was for sale on the blue forum. I have fancied one of these for a while but they dont seem to come up that often and when they do they are always more than the £200 or so max that I like to spend on a car. Anyway this one was only 18 miles from my work so went to have a look. Why not eh. It took 1 hour to get there due to classic UK traffic management so by the time I arrived I was blue in the face with anger and in no mood to buy a car. However the seller offered me a cup of tea which basically allowed me to get back in the zone psychologically.

 

I had already made my mind up that I was not going to buy this car unless it was better than I had expected. Well, I bought it. It needs welded at the back end of one sill and on the rear seatbelt mount on the other side. But it looks quite do-able and I cant see a lot of other grief, apart from some mildly butchered stereo wiring and a lousy rust repair on one front wing. The engine sounds lovely and despite having 110k on the clock there is NOT A SPOT OF OIL on the outside of engine, for someone brought up on Rovers this is extraordinary, how do they manage to keep it all inside? Witchcraft man.

 

Lanky tim has offered to help me A-frame it back but it seems to run and drive champion, the tyres are all decent and (I think) all the lights work so I am debating whether to just get a days insurance and drive it back. Its 60 miles to my workshop with no tax or MOT but if I'm insured whats the worst that can happen? Undecided.

[garethj]

Sounds like the Seat is giving you the full Lotus experience with electrics, without the Lotus benefits. As you know, selling it will bring out the mouth breathers at that kind of money, that's the only problem.

 

Congratulations on the new Ms_Bo11 and Primera, hopefully goes well and looks alright too, if the maintenance isn't too onerous. And so on, and so forth

[DeeJay]

Days insurance as you say and book it in for an MOT by your workshop.

Car mysteriously breaks down as you drive past said workshop.

Cancel MOT.

[HillmanImp]

Say you are taking to a garage for MOT work, you don't actually need an pre booked MOT. All you need to is have a mate willing to say that you are booked in for him to repair it.

 

https://www.gov.uk/rules-drivers-motorcyclists-89-to-102/motor-vehicle-documentation-and-learner-driver-requirements

 

 

You MUST NOT drive a motor vehicle without an MOT certificate when it should have one. Exceptionally, you may drive to a pre-arranged test appointment or to a garage for repairs required for the test.

 

I am not sure if that is only after the car has failed its MOT (once again it might be a bit of a legal grey area) but if you keep a copy of this page on you I am sure it will be sufficient for your local bobby.

 

I keep this link on my phone but have never needed it.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Right i have got it booked in for a test now so i can do whatever!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

 

 

Got stuck into sorting this little hole yesterday. Soon developed into fairly radical surgery:

 

 

Yeah cheers!!

 

 

Got it sorted in the end though. Exactly the same both sides. Started work at 1pm - finished at 1.30 am!!! Suposed to have this in for a test at 9am but seeing as I'm uploading this to the computer at 8.40am in my pyjamas whils slurping tea that aint gonna happen.

 

[dollywobbler]

You've just reminded me that similar - if not worse - surgery is required on the Sirion. Who said moderns don't rust?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Not me!!! Got to put those side skirts back on so he can't go too crazy on the sills with his tapping hammer!

[dollywobbler]

Once more though, heroic efforts for worthless tat. Great stuff!

[D-Dubya]

i had a seat ibiza the same vintage as the seat in this thread. it had electrical issues but not as many due to being a poverty spec car. it shat out its alternator once and every so often the charging light would come on but no fault with the new alternator. i never got to the bottom of it and it always passed its mot due to it not llighting any other lights.

[Alexg]

Smart looking saloons these, until the facelift made it look all gopping. Just 0.00001% of folk would bother with the welding effort on this, I hope the thing appreciates it.

[cort16]

These are really great cars. They're a pretty complete package of performance, economy, handling, reliability and practicality. Their only downsides is a slightly shiny dashboard and their ability to out rust one of those sacrifical blocks of iron the put on the hulls of boats.

[Sigmund Fraud]

Full points for your dedication to the cause, Mr.B ! Those Primeras are much, much faster than their appearance would suggest. They should make excellent dailies and annoy the BMW/Audi tailgating brigade.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

LIVE MOT BLOG! TWEET ME UP SCOTTY #failblog.org

 

 

headlights insecure

 

grumbly front wheelbearings

 

advisory on my welding (what an insult!!!)

 

battery insecure

 

advisory for corrosion on rear chassis

 

more fails as they ate discovered!!! STAY TUNED

[Danblez]

advisory on my welding (what an insult!!!)

 

 

 

Advising you on a most excellent job surely?

[garethj]

Sometimes if they can see welding has been done, they advise on it.

 

It could be down to the MoT man being a grumpy swine, but could also be because he's seen too many Cornflakes boxes covered with Schultz this week.

[Jim Bell]

Nice!

 

Was planning on buying on of these at some point.

 

Cheeky fucker giving an advisory on your welding mind.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

YO!!! So you can see thanks to the gift of the portable telecommunications network that I've been super busy over the last 48h sorting out shite, principally this primera.

 

 

After the mega weldfest it still failed the MOT quite badly, but not to a 'TOTAL WASHOUT' extent. Reckon I've got one action-packed full day of work on it before it will pass.

 

Both front wheelbearings need doing. One new one came with the car, but I need another. £40 from euro car parts, plus the cost of returning it and swapping it for the correct one of course. Ooof!

 

Rust hole in the floor needs welding up

 

Both headlights insecure - looks like the doofus who fitted the HID barry lights bust the studs off the front panel onto which the headlights fit, while fitting em. Great jorb!! Could probably be bodged but I hate stuff like that, will have to take the bumper off to fix it properly with some new studs in the front panel.

 

Emissions FAIL; CO and HC alright but lambda reading 1.05. Does that mean its running a tad weak? Not sure what to do about that at the moment TBH.

 

Battery insecure: I always leave that loose to keep the garage on their toes. OK they have spotted it so I will do it up now and we'll all be cool y0.

 

The advisory on my welding was because on the outer sill I had plug-welded it along the bottom edge of the sill. He reckoned cos it was a patch repair it should be seam welded. I had seam welded it along the other 3 sides of the patch of course. It was spot welded originally and I had (I thought) replicated the original arrangement. I disagreed with him in my head but just said 'Oh i see, hmm, yes i understand' cos he hadnt failed me on it so whats the point in arguing?

 

TBH thats quite a lot of work and i was bloody knackered to start with after last nights weldfest so I dragged it home and thought I would just park it up and deal with it another day. But first I gave it a quick wash:

 

 

Looks half presentable doesnt it. You can see the trademark bo11ox red oxide poking out from behind the sill trim, suppose I ought to paint that silver really. Also I never bothered cleaning the wheels as they look like they need a fairly serious sesh with some decent alloy wheel cleaner and a scrubbing brush.

 

 

Bodywork has a few minor gripes:

 

 

This wing is a bit of a mess thanks to some ham-fisted 'repairs' by a blind previous owner who might have had his hands amputated or something and carried out the repairs using only his face. Could do with finding another siver wing on eBay, one will come up I'm sure.

 

 

More of the same guy's handiwork under the rear numberplate.

 

 

Interior is quite nice, the gearknob looks a bit daft aand says 'MOMO' on it so is presumably a barry aftermarket job. Theres a bit of wear in the drivers seat but not catastrophic. Also some flange has cut holes in the door trims for some tweeters, although theres a pair of factory ones in the A-pillars. FOOLS

 

 

Some great work here on the stereo wiring, chopped off about 2mm from the plug. How in gods name am I supposed to fix that? I think I'll probably have to chop the plug right off and connect in a standard one of I can fathom out the colour coding (there seems to be rather a lot of wires!!!)

 

Overall I am quite likeing this car so far, its growing on me. It looks 'purposeful', at least to me, because I have inspected and it seems very nicely engineered. The engine as previoulsy mentioned is an absolute honey and even shifting wiring and trim out of the way for the welding was quite interesting as its all properly well fastened in and carefuly routed, unlike the shitty Rover efforts I'm used to where its clipped with one ill-fitting cheap wanky christmas tree job every 2 ft. In this car the wiring is seemingly all clipped to moulded raceways which theselves clip on around the contours of the metalwork, meaning that the wiring can't move at all a bit like what they do on the jet engines at work!! So when i look at it as a whole I'm not getting a vibe of a shitty taxi with a spoiler on it, but rather a car where the effort has gone in under the skin rather than on the skin if you know what I mean. Admittedly its not the best example of a Primera GT but its not a hopeless case by any means.

 

If I go really mad for it I might think about getting the wheels blasted and refurbished as that would smarten it up a lot, how much do you think that would cost?

[Ratdat]

£170 for four rims where I go in Grimsby but they look superb done.

[overrun]

Canny GTLE, there b0lz

 

I owned a P11 from two years old and ended up scrapping it, cos I got bored - the damn thing still has my private plate on, SORN - it was originally a 1.6 Si, but I fitted numerous P10 SR20DE variants and other trinkets.

 

When I eventually weighed it in, I had stripped all of the underseal off and etch primed it etc.

 

A cleaner one will never have seen the bridge. :/

 

I still have some stuff knocking about, gen NOS rear panel and windscreen side and top strips come to mind.

 

If you need anything or get a bit stuck - I may be able to assist - shout up.

 

Cracking cars. Especially for the money they are, these days.

[overrun]

Regarding the MOMO knob, it is a factory fit item.

 

The GTSE (Mystiq/Chromoflair) at least, got them. Maybe the LE also did.

Not many made it into the cars though, thanks to light fingered line workers!

 

Same went for the tailpipe finishers.

[Noel Tidybeard]

it looks like you have a legendary GTLE model

 

as such it will have 16" multi spoke Enkei alloys, full leather seats with silver piping and a Momo gear knob

available as Kuro black, Flame red, Starburst silver or Nordic(poofy) blue

 

there was also the GTSE  for 1998 which was only painted "ChromaFlair" Mystic green and the leather had green piping and Azev wheels

 

std GT's had half leather

 

 

see http://www.npoc.co.uk/forum/forums.html for more info etc

[Noel Tidybeard]

wiper spindles wear on the p11/p11-144 models but can be upgraded with p10 spindles IF you can find any- it will be annoying when the are phucked as the knock the bonnet rear edge

[dugong]

MOLLARD MOTORS! That's where I had my Amazon done.

[beko1987]

Bottle of IronX and an old paintbrush will have those alloys looking good again!

 

Rinse

Spray on IronX

Wait 5 Minutes

Rinse with the pressure washer

re-spray IronX

Wait slightly less time

Agitate

Rinse

Admire!

Be sick from the smell

 

Bilt Hamber do something which is remarkable similar but not as good as IronX I've found. Fine for regular cleaning, takes alot of effort for the first time.