dollywobbler Posted September 16, 2015 Author Share Posted September 16, 2015 I note I haven't updated this thread since May. There's a very simple reason for that. It's boringly reliable and just works. The biggest problem I've had is the window winder coming off in my hand, which I cured by bending the retaining clip so it gripped better. It's only covered about 1500 miles since purchase, but Mrs DW absolutely loves it. By which I mean it's the only one of my cars she'll drive when she very occasionally has to drive somewhere. Here it is trying to keep cool on a hot day. outlaw118, Nyphur and Lacquer Peel 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outlaw118 Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 There are times when I wish I had a commute to do, just to be able to justify buying one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardmorris Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 I note I haven't updated this thread since May. There's a very simple reason for that. It's boringly reliable and just works. The biggest problem I've had is the window winder coming off in my hand, which I cured by bending the retaining clip so it gripped better. It's only covered about 1500 miles since purchase, but Mrs DW absolutely loves it. By which I mean it's the only one of my cars she'll drive when she very occasionally has to drive somewhere. Here it is trying to keep cool on a hot day. There has to be a place in the world for simple, cheap, reliable cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted July 2, 2016 Author Share Posted July 2, 2016 Hey! This thing has over 28,000 miles on it now! It's also my only working vehicle. How did that happen? RAV needs a timing belt tensioner, 2CV is strewn across the country. I overtook five dawdling tourists in it today. Amazing how much fun you can have with 847cc. Amazing just how small it is too. Now owned for a total of 18 months - it'll be out-living the XM very soon at this rate. To be fair though, it has still covered fewer than 4000 miles in that time, while the XM topped 18,000. When it comes to distance, the Nippa gets a big fat No from me as I get fed up with the gearstick jabbing me in the leg. vulgalour, M'coli, oldcars and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted May 4, 2017 Author Share Posted May 4, 2017 Gosh. Well overdue another boring update on this. New HT leads have it running very nicely again, but I remember that the exhaust did very well (serious ally tape bodgery) to get through the MOT back in March. A present arrived for the Nippa today. It looked very happy about it. Gawd knows when I'll find time to get it fitted though. I've suggested Mrs DW might like to do it. She didn't seem convinced. privatewire, RobT, loserone and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 The exhaust got fitted, because LOUDS. It has also had a front brake overhaul as the calipers were seized. Good used replacements and a set of discs and pads. Sorted, and detailed in this video. When I did that work, I discovered that the inside edges had been destroyed on the front tyres. Finally, I got it booked in for an alignment check and to have two old summer tyres put on the front, at the most scenic tyre place in the land. 12" wheels are a pain in the arse. They had to use blocks for the rear part of the alignment kit, and the lasers were very close to the ground. It was eleven degrees out! That'd explain it. New tyres and balance has cured the horrendous steering shake at 60mph too, though Mrs DW had not reported this issue as she doesn't drive it that quickly. I do though, and had an absolute hoot driving home. It steers really nicely now! RayMK, phil_lihp, Vantman and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Snipes Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 It wasn't eleven degrees! That would almost perpendicular! Maybe mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted May 3, 2018 Author Share Posted May 3, 2018 About time we had an update! Not a fat lot to report. It sailed through the MOT again, and is now on 37,000 miles. Lacquer is falling off all over the place and rot is starting to creep in notably around the edges. Have a misfire now too. It has taken a severe dislike to rain - which is unfortunate given where I live. I've replaced the dizzy cap, but that has not improved matters. We replaced the HT leads last year, I think. Maybe it was the year before... Playing with a hose, it gets notably worse if you squirt water at the top of the dizzy cap. All the leads seem to be attached firmly, but I have a horrible feeling another set of HT leads is required. All the more annoying as it's actually meant to be going on holiday with us tomorrow. This is not good timing. The Nippa NEVER goes on holiday with us. This was meant to be a first! egg, oldcars, GrumpiusMaximus and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted May 3, 2018 Author Share Posted May 3, 2018 Ah. I remember last time. OE leads, £101! Ridiculous. So I bought the cheapest ones possible. Still, you can buy quite a few sets of cheap leads before it gets up to the ADL Blueprint cost. Why the hell are they so expensive?! They're four tiny HT leads. The whole car cost £300. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigmund Fraud Posted May 3, 2018 Share Posted May 3, 2018 About time we had an update! Not a fat lot to report. It sailed through the MOT again, and is now on 37,000 miles. Lacquer is falling off all over the place and rot is starting to creep in notably around the edges. Have a misfire now too. It has taken a severe dislike to rain - which is unfortunate given where I live. I've replaced the dizzy cap, but that has not improved matters. We replaced the HT leads last year, I think. Maybe it was the year before... Playing with a hose, it gets notably worse if you squirt water at the top of the dizzy cap. All the leads seem to be attached firmly, but I have a horrible feeling another set of HT leads is required. All the more annoying as it's actually meant to be going on holiday with us tomorrow. This is not good timing. The Nippa NEVER goes on holiday with us. This was meant to be a first! Try smearing some silicon grease between the distibutor body and distributor cap. Aftermarket caps are rarely a perfect fit, and the small gap is enough to allow humidity in and cause misfires. oldcars 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted May 3, 2018 Author Share Posted May 3, 2018 All I had was instant gasket, so I tried that. It doesn't seem to have worked. But, it's water hitting the top of the dizzy that sets off an instant misfire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
castros_bro Posted May 3, 2018 Share Posted May 3, 2018 When I was in the SAS we were trained to put condoms over our distributors if we had a misfire when wet, not sure why Swedish cabin staff needed this training though. Dick Longbridge, r.welfare, oldcars and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C1am Posted May 3, 2018 Share Posted May 3, 2018 I used to use Damp Start ignition sealer in readiness for winter - make sure your leads and distributor are clean and spray it on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted May 3, 2018 Author Share Posted May 3, 2018 I used to use Damp Start ignition sealer in readiness for winter - make sure your leads and distributor are clean and spray it on. That sounds like a level of bodgery that just shouldn't be necessary with Japanese engineering. An old Mini, then yes, but Japanese stuff should just bloody work! I'm preferring the option of simply taking a different vehicle on holiday. Mrs DW is out in the Starlet at the moment, to see if it passes muster. egg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C1am Posted May 3, 2018 Share Posted May 3, 2018 Yes, I used to use it on A series engines, but only as a precautionary measure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpiusMaximus Posted May 3, 2018 Share Posted May 3, 2018 I really, really have a hankering for one of these. Apparently the old John Childs garage is less than half an hour from me. Might still be a few around... I'll end up single, mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Tidybeard Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 you need a dizzy cap cover off a talbotty horizon or an maestro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosty Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 but Japanese stuff should just bloody work! Yeah, and this is a Malaysian car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruffgeezer Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 That sounds like a level of bodgery that just shouldn't be necessary with Japanese engineering. An old Mini, then yes, but Japanese stuff should just bloody work! I'm preferring the option of simply taking a different vehicle on holiday. Mrs DW is out in the Starlet at the moment, to see if it passes muster.When stuff with ht leads was still commonplace, I would remove the leads and dizzy cap (where fitted) every service, clean it with petrol then give it all a good coating of damp start to seal it all together. Not bodgy, just well maintained. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted May 4, 2018 Author Share Posted May 4, 2018 Yeah, and this is a Malaysian car! The engine still has Daihatsu all over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonedagain Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 you need a dizzy cap cover off a talbotty horizon or an maestro. Or in true shiter fashion, make one out of a surgical glove! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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