Jump to content

Early Naughties French Rubbish plus novice mechanic equals.....


Recommended Posts

Posted

Anyway, this was earlier this year and we are almost up to date with this now.

 

5000 100% trouble free miles later and it's as good as it was the day it went on the road.

 

Well i say trouble free, there was an interesting fault with the clock/radio display in that it suddenly stopped illuminating.

 

Easy to work on though

 

Lift off this cover either side

 

 P1060888_zps9aqkwr28.jpg

 

Un do the two screws

 

P1060889_zpsrngjm42k.jpg

 

And then this happens

 

P1060896_zpsi6p2xtdz.jpg

 

P1060890_zpshf2ncjaw.jpg

 

Display out and bulbs changed

 

P1060893_zpsjwc0d55i.jpg

 

But it still won't illuminate. This must be the French gremlins i have heard so much about.

 

Checked fuse

 

P1060894_zpsril7im72.jpg

 

No problems here....

 

Still not working.....

 

Changed the fuse anyway and then it miraculously started working.

 

Weird

 

back together

 

P1060897_zpsorzd0qns.jpg

  • Like 4
Posted

The dreaded MOT was due on the 14th of July this year but i would be away when it was due so i took it down on the 14th of June instead.

 

Dropped it off and it failed :(

 

Luckily though it was noting major. In fact it was just a buckled wheel rim  :happydance:

 

The tester made his way over when i went to collect and told me it was the cleanest scenic he had seen for years and that everything was spot on.

He reckons around 80% of mk1 scenics he tests fail on plenty of quite major stuff.

 

So after a chat, he suggested i jack the car up, stick on the steel spare and then he would pass it there and then so i did and left with 13 months ticket!  :common007:

 

Result!!

 

This car is shaping up to be quite frugal.

  • Like 2
Posted

The next job was to loose the donor.

 

SWMBO has been on my back about it but i wanted to keep it around for if when i need spares.

 

That wasn't good enough for her so i stripped off what i thought i might need and called round for some quotes. I have had my moneys worth but i wanted to get what i could for it in scrap

 

the best one i got was £30 from some Polish gent so arrangements were made.

 

he was supposed to turn up mid afternoon whilst it was still light (earlier this year) but ended up showing up at 8:30 in the pitch black.

 

Now my driveway is unusual in that it is pitch black at night with no lighting at all but he insisted it would be ok.

 

He backed his tranny down the drive and hooked up the winch cable to the toe eye and winched it up on the truck. He clambered onto the truck, opened the door to apply the handbrake and as he leaned in, the winch gave way and the car fell off the beavertail at speed taking him out in the process.

 

OH MY FUCKING GOD!!!!

 

He almost killed himself as well as breaking the garage window, smashing two downpipes off of the wall and smashing up the balcony which is above the front half of the garage.

 

He apologised but that wasn't good enough. I felt bad he had fucked his arm up but WHAT ABOUT MY PROPERTY!!!

 

He handed over some readies to pay for the damage and then put the car back on the lorry and left quickly.

 

needless to say, i won't be using him again

Ouch, I wonder what happened there? It could have ripped his arm clean off. That would have been awkward!

Posted

Really enjoyed this epic, well done! I'd have chucked the towel in long ago!

Posted

As always happens when i read a thread I decide that i want the exact same car. I'm now on the look out for a shonky scenic. Shouldn't be too hard to find. This may have worn off by tomorrow though.

  • Like 2
Posted

Ouch, I wonder what happened there? It could have ripped his arm clean off. That would have been awkward!

The toe eye ripped out of the crossmember because he didn't put it in properly.

 

his mate started shouting at me and threatening me because he thought i had put it in.

 

The injured one corrected his mate and paid me some wedge

 

He was in so much pain but tried really hard to hide it

Posted

Really enjoyed this epic, well done! I'd have chucked the towel in long ago!

Believe me, i was sorely tempted on many occasions 

Posted

As always happens when i read a thread I decide that i want the exact same car. I'm now on the look out for a shonky scenic. Shouldn't be too hard to find. This may have worn off by tomorrow though.

Do it.

 

They make great load luggers. the back seats are all separate so you can remove 1,2 or all 3 and have a nice tall estate a bit like a small van.

 

Ideal.

 

Plus there is plenty of storage for booze :lol:

 

OrbmSa1.jpg

 

There are 9 70cl bottles of spirits and a 12 pack of stella bottles there for a party at the weekend.

 

And you can fit more under the floor

 

Fm8sWC4.jpg

Perfec

  • Like 1
Posted

I think they are very awkward looking with all that plastic. Like a Rover streetwise :lol: 

Posted

Fascinating - thank you, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Reminds me of my yoof !

Posted

I would take issue with the description of "novice mechanic" - that was a superb thread.

 

State of the original engine though, sheesh!

  • Like 1
Posted

very impressive work on a much maligned car. I've spent countless hours as a passenger in these things (inc rx4) but never behind the wheel. Our lass' s mam has one, which usually has something wrong with it but she likes it.

By the way, what class of count moves on a diesel that has run away without mentioning that the engine might be totally and utterly fucked?!

Posted

I'd proper SMASH a scenic RX4

 

Wooooof

 

Top thread, really enjoyed the read and happy ending - back-O-the-net!

Posted

I would take issue with the description of "novice mechanic" - that was a superb thread.

 

State of the original engine though, sheesh!

I am restoring a Mini too so i know bits and bobs. I started an apprenticeship in mechanics after leaving school but i didn't like it so switched to panel beating and trained in that instead.

This is by far the biggest mechanical job on a car that i have undertaken though.

 

I was surprised about the old engine, other people i showed thought it was oily sludge on the piston and combustion chamber not realising that it was all mashed up

 

very impressive work on a much maligned car. I've spent countless hours as a passenger in these things (inc rx4) but never behind the wheel. Our lass' s mam has one, which usually has something wrong with it but she likes it.

By the way, what class of count moves on a diesel that has run away without mentioning that the engine might be totally and utterly fucked?!

They are quite a dull drive but so versatile. So far nothing has really gone wrong with it, just silly little bits that you would get on any car really.

The guy selling was certainly a crook. I should have walked away but i would have lost my deposit and at that point, i thought it still might be an easy fix.

 

The thing i don't understand is that the engine was full of well used oil when i picked it up so he must have refilled it with used oil perhaps?

I guess ill never know what actually happened.

 

Wooooof

 

Top thread, really enjoyed the read and happy ending - back-O-the-net!

Cheers! Yeah it was certainly a journey especially on a throw away car but i kinda like it so am glad i stuck with it.

 

No doubt there will be other things with it in the future so ill keep updating as and when.

Posted

Top banana! You'll already have had more pleasure from it than the person who bought it new. As well as a bit of aggro, which when you win just turns into experience and know-how. A lot of it is mind over matter, and if you don't have much cash it doesn't matter.

Posted

Top banana! You'll already have had more pleasure from it than the person who bought it new. As well as a bit of aggro, which when you win just turns into experience and know-how. A lot of it is mind over matter, and if you don't have much cash it doesn't matter.

That's right mate.

I had plenty of time and zero cash. I could just flog it on and make a nice profit but ill keep it for now.

 

Although i am getting inspiration elsewhere on the forum for things to replace it with.

 

Must resist :lol:

Posted

Are there many MGFs on the IOW with suspected head gasket issues? Would be a perfect opportunity...

Posted

I almost bought one that had failed it's MOT on emmisions a few years back.

 

It was that really bright blue colour in lovely condition and was only £200

 

Are there many MGFs on the IOW with suspected head gasket issues? Would be a perfect opportunity...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...