The Espace has landed

[Noel Tidybeard]

50p for air these days?

 

I guess that's inflation.

 

 

get your coat and leave now!

[barmatt]

Hebden Bridge, famous for many things which I can't divulge

 

 

WP_20160331_19_50_02_Pro.jpg

 hhmm a blurry Hebden Bridge.........

 

That's just how it looked for most of my teenage years.

[skattrd]

Yesterday I gave the Espacious a bit of a service, air, oil and fuel filters. I've done this on many cars, many times, so it shouldn't take too long.

This one took around 2.5hrs and involved several sheared bolts and the (not usually used during a service) dremel and hammer.

 

Old air filter:

 

 

Old oil filter:

 

 

Old fuel filter - snapped captive bolt and seized bolts pictured:

 

 

Shiny:

 

 

 

Next: wheel bearing and maybe front tyres.

[purplebargeken]

This is a wonderful vehicular thing, may it go to significant greatness in leaps and bounds (that aren't clutch related).

[skattrd]

Not really update:

NSF wheel bearing has been replaced and I am nowhere near finding the parts I require as the guy with the mk1 breaker has gone quiet on me ... arses.

Today I used this for the run to work and the steering was making funny noises. Luckily the remaining ATF from the Clio gearbox oil change was in the Espace so I topped it up and the noise has gone. I now know it has  a PAS leak. I'm hoping this is the cause of the oily stuff on the front chassis and not some other leak ... Wishful thinking I know.

 

BIL was using this at the weekend and reckoned it could do with some replacement ignition parts as occasionally it's tricky to start. Ebay was hit and new dizzy cap, rotor, HT leads and plugs have been ordered for the grand sum of £20. At least some parts are cheap and easy to find.

 

If any of you know of a mk1 (poss mk2) Espace being broken let me know, as I need the following:

Gear knob

NS wing mirror gubbins (I have glass)

Fuel sender

Speedo cable

 

Clutch and gear linkage still need adjusting and the blow on the exhaust needs investigating, plus the PAS leak needs finding and fixing .... but I'm still enjoying it.

[skattrd]

The only issue with driving is the pedals being quite small and the clutch pedal being a bit low to the floor.

[skattrd]

Possibly, yes. i think that was the main issue for mr_FOAD

[bub2006]

To be fair I don't think the Picasso is much smaller if any than a espace is it?

[Lacquer Peel]

Smaller and less seats.

[skattrd]

Does anyone know how to get the factory radio code for these? Is it a call to the dealer or is there another way?

 

I've got various paperwork for this with with key numbers and other info, but no mention of the radio code, arses.

[bub2006]

I know it has less seats but I thought the mk1 espace was a small vehicle by today's standards. Could be wrong,been years since I seen one!

[skattrd]

It's probably externally smaller than a  new mini, but inside they're really big.

Check FOAD's post for pics: http://autoshite.com/topic/23743-renner-espace-for-sale/page-2?do=findComment&comment=952732

 

From: https://www.ultimatespecs.com/

 

Mk1 Espace

Trunk capacity : 910-3060 L

Mk1 Picarso:

Trunk capacity : 550-2128 L

 

So the Espace is much bigger.

 

Thoughts of sale are diminishing, as I was considering ...  Mk1 ph2 Espace on ebay  .. but I'm now thinking I should stick with this one.

[The Moog]

Pedals are quite offset and very small. Take some getting used to.

 

They would definitely be harder to drive than. Ronnie.

 

 

Remember seats in this are lap belts so not great for kids.

[Bucketeer]

Chompy, it takes a bit of getting used to, yes, but I was fine with it after the first few miles and I'm 6'5" with size 13/14 clown feet.

I wouldn't hesitate to daily the hell out of it.

[skattrd]

Holy crap, an update ... 

 

Things happened, and a new MOT was achieved last weekend.

 

Longer version:

Things might have included fitting a new steering rack, which was possibly one of the biggest pain in the arse jobs I have ever done. There's not quite enough room to get at anything, every nut could only be turned about 10 degrees before the spanner needed taking off and moving round. There was not enough room for a ratchet, ratchet spanner, or a spanner with a long handle. Once the nuts/bolts were undone the old rack can then be removed, but not until you remove various other things, including, but not limited to, the brake servo & master. The new rack can then be inserted and fastened in place, again 10 degree turn on each nut. Then replace the brake servo, reflit coolant hoses, refill the coolant, PAS fluid, brake fluid, bleed the brakes and do the tracking. Anyway, that's done now and should not need doing again. If it does, then sourcing another RHD mk1 ph2 steering rack might prove even trickier than it did this time. 

 

After that was done that just left a couple of bits of brake pipe to replace. Abridged version - this included a new compensator and lots more brake pipe than originally anticipated, probably around 15 feet in total.

 

I've still got to put the interior back together as various things were removed during the steering rack shenanigans. I also sourced a replacement n/s wing mirror, gear knob & bonnet cable. Some of which I will try to fit next weekend, then tax it and maybe even take a picture of the glorious old bus, before I fill it with building material.

 

Work and real life stuff permitting, I'm hoping to pilot this thing to Chumley next month.

[dollywobbler]

Eesh. How very, er, French. They're expert at making things not at all DIY friendly, in that you can get at absolutely everything, you just can't get at 100% of absolutely everything. The smaller percentage of impossible is usually where the bolts are.

[panhard65]

Thanks for the info on the steering rack one of my customers runs one of these daily and the rack has had a slight leak for the past 3 years. I just clean it up at mot time to get it through. Have you had any luck with the speedo cable as his needs one of those as well. Finally have you had a look at the lack of heat from the heater ? I had to change the matrix in this one and that is a job I never want to do again. They are nice old buses but a real nightmare to work on.

[Bucketeer]

It's great to hear that this is getting some love (and probably some swear words) thrown at it.

[skattrd]

Cheers Alex et al.

 

panhard - I would advise your customer to buy a steering rack if they can find one as it will likely need doing at some point. They do pop up on ebay now and again for around £70-100, oh and mk1 ph1 and ph2 racks are different.

It took 2 of us basically a day and a bit to do the job - usually one person working, the other pointing and commenting on how shit of a job it was and have you tried using such an implement instead or getting at it through the glovebox?

I've not really looked at the heater yet as the main concern was getting it through the MOT. I sincerely hope I don't have to change the heater matrix, but it can't be worse than changing the steering rack ... can it?

In my limited search I couldn't find a speedo cable, but I've got a feeling French ebay might be the place for one, surely they can't be rhd specific?.

[The Moog]

Does it drive a lot better with the new rack?

[bramz7]

I'd forgotten about this thing. Great to see an update.

I saw a Belgian plated one whizzing down the M4 the other day, which was weird.

[panhard65]

Cheers Alex et al.

 

panhard - I would advise your customer to buy a steering rack if they can find one as it will likely need doing at some point. They do pop up on ebay now and again for around £70-100, oh and mk1 ph1 and ph2 racks are different.

It took 2 of us basically a day and a bit to do the job - usually one person working, the other pointing and commenting on how shit of a job it was and have you tried using such an implement instead or getting at it through the glovebox?

I've not really looked at the heater yet as the main concern was getting it through the MOT. I sincerely hope I don't have to change the heater matrix, but it can't be worse than changing the steering rack ... can it?

In my limited search I couldn't find a speedo cable, but I've got a feeling French ebay might be the place for one, surely they can't be rhd specific?.

We have been looking for a rack on and off for ages it is a mk 1 phase 2 diesel and there just aren't any about. We do know that a left hand drive speedo cable won't fit though as he bought one and it is a couple of feet too short. It still works but it clicks all the time which gets a bit annoying. For the heater matrix it is dash, pedal box and steering column out just to get at the heater box. This one had been bodged in the past and I had a right job getting the new matrix in the housing. They are getting really hard to find parts for now which could kill it off eventually.

[The Moog]

This is where 3d printing is going to be a godsend.

[skattrd]

We have been looking for a rack on and off for ages it is a mk 1 phase 2 diesel and there just aren't any about. We do know that a left hand drive speedo cable won't fit though as he bought one and it is a couple of feet too short. It still works but it clicks all the time which gets a bit annoying. For the heater matrix it is dash, pedal box and steering column out just to get at the heater box. This one had been bodged in the past and I had a right job getting the new matrix in the housing. They are getting really hard to find parts for now which could kill it off eventually.

 

Thanks for the info .. I'll avoid the lhd speedo cable for now then.

If I see another mk1 ph2 rack I'll give you a shout. I could potentially let you have my old rack to send away to be refurbished ... it was leaking quite badly. Let me know if you'd be interested in this.

It sounds like I should look at the heater matrix before I put the dash and steering column back together fully.

 

I don't suppose you know if the n/s and o/s handbrake cables are similar? I can see loads of o/s (rhs) hand brake cables on ebay, but no n/s ones ... If nearside is shorter I'd be tempted to get 2x offisde.

[skattrd]

Does it drive a lot better with the new rack?

 

It's not left the garage yet, and the steering wheel wasn't 100% fastened in securely, plus other stuff.

It drove fine before, it just pissed ATS/PAS fluid everywhere.

[somewhatfoolish]

We have been looking for a rack on and off for ages it is a mk 1 phase 2 diesel and there just aren't any about. We do know that a left hand drive speedo cable won't fit though as he bought one and it is a couple of feet too short. It still works but it clicks all the time which gets a bit annoying. For the heater matrix it is dash, pedal box and steering column out just to get at the heater box. This one had been bodged in the past and I had a right job getting the new matrix in the housing. They are getting really hard to find parts for now which could kill it off eventually.

If the cable ends are right but it's too short then you can get the likes of Speedy Cables(other cable manufacturers are available) to make you one the right length.

[skattrd]

If the cable ends are right but it's too short then you can get the likes of Speedy Cables(other cable manufacturers are available) to make you one the right length.

 

Aha, cunning plan, check the ends are the same left and right, buy 2x rhs cables get cable compny to alter one if incorrect length - bonus.

 

panhard - could speedycables or similar sort out a new speedo cable a few inches longer than the LHD one you have? If so can you put me down for one as well

[panhard65]

Aha, cunning plan, check the ends are the same left and right, buy 2x rhs cables get cable compny to alter one if incorrect length - bonus.

 

panhard - could speedycables or similar sort out a new speedo cable a few inches longer than the LHD one you have? If so can you put me down for one as well

When my customer gets back from France again I will see if he wants to spend the money getting one made. If he does I am sure we can order a couple to get a bit of discount.