After three years... 216SLi - 25/2 - behaving itself

[danthecapriman]

Bad luck on the breakdown. But on the up side that's a really good car for a first car, especially these days with insurance being so stupidly expensive! Hopefully it'll be an easy quick fix.

[vaughant]

I'd guess that it's just due to lack of use, be some sort of trapped air/blockage somewhere.

Check the obvious as usual and TBH 4 miles in you did the right thing, stop and get the beast recovered, leaving cars stand for years causes all sorts of silly issues that they didn't have before they got laid up.

I'd guess all the bits for that are cheap anyway, be a good motor when done.

[vulgalour]

These are notorious for air-locking the coolant system and causes the symptoms described so a burp should sort it.  Lovely colour and a great first car choice.  I'm hoping it's an easy fix, whatever ends up being the issue.  I've found http://www.rover200.org.uk/ to be a useful place to be, you might too.

[Ghosty]

Keele Services re-achieved. I think the R8 is on its way here with the AA man to be transported onwards to me.

I think we have a D series water pump in stock from Old Man's old Civics, that'll hopefully be a usable part. We'll get to check if it's had a cambelt too when that happens (I wonder if it might be due on age?).

[Ghosty]

Old Man is suspicious of it being airlocked - AA man didn't even check it.

Either way, I'm sure it'll live.

[bub2006]

Do a complete coolant flush and change, take hoses off rad and do a flush. Change water pump, cambelt and ancillaries associated and also auxiliary belt. Give engine an oil change, filters and plugs and wallop a new stat in. Should rectify everything. If it's not been used much also check dates on tyres as my be worth changing.

[tapir]

best of luck getting it fixed, these are getting a rare sight now and yours looks in good condition from the car ad photos

 

how bad is the smoke smell?

[320touring]

Best of luck with the fix- doesn't sound too bad- only a couple of possible culprits

[phil_lihp]

Bad luck, on the plus side, very nice first car and should be an easy fix.  They're ace cars, I've had 3 and would have another one, not tried the Honda lump yet but they're all pretty good.

 

I'm getting a little bit of deja vu, as this was 9 miles into my collection journey for R8 no. 3 a few months back, head gasket went - fortunately probably not your issue.

 

[Bag'O'Spanners]

Used to work on those Honda lumps quite a bit, back in the day. A gem of a engine, has proper adjustable valve clearances (rockers over cam). Typical Honda and pretty unshaggable. 

 

Had to check and see what happened before my beautiful night shift. Well done, it will be fine.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

  On 15/01/2017 at 14:24, Ghosty said:

Got about 4 miles and thermostats failed says Old Man, temp off the gauge and such. Mother Ghosty is calling the AA. I don't approve but I don't appear to have any say in the matter.

When you say the temperature went off the gauge... Fingers crossed you haven't cooked it :/

At least the body looks clean and straight, and the car seems a pretty decent example apart from the obvious.

I don't R8 the seller much though. I hope you've had a word with the artist.

[Ghosty]

Thanks for all the advice and opinions folks - we're going to do pretty much what Bub suggested as half that was on my mind anyway, as well as a big clean up. Smoke smell is non-existent anyway which baffled me - having been in a giffer's V40 where you couldn't breathe for stale cigarette smoke, I was pleasantly surprised.

I need a snooze and some dinner but I'll write a more detailed report of my escapade up shortly, and wait for my noble steed to show up on an AA truck.

If it gets back running I'll treat it to some plates from DMB (front ones cracked), a bottle of linseed oil and an AS dealer sticker.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Congrats on the car, Ghosty! 

[beko1987]

What a shame, being no stranger to collection fun* myself it's a sad feeling...

 

When did you pass your test? On the plus side having it sat insured on your drive whilst you get the spanners out will inch you closer to the first year's cover without crashing/claiming, so silver lining!

[beko1987]

  On 15/01/2017 at 18:24, Ghosty said:

If it gets back running I'll treat it to a drive to the McDonald's drivethrough to go pussy hunting and an AS dealer sticker.

Ftfy

[They_all_do_that_sir]

My dad had one that was exactly the same colour / wheel trims, only his was a 1.4 K. So this is bringing back happy memories. I borrowed it when my bubble 414 had HGF and thought it was a far far better car to drive

 

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

[bub2006]

I think we should organise a meet at Ghosty's pad to get the old girl fighting fit.

[Guest Breadvan72]

I normally take the view that if you buy an old car you take a risk, and have applied this to some right shonkers that I have bought, but IF (and I say IF) the car was misdescribed in the sale ad and you face a big bill, I could knock you up some suitable wording for a polite but firm letter to the seller.  I'm not encouraging this, unless you've actually been conned.  As I said, usually it's just oh well, old cars.

[bub2006]

It could be an unscrupulous seller but from what Ghosty has said it could be down to not being used. Then again only a few miles from sellers house is suspect but if it was lack of use I'd have thought 20/30 mile continual use before problems manifest.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Bad luck Ghostrider. Must say from the little I've seen, it looks a cracker from the outside!

[pshome]

Congrats on the purchase fellow collector! Sorry to hear there was a bit of trouble on the way home, trust it's a quick fix and you will enjoy the beauty very soon.

[Sheefag]

  On 15/01/2017 at 20:30, Breadvan72 said:

I normally take the view that if you buy an old car you take a risk, and have applied this to some right shonkers that I have bought, but IF (and I say IF) the car was misdescribed in the sale ad and you face a big bill, I could knock you up some suitable wording for a polite but firm letter to the seller.  I'm not encouraging this, unless you've actually been conned.  As I said, usually it's just oh well, old cars.

 

And if that doesn't work, I'm happy to ring the bastard.

[FakeConcern]

Looks lovely, hope it's a quick fix,but please don't abandon the pushbikes!

[OwdChina]

  On 15/01/2017 at 20:47, Sheefag said:

And if that doesn't work, I'm happy to wring the bastards neck.

Fixed.

[155V6]

Glad you got back ok.It's the opposite to my Rover 25 collection which was sold as spares or repairs "as it may overheat".I thought it would last about 2 miles,but It drove the 30 miles back with no problems,& I'm using it as my daily.Waterpump is seeping slightly,but it's going to get a new one & timing belt soon.

[Cavcraft]

A testament to Ghosty's decent nature that he's taken this on the chin and is still upbeat about it. Not many would be like that, an enviable viewpoint on life imho. It'll all come good one way or the other Ghosty, and the best of luck to you. 

[BavarianRetro]

It's a 20 odd year old £300 car. Shit happens.

[For Fiats Sake]

Why an auto Mr ghosty? U afraid of gear sticks?

[vulgalour]

He probably went to Herr Junkman's finishing school.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Has anyone ever seen Junkman and Long John Silver in the same room?   Thought not.