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

[Junkman]

There was obviously zero Junkmanish input into this.

I'd of course have immediately nixed the idea of buying something this newfangled with a Chinese engine.

 

What's the result? It's inevitably borked, of course.

 

Why nobody ever listens to me despite I'm always right is a phenomenon that will never cease to amaze me.

[EssDeeWon]

Nice looking Rover...  Shame about the FTP

 

Send this in with a short letter to the previous owner thanking him

 

[captain_70s]

Congrats on the car. Commiserations on the car.

 

 

Guess this is why when I suggested a £300 car as my first motor to my parents they told me to get fucked and took me to the local dealership to get a Yaris on finance...

[bigfella2]

Am i right thinking that this is a d series Honda engine because it's an auto? But if it had been a manual it would be a k series? The d series is probably one of the most reliable engines out there, baring this minor FTP obs. Saying that a good k series is a nice revvy motor. If it didn't have the rep for OMGHGF it would be an epic engine.

[doobietoo]

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.

 

don't bother with linseed oil just pop down your local fishing shop and buy a bottle of peanut oil, lasts longer, easier to use and doesn't self-combust....

[Ghosty]

I have no reason to think I've been had, as I'll explain in my full writeup I think the seller was of a bit of an odd mentality and just expected it to work.

To answer a couple more questions:

Beko - November 2013!

FakeConcern - bikes aren't going anywhere as I need them for my job!

FFS - it's an auto for many reasons. Familiarity of the engine and gearbox, cheapness/value for money/insurance, comfort, the mother doesn't drive autos so she can use it, and also I'm slightly funny mentally (aside from being a 'shiter, mental conditions seem to run in my mums family) so not having a third pedal is one less thing to worry about. It's a really nice driving experience.

Does anyone know how to tell if it has ABS? There's a warning light for it on the dash but I'm not see if that's just becuauae they all have the same clocks. I'm wondering because I didn't expect it to have an airbag either.

[matto]

It's pretty easy to tell if a car has ABS and if it's working.  It just requires a hefty mashing of the middle pedal when the car is in motion with your right foot, if it lets out a long screechy squeal then the car doesn't have it, if it stops sharply without a noticeable screech then all is good

 

You could look for the ABS pump/modulator/control module under the bonnet but in my experience it's not as much fun.

[vulgalour]

I'm going to probably get this wrong but... if you've got discs on the back and the thicker vented discs up front you'll have ABS I would expect.  I'm on solid discs at the front and drums on the back on the same age car and don't have ABS, or a warning light for it.  I dislike automatics normally but the 1.6 Honda engine with the auto gearbox is just excellent and well balanced in the R8.  I'm looking forward to reading your adventures with this car.

[bub2006]

Usually if it has a warning light it has abs. Do as matto says though but not too fast!

[BorniteIdentity]

If it has ABS, then it will surely do a test cycle each time you turn the key?  Light on - and then off again once it's happy everything's present and correct.

 

Word of warning though.  You'll probably need to test the ABS at speed,  ie - It doesn't activate on my 90s Toyota until nearing 30mph.  I was convinced I didn't even have it!  I'd suggest a nice gravel car park somewhere !!

[brownnova]

Well, that was certainly eventful....

 

 

Good luck getting it all up and running properly!

[billyboy406v6]

Good luck and happy motoring !!

[purplebargeken]

FTP upon collection is an AS rite of passage. Fret not, you seem to have a cunning plan in mind which should sort it.

 

These are ace cars and being a 5 door you will even be able to get door cards for it.

 

All will be well. Honest.

[Bren]

Credit to Ghosty for not overheating like the car.

 

However, if I was the seller I would have been mortified that it had broken down and I would have ran it for long enough to ensure there were no problems.

 

But I was'nt selling the car. If it was just an airlock well hey - ho. If it's something more sinister I would be having a word.

[trigger]

It probably hasn't got ABS as it was a very expensive opition when new.

[Danblez]

Well done Ghosty! I am sure you will be able to get it all sorted relatively easily!

[dollywobbler]

Am i right thinking that this is a d series Honda engine because it's an auto? But if it had been a manual it would be a k series? The d series is probably one of the most reliable engines out there, baring this minor FTP obs. Saying that a good k series is a nice revvy motor. If it didn't have the rep for OMGHGF it would be an epic engine.

No, this is not correct. The 416 manual also uses the Honda engine. Only very late R8s used the K Series in this size. The bubble 400 did use the K unless auto.

[Ghosty]

Morning all! 

Going to wait around today for the AA flatbed to show up, probably going to get one of the parents to give them a ring soon for an update, seeing as they've had the car since 4pm yesterday. Old Man is willing to have a nose at the 'stat with me when it arrives as it's a quick job, and a cheap thing to replace (about £7). After that we'll have a full report, maybe I'll get on with cleaning it up a bit too.

[Ghosty]

ETA 10:30.

Meanwhile:

 

[xtriple]

Sorry about the ftp, but it looks great - there are few better things in life than getting your first, legal, car. Good luck on getting it sorted in a timely, and cheap, fashion.

[Mally]

I know how you feel, mine boiled up on collection, was only a leak on the top hose and I did 100 mile, but it's not nice when it happens.

Hope yours is a simple fix too.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

I hope it turns out to be an easy repair. I like these Rovers, they're good looking cars.

[Ghosty]

It's here!

[Ghosty]

And in the garage. Thank fuck for my parents' AA cover having other vehicles on it.

 

 

 

Time to check the 'stat. ECP have ones for the D16 available if you seach for early '90s Civics, but not the 200, at £10 including gasket. If the 'stat is broken I'll get a lift out in the Bini later and get one. 

Wiper blades are a high priority, and if anyone can point me to a pair of heated/electric mirror glasses (or at least a passenger one), I'd really appreciate it.

[dollywobbler]

90% of the cars I buy immediately need new wiper blades. This fact terrifies me somewhat. Do other people not consider adequate vision a useful thing to have?!

 

Good call on checking the stat. Waste of time replacing it if it is actually working. I've never had a stat jam in the closed position, but I guess that's possible if it was sitting around for a while. Top tip - if the temp gauge starts shooting up, shove the heater on max with max fan. Though this doesn't work if you're in a Citroen CX. With what turns out to be a non-working interior fan (and non working cooling fan!). What a collection caper that was...

[Junkman]

The d series is probably one of the most reliable engines out there...

Yeah, right...

[Ghosty]

[

 

 

 

In the words of Junkman, it's fucked. 

Old Man says he's not seen a 'stat worse. I'm going to ECP after lunch to get one listed as working in the D16 (had to search for early '90s Civics a Concerto though, no Rover ones in stock).

Some plonker's been using silicone as gasket sealant too, but that isn't stuck in the 'stat, I should point out.

 

It definitely hasn't been smoked in. I opened the door to get the key out, and was greeted with that wonderful old smell only '90s velour seated Rovers have.

I bloody love that smell.

[doobietoo]

I *may have a set of mirrors in the lockup for a rover will check next time I am there if I have you can have them for the cost of postage can't remember off hand if I sold them or not. ..

[Ghosty]

Ooh, that'd be a massive help - I've just found out that the passenger one doesn't fold in, it just springs out again.

 

Drop me a PM if you have them.

[Ghosty]

OK, I'm back, armed with a new 'stat, some coolant, another key and an air freshener.

 

Another report soon!