Dollywobbler's Omegawd - Cruisin' (old people can do it too)

[dollywobbler]

So, as you may have noticed, I've done the deed on the Omega Elite 2.5TD estate auto that was advertised on here. Well, not quite done the deed yet, as it still needs collecting.

I so far have the below joyous shot of a slightly green Omega. Situation report. It was last on the road in the summer of 2015, when it was parked up due to a fuel leak, and replaced with something else. It was started in August 2016 to ensure it still would. I can now confirm that it was started again today, firing up first time. Hooray! That leads me to suspect that the fuel leak probably isn't injector pump related. I'm really hoping it's just a connector or fuel line that can be easily sorted. The car has also moved back and forth, so I know the brakes haven't seized on.



On the downside, apparently the bonnet release has now broken - something they're a bit notorious for. If I'm lucky, it'll have broken at the handle end, so I can use a pair of pliers to gain access. If it's broken at the catch end, things are going to be rather more interesting. You can make a tool out of copper pipe and some nuts apparently. I may have to revise my toolkit.

The plan, such as it is, currently proceeds on the following basis.

A week Friday, I will jump on various trains, some of them horrible, to make my way to Bath. I'll therefore be looking to carry a pretty minimal tool kit. I shall make an assessment of the vehicle but, to be honest, driving home to a pre-booked MOT probably isn't going to be on the cards. I will therefore probably be making use of User_1979's knowledge, as he's kindly offered to lend assistance with The Caper. Some other people have also suggested local, friendly garages. So yes, I'm hoping to get an MOT pass on a car I haven't seen, that hasn't been on the road for over 18 months and on which you can't open the bonnet. What could possibly go wrong?

[vulgalour]

For this place, that all sounds perfectly reasonable.

[Six-cylinder]

Bonkers!

[garethj]

What could possibly go wrong?

 

Nothing.  Nothing could go wrong.

 

Good catch, looks like a nice car.

[alcyonecorporation]

WHAT. 

This actually looks decent, what's DW doing with it? 

[hairnet]

apart from being sat - dont seem so bad

[Asimo]

The last straight six Vauxhall!

[tommytwo]

When I had a problem with the bonnet release on my Rover and took it for a test, it was pointed out that the bonnet release formed part of the test. So without a working bonnet release the tester may not pass the car. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

Best of luck with the collection. Looks a great car.

[danthecapriman]

Can't wait to see how this goes!

 

Having seen the car I can confirm it's a bloody nice car, and it's well spec'd too.

Good to hear that it's been started and moved too. That's half the battle won.

[garbaldy]

If you chuck it into an MOT at a local garage and it fails then it's now illegal to drive, you either have to pay to get them to fix it or find somewhere else to fix it for you as I can't see you changing brake pipes and bushes at the side of the road,

If you book it in for test at home at least you can drive it home and if it fails well your at home right.

[Cheezey]

Looks lovely. I've always fancied an Omega.

 

Is driving it miles and miles home from a failed MoT so you can do the repairs at home before retest worse than driving it miles and miles for a pre booked MoT? Probably both highly sketchy.

[scaryoldcortina]

Can't open the bonnet = refuse to test, do not MoT, do not collect VT20 pass certificate.

[purplebargeken]

Wow, nice buyage DW. Get in and drive to pre-booked MOT near to your place in the Welsh Badlands.

 

It will all go without an issue.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Looks lovely. I've always fancied an Omega.

Is driving it miles and miles home from a failed MoT so you can do the repairs at home before retest worse than driving it miles and miles for a pre booked MoT? Probably both highly sketchy.

No, driving it to a pre booked MOT is 100% not sketchy it is legal.

[beko1987]

I'd go with drive it home on a pre booked going by the perceived wisdom on here. After having a go at fixing/stopping the leak.

 

Thicken the fuel out with a bit of veg? (yes it's a shit joke before the veggists start)

[dollywobbler]

Yes, I'm aware bonnet is an immediate FAIL. Priority One will be getting that open, because Priority Two is to get a handle on the diesel leak. If it's dropping a fair bit, then I will not drive it. The ultimate fall-back is to just get a train journey back home. That'd be really annoying, but better that causing a motorcyclist to go skidding off the road.

[rantingYoof]

Genuinely jealous at this. What a score...

[EssDeeWon]

The bonnet release broke on my old 1992 Carlton Diplomat on the day I was meant to sell it, I can't remember how we got it open but some grazed knuckles and swear words were had, it was a faulty spring at the bonnet release end, easily fixed but not easily opened IIRC.

 

Look forward to seeing how this goes.

 

Good Luck.

[EssDeeWon]

Sum reapers research DW;

 

Had the same problem with my miggy 2.5 v6 last year. When the AA man came he laughed and said this is a very common problem with vauxhall cars. Basically you need two people to open the bonnet, one person pulling the bonnet release under the steering and the other person at the front of the car (where you would ordinarily open the bonnet)tapping the bonnet gently with the side of  a folded fist and it will snap open!!!
Mine was a prefacelift then so i had to tap gently next to the vauxhall badge.
I gave same instruction to the new buyer  as i did sell the car..

[Cheezey]

No, driving it to a pre booked MOT is 100% not sketchy it is legal.

What would plod say if they pulled you over and you said you were taking it to an MoT test booked a couple of hundred miles away? I agree that it's legal but I'm sure they would then be all over you and crawling up the exhaust to get you for something.

[trigger]

Personally speaking as insanely jealous as i am and i mean this respectably, the fact your getting it for free means you have some spare readies to get it delivered... I'd ask on shiply for a price to get it home and then sort the problems properly in your own time and on your drive.

 

You don't want to be driving it back and getting pulled by the plod, lose the car, cop a fine and then to top it off having to find your way home from go knows where for the sake of £200. Plus it won't look very good on you as a motoring journalist i should imagine.

[dollywobbler]

Sum reapers research DW;

 

Had the same problem with my miggy 2.5 v6 last year. When the AA man came he laughed and said this is a very common problem with vauxhall cars. Basically you need two people to open the bonnet, one person pulling the bonnet release under the steering and the other person at the front of the car (where you would ordinarily open the bonnet)tapping the bonnet gently with the side of  a folded fist and it will snap open!!!

Mine was a prefacelift then so i had to tap gently next to the vauxhall badge.

I gave same instruction to the new buyer  as i did sell the car..

 

That's fine as long as the cable hasn't snapped. Seller didn't report hearing a twang, so let's keep those fingers crossed eh? Maybe I'll fit an external catch so it's no more difficult to open than my 2CV...

[dollywobbler]

Personally speaking as instantly jealous as i am and i mean this respectably, the fact your getting it for free means you have some spare readies to get it delivered... I'd ask on shiply for a price to get it home and then sort the problems properly in your own time and on your drive.

 

You don't want to be driving it back and getting pulled by the plod, lose the car, cop a fine and then to top it off having to find your way home from go knows where for the sake of £200. Plus it won't look very good on you as a motoring journalist i should imagine.

 

BORING. Also, I'd argue it'd be generating some excellent copy if I did get a tug from the rozzers. I can't see how they could confiscate the car if it's booked for an MOT though. They can confiscate for no tax and no insurance, but I believe it's a fine for no MOT, and they'd have trouble confirming that if the car is genuinely booked in for an MOT. Whether distance plays a part, well I'm not sure that's ever been tested.

 

I can confirm that I will not drive the car if it's leaking fuel or if there is anything else obviously wrong with it. That's a given! I'm not Roadkill.

[worldofceri]

When the bonnet cable snapped on my Volvo S40 I found it's possible to open the bonnet without tools or recourse to violence.  So you may be lucky.

 

It involved getting my arm up to the shoulder through the lower air intake at a very awkward angle so that I could reach up and pull the catch.  Took ages to figure out but having done it once I could do it in seconds now.

 

Oh yeah, and, GLWTwhateveritisyou'redoing.

[danthecapriman]

Personally speaking as insanely jealous as i am and i mean this respectably, the fact your getting it for free means you have some spare readies to get it delivered... I'd ask on shiply for a price to get it home and then sort the problems properly in your own time and on your drive.

You don't want to be driving it back and getting pulled by the plod, lose the car, cop a fine and then to top it off having to find your way home from go knows where for the sake of £200. Plus it won't look very good on you as a motoring journalist i should imagine.

This.

 

It was about 90 odd miles from where these cars are/were to my house, it cost me £225 to recover the Volvo back home. I know it's the pussy's way out but as the cars are free then I just spent their value on getting it home safely and responsibly on the back of a truck.

The guy I used was a pro, his truck was spot on, he had full insurance, all the right straps etc etc. I consider it a bargain personally.

Sometimes it's just not worth the risk or hassle for the sake of a bit of money. That's how I'd do this anyway.

[Guest Hooli]

Excellent work. looks a great car. Last of the proper RWD straight six Vauxhalls.

[Lacquer Peel]

I was tempted to drive the Xsara home on the pretense of a pre-booked MOT test, I'm glad I didn't because it was in no way road worthy and one of the brake pipes burst moving it on to the trailer.

The Omega looks a lot less gubbed however.

[Royale80]

Both my Omegas had the bonnet opening problem.

It was always a two person job to open them- one to push up and down on the bonnet and the other to pull the release.

This always worked- so worth trying.

 

Good luck!

 

Steve

[New POD]

WCPGW ?

 

It will pass an MOT and yet will swerve wildly to the left (or the right) randomly whilst braking, and will jump lanes if the road surface is uneven or you are stupid enough to even look at the white lines on the road.

The brakes will judder.

You will fix this by buying Moog front wisbones, pads and discs all round, and will go to a specialist to have the alignment adjusted. The toe in, and camber will be out on all four wheels, but once you have new tyres and it correctly aligned as per the dimensions they tell you on OOF (1 degree 10 mins  camber exactly IIRC), it will be fine.

 

Yours won't struggle to do 28 MPG.

 

By the way I have here the correct cambelt locking tool for a V6 petrol. Not sure if that helps ?

[Cheezey]

I saw a transit recently where I suspect the bonnet release cable had snapped. It looked like the bonnet had been levered open with a pick axe.