Popular Post gtd2000 Posted August 6, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted August 6, 2021 A week or so back my GF mentioned one of her pals was looking to get rid of her old car and said she could have it for free. My ears pricked up somewhat as she already has a very presentable Honda Jazz but said that we could go have a look see. So last week I went to look at a very unloved Suzuki Alto on a 55 plate with four completely flat tyres and and a similar battery. The story goes that it had been sitting on the drive, un-started, for at least 2 years. Took battery home which was showing 0.5v and assumed it might be knackered. Smart charger was not interested but old school charger got it back to life and let the smart charger take over. So last night, I decided to take the battery up, with a gallon of fuel and see what the score was. Rear tyres pumped up OK but the fronts were not interested. Refitted battery but no sign of any fuel, filled up with the can on the left. Turned over but not interested in firing, took the one available plug lead off and re-seated again in the vain hope this might help, still not interested. Decided to check a few of the connections under the bonnet, turned the key and you could hear the fuel pump engaging then stopped. Turned key a few times and away it went. It looks generally solid with no obvious rust anywhere really. The brakes are seized on but managed to free off the front OS brake before the light started to go around 9:30pm. I'll be back up later in the week or over the weekend, to get the rest of the brakes freed off and then hopefully get it towed back to the house with a pal. BeEP, LabRat, Tickman and 50 others 53 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agila Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 Excellent purchase*. You've really really got to go over it 100% first before spunking any dosh on it. These free cars can suddenly become £650 cars very easily. Budget for brakes and tyres all round and check everywhere for rust etc. Better to find out now if it's shit rather than spend £250 then find a £400 bill two weeks later. Hope the rescue goes well. Jerzy Woking and gtd2000 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 8 minutes ago, Agila said: Excellent purchase*. You've really really got to go over it 100% first before spunking any dosh on it. These free cars can suddenly become £650 cars very easily. Budget for brakes and tyres all round and check everywhere for rust etc. Better to find out now if it's shit rather than spend £250 then find a £400 bill two weeks later. Hope the rescue goes well. Yes, exactly. I know it will need new front discs and pads for sure and I just noticed that the check engine light was on in the dash shot, which I didn't pick up on last night. There's a spare set of Honda Jazz wheels and tyres in the shed with a 100 PCD which I think might fit. Looks like there's something with the tracking, as the front tyres are very worn on the outer edge. I'll need to have a look at the known problems with the Alto cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agila Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 That's slightly what I was afraid of. Parts/fitting costs even if diy labour time, all add up. You seemed switched on though and going into it with your eyes open. Part of the fun project is the satisfaction doing the right thing and saving it. gtd2000 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split_Pin Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 Frasers of Falkirk! They are about 2 miles from my house. They've sold a fair range of cars over the years and are still going today although I couldn't tell you what franchise they have now. It was SsangYong the last time I looked. mk2_craig, gtd2000 and Eyersey1234 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 45 minutes ago, Agila said: That's slightly what I was afraid of. Parts/fitting costs even if diy labour time, all add up. You seemed switched on though and going into it with your eyes open. Part of the fun project is the satisfaction doing the right thing and saving it. Yeah, I'll give it a good look ever and might even treat it to an ATS Groupon discounted MoT, to see what else it needs, I'm guessing I'd still be quids in, after selling it for scrap at that stage. I've told the current owners the same thing so it'll not be a shock if it's not back on the road again. The engine though, does sound very sweet indeed. Hope it isn't beyond saving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 38 minutes ago, Split_Pin said: Frasers of Falkirk! They are about 2 miles from my house. They've sold a fair range of cars over the years and are still going today although I couldn't tell you what franchise they have now. It was SsangYong the last time I looked. I'm down in the Borders outside of Galashiels (Stow) so not familiar with the dealership at all. Thought it might provoke a memory on here though Split_Pin and RichardK 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 Last MoT wasn't too bad at all really, for an older car back in 2018 Split_Pin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMotor Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 Really can't grumble at that . Had an Alto a while back (Border cars pumped loads of these things out!). Remember the timing belt being a pain to get the right one and more expensive than I thought. Spark plugs are dear and water pumps bugger up when the impeller falls off. At least they were easy to work on. Tinny as fuck too, but meh! It'll do, if it's not fucked. gtd2000 and RichardK 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernaut Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 An Alto that isn't rusty? I don't believe you. However, my experience of these type of Altos is helping a friend look after 3 of them in a row, in the NE of Scotland. Funnily enough they were all utterly awful underneath. They changed car due to each successive one failing an MOT spectacularly for rust so they'd just buy another one for about £500. gtd2000 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davehedgehog31 Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 I suffered a hilarious* complete brake failure in one of these. As I yanked in vain at the hanbrake I was at least comforted by the knowledge it would protect me well in a crash. They're great fun to drive though on account of weighing about 300 kilos and being three feet wide. Would. gtd2000, chaseracer and sdkrc 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sporty-shite Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 3 hours ago, Supernaut said: rusty? NE of Scotland. There's your answer! Supernaut, gtd2000 and mk2_craig 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 7, 2021 Author Share Posted August 7, 2021 Rain has been stopping play the past few days, might get some progress tomorrow if it stays fair/dryish... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 7, 2021 Author Share Posted August 7, 2021 On 8/6/2021 at 3:21 PM, Supernaut said: An Alto that isn't rusty? I don't believe you. However, my experience of these type of Altos is helping a friend look after 3 of them in a row, in the NE of Scotland. Funnily enough they were all utterly awful underneath. They changed car due to each successive one failing an MOT spectacularly for rust so they'd just buy another one for about £500. That's going to be subject to verification of course It does look pretty good from above but there may well be some horrors below. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 7, 2021 Author Share Posted August 7, 2021 On 8/6/2021 at 3:14 PM, JMotor said: Really can't grumble at that . Had an Alto a while back (Border cars pumped loads of these things out!). Remember the timing belt being a pain to get the right one and more expensive than I thought. Spark plugs are dear and water pumps bugger up when the impeller falls off. At least they were easy to work on. Tinny as fuck too, but meh! It'll do, if it's not fucked. A pals mother used to drive a very yellow one a while back - it had 150K+ miles on it too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 7, 2021 Author Share Posted August 7, 2021 On 8/6/2021 at 3:29 PM, davehedgehog31 said: I suffered a hilarious* complete brake failure in one of these. As I yanked in vain at the hanbrake I was at least comforted by the knowledge it would protect me well in a crash. They're great fun to drive though on account of weighing about 300 kilos and being three feet wide. Would. These ones were definitely the opposite and locked on solid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 26, 2021 Author Share Posted August 26, 2021 Finally got time to pop back up to the car tonight and get all the brakes freed off! The N/S brakes were the worst affected, front and rear locked on solid. Fair bit of faffing about on the front but finally got it free. Back brake hub required a bit of belting with a light sledge hammer, which was all that I had available. Swapped over a couple of the wheels and pumped two tyres up. Car is now ready to be moved back to my place. That'll hopefully take place tomorrow or at the weekend. I get the feeling the bearing on the O/S rear might need either replacing or adjusting if tapered. Felt ever so slightly rough but might be due to brakes binding slightly. This is one of the tyres that was swapped. This was the locked on rear that required a good tap! BeEP, Split_Pin, GrumpiusMaximus and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 26, 2021 Author Share Posted August 26, 2021 One thing I noticed tonight after freeing off the N/S front brake and then trying to free the rear end by going forward and reverse quickly... Was that the ABS warning light came on. I'm wondering if I've buggered something up or if it's just due to the fact I was trying to free the brakes off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catsinthewelder Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 Might just be all the crud on the brakes affecting the sensors? Ghosty and gtd2000 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 26, 2021 Author Share Posted August 26, 2021 10 minutes ago, catsinthewelder said: Might just be all the crud on the brakes affecting the sensors? Fingers crossed it's nothing ominous. catsinthewelder 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfella2 Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 It's a good thing it's not the SRS light illuminated, otherwise it would be curtains! catsinthewelder, BorniteIdentity, gtd2000 and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosty Posted August 27, 2021 Share Posted August 27, 2021 corroded ABS ring/sensor sounds like a prime candidate, I wouldn't worry. gtd2000 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Cade Posted August 27, 2021 Share Posted August 27, 2021 Had a few of these where the rear trailing arm has rotted away and snapped.. check the rear suspension carefully! gtd2000 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 27, 2021 Author Share Posted August 27, 2021 No epic collection thread I'm afraid. There was a bit of drama as the front offside wheel wasn't on securely, that'll teach me to use a lower torque setting on the impact driver 😉 Towed the car back the five or so miles to the house under cover of darkness. Will get the pressure washer onto it tomorrow, if time permits. mk2_craig, catsinthewelder, Unlucky Alf and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 28, 2021 Author Share Posted August 28, 2021 Gave the car a bit of a clean today. Came up not too bad. Some issues with the cheap as chips door handle. Removed them for inspection and possible repairs. Really cheap to buy from AliExpress. Rear door handle is a bit minced this one will likely need replaced. I actually repaired this one but will possibly order another one in case it does not hold up LightBulbFun, mercedade, Jim Bell and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 28, 2021 Author Share Posted August 28, 2021 Here's the minced rear handle. Too many bits missing to repair easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bezzabsa Posted August 28, 2021 Share Posted August 28, 2021 Newer than my car!!!!!!!! gtd2000 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marm Toastsmith Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 Following with interest as I'm also recommissioning a similarly worthless "free" Polo. Keep up the good work. gtd2000 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted August 29, 2021 Author Share Posted August 29, 2021 11 hours ago, marm said: Following with interest as I'm also recommissioning a similarly worthless "free" Polo. Keep up the good work. I'll be quite honest, it's the £30 road tax that makes it more appealing. That said, if I can't get it all up to MoT standard for very little outlay, it'll be moved on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted September 5, 2021 Author Share Posted September 5, 2021 Not much progress this week. Pumped up the tyres again after starting the car. Started first turn of the key. Pulled the stupid looking black plastic rectangles off the corners of the rear bumper. Had a look under the bonnet to see what was stopping the bonnet release catch from completely locking down the bonnet and noticed that I hadn't secured the battery down properly! That took a few minutes to sort out then I had a look at the bonnet release cable. Didn't get any further forward but I suspect a bit of WD40 or similar will get things sorted. Had another look at the ridiculously dusty seats below the two sets of seat covers! Went back inside for a cuppa! 😉 Rocket88 and Banger Kenny 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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