Rover 827 update.... Front suspension fiddling.....

[St.Jude]

44 minutes ago, Marina door handles said:

Also I have the PGM  EFI light on, this was on during the MOT but the tester either didn't notice or didn't know it was the engine warning light! Need to do some research on this one as I can't just plug in my code reader, just sort of ignoring that for now.........

Red flashing lights from the ECU will tell you the problem.

Isnt there a different EML light on the dash? The traditional orange one as well as the PGM EFI one?

[RoverFolkUs]

Any sort of engine MIL isn't testable on a car of this age anyway so it wouldn't be an issue from an MOT point of view

[Marina door handles]

3 hours ago, St.Jude said:

Red flashing lights from the ECU will tell you the problem.

Isnt there a different EML light on the dash? The traditional orange one as well as the PGM EFI one?

Good questions and I should really look into this but I am tempted to just wang some black electrical tape over the offending warning light and call it good! 

[Marina door handles]

Small road trip completed, have been to the local garden centre and then all the way to secret location in Tittensor (Stoke on toast) just opposite the Monkey park and slightly down from the garage selling all the camper vans. Who'ed have thought a car built by the Austin Rover group could do a whole 36 mile round trip without throwing a wobbly! 

In all seriousness its going well and is really nice to bomb about in, the only real issue the fuel gauge which is still all over the show it started working and then for the return trip decided to go back to empty so yep that hasn't fixed itself. As this is supposed to be a weekend car the fuel guage shouldn't be a massive issue but I have broken the Subaru again (the brand new starter motor has failed after less than 2 weeks use) so tomorrow the 827 will be doing the commute, it would be nice to know when I am about to run out of petrol............

Oh and I am still ignoring the Engine warning lamp! 

[Austin-Rover]

Congratulations on getting it back on the road. Enjoy your wafting!

Easiest way to deal with your fuel gauge in the meantime is just to fill it up, and then fill it up again after 200 miles or so. There's no stressing over the completely unknown quantity in the tank then. 

[bezzabsa]

still a damn good looking car!!

[Marina door handles]

Commuting update, firstly and most importantly I found the radio code and brought the Rover branded radio cassette player back to life. I tried a tape in it, sadly the Who have never sounded so wobbly so I ejected the cassette before it got eaten, no Dad rock for me! Anyway I probably ought to be listening for funny noises whilst driving, rather than moshing to my favourite tunes...

I made it to work....

Some of my colleagues seemed vaguely impressed, or maybe they were just being polite.....

I tried to add some fuel on the way home and have confirmed a bit of an issue. I think either the route to the tank is some how too restrictive or the breather is a bit blocked but pumping gas is frustrating ball ache, all the gun wants to do is click off. I suspect the my home brew modified Subaru filler neck to fit has some flaws, its okay with Jerry cans but anything with flow and pressure and it cannot cope.  I suspect the filler and not the fuel pump because I tried to fill up on Sunday at a different fuel station and had the same issue.

The fuel gauge is still an issue but it will briefly shows you what it has before nose diving back to empty, so after my attempted fill I am now up to half a tank, probably.

I am pretty sure the rear rocker cover gasket is leaking oil definitely getting a bit of a whiff at times. 

The view from the Captains chair.....

Maybe its my age but I enjoyed wafting through Stoke without having to change gear myself.  I am quite enjoying this old barge. 

 

[Marina door handles]

Update, I managed about 7 days commuting in the Rover and really enjoyed it before I managed to fix my Subaru get back to normality. On one occasion the 827 did get a bit hot and bothered, so before using/abusing it any further, I thought I best investigate.

To figure out what was going on I dug out  In my Fisher Price radiator pressure test kit... I found the right connector, fitted it to the coolant reservoir,  pumped it up and waited and then eventually spotted a gentle trickle from the water pump, bugger! So that's a cambelt off job then.... 

A couple of years ago I actually bought a cambelt and water pump for the car but never got around to fitting it so now would be a good time. I stripped the drive belts off and removed the alternator and free'ed off the PAS pump. Spent forever removing the upper cambelt covers and drivers side engine mount. I then pulled the starter motor to secure the flywheel so I could get the crank pulley off. The Haynes manual suggests that you can use a large screw driver to secure the flywheel, not a fucking chance that will work! I actually bought a cheap universal flywheel holding tool and adapted to the Rover to do that job, which worked.  Finally I could see the  belt and the obviously leaking water pump. 

First discovery, I had failed to buy a new idler pulley and the water pump was wrong,  no chance sending that back over a year later! After much faffing on line I found Autodoc (Deutschland) had the water pump in stock and I found the pulley for sale in Chatsworth...... Chatsworth California that is! Rover 827 bits really can be hard to find. The pulley and pump  arrived late this week, so I got back on it....

Managed to confirm TDC buying putting a long screw driver down one of the spark plug holes, which happily matched the markings on the cams and pulley. Took a brave pill and released the tensioner and removed the cambelt. 

Old water pump off, it was definitely leaking..

New one on...

Next the bit I dont like, re fitting the pulley and belt....

The rubber band is going on slowly....

Not a brilliant picture but thats the view I get, love working on transverse engines that are butted up to the front wing.......

Having a really fun time getting everything lined up properly, I did notice that when I got the belt tight over the bottom pulley it was moving the front camshaft forward a tooth! I then tried to work with this and wind the cam shaft back the opposite way so when you took up the slack it would move back to TDC but the valve springs kept popping the cam back to into position and no I don't have any cam locking tools.....

More later......

 

 

[beko1987]

That looks mega fun to work around 😬 Well done for getting that far!

You using a smear of a decent sealant around the pump gasket or going in dry?

[Marina door handles]

I used a smear of blue Hylomar, mainly to stop the rubber seal/gasket from falling off as I put the pump on.

Slight update on earlier, I have the belt on and it appears to be timed up!

I initially tried to follow the Haynes manual. But the order of putting the belt on  the various pulleys just didn't work and worse still kept moving the front camshaft.  So I went on Youtube and watched a bloke in Ohio fit a belt to a 1988 Honda Leg-end 2.7 and copied the order he used. Low and behold the belt was on properly. I whizzed it around a few times and re checked all the markings and my top dead centre finding screw driver and all was good! 

After watching bits of the Grand Prix I went back out and started buttoning up the belt covers, what an utter pain in the arse they are. To finish off todays activities I have loosely fitted the power steering pump and alternator fitted some of the auxiliary belts and re fitted the crank pulley. 

Jobs left to do over the next few evenings...... Actually still quite a bit to do, but essentially re fit lots of things and then bleed the coolant system..... Drive it some more! 

[Marina door handles]

Very casual no photos update....

I am a happy bunny. the Rover is back on the road, drives nicely and for the moment the fuel gauge has decided to join the party and work, weird....... Probably wont last!

 

[Marina door handles]

Another smoll update..

Bukkake party!!

Sorry I mean snow foam...  Dont worry this is no pro detail, just a quick one bucket gritty sponge scrub which was long over due....

Not too bad...

Regarding more mechanical matters I found the gearbox banged into drive and was a bit odd on tick over. I had checked the gearbox oil level but it occurred to me I hadn't really checked it when warm, so I did that on my return form work (18 miles should be warm enough really) and yep it was just a little under min, so I topped it and then fired it back up and slotted into drive.... No clonk! 

Its steadily improving and I am finding little niggly issues. Next up will be trying to sort the engine warning light, then front ARB drop links (they seem to be clonking) and also that fuel filling issue. Filling it from fuel cans is slow and boring! 

 

[High Jetter]

Using it should help wake it up

[Marina door handles]

I have been using the Longship again this week, this is largely because I broke the Subaru again (power steering pump lost its pulley as I was manoeuvring into my parking space at work, new pump on on its way).....

The Rover has been great, especially now the weather has cooled and it's broken air con is not an issue. It is surviving the stress testing reasonably well but inevitably I have found some issues.....

Firstly one of the front anti roll bar D bushes has vanished completely making travelling around a very clonky affair.  Not sure how long it has been like this but it was a bit of a surprise when I found the issue, I just thought it was a noisey old bush or something.... 

Then on a dead straight flat bit of road travelling it about 50 in traffic, the driver's front indicator lamp decided it had just had enough of life and existing as a lamp, departed company from the front of the wing and smashed itself to pieces on the road! 

 

So no prizes for guessing what I am currently shopping for............

 

[Austin-Rover]

That's some good going. It's normally only the outer lens that falls off! 😀

[mercedade]

On 18/07/2025 at 21:10, Marina door handles said:

I have been using the Longship again this week, this is largely because I broke the Subaru again (power steering pump lost its pulley as I was manoeuvring into my parking space at work, new pump on on its way).....

The Rover has been great, especially now the weather has cooled and it's broken air con is not an issue. It is surviving the stress testing reasonably well but inevitably I have found some issues.....

Firstly one of the front anti roll bar D bushes has vanished completely making travelling around a very clonky affair.  Not sure how long it has been like this but it was a bit of a surprise when I found the issue, I just thought it was a noisey old bush or something.... 

Then on a dead straight flat bit of road travelling it about 50 in traffic, the driver's front indicator lamp decided it had just had enough of life and existing as a lamp, departed company from the front of the wing and smashed itself to pieces on the road! 

 

So no prizes for guessing what I am currently shopping for............

 

Let me check the boot of mine, I may have a spare - yours for P+P if so

[mercedade]

2 hours ago, mercedade said:

Let me check the boot of mine, I may have a spare - yours for P+P if so

Let me know if you still need it @Marina door handles. Can't see postage being more than a fiver.

Also let me know if you want to buy the car - got an entire boot full of spares...

 

[Marina door handles]

7 hours ago, mercedade said:

Let me know if you still need it @Marina door handles. Can't see postage being more than a fiver.

Also let me know if you want to buy the car - got an entire boot full of spares...

 

Blimey! Annoyingly I have bought the last one in Rimmers stock and it should be arriving tomorrow, unless they have messed up?! Depending on what happens tomorrow I may well be interested. Also the idea of having a parts car isn't totally crazy considering how challenging getting parts for this car can be. 

What other bits have you got and how much is the car?? Also were abouts are you as its quite a big beasty to transport if its a none runner? 

[Marina door handles]

Its nice when mail order works....

We have indicator! 

[Marina door handles]

A slight update, I have been fishing about trying to get new front anti roll bar D bushes. Firstly in desperation I bought some expensive Polybushes, turns out that they are for the Vitesse model, they fit the clamp but the bar itself fits like a cock in a sock.

After yet more research I found Iveco bushes are really close dimensionally.... for any 800 pervs out there these are listed as Iveco 09380 1556 Febi 15588. 

Close ish.... original on your left or the "other right" for the directionaly confused.........

I found these nearly fitted in the clamps but had to be shaved down a bit, using my finger sander (a seriously messy job!) but I got them to fit.

After much fiddling and fettling they are in place, hold the anti roll bar firmly and look like they belong, pretty happy with that.

That's all for today....

[Snipes]

There use to be a website that gave all the exact dimensions. 

Way back when I ended fitting front compliance bushes from a Pulsar/Sunny GTiR to the rear arms of an s12 Silvia. 

[mercedade]

On 21/07/2025 at 21:00, Marina door handles said:

Blimey! Annoyingly I have bought the last one in Rimmers stock and it should be arriving tomorrow, unless they have messed up?! Depending on what happens tomorrow I may well be interested. Also the idea of having a parts car isn't totally crazy considering how challenging getting parts for this car can be. 

What other bits have you got and how much is the car?? Also were abouts are you as its quite a big beasty to transport if its a none runner? 

No worries, can see you're sorted now, good work!

I've got a pretty good stash of 'stuff' - a load of window switch packs, a full set of lights, a fusebox and loom, some doorhandles and wing mirrors etc. A couple of things that I'd probably only really want to go with the car, like a SS fuel filler neck and a scuttle panel.

The actual car isn't a parts car (how rude! 😁) - it's more of a short-term prospect for bringing back to the road. It was taken off the road fully working, other than needing a bit of a brake refresh, after I'd done TONNES of work to it. This thread is a mess of dead photos etc, but gives a sense.

I love it, but I need to sell it. I just don't want to.

[St.Jude]

2 hours ago, mercedade said:

The actual car isn't a parts car (how rude! 😁) - it's more of a short-term prospect for bringing back to the road

All Rover 800s are like that.

2 hours ago, mercedade said:

I love it, but I need to sell it.

All Rover 800 owners are like that.

[Marina door handles]

Sadly I really am not in the market for a perfectly good 800, I really dont have the space (I could sort of justify a parts car as it would have been short term if that makes sense....). Anyway are you sure you wont part with the filler neck as that is the bit on mine that is causing me an absolute headache. My home made effort doesn't breath and and filling the car from fuel cans is boring!  Also if you have a fuel sender I would be very interested?

Oh and whilst you are about, do you know what the PGM - FI codes are as I have yet to find a handy guide on how to read the flashing red light?

Cheers.

[St.Jude]

24 minutes ago, Marina door handles said:

Oh and whilst you are about, do you know what the PGM - FI codes are as I have yet to find a handy guide on how to read the flashing red light?

I'll have a look at my folders see if they have the codes for this if @mercedade hasn't got them.

[Marina door handles]

2 hours ago, St.Jude said:

I'll have a look at my folders see if they have the codes for this if @mercedade hasn't got them.

That would be appreciated! 

[Marina door handles]

Tiny unimportant update, I have tunes! I had found the radio code previously but the tape player is wobbly an FM radio is miserable Radio 1,Radio 2, Classic FM, local radio shite.... No thank you! 

But hang on doesn't this car have not one but two CD multi changers in the boot? Well yes it does..

After actually reading the handbook and finding the CD mode it turns out the grotty looking one is kaput but swapping the plug to the shiney one and..... We have tunes, err big band tunes! These are some of the CDs I found in the changer...

So that is what the Captain of a P&O ferry would listen to on the run down to the port. Not being an elderly retired sea captain I have replaced these with some Dad rock because that is how I roll. But yay I now have my own choice of music to drown out any worrying noises whilst sailing the Longship down the lanes. 

Fin.

[High Jetter]

Magic Moments!

[mercedade]

Right @Marina door handles, I think I've done Dropbox correctly. But let me know if you can't see these docs.

I've got a few more kicking around, including the Rave system.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/cw04zcm5chvtapmb3h529/ACbGXqdhDJAFHrccAjoWH9k?rlkey=ezzkvrdt3cai905kh79tcedn2&st=8k3v6yh1&dl=0

 

[mercedade]

5 hours ago, Marina door handles said:

Sadly I really am not in the market for a perfectly good 800, I really dont have the space (I could sort of justify a parts car as it would have been short term if that makes sense....). Anyway are you sure you wont part with the filler neck as that is the bit on mine that is causing me an absolute headache. My home made effort doesn't breath and and filling the car from fuel cans is boring!  Also if you have a fuel sender I would be very interested?

Oh and whilst you are about, do you know what the PGM - FI codes are as I have yet to find a handy guide on how to read the flashing red light?

Cheers.

I've actually got two filler necks - I should probably let one of them go - although is it the breather that's knackered on yours, or the actual neck? I need to see what's up with my two as they're both spares. Let me work out a price, as I'd like to see yours stay on the road.