1986 Vauxhall Carlton CDi, Daily use of a 37yr old car.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Excellent news and worth all the hard work! 

[sutty2006]

Despite the tester hating old Vauxhalls he was quite surprised in its overall condition, considering it’s age and time layed up

[High Jetter]

Brilliant news! Also loving the modern* recovery truck they have.

[danthecapriman]

Well deserved result that is! Another great car back on the king’s highway.

[stuboy]

even the old bill liked them..............

[sutty2006]

16 minutes ago, stuboy said:

even the old bill liked them..............

Poverty spec bit with optional CD fog lamps. Only seen one with those fogs and that was the Rekord I restored last. Wish they come standard on CD!!

[Popsicle]

Well done that's a fantastic result - lovely to see another old Vauxhall on the road again.

[RoverFolkUs]

I often wonder with cars like this that have been without an MOT for all these years whether there's a previous owner out there who is surprised/delighted if they find out it's returned to the road, in this case 15 years later!

Nice result, must be satisfying to have it advisory free as well!

[sutty2006]

21 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

I often wonder with cars like this that have been without an MOT for all these years whether there's a previous owner out there who is surprised/delighted if they find out it's returned to the road, in this case 15 years later!

Nice result, must be satisfying to have it advisory free as well!

I’m sure @woodbine will be pleased! 

[ProgRocker]

Splendid news! 

[sutty2006]

So now it’s road legals, the snagging list of jobs can be started. 
 

The dash lights didn’t light. I know 104.783% this is a Reostat fault. Same on the last one I did. But getting to it means removing 94.6% of the dash to get at it. Nope. 
 

that’ll do, I can scooch my hands in there. 

out she pops. Two screws. 2 lightning wires. In and out. I just cut one connector off and fitted a male end and joined them together…… 

 

there’s definitely corrosion in that. 
 

but now it’s connected up, we have lights! 
 

[Bren]

Great work.

[Rust Collector]

Well done on the MOT pass mate, I've really enjoyed following the progress on this car so it's brilliant to see it roadworthy now.

[sutty2006]

Forgot I took this picture. 
 

 

pez shot. I had taken it to the petrol station up the road yesterday before mot, because it would have been an easy recovery had it FTPd on this route and not anywhere else. Plus. The fuel gauge lies like Putin. 

[sutty2006]

Today I bought 6 minutes of free time between child care, emptying the wife’s grandads house and rain storms to change the oil. 
 

100.67% certain I bought two filters but only found 1. Hmmm. 
 

 

she wasn’t overly tight, 

 

 

I did the right thing and binned this champion filter and went ahead and scooched a Bosch unit up there. 
 

 

I used the 20/50 mannol oil that fed ex delivered late. Thanks fed ex. It has all the nutrients and minerals that these CIH engines love. And you can tell. It’s sticky as hell. I did consider putting some Lucas oil stabiliser in for good measure but it really wasn’t needed. Lovely. 
 

after running the engine, oil pressure is more stable. 

[tooSavvy]

@sutty2006.. "and rain storms to change the oil. "

+1 👍

🚙💨

[Ian_Fearn]

19 hours ago, sutty2006 said:

 

I did the right thing and binned this champion filter and went ahead and scooched a Bosch unit up there. 

Not a Wix?

[sutty2006]

1 hour ago, Ian_Fearn said:

Not a Wix?

Unfortunately not! All the Wix’s are outta stock! 

[Ian_Fearn]

39 minutes ago, sutty2006 said:

Unfortunately not! All the Wix’s are outta stock! 

Rotella heavy duty diesel oil?

[sutty2006]

3 hours ago, Ian_Fearn said:

Rotella heavy duty diesel oil?

I love it how he always goes for 15 double yer 40 heavy duty diesel oil 🤣🤣 I need to watch some more 

[Scruffy Bodger]

I had an A reg one of these many moons ago and the dash lights not lighting was a regular thing. A mates Dad had had a few and told me to thump the dash from underneath to get them to come back on, it worked every single time and they stayed lit until turning them off again.

If the arse end goes they don't come straight back online and do a bit of a wiggle which can catch people unawares.

Well done for saving it, mine did me proud, hopefully yours will too.

Ps, the remote boot release can be very handy in snowy conditions if you have a passenger. You can pop the boot whilst still moving and if they are agile enough they can get in the boot and jump up and down to get you to the top of a hill lol

[Jenson Velcro]

Great to see this hit the road. My parents had a brand new one on a Y reg which I learnt to drive in. It felt enormous then compared to the learner cars I had lessons in. I guess now it’s just mid-sized compared with most offerings on the roads today.

[sutty2006]

I want to adjust the rear brakes on this. Usually a simple process of adjusting the cog for the shoes but I’m struggling on this. The Haynes book of lies says there is a hexagon headed bolt attached to each adjuster accessible through the back plate. Lies. There are many holes. But nothing has an Allen key behind it. 
 

big hole at rear has this. 
 

little hole at front has this, presumably an inspection hole. 
 

 

and the little holes that have caps are spring loaded, and I can’t get them off. (Far left)
 

So I’m currently stuck. 

[Rust Collector]

Can you cheat by pulling the drum off and having a look at the secrets inside? Is there any hole on the outside face of the drum that lines up with an adjuster as you rotate the drum?

[sutty2006]

The hole that this wants me to go through is not accessible with an Allen key. 

[sutty2006]

Just now, Rust Collector said:

Can you cheat by pulling the drum off and having a look at the secrets inside? Is there any hole on the outside face of the drum that lines up with an adjuster as you rotate the drum?

No not really. The drum is loose but stuck on the shoes. Don’t want to force it just yet. 
 

 

[RoverFolkUs]

Some gentle twisting and tapping will see it off, you will get the drum off as long as it's not locked up

[sutty2006]

What’s the worst that can happen? Got the copper hammer out and gave it a gentle persuasion. It came off. They look to be auto adjustment. So just make sure everything’s working and build it back up 👍

 

 

[sutty2006]

More jobs done. New battery fitted. I’ve been using a buggered Diesel Roomster battery which does hold some charge but I did a midtronics test a few months ago and its result was “replace battery”. 
 

and this Carlton came with it’s original fleece. So that’s on, mmmm snug as a bug. 
 

Tick. Job done.

clock doesn’t work, got the box of spares out and found my other oil filter, yay. 
 

 

and fitted the spare clock. 
 

another job done. Every CDi needs a working clock! 
 

and with the battery renewed, and fresh oil in, the gauges are showing good figures now. Apart from the fuel gauge. That will get done when I take it to work and get it on a ramp. 

[sutty2006]

Preparing for road use tomorrow, but I probably won’t be able to use it yet. Cassette holders found. They are same fitted to the Opel manta. Great! Thanks Charlie for supplying these and a set of mudflaps!