Bringing SYD (N600SYD) back to health.

[silentmonkey]

In the middle of November I did something I said I’d never do. I bought a car off eBay. But, when needs must you tend to throw caution to the wind. We have planned ourselves a little sojourn to Switzerland in February and as my better half refuses point blank to fly the only alternative is to drive there. While my Monaro is big and comfortable it’s too thirsty for such a journey and the boot is way too small. The Wife’s Astra is too small for 4 adults on a long trip so the suggestion was to get a cheap 4x4 of eBay and sell it again afterwards. And so it was I acquired SYD.

I had a budget of £1250 plus £250 for any odds and sods that might want doing to it. So I did some research before hand. I wanted a Runner, Diesel, LWB, Good tyres, long MOT, (at least beyond March) Taxed, but not too fussed about putting some more on and something that parts would be cheap for (got that bit wrong!). As I’ve been a Vauxhall owner for a while I thought of a Frontera, found this site, and it looked like the 2.8 Diesel would be ideal if I could find one. After a few months of Biding and Loosing On a variety of cars Most were 2.5’s as very few 2.8’s appeared. Then SYD was offered. It looked ideal.Long MOT (May) and taxed until Dec but it was in Sunderland and no chance to inspect it first!

Well I went for it and it survived the long trip down the motorway to Milton Keynes with out any problem though the accelerator pedal was very spongy. Anyway the next day I set about checking her over and despite the guy selling it assuring me the only problem was the temp gauge not working it was soon obvious there were a few other things wrong . The most noticeable the Oil pressure and light not working!!! To be fair most of the stuff the previous owner was probably unaware of but the list is long. Below is the list and actions taken


1. CD’s jammed in CD Changer.
• Dismantled and removed CD’s. Sticky labels had come off!!!
2. Service:
• Replaced Oil, Oil Filter and Air filter
• Drained and refilled radiator with Anti Freeze
• Replaced Fuel Filter, got an air lock and panicked until it Cleared
3. Number Plate Bulb Out
• Bulb Replaced
4. N/S/F Side Lamp Out
• Bulb Replaces
5. Both Front Fog lamps Out
• Bulbs Replaced
6. O/S/F Driving Lamp Out and Both Driving Lamp Reflectors Corroded
• New Lamps Purchased and fitted
7. Cold Start Problem
• Removed EGR Pile (Bolt Sheered in manifold), Removed Intake Plenum, Removed 4 Glow Plugs and tested. One found to be faulty. Took 10 seconds to Glow and started glowing in the middle not at tip. Replaced with New. Removed Bolt from manifold and replaced with new. Discarded gaskets as there was signs of exhaust leak and sealed with holts FireGum. Checked out Relay and found it to have been swopped with a FORD one and wiring adjusted to suit. Checked out QOS. Choke valve seems to be working ok.
Starts better but still not perfect but it always starts after 2 to 4 glows.
8. Temperature Gauge not working
• Traced to badly seated connector on back of Speedo sensor had already been replaced
9. Oil Pressure Gauge and Light Not working
• Missing Oil Pressure Transducer. 13mm Bolt forced into mounting. Had to re-thread and get a new sender from Isuzu Dealer and fit Vauxhall £108 Isusu dealer £14.07
10. Various Control Switch Lamps out
• Removed Switches and replaced with wire end bulbs from Maplin and help from the forums
11. Heating Control Lamp Out
• Removed Facia and replaced Bulb.
12. Heater Blower Not working
• New relay fitted
13. Accelerator Peddle Spongy and limited travel.
• Noticed this on the drive down from Sunderland could not get WOT felt like the matt was wedged under. On investigation found that the metal of the mounting bracket was torn. Welded and adjusted linkage to remove play.
14. Radio Facia Detached
• Removed radio and replaced facia
15. N/S/R Window Not Working
• Hmmm Not had time to look at
16. Fan Belt slipping
• Adjusted but may need a new one
17. Fuel Leak when tank Full
• Leak from breather tube. Re-seated with new clip
18. N/S/R tyre Loosing Pressure
• Leak from inner rim. Had tyre refitted
19. Excessive Play in steering.
• Adjusted thanks again to forum.
20. Front Tyre wear on outer Edge
• Tracking adjusted

All this work has taken place over the last few months and I’ve been using SYD as my daily drive which is mostly a few miles to the station and back bit its had a few long runs to Reading and Birmingham and has not missed a beat. Well after all that work we are about to set off tomorrow at 4 AM for Adelboden in Switzerland and with GB stickers and Snow Chains at the ready I’m really looking forward to see how she goes on a really long run. If I get a chance I’ll post some pictures……

That is if you’ve not given up reading!

[I Live For FOG]

good luck if you need anything opel dealers internet cafes back to fog

[Red Oktober]

Blimey ....

you've done some work on it ........


good luck with everything on the trip

[silentmonkey]

Yep but it's been fun. Apart from the air lock I thought I bust something big time Never had a Diesel before. Its nice to have a car I can get my hands dirty again without the need for an electronics degree. Any off to bed now Long drive tomorrow....

[andysd1]

10. Various Control Switch Lamps out
• Removed Switches and replaced with wire end bulbs from Maplin and help from the forums


do you mean the switchers beside the s/wheel, as mine are out,

[Drift]

wow I ope you left good feed back

As Steve said, if you encounter any probs get to an internet cafe or McDonlands ( free wireless internet connection, pda's to ) with your lappy , we will source some parts or help

How you have a good trip, Ive been to Zermatte, stayed in Tache a few times but never in the winter, get some good pics

Enjoy

[bobbinsjob]

Hope you have a damn good time and drive safe

[john (smifffy)]

looks like you have had a busy time of it over the last few months

hope you have a carefree trip and enjoy yourself

[alex]

Have a good time, jealous already.

[silentmonkey]

Well Syd got us safe and sound to Adelboden without a problem. We even did some touring around the mountains up in the snow. Even used the 4x4 on some of the more slippery bits but the snow chains were not required. All in all we had a fab time until it was home time.

I think Syd liked Switzerland so much he didn't want to come home. We loaded it up on the last day, payed the bill and went to set off. Dead battery!! Now Syd is like most of us, doesn't care too much for cold mornings and this one had been especially cold. The usual 2 or 3 glows before a cold start went to 7 or 8 and killed the battery and jump leads were about the only thing I'd forgotten to pack, or so I'd thought. Any way the local garage came out and jumped Syd and it started first time! (Note to self: must check that battery out when I get home!)

So now we said our farewells and set off home. We planned a hotel stop in Calais for that night and to hop on the euro-tunnel the next day. So we drove out of Switzerland and all away across France. We got as far as the last toll on the A26/E15 when my son, who was driving at the time, had problems getting gears. Manage first and off we went. When we dropped into Calais the clutch peddle was flopping about and gears were becoming more difficult until finally, as we pulled into the hotel car park the clutch peddle hit the floor and stayed there!!

A quick check under the bonnet revealed no fluid in the master clutch cylinder and the slave dribbling over the floor A quick call to the RAC got a man to us in 30 Mins but his English was worse than my French. He proclaimed it dead and we would need a tow to the ferry (euro-tunnel does NOT take broken down cars!) So this was arranged the next day and Syd traveled home in style on the back of a flat bed!!!

It took me all of 45 Mins on Saturday to fix Syd. Slave off, new seal, Slave on and a quick bleed.

I'm sure the guy in France could have done a battlefield repair to get us on and off the euro-tunnel. I guess it is to easy and more profitable to say its bust and it needs a tow

Still the RAC European cover has paid for itself and their European call centre and the uk side were superb.

[Drift]

Glad you had a great trip, and it was only a minor problem with the car, at least you got home ok with an added story to tell

[john (smifffy)]

get a cheap 4x4 of eBay and sell it again afterwards. And so it was I acquired SYD.

glad you had a great time on your hols with not to much problem at least coming back on transporter saved a drop of fuel

will you be keeping it or selling as you said

[pidge]

sorry to hear that! i bought a car off ebay with mot and turned out not to have one and cost £800 to get one never again!

[Red Oktober]

my 2.8 came off e-bay ...and it's been great ..no problems (unless i've caused it) at all

[pidge]

did you go and look at it first? just seems alot of people just try to sell tat on there alot of the time!

[Red Oktober]

yes ...and as it was only round the corner from me ...(cheers ste) ..i delt direct with the owner rather than thruogh e-bay

[Drift]

No brobs fella lol glad it was a goodn

[Red Oktober]

so-far ...it's gone everywhere i've pointed it ...can't ask much more

[Wilberforce]

so-far ...it's gone everywhere i've pointed it ...can't ask much more

What, you mean you've never got it stuck then Carl??

[Red Oktober]

so-far ...it's gone everywhere i've pointed it ...can't ask much more

What, you mean you've never got it stuck then Carl??

c'mon jim ....
you know i've gotten my truck stuck ...more than once