2001 1.2 Corsa no MOT, what next.
in [Car Maintenance]
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From: T i m on 16 May 2010 12:09 Hi all, I'd like to run some stuff past the panel if you don't mind please. Daughters and b/f have his Dads old 125k Corsa (C?) up in Scotland and they have been running backwards and forwards in it a few times now (I first mentioned it here when he lost half the oil via the pressure switch). ;-( [1] Anyway, it's MOT has expired and (against my better advice) he took it to their local garage for a pre-MOT look over (ok if it didn't cost etc). They were advised of: "o/s & n/s front lower suspension arms, o/s & n/s anti roll bar links, number plate, n/s headlamp, hand brake". Now the number plate and n/s headlamp suffered when they hit a deer recently and would be fairly easy to replace (by them) I should imagine. Drop links look cheap enough and with the right splitter should also be easy(ish) to replace (and the car driven slowly round the corner to the garage if it doesn't go well)? I guess the 'handbrake' could be anything from some adjustment to a worn (out) drum(s), shoes or leaky hydraulics (contaminating the shoes) but we don't know exactly what they meant by 'handbrake' (I'm guessing excess travel on the lever if they didn't put it on the rolling road). By 'lower suspension arms' I assume they mean bushes or maybe the ball joints (I don't know Corsas much). I think you can replace just the ball joint but I suspect that would be a stage to far for them so complete replacement arms may be the way to go (and may well be the way anyway). However, laddo has also noticed the n/s outer CV gaiter is split (through) so that would be another definite on the MOT fail sheet and probably not a job for a pair of car mechanic n00bs (they are both fairly practical, they have some tools and live / work on a farm etc). He's also about to buy a truck for a Tree Services / Firewood business he's about to start up there so they will have some wheels again but I don't suppose it (Hi-Lux) would be as economical or comfortable for runs from Scotland to Nth London every few months. If she takes / passes her test <sigh> she could use it while he's got the truck and we could sell the Ka that's down here (as it's got less miles and can't take a towbar for even a small luggage trailer). The Corsa seems in otherwise good condition and AFAIK everything else works and there's no rust etc. So, what to do with the Corsa. Would summat like that be worth the cost of getting it through the MOT do we think please (either to sell or as a cheapo runabout whilst it's still actually running)? I think they are willing to do as much of the work as they can (with some remote guidance), especially the more basic silly_not_to stuff like the headlamp and number plate etc. I think they (the family) are happy for them to have a go ... little to lose etc (I'd have them get it checked over afterwards etc). Thanks for your time etc. Cheers, T i m [1] Their last trip back was carrying the wooden knock-down bench I made especially to fit in the back of the Corsa to take my wood turning lathe that our daughter wanted to use up there. ;-)
From: Conor on 16 May 2010 13:05 On 16/05/2010 17:09, T i m wrote: > So, what to do with the Corsa. Fix it. > Would summat like that be worth the > cost of getting it through the MOT do we think please (either to sell > or as a cheapo runabout whilst it's still actually running)? I think > they are willing to do as much of the work as they can (with some > remote guidance), especially the more basic silly_not_to stuff like > the headlamp and number plate etc. I think they (the family) are happy > for them to have a go ... little to lose etc (I'd have them get it > checked over afterwards etc). Better the devil you know. Judging by the recent experience trying to find my brother a cheap runaround, you're going to have all hell on finding anything remotely worthwhile under �1000. Anything sub �5-�600 is going to have issues. -- Conor I'm not prejudiced. I hate everyone equally.
From: T i m on 16 May 2010 13:27 On Sun, 16 May 2010 18:05:38 +0100, Conor <conor(a)gmx.co.uk> wrote: >On 16/05/2010 17:09, T i m wrote: > >> So, what to do with the Corsa. > >Fix it. Ok. > >> Would summat like that be worth the >> cost of getting it through the MOT do we think please (either to sell >> or as a cheapo runabout whilst it's still actually running)? I think >> they are willing to do as much of the work as they can (with some >> remote guidance), especially the more basic silly_not_to stuff like >> the headlamp and number plate etc. I think they (the family) are happy >> for them to have a go ... little to lose etc (I'd have them get it >> checked over afterwards etc). > >Better the devil you know. That was one of my thoughts but I wasn't sure if it carried any weight in this situation (at that mileage / particular jobs etc). >find my brother a cheap runaround, you're going to have all hell on >finding anything remotely worthwhile under �1000. Anything sub �5-�600 >is going to have issues. Understood. So, on that then, even if they did it up (just) to sell it would be worth doing so. I'll pass that back ta. Cheers, T i m p.s. I have a std pivoting action ball joint splitter that I've used plenty on track_rod_ends and lower steering ball joints (from my Morris Minor days <g>). Would that be suitable for the suspension drop links as they look a bit smaller. I've also got him to buy a half decent 1/2" sq dr socket set up there and pre-spray the nuts / bolts with penetrating fluid. Whatabout the outer CV gaitors. Do the split ones actually work?
From: Chris Whelan on 16 May 2010 15:49 On Sun, 16 May 2010 18:27:37 +0100, T i m wrote: [...] What about the outer CV gaiters. Do the split ones actually work? About long enough to get to the MOT station, as long as it's fairly local... Chris -- Remove prejudice to reply.
From: T i m on 16 May 2010 16:37
On Sun, 16 May 2010 19:49:18 GMT, Chris Whelan <cawhelan(a)prejudicentlworld.com> wrote: >On Sun, 16 May 2010 18:27:37 +0100, T i m wrote: > >[...] > > What about the outer CV gaiters. Do the split ones actually work? > >About long enough to get to the MOT station, as long as it's fairly >local... Ah, that bad eh? ;-( I did have a little Google and found a forum where folk had used them and whilst there seems to be a bit of a technique re gluing them together, once glued and attached they seemed to work ok? I'm not suggesting they are a 'good' solution of course but was hoping they might be good enough to get it through the MOT and even down here so I can fit a proper pair? Cheers, T i m |