Where to start?

[TotalControl]

After selling my G plate 1.6 exactly 7 years I've managed to purchase a V Limited on an H plate for £500. It was imported from Hong Kong and the previous owner has had it for 10 years. No service history, a slipping clutch and fading paint in BRG, I think the 1.6 needs a lot of work done to it. Thing is, I've no idea of where to start.

So, any ideas?

[Pit Pony]

Take it for an MOT, look under the car for rust.

Get rid of rust, fix the clutch, see if the engine is okay, if not rebuild engine, drive car, eventually save up for some paint.

[vrsmxtb]

Get someone that knows MX5's to have a good look over it, shouldn't cost much more than an MOT.

Then prioritise - I'd say full service of everything first, fluid change everywhere, get any rust fixed and get a proper 4 wheel alignment done. From there it depends how deep your wallet is! Good tyres, coilovers and an exhaust transform the car.

[MG CHRIS]

Engines arnt nothing to worry about they will go on for ever and even if you need one can pick a good one up for £100 or so. Rust is what you need to look for even though its been imported its still been used in this country if the previous owner has neglected it not clearing roof drains rust will be working its way through and btw these rust from the inside out.

Everything else is easy.

[TotalControl]

So the story so far.

I started on the interior, which was a complete mess and stunk of fags/ash/weed/other stuff. The drivers seat is ripped on the outer side near the door. The ashtray was just that. Nasty. The carpet had tan liquid all over it behind the drivers seat. Luckily this was dry and majority came out. Nasty st.

There looks to be no oil in the car nor any water. There was clay residuey like stuff on the radiator cap, so that needs a flush. I scrubbed some grease and dirt off the rocker cover to get the shine back and other metal parts had the wire brush treatment. I've ordered the rocker cover gasket and service kit from eBay for that.

The boot. fking hell. Some tan liquid, presumably the same stuff to treat the seats, was everywhere, along with surface rust. That took the best part of 4 hours to do (2 after work yesterday and two again today). Surprisingly, the boot cover carpet is untouched. Weird.

I've now applied Hammerite spray after wire brushing the living st out of it.

I hope this is worth it.

[VladD]

TotalControl said:

So the story so far.

I started on the interior, which was a complete mess and stunk of fags/ash/weed/other stuff. The drivers seat is ripped on the outer side near the door. The ashtray was just that. Nasty. The carpet had tan liquid all over it behind the drivers seat. Luckily this was dry and majority came out. Nasty st.

There looks to be no oil in the car nor any water. There was clay residuey like stuff on the radiator cap, so that needs a flush. I scrubbed some grease and dirt off the rocker cover to get the shine back and other metal parts had the wire brush treatment. I've ordered the rocker cover gasket and service kit from eBay for that.

The boot. fking hell. Some tan liquid, presumably the same stuff to treat the seats, was everywhere, along with surface rust. That took the best part of 4 hours to do (2 after work yesterday and two again today). Surprisingly, the boot cover carpet is untouched. Weird.

I've now applied Hammerite spray after wire brushing the living st out of it.

I hope this is worth it.

You should post photos. This could be an interesting and fun thread.

Edited by VladD on Wednesday 4th June 10:33

[TotalControl]

Photos? I never thought of that. I haven't actually taken any because I've been too busy cursing it.

Enter Project Bum:

[cianha]

You got a VSpec *with* hardtop for £500? Bargain.

[VladD]

cianha said:

You got a VSpec *with* hardtop for £500? Bargain.

Yes, that looks great for the money. I have a V-Spec 2, so am a big fan of the colour.

[Pit Pony]

Must put daisies back on. They look so retro 1990.

[TotalControl]

Today was good. Changed the sludge that was in the radiator and the tar that was oil.

It was crap. Really really crap. The oil filter slipped straight off without effort and was as dry as a bone. New filter on and oil put it. I used Magnatec 10W40 (A3/B2 I think).

I cleaned the radiator overflow too.

The only pics I have:





Oh, and the boot looks a lot better:

[pewe]

Don't like the sound of the oil filter being "as dry as a bone" - just doesn't seem right.
Maybe google or ask on MX5Nutz as it seems to indicate lack of flow to the filter.
Cheers, Pewe.

[TotalControl]

I agree, doesn't feel right at all. But I'll get the main servicing done on it and see if it develops any problems.

Note to self: take more pics.

[TotalControl]

Today consisted of dealing with this:



Wasn't that bad a job to be honest but could have been made a whole lot quicker if I had proper access to it. Used a hydraulic jack with axle stands on each sill.

The only thing left to do is to install the rocker cover gasket and CAS O ring, clean the rocker cover then fire her up after somehow charging the battery.

This will need to wait till Saturday at the earliest.

[TotalControl]

I deleted the charcoal canister, fitted the rocker cover gasket and CAS O ring but the car just won't start. It turns but doesn't catch. Any ideas?

[Steffan]

TotalControl said:

I deleted the charcoal canister, fitted the rocker cover gasket and CAS O ring but the car just won't start. It turns but doesn't catch. Any ideas?

Logical steady approach to checking the sparks occur at the right time, there is petrol getting throughnand there is some smell of petrol from the exhaust should eliminate some of the possibilities. Like all modern cars there are the cam sensor/crank sensor/ECU concerns to look at next.

Is the car firing at all? If there is no response at all and the engine s cranking at a decent rate.mthn it could be more serious and then compression tests etc are needed to ascertain just what is wrong. Can you feel the compression strokes occurring? Could there be a non standard alarm or immobiliser stopping the ignition? With modern cars if there is literally no sign of firing at all then something is definitely switched off or not working modern cars fire unless something is stopping them. Just go through the basics you will sort this eventually. Best of luck and an excellent purchase IMO.

[Steffan]

Another thought relating to the oil missing and filter being dry? Is the oil pressure lifting as you are cranking the car. There should be oil flowing through the cars pressure system if you have cranked the car a few times. Worth a check because if there isn't then sorting that out is critical before firing up. I doubt if it's a problem but dry engine and dry filter and no siight of oil in the engine are certainly worth investigating before firing up the car.

[MG CHRIS]

Did you mark up the cas sensor before you took it out its adjustable. If it not lined up in the right place car wont start.

[TotalControl]

Good pointers for me to loom into tomorrow chaps, many thanks. I have a feeling it may be the CAS sensor that isn't right. I'll check it and report back.

Edit - failing Chris's advice, I'll action Steffans but I'm still pretty sure I cocked up the CAS sensor reinstall.

Edited by TotalControl on Sunday 8th June 00:58

[Steffan]

MG CHRIS said:

Did you mark up the cas sensor before you took it out its adjustable. If it not lined up in the right place car wont start.

Excellent advice from MG Chris who knows a lot more about MX5 engines than I. Previous PH topic suggests every possibility I think otherwise the usual suspects. Modern engines have multiple safety devices like Cam Sensor, crank sensor etc etc which in conjunction with the ECU make the Old approach to mechanics outdated. We all need to be aware of those changes. Best of luck!!

See: http://www.pistonheads.com/gAssing/topic.asp?h=0&a...