So the story begins. A distant friend of mine bought a 53 plate 1.2 16v around 4 years ago, not being mech minded at all, never maintained or kept this car in good condition whatsoever (other than washing it)!
Skip forward a bit to summer last year. The car starts having misfire issues "martin_172" lends a hand with plugs and coil pack. The car is fixed and back to normal, however 3 weeks later the problem arises again. The owner takes the car to a local garage who say "it has dropped a valve". When i heard about this I said dont dare give them any money because they are chatting s**t.
Someone else strips the head off the engine to prove there are no valve issues. However a comp test would have been suffice. Head and valve gear are fine. Owner of the car has no money to buy new water pump or belt kit etc etc.
The car sits for a year....
Owner buys a head seal kit and decides to throw it back together and trade in. Offers to buy had already been refused. This is where i come in. I get speaking to the owner and offer a hand to set the timing and button everything up for him. When working on the car I can see potential, clean bodywork, climate control, elec sunroof and only done 50k. Its also one of the early Ph3 facelifts. I warn him to get rid asap incase of a belt failure etc.
I do a little thinking, knowing my GF's Ka will struggle through an MOT come easter. I ring him and offer £500 (being very generous). So now I own another Renault.
The ongoing work and plans are:
Skip forward a bit to summer last year. The car starts having misfire issues "martin_172" lends a hand with plugs and coil pack. The car is fixed and back to normal, however 3 weeks later the problem arises again. The owner takes the car to a local garage who say "it has dropped a valve". When i heard about this I said dont dare give them any money because they are chatting s**t.
Someone else strips the head off the engine to prove there are no valve issues. However a comp test would have been suffice. Head and valve gear are fine. Owner of the car has no money to buy new water pump or belt kit etc etc.
The car sits for a year....
Owner buys a head seal kit and decides to throw it back together and trade in. Offers to buy had already been refused. This is where i come in. I get speaking to the owner and offer a hand to set the timing and button everything up for him. When working on the car I can see potential, clean bodywork, climate control, elec sunroof and only done 50k. Its also one of the early Ph3 facelifts. I warn him to get rid asap incase of a belt failure etc.
I do a little thinking, knowing my GF's Ka will struggle through an MOT come easter. I ring him and offer £500 (being very generous). So now I own another Renault.
The ongoing work and plans are:
- Strip the engine back and make use of the seal kit, valve stem seals etc and reset clearances as there was some burning on the exh valves.
- Major service items, belts, water pump etc.
- Find what the cause of the misfire is.
- Either shampoo the interior or do the sensible thing and fit a RS interior.
- Major detail and attepmt at correction.
- Source and fit xenons.
- Source and fit N/F wheel as it has heave kerbing.
