Don't you just love previous owners
Discussion
My first two cars (bought and run on a shoestring as a student from summer job money) turned out to be full of them...
Renault 5 that someone had used a cold chisel instead of the correct square tool to adjust the rear brake shoes, and had done it several times rendering the adjusters and hence brakes useless.
Mk1 Golf Gti with filler and newspaper forming the A-posts (to be fair, took a few years for that to show itself) and found out the hard way that someone had used a jubilee clip and bit of hose pipe instead of the correct high pressure banjo fitment for the fuel feed from the pump end. Was overtaking someone when the engine just stopped, followed by an intense smell of petrol and a slight panic as I worked out what was happening whilst trying safely get the car parked! That was a few weeks before the driveshaft fell off whilst changing from second to third as the bolts hadn't been correctly tightened. That car taught me a lot about what to look for when buying subsequent cars... Still had it for five years though and sold as a runner :-)
Renault 5 that someone had used a cold chisel instead of the correct square tool to adjust the rear brake shoes, and had done it several times rendering the adjusters and hence brakes useless.
Mk1 Golf Gti with filler and newspaper forming the A-posts (to be fair, took a few years for that to show itself) and found out the hard way that someone had used a jubilee clip and bit of hose pipe instead of the correct high pressure banjo fitment for the fuel feed from the pump end. Was overtaking someone when the engine just stopped, followed by an intense smell of petrol and a slight panic as I worked out what was happening whilst trying safely get the car parked! That was a few weeks before the driveshaft fell off whilst changing from second to third as the bolts hadn't been correctly tightened. That car taught me a lot about what to look for when buying subsequent cars... Still had it for five years though and sold as a runner :-)
Admittedly the cooling system of an MR2 contains rather more convoluted plumbing than your average cow, but that's no excuse for the most shameful of bodges; RADWELD
On the particular example I had the misfortune to own, it seemed that the P.O. had kept bunging the foul gunk in until it was basically full.
...by which I mean the entire cooling system. Full. Of radweld
I had to chisel it out with a screwdriver
On the particular example I had the misfortune to own, it seemed that the P.O. had kept bunging the foul gunk in until it was basically full. 
...by which I mean the entire cooling system. Full. Of radweld
I had to chisel it out with a screwdriver
I couldn't work out why my Sunbeam fuel gauge registered 1/2 full but couldn't get any more fuel into it. (accompanied by a smell of fuel in the boot)
The car had dual tanks, filler in one, fuel gauge in the other, a large bore pipe connecting the two at the bottom, with a small bore breather at the top (behind some trim) so they could balance.
The single small bore pipe had been cut off at each end. A much much smaller bore pipe jubilee clipped between the two. Nothing fitted snugly leaked fumes and restricted breathing. Some one had gone to loads of hassle to save a fiver.
The car had dual tanks, filler in one, fuel gauge in the other, a large bore pipe connecting the two at the bottom, with a small bore breather at the top (behind some trim) so they could balance.
The single small bore pipe had been cut off at each end. A much much smaller bore pipe jubilee clipped between the two. Nothing fitted snugly leaked fumes and restricted breathing. Some one had gone to loads of hassle to save a fiver.
Nik da Greek said:
Admittedly the cooling system of an MR2 contains rather more convoluted plumbing than your average cow, but that's no excuse for the most shameful of bodges; RADWELD On the particular example I had the misfortune to own, it seemed that the P.O. had kept bunging the foul gunk in until it was basically full.
...by which I mean the entire cooling system. Full. Of radweld
I had to chisel it out with a screwdriver
That looks like a nightmare! On the particular example I had the misfortune to own, it seemed that the P.O. had kept bunging the foul gunk in until it was basically full. ...by which I mean the entire cooling system. Full. Of radweld
I had to chisel it out with a screwdriver
AceOfHearts said:
Nik da Greek said:
Admittedly the cooling system of an MR2 contains rather more convoluted plumbing than your average cow, but that's no excuse for the most shameful of bodges; RADWELD On the particular example I had the misfortune to own, it seemed that the P.O. had kept bunging the foul gunk in until it was basically full.
...by which I mean the entire cooling system. Full. Of radweld
I had to chisel it out with a screwdriver
That looks like a nightmare! On the particular example I had the misfortune to own, it seemed that the P.O. had kept bunging the foul gunk in until it was basically full. ...by which I mean the entire cooling system. Full. Of radweld
I had to chisel it out with a screwdriver
Wouldn't that cause the water pump to work a little hard?
Lol, it wasn't working at all. To be fair, why would you bother sorting where the system was leaking from with a repair or replacement when you could just systematically bodge it until it stopped leaking? Even when the only reasons it stopped leaking was cos it a) stopped pumping water and b) stopped having any available hose through which to pump water 
If it's any consolation, the water system was probably in a better condition than the strut top-mounts.
See if you can guess which one is the new replacement
Bearing in mind the car was only about 20 years old when I got it, it's a spectacular job reducing components to such a state so quickly. Only thing I can figure is the PO must have moored it rather than parking it
If it's any consolation, the water system was probably in a better condition than the strut top-mounts.
See if you can guess which one is the new replacement
Bearing in mind the car was only about 20 years old when I got it, it's a spectacular job reducing components to such a state so quickly. Only thing I can figure is the PO must have moored it rather than parking it
Haven't the days of real bodgery gone? Cars comprising two halves from different cars? Solid struts instead dampers? Small planks of wood as replacements for leaf springs?
I've seen a closed loop coolant header tank. Just the header tank was in the circuit, so the coolant level always looked OK.
I've seen a closed loop coolant header tank. Just the header tank was in the circuit, so the coolant level always looked OK.
v8250 said:
Excellently timed thread. Received a text from a buddy yesterday cursing a P.O of his little MGB GT. Said friend wanting to change the cigar lighter and has found of whole host of behind the dash wiring bodges, including this unexpected surprise...
Is that a headlight connector?My MG Midget had sills comprised of newspaper, chicken wire and sellotape with a single outer section over the top to cover it all up.
My Defender 90 was previously owned by an auto-electrician employed by one of the big Japanese manufacturers. The entire vehicle had been rewired in red. Everything. and scotchloks and choccky-blocks everywhere. He'd also managed to re-wire it in such a way that if the stop solenoid was connected, you couldn't switch the engine off.
My Defender 90 was previously owned by an auto-electrician employed by one of the big Japanese manufacturers. The entire vehicle had been rewired in red. Everything. and scotchloks and choccky-blocks everywhere. He'd also managed to re-wire it in such a way that if the stop solenoid was connected, you couldn't switch the engine off.
Zelda Pinwheel said:
My MG Midget had sills comprised of newspaper, chicken wire and sellotape with a single outer section over the top to cover it all up.
My Defender 90 was previously owned by an auto-electrician employed by one of the big Japanese manufacturers. The entire vehicle had been rewired in red. Everything. and scotchloks and choccky-blocks everywhere. He'd also managed to re-wire it in such a way that if the stop solenoid was connected, you couldn't switch the engine off.
I've also learnt the hard way - never buy a car off an electrician!!My Defender 90 was previously owned by an auto-electrician employed by one of the big Japanese manufacturers. The entire vehicle had been rewired in red. Everything. and scotchloks and choccky-blocks everywhere. He'd also managed to re-wire it in such a way that if the stop solenoid was connected, you couldn't switch the engine off.
Hooli said:
v8250 said:
Excellently timed thread. Received a text from a buddy yesterday cursing a P.O of his little MGB GT. Said friend wanting to change the cigar lighter and has found of whole host of behind the dash wiring bodges, including this unexpected surprise...
Is that a headlight connector?
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