No such thing as a free lunch?
Discussion
Gents/Ladies
I've been offered a Primera for nothing. I know little about the car, other than it's the current shape and it might be a 54 plate. I remember driving it when it was brand new, and it has a decent spec with the colour sat nav and reversing camera etc. It's also a 2.0 with the CVT gearbox.
But, I think it's broken. It's been sat on a drive for about a year, with a flat battery. The owner has tried to get it going by apparently charging the battery, but the doors wouldn't even work with the blipper. I suppose that could have just been a flat battery on the blipper though
So, a couple of questions if I may:
- Does anyone know how to get into the car if there's no power? Apparently there are no conventional locks, but surely there's some kind of override? I'd rather not smash a window.
- Any ideas on how to get the car roughly 40 miles to my house? Low-loader hire in the North-West, Blackburn? Or maybe even ring the RAC when I am at the location, say it's my car that I left for a few months and now it won't start, ask them to retrieve it to my location? Naughty, I know.
- What kind of problems can I expect if I do get into it, considering it's been stood for so long? New oil and filter needed? Possible cambelt deterioration? Or is it a chain on these?
The big question is: Is it worth the hassle?
I've been offered a Primera for nothing. I know little about the car, other than it's the current shape and it might be a 54 plate. I remember driving it when it was brand new, and it has a decent spec with the colour sat nav and reversing camera etc. It's also a 2.0 with the CVT gearbox.
But, I think it's broken. It's been sat on a drive for about a year, with a flat battery. The owner has tried to get it going by apparently charging the battery, but the doors wouldn't even work with the blipper. I suppose that could have just been a flat battery on the blipper though
So, a couple of questions if I may:
- Does anyone know how to get into the car if there's no power? Apparently there are no conventional locks, but surely there's some kind of override? I'd rather not smash a window.
- Any ideas on how to get the car roughly 40 miles to my house? Low-loader hire in the North-West, Blackburn? Or maybe even ring the RAC when I am at the location, say it's my car that I left for a few months and now it won't start, ask them to retrieve it to my location? Naughty, I know.
- What kind of problems can I expect if I do get into it, considering it's been stood for so long? New oil and filter needed? Possible cambelt deterioration? Or is it a chain on these?
The big question is: Is it worth the hassle?
DaveL86 said:
jas xjr said:
aa / rac types are good at getting into cars without causing damage
Although they'll make you sign a form that says if they do damage your car tough titty!Stupid question, but are you sure it has no conventional locks? Usually you'll find a key hidden in the fob somewhere and a lock that's revealed by pulling off a bit of trim, or simply going in via the boot.
If you can make it inside and charge up/replace the battery then I almost guarantee there will be some procedure for rejigging the fobs, either in the handbook or on the internet somewhere
If you can make it inside and charge up/replace the battery then I almost guarantee there will be some procedure for rejigging the fobs, either in the handbook or on the internet somewhere
First off, if the battery is flat for a year it wont take a charge at all and the car will never start.
You need a completely new battery.
The keyfob should be a standard watch type battery.
Get power before trying anything like breaking into the car.
I dont know if this is possible on this car easily, but I would try to turn the engine by hand ( make sure you do this the right way ! ) by using a breaker bar on the crankshaft to check nothing has seized like the alternator etc.
You need a completely new battery.
The keyfob should be a standard watch type battery.
Get power before trying anything like breaking into the car.
I dont know if this is possible on this car easily, but I would try to turn the engine by hand ( make sure you do this the right way ! ) by using a breaker bar on the crankshaft to check nothing has seized like the alternator etc.
The Wookie said:
Stupid question, but are you sure it has no conventional locks? Usually you'll find a key hidden in the fob somewhere and a lock that's revealed by pulling off a bit of trim, or simply going in via the boot.
If you can make it inside and charge up/replace the battery then I almost guarantee there will be some procedure for rejigging the fobs, either in the handbook or on the internet somewhere
Not a stupid question at all. I haven't seen the car properly for months. It's basically my Mum's partner's car, so I'm getting all the information third hand. I agree with you, it's surely got a conventional lock somewhere.If you can make it inside and charge up/replace the battery then I almost guarantee there will be some procedure for rejigging the fobs, either in the handbook or on the internet somewhere
ExPat2B said:
First off, if the battery is flat for a year it wont take a charge at all and the car will never start.
You need a completely new battery.
The keyfob should be a standard watch type battery.
Get power before trying anything like breaking into the car.
I dont know if this is possible on this car easily, but I would try to turn the engine by hand ( make sure you do this the right way ! ) by using a breaker bar on the crankshaft to check nothing has seized like the alternator etc.
Ok, Cheers. I'll make sure I price a new battery into the equation. Hmm, I'm not too sure about using breaker bars and stuff, I'd probably end up putting it right through the gearbox or something You need a completely new battery.
The keyfob should be a standard watch type battery.
Get power before trying anything like breaking into the car.
I dont know if this is possible on this car easily, but I would try to turn the engine by hand ( make sure you do this the right way ! ) by using a breaker bar on the crankshaft to check nothing has seized like the alternator etc.
SystemParanoia said:
its not worth the hassle at all.
yell you what.. being the kind hearted sole ( ) that i am.. ill take care of the car and dispose of it for you.
let me know where to pick it up
yell you what.. being the kind hearted sole (
) that i am.. ill take care of the car and dispose of it for you.let me know where to pick it up
It's just outside Blackburn. Chances are you'll have to drive through Blackburn to get to it. You don't want to be doing that! To be honest, on the topic of breaker bars I very much doubt anything on a modern car would have seized in the space of a year!
What I would recommend is removing the fuel pump fuse before you do anything at all once you get inside, and once you're ready to try firing it up, turn the car over on the starter for 30 seconds or so to get the oil pumped around the engine, as all of the moving surfaces will be as dry as a bone
What I would recommend is removing the fuel pump fuse before you do anything at all once you get inside, and once you're ready to try firing it up, turn the car over on the starter for 30 seconds or so to get the oil pumped around the engine, as all of the moving surfaces will be as dry as a bone
Edited by The Wookie on Thursday 29th October 17:17
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Excellent! Cheers. I'll not pass that information on though, just in case my Mum's chap manages to get in and decides to keep it! The Wookie said:
To be honest, on the topic of breaker bars I very much doubt anything on a modern car would have seized in the space of a year!
What I would recommend is removing the fuel pump fuse before you do anything at all once you get inside, and once you're ready to try firing it up, turn the car over on the starter for 30 seconds or so to get the oil pumped around the engine, as all of the moving surfaces will be as dry as a bone
Oohh, good advice. Cheers.What I would recommend is removing the fuel pump fuse before you do anything at all once you get inside, and once you're ready to try firing it up, turn the car over on the starter for 30 seconds or so to get the oil pumped around the engine, as all of the moving surfaces will be as dry as a bone
Edited by The Wookie on Thursday 29th October 17:17
The key info sounds the same as my sister had on her 52-plate Micra - the door handle on the passenger side has a wee cap beside it with a slot on the bottom for prising it off, under which lies a conventional lock.
Two problems with this. First is that it's pretty fiddly to do without scratching the surrounding paintwork, since it's on there pretty tightly for obvious reasons and may be full of grime holding it on even tighter.
Secondly, the lock underneath the cap, since it basically never gets used, is also pretty stiff. So much so in my sister's case that the feeble key kept breaking out of the holder (it's a flip thing that lives in the remote, but whilst the shaft of the key is metal, the bit it pivots around on the fob is pretty flimsy plastic).
Good luck anyways - I shan't go into the catalogue of electrical and trim issues that also plagued ownership of that Micra - let's just say that for the last six months that she owned it, it never got locked and the glove box lid was held up with tape....
Two problems with this. First is that it's pretty fiddly to do without scratching the surrounding paintwork, since it's on there pretty tightly for obvious reasons and may be full of grime holding it on even tighter.
Secondly, the lock underneath the cap, since it basically never gets used, is also pretty stiff. So much so in my sister's case that the feeble key kept breaking out of the holder (it's a flip thing that lives in the remote, but whilst the shaft of the key is metal, the bit it pivots around on the fob is pretty flimsy plastic).
Good luck anyways - I shan't go into the catalogue of electrical and trim issues that also plagued ownership of that Micra - let's just say that for the last six months that she owned it, it never got locked and the glove box lid was held up with tape....
Arese said:
The big question is: Is it worth the hassle?
Well about a year ago I was asked to remove a X reg Subaru Legacy Classic from a garage forecourt by a friend of my sons. It had been stood for about 6 months and needed a clutch, the owner didn't want the car and the garage wanted it moving.I put a clutch in it (£160 parts only as I do all my own work on cars) and have been using it ever since. Only other costs have been a service, MOT and front pads - just normal stuff when running a car.
203,000 miles and going strong - also not a bad car to drive!
So I say go for it
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