last minute checks
Discussion
ok peeps, im having a 2nd look at a cerbie in the morning, and if i like it im leaving the guy a deposit to get it later in the week! wahoo!
just wanted to get some last minute feedback from you fellow owners on the sort of things i should be looking/listening out for on the drive/viewing?
Chassis is good, later 4.5 clutch was fitted 2 years ago, its been serviced by a guy called david batty??? Had a full respray by tvr 1.5yrs ago, just passed its mot and had full fluid service at the same time. The doors have a lot of wind noise at speeds over 80mph but that could be cos of the crap std seals. there were no nasty noises coming from the box or diff on the last testride. Is there anything else i should look out for?
Thanks in advance!!!
just wanted to get some last minute feedback from you fellow owners on the sort of things i should be looking/listening out for on the drive/viewing?
Chassis is good, later 4.5 clutch was fitted 2 years ago, its been serviced by a guy called david batty??? Had a full respray by tvr 1.5yrs ago, just passed its mot and had full fluid service at the same time. The doors have a lot of wind noise at speeds over 80mph but that could be cos of the crap std seals. there were no nasty noises coming from the box or diff on the last testride. Is there anything else i should look out for?
Thanks in advance!!!
I take its a 4.2?
Have a quick look in the clutch master cylinder and see if there is any black. This could give you an indication of the clutch seals going, also the colour of the fluid.
Take time to go through all the documents as well. Try an paint a picture of the cars life. Test all the electrics and air-con. Check the rad water, colour and level, it should be about 1 inch from the top. Check oil, level and condition.
Ask him to drive it first, from cold. Watch how he warms the car up. Does he take car not to thrash it from cold?
Also if it is a 4.2 does it have 17in wheels? If yes then check their condition as they are prone to corrosion and cracking in the inside rim.
Have a quick look in the clutch master cylinder and see if there is any black. This could give you an indication of the clutch seals going, also the colour of the fluid.
Take time to go through all the documents as well. Try an paint a picture of the cars life. Test all the electrics and air-con. Check the rad water, colour and level, it should be about 1 inch from the top. Check oil, level and condition.
Ask him to drive it first, from cold. Watch how he warms the car up. Does he take car not to thrash it from cold?
Also if it is a 4.2 does it have 17in wheels? If yes then check their condition as they are prone to corrosion and cracking in the inside rim.
I've used David to look after both of my TVRs. He's a first rate mechanic and scrupulously honest. You need not worry about work he's done. My wife and I look after the Surrey Region of the TVRCC and he's used by quite a lot of our bunch. I have never heard a word said against him. If you want to discuss the car with him, I know he won't mind, his number is 01483811995.
Steve.
Steve.
cheers guys! yes its a 4.2, 1996 N plate, so one of the early ones. It doesnt have air con, and has 18" aftermarket alloys. It still has the clatter cams, but the guy was told by David Batty thats theyre ok. Ive not actually checked the master cyl yet, good idea! is it easy to view? i will rummage through the s/h as much as i can too!
You'll have no chance of inspecting the hydraulic fluid. If it's anything like mine, to get a decent look at it, the air box will have to come off in order to scrape half an inch thick of silicon from the flap. Then you have three screws, full of silicon to remove and you get access to the pot.
After all this, the fluid will look ok. The clutch peddle went straight to the floor, but the fluid looked ok.
After all this, the fluid will look ok. The clutch peddle went straight to the floor, but the fluid looked ok.
OK - I know he does Cerbs (hence my comment that the one Toady has bought was sat outside for a few weeks).
In the past David Batty was a Rover V8 guy and is now also a Rover K series guy for Lotus'. In my opinion he is a general TVR and Lotus guy and not SUPER vastly experienced with AJPs. I drive past his workshop every day. I guess there are 4 cerbs a month there on avg - compare that to Joospeed or APM or Austec....! This isnt a dig just a view etc...
In the past David Batty was a Rover V8 guy and is now also a Rover K series guy for Lotus'. In my opinion he is a general TVR and Lotus guy and not SUPER vastly experienced with AJPs. I drive past his workshop every day. I guess there are 4 cerbs a month there on avg - compare that to Joospeed or APM or Austec....! This isnt a dig just a view etc...
Toady1 said:
no it was there about 3-4 weeks ago having a full service and MOT. Costing the owner £600.
The point I was making = it was there for about 4 weeks ELAPSE (it literally sat there without moving for 4 weeks). At the time it was suggested that the two cerbs sitting outside his workshop were there for so long due to clutch supplies. So would be worth following that one up!!! ie how has thge clutch fixed itself (assuming it was the clutch).
A full service and MOT at £600 is a bargain (unless just a 6K service) so one assumes that nothing else was done at the time. £600 wouldnt cover a full service ie adjust tappets would take it over that amount.
>> Edited by gazzab on Monday 14th November 13:40
spoke to Dave this morning and he said the car was fine, just having a service and mot, it was there for a few weeks cos the car was left with him, and he was so booked up with work it just had to wait!lol! thats put my mind at rest as you worried me! as tho the present owner wasnt telling me something!
www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=210954&f=6&h=0&hw=clutch+apprentice
This is the original thread. Apprentice works at Adrian Blyth. They use David for all their non AJP / non-S6 work/prep. So I had assumed the thread was 100% accurate, but it appears that only 1 of the 2 Cerbs that were there for weeks was awaiting a clutch.
This is the original thread. Apprentice works at Adrian Blyth. They use David for all their non AJP / non-S6 work/prep. So I had assumed the thread was 100% accurate, but it appears that only 1 of the 2 Cerbs that were there for weeks was awaiting a clutch.
gazzab said:
[quote=Toady1]A full service and MOT at £600 is a bargain (unless just a 6K service) so one assumes that nothing else was done at the time. £600 wouldnt cover a full service ie adjust tappets would take it over that amount.
>> Edited by gazzab on Monday 14th November 13:40
Umm, yes it would.
My car has been serviced by Dulford Automotive since I've had it. A full 24k service and MOT came in at just over £600.
gazzab said:
And that included tappet adjustments?
Oh yes. I checked before I let them loose!
They'll also collect for the cost of the diesel.
Person who owns it used to be involved heavily with two main dealers and knows his cars inside out. A good honest company that does an honest job.
that is very good value!!
Fernies are an average price for full service
Full Service
Parts Total £303.69
Labour Total £272.00
VAT £100.75
Total Cost £676.44
The full service cost does not include the checking or adjusting of the valve clearances.
So I guess tappets might be a couple of hundred on top ie nearly £900 for full service. Half of which is labour I guess.
So (unless I got my sums wrong - which is entirely possible) I dont understand how you can get to £600 incl MOT. I guess they must not be VAT registered. Cos even if your guys are half the hrly rate of Fernies then it still comes in at well over £600. So s their labour rate less than £30 ph and are they non VAT ?
Fernies are an average price for full service
Full Service
Parts Total £303.69
Labour Total £272.00
VAT £100.75
Total Cost £676.44
The full service cost does not include the checking or adjusting of the valve clearances.
So I guess tappets might be a couple of hundred on top ie nearly £900 for full service. Half of which is labour I guess.
So (unless I got my sums wrong - which is entirely possible) I dont understand how you can get to £600 incl MOT. I guess they must not be VAT registered. Cos even if your guys are half the hrly rate of Fernies then it still comes in at well over £600. So s their labour rate less than £30 ph and are they non VAT ?
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff