[jon_a_127]

Hello,
I'm in my summer holidays now. I am thinking of buying a non runner car off ebay and fix it up so that i could have a cheap toy/ride for the summer.

My last car was a 96 Renault Clio Mk1 1.2 which i've put 18k miles from the day i bought it which is april 2009. That's due to being a part time pizza delivery driver and my hobby of going around the country. I sold it to a friend who needs a car more than me.

Anyhow, now carless I saw this 98 Ford Mondeo 1.8 Diesel going for 50 quid on ebay (item id 330451570493)undrivable suspected of clutch failure, How hard is to change the clutch on my own? (that's me equipped with the haynes manual). Is it worth doing it as a project over the summer? I will be fixing it on the road as I live in a terrace house which have no driveway. But the road is rather quiet in a residential area which is also where i've done maintenece to my clio.
I'm thinking, i have to pay somebody to have it transported and insurance, road tax, etc, etc...


My experience with motors:

Changed air filter, spark plug, oil and oil filter on my Renault Clio.
Installed a 12' Subwoofer and amp into it. (thanks to my mate who showed me how it was done in his car). Creeped under my car and painted part of the subframe with Hammerite direct to rust paint as MOT adivsory said Subframe has corrosion.

Bought a Cat C stolen recoverd Honda CG125 bike,
replaced the sprockets and chain,
took wheels out and took it to tyre place for new tyres
Changed engine oil, replaced dashboard lights bulbs, fitted new battery, resprayed part of the fuel tank.
Overhauled the front disc brake as it's grabbing, pushed the piston out, brake fluid expelled everywhere, replaced the seals inside the caliper, gave it a good clean and put them back together and filled fresh DOT4 and bled air out.
sorted out the electrics since it has been shagged.
Bike currently kept at my parent's garage.

Bought a spares & repair 04 Aprilia SR-50 moped which idling problem caused by fueling messed up by previous owner by fitting performance exhuast without "up-jetting" the carburettor resulting in poor running and cutting out while riding. Successfully fixed that with new jets and dyno session and sold it and made a very small profit(or maybe none)..

[smudger]

Remember the car on Ebay will need to be loaded onto a car trailer to get it home, if you do buy it?

You could always get the Hays Manual on the model of Ford, and learn how to fix it from that, good luck.;)

[Hometune]

You will seriously struggle to do a clutch at the roadside! You need to drop the front subframe completely on the nearside and slacken off the offside as well as remove the gearbox top mounting, the engine front mounting and the gearbox bottom mounting. The radiator needs to be held in place to stop it dropping, the steering rack may need to be unbolted from the column and if you allow the steering wheel to rotate too far, you will break the connector for the airbag. Oh, and as its 12 years old, good chance the subframe bolts may have corroded to the captive nuts so you may have to chisel a hole or two in the car floor to free them off. And you should use aligning pins when refitting the subframe or the car will be misaligned.
Has that lot put you off? !!!!

[jon_a_127]

Originally Posted by Hometune

You will seriously struggle to do a clutch at the roadside!....................Has that lot put you off? !!!!

Oh my gosh!!! That sounded like a massive hassle. I never have any formal training as a mechanic. It has always been me with the Haynes manual, bravery and enthusiasm.
What should I get as a summer project? or Should I even think of getting a summer project?

Have a budget of less than 1000.
How about those ones with bad head gaskets? or ones with broken cam belt/chain? a fair amount of these on ebay.
or Light crash damage ones?

Which of these suits the relatively beginner DIY?

And I'm thinking, when it comes to selling the "project" car in a few months, would I even recover the cost of transporting it and the parts? (that's IF I succeed in repairing it)

Even my dad starts to think i'm crazy and should go to the pub instead of messing around with cars. (not a big fan of repairing machinery, him)
Bikes are so much more accessible to repair..... Just rent a transit van, drive up, view it, buy it, lift it inside the van, and away you go.

[jon_a_127]

or Is there anything i can repair it and sell it, so i can have a nice little earner?
So bored as a uni student in summer............

[Hometune]

If you do a Rover with head gasket failure you won't make much (if any) money and you will need to carefully follow a manual for the tightening procedure and timing belt. But they are cheap.
On Sky are repeats of a series with Mike Brewer and Ed China called Wheeler Dealers. Brewer is a car trader who looks for cars to buy and do up to sell and make a little bit of money. China (silly name) is the mechanic and body repair man who actually does the work. Its quite entertaining but it will give you an idea of how to source parts, what to expect and just how much work some seemingly okay cars need to put them right. China explains how to do body work as well as the mechanics.
I think 7 series have now been done so plenty of repeats usually late at night.

[MrDanno]

Originally Posted by Hometune

China (silly name) is the mechanic and body repair man who actually does the work.

hmm, From the few episodes I saw I think the title 'chief bodger' is more appropriate :D

[Hometune]

Originally Posted by MrDanno

hmm, From the few episodes I saw I think the title 'chief bodger' is more appropriate :D

Probably :eek:
But don't want to put the OP off keeping himself busy ;)

[jon_a_127]

Saw an episode of it on youtube, it's about a mercedes 190E, very interesting and entertaining.

What I have is time, and I'm willing to learn and not mind getting my hands dirty but want to start with something not so big first.

Plenty of Renalt Lagunas and Peugeots diesels turbo got blown, which from looking at forums, i think is caused by infrequent oil change and/or EGR Valve failure. Am I right?

How big a job is fixing it? I'm thinking a new turbo, new oil lines? clean/new egr valve. clean Intercooler as some turbo debris would have got in there, oil change, what else am i missing?

[Hometune]

Most Peugeot diesel engine turbo failure is due to not using the correct synthetic oil and not enough maintenance. Also, on the oil feed pipe between the engine and the turbo, inside the end fitting is a plastic mesh with very fine holes which blocks and starves the turbo bearing of oil. This is never checked because its in an awkward place.
You wont need to change the EGR valve, intercooler etc on Peugeots as a clean of the EGR and the pipes to/from it usually does it. Swapping the turbo is probably all you will need to do. But be prepared for a fight as there's no room and everything is very confined. And black.
Renaults are even harder with no room at all.
If you want a challenge........