04-05-2012, 08:25 PM
I thought Iâ??d detail this mini project as I went along for no reason other than it may be worth some info to someone in the future.
The car;
1994 Cherry Red 1.9 XRDT.
Owned since Apr 1998.
Only 141K Miles (Low mileage for age).
No modifications.
[attachment=0]
The car was in regular use up until just after Easter â??11, driving most weekends to and from Fareham (Hants) / Edinburgh, a cool 471 miles each way. Easter â??11 was the final journey south and at which point I started to fly home for the remaining weekends that I was stationed north or the boarder. The Road Tax expired 30 June 11 so therefore the car was SORNâ??d. The â??Significant Otherâ? was given instruction to give the car a periodic start whilst I was away with my ship just to ensure all was ok, which she did.
Iâ??m now shore based and want to get the car back on the road, unfortunately when I came round to start her up the battery was flat. Not a problem, jump leads at hand, she started second time (almost first time) and all sounded as it did last year. I left her running to try and charge the battery but after 15 or so minutes I noticed that the top coolant hose that returns water to the radiator was solid and hot, something Iâ??d never noticed before. When I opened up the bleed vent adjacent to the fuel filter housing a hiss of air/steam came out. I then allowed to the engine to cool and depressurise before fully re-filling (using the 2Ltr bottle method) and then started the engine again. Unfortunately exactly the same occurred.
The water pump has been checked correct by a mate and he has suggested that the head is cracked. Iâ??m remaining positive and hoping that itâ??s just the head gasket or possibly a slight warp of the head.
This will be the first car engine Iâ??ll work on in this depth since my MG Metro required a re-bore and a full re-build. Am I worried? Not at all!
31 Apr â?? Garage cleared and car in.
1 May â?? Intercooler, fuel filter/housing, radiator hoses out. Starter motor removed
[attachment=3]
4 May â?? Top timing covers off, engine barred over and locked into position. Intercooler tubing out (not easy), inlet manifold out and exhaust manifold studs removed.
I've hit a bit of a snag, to get to the tensioner to release the timing belt I need to remove the bottom timing cover, however the aux belt tensioner allen bolt is a bit tight. I think its time to bring out the impact driver!! :pray:
[attachment=2]
Anyone tell me what kind of fuel Pp I've got fitted?
[attachment=1]
Updates to follow.
The car;
1994 Cherry Red 1.9 XRDT.
Owned since Apr 1998.
Only 141K Miles (Low mileage for age).
No modifications.
[attachment=0]
The car was in regular use up until just after Easter â??11, driving most weekends to and from Fareham (Hants) / Edinburgh, a cool 471 miles each way. Easter â??11 was the final journey south and at which point I started to fly home for the remaining weekends that I was stationed north or the boarder. The Road Tax expired 30 June 11 so therefore the car was SORNâ??d. The â??Significant Otherâ? was given instruction to give the car a periodic start whilst I was away with my ship just to ensure all was ok, which she did.
Iâ??m now shore based and want to get the car back on the road, unfortunately when I came round to start her up the battery was flat. Not a problem, jump leads at hand, she started second time (almost first time) and all sounded as it did last year. I left her running to try and charge the battery but after 15 or so minutes I noticed that the top coolant hose that returns water to the radiator was solid and hot, something Iâ??d never noticed before. When I opened up the bleed vent adjacent to the fuel filter housing a hiss of air/steam came out. I then allowed to the engine to cool and depressurise before fully re-filling (using the 2Ltr bottle method) and then started the engine again. Unfortunately exactly the same occurred.
The water pump has been checked correct by a mate and he has suggested that the head is cracked. Iâ??m remaining positive and hoping that itâ??s just the head gasket or possibly a slight warp of the head.
This will be the first car engine Iâ??ll work on in this depth since my MG Metro required a re-bore and a full re-build. Am I worried? Not at all!
31 Apr â?? Garage cleared and car in.
1 May â?? Intercooler, fuel filter/housing, radiator hoses out. Starter motor removed
[attachment=3]
4 May â?? Top timing covers off, engine barred over and locked into position. Intercooler tubing out (not easy), inlet manifold out and exhaust manifold studs removed.
I've hit a bit of a snag, to get to the tensioner to release the timing belt I need to remove the bottom timing cover, however the aux belt tensioner allen bolt is a bit tight. I think its time to bring out the impact driver!! :pray:
[attachment=2]
Anyone tell me what kind of fuel Pp I've got fitted?
[attachment=1]
Updates to follow.
![[Image: 2306s.png]](http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff274/smileynobike/2306s.png)
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