In April I bought a bargain 1998 Festiva, 5 spd, 4 door, I'm, the 3rd owner and I intend to keep this car.
The car was bought from interstate, drove it back on 48 hour permit, ( Point A to Point B 1000kms )
Got home with no problem what so ever, some wheel bearing noises,CV Joints, the usual stuff for a car that has 298,000 Kilometers on the clock. I expected worse, but this car has good maintenance history, all books and records. Hey, for $400.00 + $120 to get there, + $150.00 to get back, say about $700.00 for a car that is selling around the $1,600 to $2,200 in similar condition.
So far the car has cost me in total about $1,000.00, and it is yet to be inspected for registration.
Our laws say there is no requirement to do a full inspection when registering a car from another state. Just walk in the inspection place, they do a engine number check, all they want to know if it's been stolen and a general check of the vehicle. IF, there are obvious problems, then the inspector may decide to get it fully inspected and this where the problems start. There are no obvious signs of "issues" with this car.
However,
Each day I start it up, has new oil, full tank of fresh fuel, warm it up till the fan kicks in then turn it off, just to keep the car oiled till I am ready to have it registered and driven on the road as a daily car.
It blows blue smoke when I start the car, some times but not always. But it is there.
The problem is, when I take it to be inspected for registration, if it blows smoke there and then, the inspector may not pass it. So I need to solve this somehow.
Here's the catch, it has done 298,000 kilometers. It is probably due for valve stem seals, but at that mileage, may as well drop the sump and do rings and bearings ??
Also, who ever worked on the car before, strip the thread on number 1 spark plug. That spark plug will not unscrew unless I use a breaker bar, it is that tight. So I am thinking the head has to come off anyway.
I have no problem fixing this, have done motor work before since day dot, not shy of spanners and screwdrivers.
But I have never done the 1.5 litre Festiva, this will be a first. I know the valve stem seals can be changed without taking the head off, but I have no small compressor to use the special tool. But as mentioned, the head has to come off because of that No 1 spark plug thread issue.
Opinions, Suggestions, whatever most welcome.
My gut feeling is to do it right and strip the engine, do the head, rings and bearings ??
Thanks in advance
The car was bought from interstate, drove it back on 48 hour permit, ( Point A to Point B 1000kms )
Got home with no problem what so ever, some wheel bearing noises,CV Joints, the usual stuff for a car that has 298,000 Kilometers on the clock. I expected worse, but this car has good maintenance history, all books and records. Hey, for $400.00 + $120 to get there, + $150.00 to get back, say about $700.00 for a car that is selling around the $1,600 to $2,200 in similar condition.
So far the car has cost me in total about $1,000.00, and it is yet to be inspected for registration.
Our laws say there is no requirement to do a full inspection when registering a car from another state. Just walk in the inspection place, they do a engine number check, all they want to know if it's been stolen and a general check of the vehicle. IF, there are obvious problems, then the inspector may decide to get it fully inspected and this where the problems start. There are no obvious signs of "issues" with this car.
However,
Each day I start it up, has new oil, full tank of fresh fuel, warm it up till the fan kicks in then turn it off, just to keep the car oiled till I am ready to have it registered and driven on the road as a daily car.
It blows blue smoke when I start the car, some times but not always. But it is there.
The problem is, when I take it to be inspected for registration, if it blows smoke there and then, the inspector may not pass it. So I need to solve this somehow.
Here's the catch, it has done 298,000 kilometers. It is probably due for valve stem seals, but at that mileage, may as well drop the sump and do rings and bearings ??
Also, who ever worked on the car before, strip the thread on number 1 spark plug. That spark plug will not unscrew unless I use a breaker bar, it is that tight. So I am thinking the head has to come off anyway.
I have no problem fixing this, have done motor work before since day dot, not shy of spanners and screwdrivers.
But I have never done the 1.5 litre Festiva, this will be a first. I know the valve stem seals can be changed without taking the head off, but I have no small compressor to use the special tool. But as mentioned, the head has to come off because of that No 1 spark plug thread issue.
Opinions, Suggestions, whatever most welcome.
My gut feeling is to do it right and strip the engine, do the head, rings and bearings ??
Thanks in advance
Comment