The TXD Turbot trouncer

[saintjamesy89]

Well, I think it's about time to tidy up the 3 or so threads about this new car of mine! For those of you who don't know, it was the triton green one on ebay this week. I picked it up on Tuesday evening, which is a story in itself... I got the train from home to London waterloo, well we didn't quite make it. There was a suicide on the main train line into London (somewhere around wimbledon) meaning all incoming trains using this line (ie, mine) were terminated at Basingstoke, and as you will know, basingstoke is quite a way from north London. So next plan is to hop on a train to Reading, the from there to Slough and then to Paddington where I have to consult the tube map to finally get to East Finchley, albeit nearly 2 hours late... Then I stand in the cold for 10 mins or so until I hear the agricultural tones of an automatic XM waft up to the taxi rank. Quite a nice ride to the home of said BX, it was a late 2.1 td and was very nice, didn't fell like a big car and was exceptionally comfy. BX picked up, paperwork done and off home! Well, nearly. My sense of direction (after stress of journey and maze of suburbia) was quite tired, so duly sent me the wrong way around the north circular - the signs were useless and didn't say N/W/E/S or anything, just places i'd never heard of, next set of traffic lights uncovered a sign, saying Ealing (my way out of London) was the other way so finally got going in the right direction to home!

First impressions? Started very easily, smoky, smelly, juddery clutch, stiff and not very smooth accelerator pedal - but bloody quick on boost! Also speedo whine that is really quite loud below 50mph, rev counter not working, various clonks somewhere at the front over bumps. But not bad at all for a £300 car.

Plans. Firstly I'm going to have to sort the rear brakes out, it's now (after an emergency stop yesterday morning) slower and you can feel the back end dragging and dipping when you pull away. Secondly the instrument panel is going to have to be sorted, speedo cable needs attention, fuel gauge is erratic and the rev counter doesn't work (can't hear engine with speedo noise, so have to guess what gear you should be in!). After these bits it needs a service, the oil is very black and so is the air filter, haven't looked at the LHM side of things apart from checking the level and the drivers door arm thingy (that stops the door opening too much , and keeps it open) mount area is holy, and the rusty part of the panel moves if your a bit rough with the door, so that'll need doing sooner rather than later (makes me cringe, as if the door will drop off!)
Longer term, the backbox needs replacing, the sills need welding and there are a few other spots of rust too (door shuts mainly, but there is a patch at the top of the windscreen).

After a few days use, it has got better (apart from rear brakes), it smokes only when really going for it now, the clutch is smoother (will see if it needs adjusting ) as is the accelerator pedal. I'm itching to clean and polish it, and to start doing things to the brakes and speedo, but i'm still working 7 day weeks and now have no money until the 24th. Talking about the 24th, that is my next day off - I will be seeing family most of the day down in Bournemouth but i'm hoping to have a few hours in the morning to do stuff.

All in all, a rather quick if needs be, economical and hopefully reliable daily. Feels like a proper grown up car, also feels bigger than it is somehow.

[Dollywobbler]

Sills with an S please.

Rear calipers will hopefully free up though replacement isn't hard or that expensive. Do you know when the timing belt was last replaced?

[saintjamesy89]

No, the seller had no previous service history as Jonathon (think that was the previous previous owners name) did it all himself. But we have this from the ebay advert

At 156K the previous owner fitted a new clutch, head gasket, timing belt, octopus and crankshaft and camshaft oil seals. 2 years prior to this, the rear arm bearings were changed and all discs, pads and spheres were done. I don’t have any receipts for this, but the car really does drive beautifully and the suspension rises quickly, so I’ve no reason to doubt this work was done.

[Dollywobbler]

Furry nuff. The previous owner did used to be on here. Not sure if he's still lurking?

I'd be tempted to have a look at those rear brakes ASAP though. I don't like improper brakes. You might find a simple dismantle and covering slidey bits in copper grease may improve things for no expenditure.

[Birotor]

Work those rear caliper pistons in and out. Don't forget if jacked up at the back (arms hanging down) you need to jack up a swinging arm as the rear brake supply from the doseur/brake pedal valve needs kidding there is a load on the rear suspension. Do that approach before you start stripping as it can save a lot of work.

[saintjamesy89]

That's what i'm hoping for Ian, will have to dig out the grease. I am also impatient! And I want it back to the rather rapid beast it started as Next time it'll be light and I'm not working is Monday morning, so will have a go then, if not then I get an hour and 10 mins for lunch, so may have a go at them then, will get some photo's too.

Thanks Eoin, I shall do just that. I remembered something similar from previous studies of the suspension system.

[Tim Leech]

Good luck with it Tom!

[saintjamesy89]

Thanks Tim! Had my first problem this morning. On the way to work, the slip road onto the dual carriageway is almost a full circle, and I just thought i'd see what the handling was like and subsequently popped the tyre off of the drivers front wheel! It was low anyway, and on inspection this steel wheel was severely buckled in a few places. The problem though, is that I couldn't find the jack, so put it in high and then took half an hour to get the bloody wheel bolts off they wouldn't budge! Eventually, after much swearing, huffing, puffing and groaning, with application of one foot and both hands on opposite sides I got them off. Brakes had some meat left on them, and the fronts were free. Spare on and away we go! It is a much skinnier tyre and wheel though so i'll be looking for a nicer set of steelies (refuse to pinch the GT's).

Did some shopping in my lunch time, didn't get around to any other stuff as my lateness had to be made up in time off of my lunch. Bought air/oil filter, oil, copper grease, brake cleaner, millers injector cleaner and ordered fuel filter - all of which came to £15.something (thanks euro car parts, i'm glad I worked there for a month now!). Only got around to putting the fuel additive in, early days to tell if it worked.

[Tim Leech]

If you need a rev counter sender George has a brand new one.

[saintjamesy89]

Haven't looked at it yet, but it can't hurt to have a brand new one Shall I PM him, or do I remember you sorting orders out Tim? Let me know whom to send how much. Ta.

[Tim Leech]

Best email him on geocorn@hotmail.co.uk

[saintjamesy89]

Went to see all the reli's in Bournemouth today, did over 100 miles and think that the grinding noise I previously thought was the speedo cable is actually something to do with the drivetrain, like a driveshaft or something in that area. What made me think this is that the previous owner tried doing the tracking himself and failed, the steering wheel is about 30 degrees to the left when you're going in a straight line, and when the wheel is central or rotated to the right (i.e when going round a RH bend) the grinding noise stops. Could a maladjustment of steering mess up a drive shaft or something like that? There's a clunk in the front suspension too, but only over bumps. Discovered a water leak today too, front passenger carpets are getting damp, so suspect the sunroof drain tubes.

I was hoping for an hour or two to tinker, but it's dark now...

[MULLEY]

The grinding noise might be something as simple as loose wheel bolts, check them all just incase, how do i know this, ooops & i've done it more than once as well, doh!!

[Dollywobbler]

Loose wheel nuts tends to be more of a creaky clunk. I'd suspect a wheel bearing if it goes quiet when you turn one way. Not too bad a job if you know someone with a press.

[citsncycles]

Wheel bearings usually (but not always) go quiet when they are on the inside of the turn, as they weight comes off them (well it doeas the way I drive, anyway ). I think there's a new one in Timex's future.

Jack up the front wheels and check for play in the bearing. May also be worth checking the driveshaft nuts are tight too.

Your clunk over the bumps could be any of the suspension joints, but most likely either ARB links or the lower ball joint. The parts are cheap enough, but some of the really cheap stuff is a waste of time as you'll be changing it again in a few thousand miles.