Search found 179 matches

by chrisp
Mon Mar 11, 2024 5:02 pm
Forum: Your non-Cavalier Projects
Topic: My VERY RUSTY VW T25 Camper Van Project
Replies: 890
Views: 220258

Re: My VERY RUSTY VW T25 Camper Van Project

Hammerite is okay for alloy castings, but no good on steel. As per most other chemicals, Hammerite was much better on steel 30 years ago, compared to the modern stuff. Hammerite declined greatly in quality when it was taken over by Azco-Nobel - it now seems no better protectant for steel than any ot...
by chrisp
Tue Jan 16, 2024 8:36 pm
Forum: Projects, Restorations and Runabouts
Topic: Matts CDX - Work In Progress.
Replies: 237
Views: 41897

Re: Matts CDX - Work In Progress.

"Ouch, not sure where you stand with it breaking after being done by the garage,"
I might be wrong but didn't the OP say that the belt broke 3 weeks before it was due to be changed?
It would indeed be alarming if it broke only 3 weeks after it had been changed!
by chrisp
Fri Jan 05, 2024 8:29 pm
Forum: Your non-Cavalier Projects
Topic: My VERY RUSTY VW T25 Camper Van Project
Replies: 890
Views: 220258

Re: My VERY RUSTY VW T25 Camper Van Project

Yes, the lower suspension arm does get in the way of pushing the drop link onto the ARB. I resorted to breaking the taper joint on the lower ball joint so I could push the suspension arm down and out of the way, keeping it down with a weight on it. What a faff! It's really not a good design and clea...
by chrisp
Thu Jan 04, 2024 11:46 pm
Forum: Your non-Cavalier Projects
Topic: My VERY RUSTY VW T25 Camper Van Project
Replies: 890
Views: 220258

Re: My VERY RUSTY VW T25 Camper Van Project

My 1993 Cavalier has anti-roll bar drop links that fit in the same way - the rubber bush has a nylon or similar internal surface and it's just a force fit over the end of the ARB. I can confirm that it's a real struggle to force it into place - the Haynes manual recommends that you take the ARB comp...
by chrisp
Sat Dec 30, 2023 6:25 pm
Forum: Faults and Fixes: Brakes and Suspension
Topic: V6 Handbrake cable
Replies: 10
Views: 2009

Re: V6 Handbrake cable

I've just done what I should have done before I wrote my previous post and googled Vauxhall Cavalier V6 cam cover gasket. This brings up eBay and other offerings of the gaskets by themselves for around £15 (part no 90345226) - much better than what Vauxhall agents were offering when the Cavalier was...
by chrisp
Fri Dec 29, 2023 9:26 pm
Forum: Faults and Fixes: Brakes and Suspension
Topic: V6 Handbrake cable
Replies: 10
Views: 2009

Re: V6 Handbrake cable

"Don't suppose anyone has a part number for a full set rocker gaskets too? Another Christmas holiday job as mine are pissing oil everywhere" Years ago when I tried to buy valve cover gaskets for my V6 from a Vauxhall parts dept, I was told that they were only sold complete with new plastic...
by chrisp
Mon Dec 18, 2023 5:32 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Merry Christmas you lovely lot.
Replies: 31
Views: 21993

Re: Merry Christmas you lovely lot.

Yes, a very Merry Christmas :santa to all of you who are still on this Forum - which unfortunately doesn't seem to be too many at the moment - there's just one person online at the moment in addition to myself! I guess Cavaliers are now getting rarer and rarer - but I think this is all the more reas...
by chrisp
Wed Nov 15, 2023 2:20 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: TOP SPEED...
Replies: 18
Views: 3314

Re: TOP SPEED...

Ahh... the M67. Any stranger on the M60 Manchester ring road, headed to Sheffield, would be pleased to see the M67 turnoff, signposted to Sheffield with a distance of about 33 miles. Be there in no time.......then they find that the M67 lasts for about 3 miles and disgorges you onto a narrow 2-lane ...
by chrisp
Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:31 pm
Forum: Faults and Fixes: Mechanical
Topic: Cavalier V6 alternator cooling fan
Replies: 12
Views: 5673

Re: Cavalier V6 alternator cooling fan

"The water bridge sensor (brown/yellow) controls the alternator fan and aux water pump. They can run with the ignition off, but to add to the fun, the aux waterpump does not run if the engine is running." Ahh...that's a useful piece of information. Does the water bridge sensor also provide...
by chrisp
Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:24 pm
Forum: Projects, Restorations and Runabouts
Topic: James' 1995 Manual CDX V6 Saloon
Replies: 324
Views: 139721

Re: James' 1995 Manual CDX V6 Saloon

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but the only thing I find superglue sticks well together are my fingers!
by chrisp
Sun Nov 12, 2023 3:20 pm
Forum: Faults and Fixes: Mechanical
Topic: Cavalier V6 alternator cooling fan
Replies: 12
Views: 5673

Re: Cavalier V6 alternator cooling fan

I've now replaced the orange relay supplying the alternator cooling fan with the rather expensive, but new, replacement. All is working well again, but I noted that the fuse supplying the relay located next to it in the fusebox - and hence the supply to the alternator fan - is rated 40amp. This seem...
by chrisp
Mon Nov 06, 2023 9:12 pm
Forum: Projects, Restorations and Runabouts
Topic: James' 1995 Manual CDX V6 Saloon
Replies: 324
Views: 139721

Re: James' 1995 Manual CDX V6 Saloon

Did the garage that replaced your steering rack look for, or comment on, any cracking of the bulkhead where the steering rack is mounted to it? Apparently, the V6 Cavalier is more prone to this because the extra weight of the engine puts more strain on the rack. I worry about this on my Cavalier V6 ...
by chrisp
Sat Nov 04, 2023 5:28 pm
Forum: Faults and Fixes: Mechanical
Topic: Cavalier V6 alternator cooling fan
Replies: 12
Views: 5673

Re: Cavalier V6 alternator cooling fan relay

As a long term follow up to this, I located the relay controlling the alternator cooling fan, located in the engine compartment fusebox - GM 90459640 (orange). I replaced it in 2019 with a used orange relay sourced from eBay (at about £8.00) and all was well. However, the fan has just started playin...
by chrisp
Thu Oct 19, 2023 5:37 pm
Forum: Faults and Fixes: General Maintenance and Servicing
Topic: Cavalier Mk3 2.0Gls Hatch 1993
Replies: 3
Views: 1998

Re: Cavalier Mk3 2.0Gls Hatch 1993

I've just sourced a new alternator for my Cav V6 C25XE from Rollco (www.rollco.co.uk), although it appears to be a Delco unit. This was priced at £86 for a brand new unit which I thought was pretty good. May be worth searching for one for your 2L Cav on this site? All I've got to do now is fit the d...
by chrisp
Thu Oct 19, 2023 4:24 pm
Forum: Projects, Restorations and Runabouts
Topic: My Little 1.8LSi
Replies: 211
Views: 52573

Re: My Little 1.8LSi

"Subframe back, blasted, painted, looks great, will have a proper look in the daylight tomorrow. A touch shiny." Don't worry about the shinyness - it'll soon disappear when subjected to our salt & grit laden winter roads! The subframe will probably be better protected than when the ori...
by chrisp
Tue Sep 26, 2023 5:15 pm
Forum: Faults and Fixes: Mechanical
Topic: C18NZ (auto) - gearbox oil drain plug
Replies: 10
Views: 1789

Re: C18NZ (auto) - gearbox oil drain plug

"I've decided to "replace" the transmission fluid incrementally with the suction pump I bought recently. Today I replaced 1.2L and I'll do this 3-4 more times over the next month or so in order to not cause any problems with an older car/gearbox with a "sudden" change."...
by chrisp
Tue Sep 26, 2023 4:56 pm
Forum: Projects, Restorations and Runabouts
Topic: My Little 1.8LSi
Replies: 211
Views: 52573

Re: My Little 1.8LSi

"Slathered in thick grease, feel-good rather than help much, hope they'll not need to come off ever again anyway" I slathered the trackrod end adjusters with Hammerite underseal when I first got my Cav V6 with a few thousand miles on it, and these adjusters have remained movable ever since...
by chrisp
Sun Sep 17, 2023 8:55 pm
Forum: Faults and Fixes: Mechanical
Topic: C18NZ (auto) - gearbox oil drain plug
Replies: 10
Views: 1789

Re: C18NZ (auto) - gearbox oil drain plug

With the Aisin auto box in my Cav V6 I could never be sure which of the hex heads at its base was the drain plug - or even if there was one. It also has no sump plate that can be removed. So I resorted to sucking the fluid out via the filler tube using a PELA oil removal unit. These are much used by...
by chrisp
Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:31 pm
Forum: Faults and Fixes: ICE and Electrical
Topic: Grundig SC303 Radio cassette - how to remove facia
Replies: 13
Views: 1456

Re: Grundig SC303 Radio cassette - how to remove facia

Does anyone know where I can get a replacement liquid crystal display block for the Grundig SC303? Over the life of my Cav I've probably replaced this unit 2 or 3 times with new ones, after the display slowly covered itself with black. The current unit is now going the same way but of course even us...
by chrisp
Mon Aug 14, 2023 5:07 pm
Forum: Your non-Cavalier Projects
Topic: My VERY RUSTY VW T25 Camper Van Project
Replies: 890
Views: 220258

Re: My VERY RUSTY VW T25 Camper Van Project

"There is a cover over the dash pod, It unclips from the rear, and then lifts forward off the cluster. There is a soft plastic cover over the instrument area, with an access hole for the reservoir. Like you say though, you have to be slow and careful topping up to avoid spillages down the back ...
by chrisp
Tue Jul 11, 2023 5:54 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Robsey's Thread of Random Ramblings.
Replies: 219
Views: 53669

Re: Robsey's Thread of Random Ramblings.

"Our first lathe rule was do not leave the chuck key in the chuck" Ah yes, I remember doing just that on the lathe in my school metalwork workshop. The chuck key shot out, narrowly missing me and landed some distance away, luckily not hitting anything or anyone in the process. The whole cl...
by chrisp
Sun Jun 04, 2023 2:50 pm
Forum: Projects, Restorations and Runabouts
Topic: Matts CDX - Work In Progress.
Replies: 237
Views: 41897

Re: Matts CDX - Work In Progress.

When I had the same problem with a split in the air trunking from the MAF to the throttle body on my Cav V6 I found a good temporary repair to be binding it with self amalgamating tape. This particular trunking is now very hard to find and the repair lasted a good long time. It was still holding whe...
by chrisp
Thu May 25, 2023 2:26 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Battery Life
Replies: 7
Views: 1763

Re: Battery Life

I got my new HCB075 battery from Halfords for £68 using a 10% discount code available online for click and collect but not when buying within the store. So a pretty good price - I hope it'll last for 10 years again just like the old HCB075 (if it does it'll probably see me out!)
by chrisp
Wed May 24, 2023 5:39 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Battery Life
Replies: 7
Views: 1763

Battery Life

The battery on my Cav failed suddenly today - sudden failures seem to be a feature of modern batteries unlike a few years back when they just got steadily weaker and gave you plenty of warning. Any way, I noted the battery had a 4 year warranty so off I went to find the receipt. After much digging I...
by chrisp
Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:09 am
Forum: Your non-Cavalier Projects
Topic: The Wife's Vectra-C - The other battle wagon
Replies: 238
Views: 91515

Re: The Wife's Vectra-C - The other battle wagon

"Therefore the car probably only gets a blast four times a week when I leave the M60 at Denton Island to join the M67 east-bound - to go home. All of a 1/8 mile run until I hit motorway speed. Then it is a sedate cruise again." Ah yes, the M67, optimistically signposted to Sheffield and th...