1994 Cavalier LSi C20NE (was C18NZ) Work-horse

[Envoy CDX]

Will see what bits I have kicking about.

[Robsey]

I think the jaws of the adjuster are okay, but cannot be sure whether it is the teeth of the ratchet that are worn a little, or if the metal adjuster lever is worn allowing one or the other to slip.

I could dress the ratchet teeth a little, and also bend the adjuster plate a little, so that it digs-in to the ratchet teeth a bit better.

I tried my modified full closure circuit (shown above), and it works a treat.

Press the fob button to arm the car, and the windows and sunroof all close.
Takes about 8 seconds to achieve.
The driver relay clicks off after 10 seconds, so shouldn't screw up the window closure wiring etc.

I might put a switch in the circuit, so that I can arm the alarm, without closing the windows - assuming I happen to go somewhere that Mr Burglar doesn't visit.
Got plenty of switches to do this

[Envoy CDX]

All good
Might be worth taking a trip to the breakers and pulling a set of drums on a MK3 Cav or Astra.

[Robsey]

Well I finally stopped dicking about, and got some work done on the Cav.

By the time I got round to working on the Cav, it was definately NOT roadworthy.

Faults were: -

Hand-Brake - all but non-existent - 12 or 13 click on the ratchet... to be honest I didn't know the ratchet had that many teeth.

I stripped the drums out, and they were absolutely full of brake dust. Brushed all this out to find that my self adjusters were looking very dirty and full of crud.
Cleaned out between the ratchet teeth, and also re-shaped the little L shaped stop plate / bracket, so that it dug into the teeth with a positive click when adjusting them up.
The near-side adjuster was ingenerally better condition than the off-side, but the two fingers on the end o the unthreaded tubular section of the adjuster wre slightly splayed and twisted.

I re-shaped this using a plastic faced mallet. The brakes were fully re-assembled.
Both drums were adjusted until I was able to get a good positive braking effect on 6 clicks of the hand-brake lever.

Radiator Fan thermal switch finally fell apart on Friday 6th Sept, and I nearly cooked the engine - Again!

The connector barrel had been braking away from the screw in part of the switch for a while, but it finally told me enough was enough, and a replacement was needed.

This is where the terminals had burnt out, due to the two halves of the switch not being securely attached too each other

A new switch was fitted, and the coolant was replenished within just a couple of minutes.

As you can see, I use red long life fluid. I have read in some places that red fluid is only for 2001 onward vehicles, but I have checked this thoroughly, and this particular specification of fluid is indeed suitable for a Cavalier.

[Robsey]

Rear Exhaust Hanger rubber snapped -
Spent 3 weeks looking for an exhaust rear hanger rubber - finally got one on sunday 9th Sept, from the fourth Halfords that I've visited.
I had to get one for a bloody Escort FFS!!.

Vauxhall have none in stock until tomorrow (Tuesday)

Whilst fitting the rubber, I was able to see that my rear cross member is corroding even further inboard.

I will get this welded this year - it apparently only got an advisory last year, because it is not a load bearing member etc...

Finished off with a few mundane little jobs, including re-lubricating my electric aerial mast with 3in1 oil.
Fitted a new Bosch air filter and re-filled the window washer resevoir.

Quite a productive day for a change.

[Robsey]

Jobs to do in the next few weeks -

These little toys arrived last week, so I need to get round to fitting them.

Can you tell what they are yet?

Well some seats in exactly the same trim as my car - I mainly want to replace my worn out driver's seat, but for the price, I could not refuse.

cav seats.jpg (32.97 KiB) Viewed 815 times

I also got a very good door in the correct colour (no corrosion anywhere - bargain) for about a tenner, complete with all internals and door card.

door1.jpg (37.83 KiB) Viewed 815 times

door2.jpg (58.46 KiB) Viewed 815 times

My door pins arrived at the dealers today, so I will be collecting these on Wednesday, along with some proper OEM exhaust rubbers (for future stock), which are due to arrive tomorrow - as mentioned above).
They were just as cheap as Halfords believe it or not.

[SeanGSi]

My fan stopped working aswell but i just put in a flick switch atm, where did u get the thermal switch from? i really need one tbh

[Envoy CDX]

Great progress Rob.

[btcctroy]

Looking good pal

[Robsey]

My fan stopped working aswell but i just put in a flick switch atm, where did u get the thermal switch from? i really need one tbh

Any auto factors will carry these.
Do be aware though that there are many versions..
1) The basic 2 wire round switch - like mine
2) An oblong switch
3) A switch with 3 pins
4) A switch with a flying lead

Even after quoting my number plate, I still had to verify that mine was the 2 pin, non-air con, round connector, with no flying leads.

They vary from approx £5 to £11 dependent upon make and type.

Mine was made by the Italian company, Facet.

[Robsey]

A mixed week this week.

I started by fitting a new top hose - ordered from the dealer in Stockport.
All good, and temp gauge appears more settled.

Then for most of the week, until yesterday, the sat nav lost it's GPS signal.
It has had a signal all day today - bizarre

And now for the gutter - I was driving home and heard a thud!!
Thouht something had hit the screen, but didn't notice anything - until the light changed and I got near to home.

Bugger - I now need to get the screen replaced on the insurance... the second claim for glass this year - grrr!!

Thank goodness it's payday next week - but I fear my wages will be spent before I get them - pah!!

[Envoy CDX]

How's things looking with this Rob?
Interior fitted yet?

[Robsey]

Hmm - lets see...

I had a new windscreen fitted via the insurance. -

there were loads of hair-line scratches in the glass, which is strange as neither my missus or I wear any rings that could scratch the glass.

Also fitted a replacement wiper mechanism, as mine had loads of play in the spindle bushing. The result of this was tha my ams sprung up and contacted the rear edge of the bonnet.

The replacement wiper mechanisms were much less worn, and now the arms clear the rear of my bonnet.

I got a new sat-nav aerial for the radio, and it now works spot on, and I nearly never lose my GPS signal.

Got two new front tyres and the tracking sorted, as I was not very confident about how grippy the tyres felt in the damp.

I thought about fitting the fan-blades or my steelies (as both sets need two decent tyres) - Well as I live on a steep hill, and with the threat of winter and potential snow on the horizon - the narrow steelies won.
I have experienced the poor grip of the wife's 215 wide alloy wheels on her Vectra-C.. more like sledging than driving when the ice and snow arrives.


Now then the rear passenger door and the seats are still in my kennel, waiting for time and weather to fit them.
BUT

There are potentially massive financial changes ahead - not for the better but it may mean that I will need to get rid of the Cav.
Working for the NHS and having a disabled wife are two areas where the government is looking to save as much money as possible.
AND
It is not cheap running two cars.

So I am planning to see how the car gets on at the MOT next month before I do anything more to it.
If it is going to be expensive to sort, then I will let the car go...
I'll be gutted but I need to be realistic and use some common sense.

If it passes, or only needs minor work, then I will keep her going for as long as possible, and fit the seats, the rear door and finish re-installing my dash / centre console and radio housing.

[planetc]

Lose the Vectra, keep the cav!

[btcctroy]

It's a shame but finances and your livelihood are most important. you could sell both get a small super mini to save further

you can always get another cav once the economy has started to grow. If it will ever.

[Envoy CDX]

Gutting news all the same Rob. Still Cav will be cheaper to run than the Vectra surely?
Hope things pick up!

[Robsey]

Gutting news all the same Rob. Still Cav will be cheaper to run than the Vectra surely?
Hope things pick up!

Well -
Against the Vectra
parts for the Vectra are dearer - especially the modules and the dual mass flywheel - ouch!!
Insurance for the Vectra is dearer
The vectra is not a particularly good looking car.

For the Vectra
Tax for the Vectra is cheaper
Vectra Fuel economy is much better.
I only expect a few more years at the most from the Cavalier anyway - she is slowly rotting away.
11 years more corrosion in the Cavalier than the Vectra.
The Vectra belongs to the missus.

we shall see what the next 6 months bring

[planetc]

Out with both and buy a cav td!

[TurboDan]

That is a good plan!

[Envoy CDX]

Out with both and buy a cav td!

that's actually a very very good suggestion. Foot down Rob

[Robsey]

Well - I've been quiet on this topic for a while....

I was holding off from fitting my upholstery and rear door, until I had seen how the old girl faired at the MOT...

Well that was last Monday - or should have been.
I rang the garage on Monday (26th November 2012), to see how they had got on..

"We could not get some of the doors to open, and so couldn't test it" - was the answer.
Oh yes - I'd locked the car doors to dead-lock (driver's door still open), then removed the fuse and then closed the driver's door manually.

Anyway the test was done on the Tuesday...
She died a death - big style...

The garage said - "it really is time that you thought about letting the car go!".
Apparently there was excess play in a ball jiont, drop-link gaiter torn a then loads and loads of rust.
even previous patch repairs were now very rusty, and the fuel line was insecure in patches.

So I consulted the wife. (As she will be helping me to pay the final bill).
If you refer back to page 1 of this WIP, you will know that I bought it for her for Christmas 17 years ago, and it became mine 7 years ago.
Wifey said - "nope get it fixed". - so despite expecting a bill for hundreds. this was the plan.

I know many of you would say - "Don't bother, you could buy a decent Cav for that money" - but as said, there's 17 years of history and good memories, and I know 100% of the car's service / repair history.

Update so far, is that the welding has been done - no patches this time.. all done properly.
And the car has returned to my garage from the welder's.
So hopefully in the next few days the old girl will be coming home.

Then who knows? - I might finally get round to fitting the upholstery, rear passenger door, the remainder of my dash and whatever other projects are outstanding.

[planetc]

Hooray!!

[Envoy CDX]

Thank fook for that Rob!
Glad to hear things are making progress

[Robsey]

Not making progress due to my intervention...
I have found many excuses to do nothing again this year -

It is Mandi (the missus) you have to thank.
She refuses to let the old girl go to the scrap yard in the sky!!

[Envoy CDX]

Not making progress due to my intervention...
I have found many excuses to do nothing again this year -

It is Mandi (the missus) you have to thank.
She refuses to let the old girl go to the scrap yard in the sky!!

Bah, when you get it back, crack on and get that interior installed