A breaker restored!

Both, ha ha :)

GOOD NEWS, in fact GREAT news !!

The car is now running!!!!!

New cambelt and tensioner and she fired up !!!!

Now running, but with a misfire (just hoping that it is not a bent valve)

But no smoke and no bottom end problems etc.

It does look like the misfire is an injector problem (the wiring has been "played around with on two of them)

But at worse case it will be a head repair (if that!)

Onwards and upwards.

I can now start to think about MOT etc.

I needed some good news !!!

Steve B
 
That's great news. Looking forward to seeing its progress.

Onwards and upwards.

Hi,

I have now found the replacement wheels for those horrid 18" GTI wheels.

I found a set of Avus wheels on eBay (the same ones as on our Daughter's black A2 in the avatar !!)

They fill the arches nicely and (to me) look VERY nice and they are genuine Audi wheels after all?

Will refurb them and fit new tyres, but I have to be careful I don't make the car too expensive to sell, for a 2001 1.4

But I do want it to be a nice one.

The plan is to have the spec as follows

OSS (Already of course)
Double DIN (Already Symphony II)
DIS (to be fitted)
Cruise (to be fitted)
Leather (refurbed)
New Cambelt kit (complete)
Serviced
Audi AVUS 17" wheels and tyres.

Before anyone points out that there is no point in adding spec such as the Cruise and DIS, if I am about to sell, I realise this and you would be right.
BUT I have been able to source everything for cruise and DIS (including the instrument cluster, Stalks (cruise and DIS) and looms (£70)) for a total of £120,
I want to use this as a test for when I do my other "keeper" A2, so this will be a useful trial.

The aim is to keep the sale price below £2,500 (possibly as low as £2,200 if I can keep the costs down) remember that I am not trying to profit from this (or LOSE money this time)

But only time will tell and it will be fun doing it!

Steve B
 
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Latest update

Hi,

It was a couple of Bent valves (caused by the cam belt tensioner letting the valve timing shift a few notches).

Not as disastrous as a cam belt snapping, fortunately enough.

The head is off and good news, no piston damage.

Needs a few valves though and a couple of injectors (someone had managed to fit the wrong injectors and "mastic" them in and fudge the wiring to them (because they were the wrong ones)

But it should be running and ready for MOT prep next week!!!

Have lined up a few more parts for it, so it shouldn't be long before it is on the road (and ready to sell when I get the "Keeper".

It should be a good buy for someone looking for a 1.4 with a good spec at a reasonable price (basically what it cost me !!!)

So it will be another one leaving the Battersea Dogs Home for A2s, after being rescued.

Watch this space.

Steve B
 
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It was in fact SIX valves that were needed a few were ever so slightly bent and the rest had been replaced by a previous owner and not "lapped in" and so were not sealing properly.

Absolutely no damage to any of the pistons etc. (the belt had slipped a few teeth rather than breaking and so the valves did not smash into the pistons.

Should be able to focus on the MOT items from tomorrow.

Already have the replacement wheels for the "ugly ones" I found a set of my second favourite A2 wheels (the S3 Avus 17" alloys)
Newly freshened (not refurbed, just cosmetically improved (sanded and painted).

Definitely need a set of drop links and rubbers for the anti roll bar, probably new brakes, but all else seems ok for the MOT.
Will find out more in the next day or two and report back (I hope I am not boring anyone with this???)

Steve B
 
Just had the first drive after the engine has been sorted, it drove REALLY well, plenty of power for a 1.4 petrol, great gearbox, brakes fine (but the pad wear warning is on, the pads are fine and everything seems connected, so I will have a dig around tomorrow.
Will fit the replacement wheels, although strangely enough the 18s didn't seem to rub and didn't feel like a steamroller!
Will be fitting the replacement CCCU and coding the key
Will be fitting a new Lambda sensor (pre-cat) which is causing the Engine management light.
Then checking out any other possible MOT issues.

Unfortunately the bills are rising higher than expected, the main culprit was two new injectors, man are they expensive!!
Plus 8 new valves (plus labour)
Oil change, Cambelt (complete kit)
Two drop links etc etc.

But the car will be saved from the breakers and will have a reasonably high spec when finished.

next report soon (got some time off now until New Year so should be able to get stuck in!)

Steve B
 
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This is becoming a great wee write up Steve, it'd be interesting to see some 'before and after' pictures if you have any / can be bothered to indulge us!

I've not been keeping track of this thread as it's titled 'Possible breaker' so it wasn't drawing my attention. Therefore, is there any objections to me changing the title to 'Restoring a breaker' or something similar?

It's a potential sticky thread to hopefully inspire others to have a go rather than flogging a car for spares. (Or maybe a platform for you to be offered lots more A2's to restore back to health!!) ;)
 
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This is becoming a great wee write up Steve, it'd be interesting to see some 'before and after' pictures if you have any / can be bothered to indulge us!

I've not been keeping track of this thread as it's titled 'Possible breaker' so it wasn't drawing my attention. Therefore, is there any objections to me changing the title to 'Restoring a breaker' or something similar?

It's a potential sticky thread to hopefully inspire others to have a go rather than flogging a car for spares. (Or maybe a platform for you to be offered lots more A2's to restore back to health!!) ;)

Hi
Thanks for that.
I was worried that it might be rambling on a bit.

Feel free to adapt the thread in any way.

I will take pictures too

Cheers
Steve B
 
Thread renamed and 'stuck' - good luck with the restoration and as stated already, hopefully this will inspire others fix rather then scrap older A2's.

This is a great example of one needing some mechanical work and cosmetic TLC. It'll be an increasingly difficult task to restore any accident damaged cars as time moves ever forward, but it's good to read a story of one being saved from the knackers yard!
 
Thanks Murdo

I will try to keep it interesting, there should be lots to report now I am at home and able to work on it every day until next year!!!

Steve B
 
Hi,

I will add photos as I go.

These are the "before shots"

DSCF1460.jpgDSCF1458.jpgDSCF1461.jpgDSCF1459.jpgDSCF1465.jpgDSCF1466.jpg


Steve B
 
Hi,

The first and most important job after getting the engine running again, has been done.

Was it important things like brakes? Steering? Suspension?

NO !!!

It was to get those ugly wheels off!!!

The replacements may not be to everyone's taste, but to me they do suit the A2 although they were never available for the A2.

They are the S3 17" Avus wheels. They fill the arches nicely, they are Audi wheels and they have the same size tyres as the 17" Sport alloys.

So I am sure that they are an improvement (it would be difficult to find wheels that looked worse)


BEFOREDSCF1458.jpg
AFTERDSCF1468.jpg

Steve B
 
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