General Done something silly, Ebay!

[MissTamsin]

Hi guys!

I'm totally knew as if you couldn't guess. I have just done something every silly and bought a multipla off ebay sight unseen . item no 271991859264 if you want to have a peruse (awful listing but cheap) Picking up on Wednesday

I only decided I wanted one this afternoon and then this happened....

So, anyway expect lots of stupid questions from me in the near future

 

[MultiplaAbarth]

These can sometimes be expensive (labour) to maintain used, and the petrol version isnt too economical @28mpg, but you have paid a great price if you can get a year or two out of it.
However I'm sure you will love it!, hope you have a sympathetic, cheap mechanic, friend!.
I did look at the ad, and looks like its had a lot of work done already, and especially like the upside down shot of the interior, wth.
This is a great forum, with lots of knowledgeable tinkerers, so we will try to help you as much as we can, so just ask!, Welcome to the fold,

 

[boilermansab]

Lol...for the money, I suppose don't expect alot.
As said petrol one isn't favoured as much as the diesel!

 

[Pandabloke]

Hi MissT.

Don't worry, even those of us who whined about them all the time, absolutely loved them. I miss mine like crazy!

Well done you on your purchase. Just enjoy!

Panda

 

[MissTamsin]

Theres only a few things I farm out to the pet mechanic, I do most of my maintenance myself (I restored a 1971 Morris Minor that had been in a field for 20 years - so I'm not too bad with the spanners)

Next question. It has no stereo and its a reasonable drive home... is the stereo a Standard DIN connection and will I need a fascia adapter?

 

[Numptey]

Nothing wrong with these as a mode of transport although I never had one myself (apparently the wife thinks they are ugly), I mean come on you can get three people at the front, who wouldn't want one.

 

[MissTamsin]

One problem that I didn't twig!.... the gearknob keeps coming off

Its a smashing car though, even with 111,000 on the clock it drives beautifully, really feels tight as a drum. The paintwork is flat as hell and has a few battle scars and the interior isn't too attractive, but there's nothing there that can't be tidied up relatively easy

Right now I feel like I *might* have got a bit of a bargain...

 

[MultiplaAbarth]

You'll need a fascia adaptor, ebay, and the loom will need an adaptor to connect the fiat wiring to a normal din unit.
Because the stereos run at a funny angle, cd units tend to jump alot...
If you have one, a usb mp3 type stereo would be awesome (or ipod connection).
A sub in the boot works well, and the square room like interior makes for great sounds.., I have had 6x9's in the parcel shelf and they can sound great with an amp, if you wont get a sub..
Glad you like the driving experience!, the 1st multipla I ever drove was a rental 1.6, I was pretty impressed, and since then I've had 4...(diesels)

 

[MissTamsin]

Actually, my Kenwood went straight to the existing stereo loom, no adapters, no nothing. Its a 6 CD changer, I just need to work out where to route the cable and stick the cassette

 

[MultiplaAbarth]

Sorry, memory plays bad tricks...I must have bought an adapter to link up to the stereo controls on my steering wheel, come to think of it.
BTW I have had a few kenwoods and they sound fantastic, great bass quality and normally you can get away without using other amps. Can only imagine putting the cd stack in the LHS of the boot, bringing the wiring in under the carpet and trim on the passenger side of the car, ie removing the plastic trim on the carpet under the doors...there are wiring looms there, from front to back.

 

[MissTamsin]

Thanks MA thats really useful.

When it comes to ICE I'm not a massive audiophile so don't worry about new speakers/amps etc I just tend to listen to the radio and switch to CD if its boring

Does anyone know... should the gearstick gaiter be able to slide over the gearknob when the little click fastener is undone? I'm tempted to stick a load of silicone adhesive into the gearknob in order to stick it in place...

Oh, another question, what is the "lock" switch on the dash? Doesn't seem to control the door locks, is it child locks?

 

[widemouthfrog]

Normally the gear knob has to be unscrewed and the gaiter popper undone to get the gaiter and its surround off.

The "lock" button disables the electric rear windows. You can't open or close the rear windows from the drivers seat if you've got electric ones all round (apart from reaching around the back of the drivers seat, I suppose).

 

[MissTamsin]

My gear knob is a press fit one rather than a screw fitted one...

I've decided to glue it in place and deal with it if I ever need to get the gaiter off

 

[QinteQ]

My also went straight into the loom, I had to rip a bit of plastic out of the back of the caddy hole to make space with a naked hacksaw wrapped in a bit of cloth. Its still in the pla and still works - and I still own the pla although its beed SORN[ed] for 5 years.

 

[MissTamsin]

Looks very much like there was a CD changer under the passenger seat at one point in the cars life, guess where mine is getting put

 

[widemouthfrog]

That's where the factory fit ones went (optional extra). Standard fit was a storage draw in the same spot

 

[MissTamsin]

Aha! I did wonder if it might have been a factory one