General ... the end?

[Stickman]

Sadly, it seems that I may be facing the possible end of my Sei career. The cost of repairing the various faults is possibly above the cost of the car itself. Here's a very brief list of the troubles:

- Gearbox is increasingly reluctant. Some days its better than others, but generally requires double-declutching to change down into second or first at any speed except standing-still. Clutch replaced recently, didn't help.
- Handbrake loosens constantly, needs tightening every 7/8 months.
- Seatbelts don't really retract anymore.
- Interior fan has packed up.
- Sunroof sometimes leaks, and has loud air sound on motorway.
- London has taken its toll, with tiny but annoying dents on drivers door and boot.
- Scratch on bumper.
- Door was keyed by some s**ts in Wales. Mostly t-cut-ed out, but still notable scar.
- Front alloys are kerb scarred.
- Paintwork inside car in boot area is maked and scratched from having stuff in it!

As you can see, small stuff mostly. But if the gearbox needs replacing, the car is a write-off (I can't fit one, and a buy-and-fit service is £600-800).

I suppose what I'm asking is whether this is viable. And are these acceptable faults for a 1999 car with 50k on the clock? The engine is still sweet as it was the day I got her (at 27k) and brakes are still fine.

This is all very upsetting

 

[ycming]

"The cost of repairing the various faults is possibly above the cost of the car itself."

That is true for all cars, if u own a car long enough the maintaince and repaiting cost will alway outweight the cost of the car.

It doesn't look anything dodgy but normal to me with that list as i have experience worst with my car.

I guess if you want a trouble life then buy a new car every 3 years, then you won't have MOT worries.

Ming

 

[fingers99]

The handbrake "issue" is completely normal.

For the gearbox, have you tried adjusting the cable?

Normally those gearboxes survive for 100k miles or more. But it's relatively easy to swap gearboxes out, it's not beyond the capacity of you and a friend. Alternatively, back street clutch jockeys will do it for around £100 cash (at least, here, London prices, who knows!).

 

[clock34]

my gearbox has done 134k now and still fine, dont rule it out so quick.

 

[arc]

aye, it sounds like clutch cable to me that one. if it (or just the clutch) have been replaced recently, then it will need adjusting after a month or so as the cable stretches.

 

[jamie86]

Even if it needs a new box you can pick one up for 30quid and is easy to replace with the right tools

Leaking sunroof there are some water passage ways round that area and if parked under tree's etc they can fill up with crap so might be worth checking..

General scratches not really much you can do about this to stop it

Inetrior fan? you mean the heater right? check all the electrical connections and the fuse they are the most common as it is Italian

 

[rallycinq]

If the fan works on the fast setting only, then the resistor pack needs replacing, if it doesn't run at all, start with the fuse, and then the earth.

Having said all that, you are talking about a nine year old car. Even if you had to spend £1000 getting it sorted, you would then know it was sorted.

Sell the car as is for about £600, add your £1000 and what could you buy for that, that would be guaranteed to be perfect.

Cheers

GC

 

[Stickman]

Fixed the interior fan with a new 25a blade fuse. I'll get the handbrake adjusted and have the sunroof re-sealed at the next service (relatively inexpensive jobs).

I adjusted the clutch cable, and it has helped considerably. The gearbox is much smoother and less reluctant. Before it felt like I wasn't pressing the pedal far enough, like it couldn't go far enough to properly disengage, but now its fine. However the biting point now seems to be quite a bit higher, when I thought this would make it lower...?

I've had to adjust this cable before. Every 3-4 months since getting the new clutch actually (just over a year). I wonder how much more the damn thing can stretch out?! I suppose the clutch has seen relatively light use, as for the last year I've only driven on motorways. Now I'm back from uni hopefully the increase in urban driving will help it settle.

There's still a general dislike for changing down into second without double de-clutching, but sometimes staying in third means not enough power is available and I get the judders.

Meanwhile, I'm still in 2 minds about the rest. For the minute this is the most interesting and fun car I can afford to insure. And with its value so low, I'll probs go third-party next year. I'll prob only trade in when I can get insured on an MX-5 for reasonable dosh (with a London address its still hefty). No other small car I've driven is quite as much fun to drive: I've got the italian car bug, and in spite of mounting expense I can't seem to shake it.

Cheers for all the responses everyone.

 

[ginner]

Perhaps replace the gearbox oil?

Also the clutch cables on the little beasts do need regular adjustment, and with a new clutch i would say every 3-4 months isn't unreasonable tbh.

dAN

 

[benjo]

Sadly, it seems that I may be facing the possible end of my Sei career. The cost of repairing the various faults is possibly above the cost of the car itself. Here's a very brief list of the troubles:

- Gearbox is increasingly reluctant. Some days its better than others, but generally requires double-declutching to change down into second or first at any speed except standing-still. Clutch replaced recently, didn't help.
- Handbrake loosens constantly, needs tightening every 7/8 months.
- Seatbelts don't really retract anymore.
- Interior fan has packed up.
- Sunroof sometimes leaks, and has loud air sound on motorway.
- London has taken its toll, with tiny but annoying dents on drivers door and boot.
- Scratch on bumper.
- Door was keyed by some s**ts in Wales. Mostly t-cut-ed out, but still notable scar.
- Front alloys are kerb scarred.
- Paintwork inside car in boot area is maked and scratched from having stuff in it!

As you can see, small stuff mostly. But if the gearbox needs replacing, the car is a write-off (I can't fit one, and a buy-and-fit service is £600-800).

I suppose what I'm asking is whether this is viable. And are these acceptable faults for a 1999 car with 50k on the clock? The engine is still sweet as it was the day I got her (at 27k) and brakes are still fine.

This is all very upsetting

I got mine with a lot more problems and most of the ones you've listed too!
Just put it through mot at the cost of about £60 so well chuffed! Shop about for getting things done cheap, its amazing the amount of people who are willing to help out with a bit of after work mechanics for just a few beer tokens!

I got the cam belt changed, 2 cv joints fitted, brake discs and pads fitted, alternator belt too all for £20 - It pays to look around!

Stick with it, I'm glad I have!

 

[blu73]

:yeahthat: Nothing really in that list thats really expensive, and smiles don't come cheaper than centoism, trust me (unless you go high boost turbo, silly me) lol

Well not alot you can do about imperfections on the bodywork front, but at least its not happening to nice new shiny motor is only consilation i can offer.

Clutch thing sounds in hand now, it'll bed down in time.
Handbrake - could you have seized lever things, technical jargon that, its a lever the cable pulls right at back of drum, its a common fault widely covered on the forum.
Seatbelts - well pull them out and have a look or get down scrappies for cheap new set, pretty sure you'll be able to sort them if you take them out, they aren't complicated things
Sunroof - heard many people having this problem, me included. 1st thing is are you positive its from the sunroof ie have you seen it dripping coz it can sometimes not even be the sunroof. If your sure then thers a few approaches you can take, push wires up the tubes to try and clear, or compressed air. Either way its a sunroof out jobbie really. If you really can't clear them then next thing i'd do (and did do) is take out headliner, you can then take the drain pipes off the car in 5 secs flat and either try clear again or just replace.