Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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It's a bit of a story, this. It wasn't the car I intended to buy, for a start. I was on the Bay of e, idly browsing as you do, when I came across the Vauxhall Viscount that was previously owned by les509, of this very parish. This is Les's thread: retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=119062. A few PMs back & forth and I was more than ready to do a deal. But, having a chat with the vendor, it seemed that the owners after Les hadn't taken quite as much care as he had So, with the seed planted, and the OK from She Who Must Be Obeyed, I carried on searching when I came upon the Granada. This time, a chat with the vendor filled me with confidence, especially as he was happy to do a deal with my Fiesta. It's been driven by one chap since new, it was his company car and then he bought it when he retired. It's got a stamped history right up to date, a full year's ticket and even five month's rent. The best bit? I can insure it for less than the Fiesta! It's my first retro (I've had old cars but this is the oldest!), my first car with aircon, my first automatic, my first with cruise control. It all seems to work except the radio which powers up but doesn't tune in, but apparently that just needs the aerial plugging back in, and the cruise, which I just haven't tried yet. Mods? Probably none, except I might change the orange repeaters for clear ones. I wouldn't worry about bookmarking this one, not much is going to happen ;D
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Last Edit: Feb 1, 2016 15:11:48 GMT by Del
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A few years ago my parents used a local taxi driver who had an identical car to yours. Lovely thing it was, always immaculate and meticulously looked after. It had over 300k on the clock when he finally got rid!
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Granadaman72
Part of things
I likes Granada's, Cortina's, Sierra's, Viva's, Marina's....................
Posts: 483
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Nice looking car and great colour. Is it a 2.9 or 2.0? Watch out for wet fuse boxes causing electrical problems, think there is supposed to be a cover over the battery/fusebox on these but it goes missing over time.
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Thats a nice looking car you have. If you need any bits, let me know, I have one for spares.
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Thanks guys, have to say I'm loving it so far! I've heard the fusebox horror stories, so will be checking that over the next couple of days. One question, are these alarmed as standard. The seller thought not, but the handbook seems to suggest yes. Anyone know for sure?
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Granadaman72
Part of things
I likes Granada's, Cortina's, Sierra's, Viva's, Marina's....................
Posts: 483
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Pretty sure it will have an alarm as standard, all the ones i have had one, the alarm buzzer is bolted to the bulkhead behind the battery (it is on the pre facelift version) Quite possibly disconnected, they aren't very reliable
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rtlkyuubi
Posted a lot
Low and Slow
Posts: 2,922
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yea they do, and an immobiliser. The bell is around the battery area. Mines was dodgy, so if I tried to unlock it from the passenger door it would set it off till I locked it up and opened the boot 1st lol. Yours is looking mega clean though. But just like sierra's these love to rust around the rear arches and outer front seat mounts.
As for the radio, It might be the aerial booster box (like the sierra) as they use the rear screen heater as one
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that's a hell of a lot of car!!!
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Well, the cruise control works fine! I'll need to have a poke around about the alarm, and the radio might not be so simple either. It plays a tape (yes, I still have some!) but only sound from one rear speaker. As for the CD player, that doesn't seem to work at all
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rtlkyuubi
Posted a lot
Low and Slow
Posts: 2,922
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Yea mine didnt work either, Turned on but no sound. Turned out to be the Amp which took me ageeeesss to find! its behind the wood trim on the passenger side of the dashboard lol
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slot
Part of things
Posts: 363
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Nice find matey, I had to laughed at your comment about not to bother book marking this one, but i recon a nice clean beast like this is as rare now Especially with the likes of people like me, ripping them to pieces in pursuit of more horse Dave
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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May 10, 2013 16:22:42 GMT
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Well, I have made a mod Whilst digging through the handbook, service record etc, I found an RAC Ford tax disc holder, which I think may well be original. So I took off the Churchill one that was there and stuck the RAC one on. Looks like this one: Also, it appears that the alarm does work (or at least arms), as the LED on the dash flashes like it's supposed to. Audio is a bit more difficult, as for some reason the units don't want to release with the removal keys. Still, I have a backup, so it's not an urgent matter.
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Last Edit: May 10, 2013 18:23:54 GMT by Del
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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May 11, 2013 19:07:03 GMT
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So, the tape deck does work and it wasn't the state of my tapes, it does just play through one speaker. So I'm now wondering if someone has been fiddling about and just disconnected things or the audio setup is pretty much shot. Work colleague will be able to have a look in a couple of weeks.
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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May 12, 2013 16:42:38 GMT
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There's a lot of wind noise coming from the sunroof. It's sealed tight, there's no draught around it and no water is getting in. So what could be causing it?
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djefk
Part of things
Posts: 844
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When I was 4 my dad swapped his mk5 Cortina for one of the first mk3 Granadas (C reg I think), we then had a new company car every 3 years, he had 2 or 3 Ghias and then 2 or 3 Scorpios like yours but with a hatchback, the interiors of them were exactly the same as yours - I can still remember what they smelled like inside when new! We used to drive down to south Devon (Kingsbridge / Salcombe) every year for our holidays in them. Dad always used to fly up the M5 and M4 at 90 mph in complete comfort - Happy days!
Only faults I remember was that he once had gearbox trouble - one of the Scorpios became more and more reluctant to select reverse until it went away for repair.
Definitely remember them being alarmed as standard (the horn was he alarm) - Set it off a number of times by accident over the years!
Look after it, rare now.
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Last Edit: May 13, 2013 6:44:26 GMT by djefk
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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May 15, 2013 20:35:01 GMT
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Well, I've done 400 trouble-free miles so far, and not regretting it a bit. Two questions though, if someone might be able to help. 1) How do I get the wheel centre caps off? I treid to prise them off with a penknife but wasn't too forceful, as I didn't want to break the clips. I want to check if I've got locking wheel nuts, and if so, where the key is! 2) When the wipers run, the dash warning light for the cruise control comes on (although not the cruise control system itself). I assume this is a duff/false connection on the instrument PCB?
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mk2cossie
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,950
Club RR Member Number: 77
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May 15, 2013 23:44:59 GMT
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1) the covers should have a little cut out in them to wedge something in behind to remove them May be a tad tight, but shouldnt break the cover) 2) a favourite thing on the mk3 and frogeyes is the main fuse boxes corroding. may be worth a try and give that a squirt of some electrical cleaner and any connectors given a waggle that you can get to
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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May 19, 2013 17:12:54 GMT
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This is probably a silly question, but...I assume this rake is because I have no weight in the boot?
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Last Edit: May 19, 2013 17:15:08 GMT by Del
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mk2cossie
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,950
Club RR Member Number: 77
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May 19, 2013 21:30:42 GMT
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Is there nothing in the boot at all? As in stripped out of spare well and other trim :/ If not, it may just be down to saggy front springs
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Well, everything's in there that should be, plus a plastic crate of useful stuff (water, oil, antifreeze etc.). Doesn't feel particularly wallowy or crahsy over the bumps, though.
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