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Jun 23, 2010 12:45:26 GMT
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OK, I¡¦ve had the Carlton for a few weeks now (long enough for the V5C to come back from the DVLA anyway) and so I¡¦m getting to know the car a bit better, and thought that just maybe it was time to do a quick Reader¡¦s Rides on the beast since it seems to be staying... For those who missed the ¡§reveal¡¨, what I have here is a 1990 Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 CD manual with 120,000 miles on the clock. I bagged it cheap enough off eBay. It¡¦s got a few issues with rust in the rear arches/tops of the sills, which seems to be pretty common place with these cars but it¡¦s solid as a rock everywhere else. The paintwork is not brilliant, but it runs well, rides well, is amazingly economical for what it is (and coming from a Lexus LS400 as previous daily driver...) and it¡¦s got plenty of MOT. It has an aftermarket alarm and an OK JVC CD player in it. It is WAY comfy. So far I have managed to give it a full service and a front section of exhaust and the wipers. I plan on a cam belt change too. I have the belt, just not the time... Yeah, as with so many of my motoring plans... I managed to lock my keys in it and had (to my embarrassment) to call the AA out to get me in. I think there is more wind noise from the driver¡¦s door area now though. ƒ¼ I have started to compile a ¡§snagging list¡¨ and this is depressingly long when you look at it in isolation but, meh, the car runs well, drives well on the move and even handles better than I had expected of it. - NSR electric window does not operate.
OSR door does not open OSR door lock pin missing Rear bumper is bent Warm starting often has hesitant/slow idle initially First and Reverse gears get trickier to select when hot Temperature gauge does not work Handbrake warning light does not go out Clock does not work Front fogs do not work Rear fogs do not work HRW does not appear to work Electric mirrors have ceased to work NSF tyre is more ¡§elderly¡¨ looking that I would like, although has plenty tread. Headliner is detaching itself from the roof OSR and NSR wheel arches are heavily corroded (or in fact missing in one case) Central locking goes somewhat mental when opened from passenger door or boot. Car will not lock on the key from the driver¡¦s door Driver¡¦s door droops (may need new hinge pins) Wind noise from driver¡¦s door and sun roof. Some knocking is coming from the front bushes somewhere
So it¡¦s a 20 year old Vauxhall then... The biggest problem is that when one gets medieval on the gas pedal what happens is a lot of knocking and a bit of wheel hopping from the back rather than a good loud squeal of tortured rubber. We have two problems here: The first is a lack of power (115 BHP stock) and the other is independent rear suspension. I don¡¦t think I can do anything about the later, but I have a fiendish plan ¡V which may come to nought ¡V to sort the former deplorable state of affairs. Other than that I¡¦d like to refurbish the alloys (I like those ATS X-spokes, anyone know what the proper name is for them?) and repaint the car. I keep thinking black would look awesome. But would require a lot of work as its a colour change. Maybe go for a nice silver rather than the current shade of old-man-wee-pale -gold? That I could get away with painting less internal surfaces to achieve but I don¡¦t really like silver cars that much. We¡¦ll see. Some lowering may also be appropriate. I believe these cars use progressive springs so they need to be bought not chopped. We¡¦ll see how that pans out. I also fancy upgrading the stereo somewhat. The head unit is OK but there is nowhere to hook up my phone or iPod to it, also it lacks punch and bass so I reckon some better speakers and an amp will fix that, probably go to 6x9s in the back or maybe pop a sub in the boot. Let¡¦s not get too carried away. Really I should just run it as it is, maybe adding the LPG kit I have in the garage for it to the mix and then spend time and effort on the Oldsmobile not this. Who knows what makes sense anymore though?
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Jun 23, 2010 12:46:58 GMT
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Woah, weird formatting going on, I'll fix that from home later...
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Jun 23, 2010 14:40:35 GMT
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^It is a bit weird.
The cambelt isn't too bad to change - my Dad asked for the belt on his Carlton to be changed by a friend of his that runs a garage. Said friend forgot to do it, and ended up doing it in the pub carpark in about 35 minutes. It's worthwhile changing the cambelt-drive waterpump at the same time.
It's probably worth changing the fuel pump relay as a precaution - each Carlton that we had failed to proceed because of the relay dying.
And they really are very comfy - a good car for covering some serious miles in.
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Jun 23, 2010 18:31:17 GMT
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These are great cars but those arches look bad, man. Before chucking any money at it I would get those placca trims off the sills and check them out. These cars are probably second only to the Hyacinth Bucket-shape Rover 200 for the trophy of 'rustiest car of the 80's'! Check the top of the chassis member under the battery too, thats a good spot for rust problems as is the rear chassis where it kicks up ahead of the rear springs. RUST RUST RUST
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1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 Mazda 929 Coupé 1986 Mazda 929 Wagon 1979 Mazda 929 Hardtop 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 1989 Subaru 1800 Wagon 1982 Hyundai Pony 1200TL 2-dr 1985 Hyundai Pony 1200 GL 1986 Maserati 425 Biturbo 1992 Rover 214 SEi 5-dr 2000 Rover 45 V6 Club 1994 Peugeot 205 'Junior' Diesel 1988 Volvo 760 Turbodiesel Saloon 1992 Talbot Express Autosleeper Rambler 2003 Renault Laguna SPEARS OR REAPERS
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Colonelk
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,742
Club RR Member Number: 83
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1990 Vauxhall Carlton 2.0CDColonelk
@colonelk
Club Retro Rides Member 83
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Jun 23, 2010 19:02:48 GMT
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They love to hide the rust too! And youve got a pre-facelift! they are getting pretty rare now. Lowness.... how low do you want to go? If lots.... get calibra dampers and lowering springs at the back (ive got -60s and its v.low ever with it stripped out, so I should go for standard calibra and go lower as necessary), then chop the fronts like billy-o/ Ive got aftermarkets chopped down on mine try and get some 3.0 front legs too as they act as uprated over the 2.0s knocking from the rear when giving it the boot will be shot rear subframe donut bushes, IIRC quite cheap to replace, and allegedly not the hardest to do. I havent tried on mine yet though, despite having got a set of poly versions sitting on the shelf gathering dust. These things look great low on 17s or 18s
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Last Edit: Jun 23, 2010 19:04:43 GMT by Colonelk
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That thing has MOT? It's hardly a couple of months worth of rust on those arches, I really would start poking around everywhere, just for your own piece of mind. Once all the problems are sorted, I'm sure you'll have a cracking barge for cruising around in, I remember having one of these sideways on some black ice in my first year of driving, I never thought I'd be so glad to have watched Tiffany Dell's dvd on car control.
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There is no such thing as a curse word car just overstretched expectations................. Herald 10/10 Gasser 10/10 Total score 20/10
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bigrod
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,654
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Love Carltons me.
Nearly bought one the other week actually to use as a snotter, but it had no MOT and I needed a turn key.
I've had quite a few over the years. As Colon Elk says, the knocking is the trailing arm bushes they're located under the rear seats. Quite an easy job to do.
do change the cambelt and waterpump. I changed my cambelt and the waterpump let go about 100 miles later.
I had an estate a few yearsa go which, after all was said and done, cost me nothing. It hauled me up and down the country for two years and proved to be pretty much indestructable.
I eventually sold it on eBay to a fireman from Lewisham for £75.
I wish I'd never sold it tbh, it was a good old motor.
I'd be a bit suspicious of that MOT though. Rear fogs not working, and that rust is a bit of a concern?!?!!?
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If I have to explain, you won't understand. Maximum signature image height = 80 pixels
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Jun 24, 2010 17:53:52 GMT
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Yeah, she's a bit flakey, and one sill seems to have some grot but when it was up on the ramp I had a bit of a poke about underneath and all seemed OK, although I am not familiar with where they rot and don't so I'll check more carefully where you guys recommend.
To be honest once the ticket is up if its dead then I can weigh it in for what it will owe me by then, or more...
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Colonelk
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,742
Club RR Member Number: 83
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1990 Vauxhall Carlton 2.0CDColonelk
@colonelk
Club Retro Rides Member 83
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Jun 24, 2010 18:33:31 GMT
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before the next test a few layers of gaffer tape may well be in order on those arches haha
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Jun 24, 2010 18:52:46 GMT
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sorting those arches out is high on my to do list of for no better reason than my daughter is bound to tear her clothes on the jagged edges or something.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Jun 29, 2010 17:32:48 GMT
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Ah. This has happened twice now (three times if you count the time I locked my keys in there.) There is a fault with the management system (sensor, wiring, earth, amplifier?) who knows. So its now up for sale QUICK in the classifieds....
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Colonelk
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,742
Club RR Member Number: 83
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1990 Vauxhall Carlton 2.0CDColonelk
@colonelk
Club Retro Rides Member 83
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Jun 29, 2010 17:42:06 GMT
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oh dear... have you tried flashing fault codes chap? very easy only needs a paperclip
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Colonelk
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,742
Club RR Member Number: 83
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1990 Vauxhall Carlton 2.0CDColonelk
@colonelk
Club Retro Rides Member 83
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Jun 29, 2010 17:45:06 GMT
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reading description if F/S ad, sounds like it could be fuel pump relay? (which wouldnt throw a code)
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Last Edit: Jun 29, 2010 17:45:45 GMT by Colonelk
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Jun 29, 2010 18:01:06 GMT
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The AA chap dismissed the fuel pump relay for reason or reasons I didn't follow. I don't really "do" this modern trickery.
I have a "new" car sitting on the drive already. I just need this off my mate's garage forcourt as its in his way now.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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