Brad's 1992 K Grey 827 Coupe (Manual)

[SJG]

Shame you didn't manage to get a picture of it, would be interested to see that

[Charles827si]

Update:

Now’s a good time for a short update after I have been away from the forum for so long. The coupe has covered over 2500 miles without fault. I drove down to St. Helens Merseyside yesterday to pick up a rear glass window bought on the cheap bay for 99p. About 1 hour and 20mins drive go on the M65 and then down the M6. The seller was quite helpful and chucked in a couple of magic leather cleaning pads after a demonstration on the driver seat. The slightly abrasive pads soaked in water have removed some of the grained in dirt, but I learned this has to be carefully measured so as not to remove the top surface of the leather.

The car has recently started with a groaning/creaking noise from the steering, so fishing round the net, I learned it might be that there is air trapped in the power steering system, or it could be the PAS pump is wearing out. I check the fluids every week and these are fine. I have booked an appointment at my friendly Rover specialist who can hopefully trace the problem because I have no knowledge at all about steering. Just waiting for a nearly new steering wheel to arrive from Brad to replace the original which is slightly worn on the wheel and the centre pad.
gg dowg
I have fitted a rubber upper windscreen trim bought new from Rimmers for £6.50. The problem is I have broken two of the clips trying to fit this, so if anybody has a couple of these spare clips, I’d be much obliged. Lastly purchased an original and correct PGM-FI24v Top Cover (the paint has chipped away on the old one)

My sunroof was sticking when closing. I found there was a slight rubber trim hanging down in the way so I cut out the excess with a Stanley blade. I bit unorthodox but it has worked it seems.

I have worked out the economy after several trips to the pumps as 27mpg average which I suppose for this car is not really bad, though not as good as my Mk1 which would frequently do up to 35mpg. I do around 200 miles a week now so get though a lot of vapour.

I still have a healthy job list to get through but I don't need to rush this. I'm trying to hang on until MOT time in September to see the outcome of this before splashing out.

[rovercoup]

Hi Charles nice to hear all is well with your car and your getting through the little jobs which are pleasing. On the leather side of things I would be wary of using abrasive products for the very reason you mentioned. I have bought from these people and have found that the products are excellent which I have used on my Vitesse seats.

http://www.liquidleather.com/

They do exact matches for all the Rover leather and not not too far from you so could be worth a visit to get those leather seats looking like new. I would be interested to hear how you get on with if you decide to visit.

[Charles827si]

Hope you are well Steve. I briefly came across this last week. At least I know somebody has tried this with success - thanks for directing me there again.

[Richard Moss]

Bear in mind that the creaky steering could be because of a dry (worn) suspension bottom balljoint. Please check it put as they can collapse

[Charles827si]

Bear in mind that the creaky steering could be because of a dry (worn) suspension bottom balljoint. Please check it put as they can collapse

Cheers. It's being checked tomorrow and I'll let you know the outcome.

[Charles827si]

Coupe checked out – nothing untoward found. Strangely the noise has disappeared (for now at least)

[Charles827si]

Engine bay will receive a facelift following the repainting of the flaky top cover


The noise I described has returned - I have a better idea that it emulates from the passenger side front suspension arm. Separately there is also some squeakiness from the engine steady bar bush and there is a fair amount of play in this bush which I'm not sure there should be normally.

[Charles827si]

Coupe at MOT bay awaiting testing..

[Charles827si]

Coupe at MOT bay awaiting testing..

Failed on some minor things: -

Rear brakes – little or no effort in those
One corroded brake pipe
Battery clamp insecure

Not too bad really.

[rovercoup]

Could have been a lot worse Charles. Corroded brake pipe should be just a rub down and paint and for the rear brakes was it on the parking brake or pedal?

[Charles827si]

Could have been a lot worse Charles. Corroded brake pipe should be just a rub down and paint and for the rear brakes was it on the parking brake or pedal?

My mechanic has just rang me back to ask for the go-ahead. He said it's both the pedal and handbrake which has failed and can tell the brakes were done recently and a strip down is needed again. The handbrake on 800's is a common MOT fail isn't it? The Mk1 failed on this several times.

Coupe also failed on the N/s front ball joints which would explain the squealing noise.

[rovercoup]

Hopefully you have a decent mechanic there Charles. I would doubt a strip would be needed, more a case of moving the caliper in and out a few dozen times as they tend to seize up from lack of use.

I have had 3 cars in storage since February and leave the handbrake off with the car in 1st gear and touch wood no problems. I also do the same on the wife's TF and my daily the MK2 Vitesse with no problems in that area. I think that if they are left for periods of time without use they seize up but can be freed off rather than replaced. Incidentally the TF rear brake caliper is the same as used on the 800.

Once the calipers are working correctly ask him to rest/adjust the handbrake as a lot of cars have too much travel and I often wonder if this can cause problems. I always have mine within 5 clicks to fully on.

[Charles827si]

I have had 3 cars in storage since February and leave the handbrake off with the car in 1st gear and touch wood no problems. I also do the same on the wife's TF and my daily the MK2 Vitesse with no problems in that area. I think that if they are left for periods of time without use they seize up but can be freed off rather than replaced. Incidentally the TF rear brake caliper is the same as used on the 800.

The car was in storage after I bought it off Brad for several months while I was using the Mk1. It's possible I left the handbrake on most of the time - I'm unsure.

[Charles827si]

Worst case is that the calipers hand brake mechanism is seized because of wear and tear basically and which will need replacing.
second worst is the mechanism again but just due to under use and can sometimes be freed up.

Third could be one of the handbrake cables ?

Did you get a read out ? I think its 16% efficiency for it to pass but a seized cable would be 0% obviously

The battery clamp is not an MOT failure, just an advisory so I don't get that bit.

is the brake pipe a fail or an advisory?

That sounds right about the hand brake mechanism from what I gathered. I haven't been back to the garage because its Bradford - 15 miles away, so I haven't a printout of the test. The battery clamp was an advisory and the brake pipe a fail.