Hi All,
So bit of an update. Short story is it's now registered and running.
Dropped it in around June I think it was and left it till a) We had the money to pay for repairs and b) so the mechanic could take his time. Late November we got it home and registered. Needed timing chains replaced, front and rear engine seals, water pump replaced while we were there.
Then to get it passed the pits. Quick tip, take your car to a Kmart Tyre & Auto Service centre if you want to pass pits. I didn't and it cost me. Failed for silly bits of trim being broken, among lower control arm bushes being cracked and brake lines on there way out.
So we got to drive it south to Albany for Christmas. Except it was ok for most of the trip but then started randomly juddering. Like you would accelerate to overtake, and it would almost go into neutral and then go into gear again. Got to Albany, had a coffee, banged on the PCV and it ran beautifully around town. Until we hit the highway again. And then it juddered occasionally again.
So, back in the workshop with an engine light on and random juddery stuff to hopefully be rectified. Had the air pump replaced (was seized wide open). Took another nice run down south and... engine light is back and random juddery appears. With a drive to Albany followed by a drive to Busselton I have narrowed down our judder. Appears to be between 6-5, so my guess is a solenoid in 5th gear is the culprit. The engine light has so far been an air pipe (so i'm told, I haven't had the code recorded) and quite honestly this car has just been a big sieve.
Which is frustrating, because when it runs its a lovely car to drive. Few options at the moment, they are sell it and hope someone will want pay an acceptable amount, or spend more getting the auto box looked at, or even go all out and run big lift and big tyres to have an offroad vehicle.
Ben.
