Thursday 26 September 2013

First Jobs - Seats, Overheating and Fuel Leak

I’ve spent the last few days avoiding the GTM – I felt I’d fallen out of love with it a little thanks to the horrendous journey getting back. Today I get the GTM out of the garage and start to fix a few fundamental issues which are preventing the car driving properly. The first is…

Some serious seat adjustment


Not that the seats are bad or unsupportive, the problem, for me at least, is that the previous owner had both the passenger and driver’s seat jacked up on what look like big bits of wood. I'm a little taller than Keith, so my head is literally pressed against the roof whilst I'm driving. I remove the seats, take out the wood and what look like rubber shock absorbers, and replace the seats with new bolts and washers. Much better.

Holly Helping!

That's one way of absorbing the bumps - far more comfortable without for me.


Sorting the overheating issue


The thermostat is opening okay, and there are no airlocks in the cooling system, so I've replaced the expansion tank cap, messed about with the fan switch and replace two very perished vacuum pipes that control the manifold pressure. It seems much happier, although the system now has no coolant from the amount of topping up I did a few days back, so I'm planning to flush it and refill it soon before winter.

Fuel Leak


I've noticed a very strong smell of petrol since I picked up the GTM K3, so it’s off to my friendly garage, Aaron’s Autos, for some investigation. After taking off the roof and trim, we found that one of the pipes was slightly corroded, so we sawed it off and reconnected it. More worryingly however was the rubber filler pipe, which is too large for the neck of the fuel tank. It gathers slightly where the jubilee clip holds it in place, and a slight loosen of the clip results in petrol pouring out – it’s clearly not sealing properly. I've contacted TEC Industrial in Ireland, an old client from my graphic design practice, who specialises in hosing. They confirm they can supply me with something a little more suitable.

Pipe removed ready to be sawn. Offending filler neck rubber join can be seen.

Looks a bit like a bathtub here.


Saturday 14 September 2013

Collecting the GTM K3

The day has come, insurance sorted and my train ticket in-hand – it’s time to pick up the GTM K3 from my Uncle Keith's house in Peterborough and drive it back to Derby!

That’s right, I said drive (although as you read on, perhaps a trailer might have been a better idea), as it’s taxed, tested and lightly serviced by a local garage before my arrival. I take it out for a brief journey around Yaxley with Keith to get used to the car, and grab some petrol.


First impressions reveal a very awkward gear change. The suspension was sunk, so Keith had the local garage pump it back up before my arrival, but it’s riding way too high, and with the excess pressure in the hydro-elastic system, the ride is too firm. In fact, it’s toeing in at the rear, making the car very twitchy.

Still excited though, as all this can be rectified. So after a spot of lunch, Keith waves goodbye as I gingerly take the K3 onto the busy A1…

…Where after about 15 minutes, this happens:


Not a great start, the engine has overheated and lost quite a bit of coolant. I check the thermostat which seems fine, let the engine cool and replace the water. Lets try again…


So there’s clearly an issue with the cooling system somewhere! After another 2 stops, I decided to call it a day, and also call the RAC. The RAC chap turns up and looks at the car blankly, but then cheers up when he realises it’s all Rover running gear and reveals he used to work at Longbridge. He quickly diagnoses a series of small issues including damaged manifold vacuum tubes, air locks in the system and a malfunctioning fan switch.

A few temporary fixes using tape, tape and more tape and I’m under way again. I arrive back home 7 hours after I set off – where the K3 promptly overheats again on the drive. At least we’re home and tucked up in the garage.