There is one way that makes us very edgy about sketchy owners selling cars. In this Blog we do just that. We buy a slightly beaten 99 model CRV from a sketchy owner with a massive dog that was lurking in their front yard, a yard we had to walk through alone to get to the front door.
We find the dog asleep on the front veranda and with just one step onto the veranda it opens it’s eyes. Gulp!
We survive that and get on with looking over the car that was out of fuel and nosed into the kerb. We tested for worn wheel bearings which are pretty common at this age and found the RH front was badly worn and the brake disc was hitting the brake calliper, a liveable problem.
We got it to start and moved in slightly in reverse and the engine cut out, no fuel. So we give it a look over for the NDG DIY renovation process and whether this car fitted the bill, but, we could not get the feeling of there being a GOTCHA problem in this deal somewhere. We agree the price and go get some fuel. We fill the tank with enough fuel to get moving and go for a drive.
Yep, as we found the front bearing was undriveable but we drove it anyway. The car seemed fine, at first. The bearing noise was spin chilling but we only had a few kms to drive so we soldered on.
In the workshop for a first look.
- We did the before photos
- We did notice that the car didn’t engage the park paw or detent which was a big worry and the cause needed to be found.
- We removed the front wheels and found that the car was infact a constant AWD and the front drive shafts were missing on the passenger side and half there on the drivers side. We jacked up the car so all 4 wheels were off the ground and ran it in drive. Both front output shafts were turning and no abnormal noises were heard the park engage so, the GOTCHA was found, or so we thought.
- The headlights were not working on low beam.
- An after market stereo was fitted or badly fitted
- Interior fan not working
- A number of fused missing from the interior fuse box
- The body and interior were a little rough but we feel it will look great when we are done.
Parts to order
- Front Drive shafts and seals (We feel this is concealing a much bigger problem)
- RH Front wheel bearing
- Headlight bulbs
- Mini Blade fuses
While we are waiting on the parts we get to it and start the transformation process with NDG
Let’s get started on the DIY job!
- Mega Gloss wash
- NDG Claybar and lubricant process with some paint correction
- Cut and polish the paint work
- Hyperseal coating
- Long life Tyre shine
- NDG’s 3 minute headlight restoration
- Odour eleminator ( we will use “New Car” fragrance)
- NDG 600C Matte Black engine paint
- Long life Engine Lacquer
Before and after shots
Mechanicals
We got stuck into this as we were burning time
- Installed new front wheel bearings
- Installed the new front drive shafts
- Removed the blower fan regulator and replaced the main capacitor
- Replaced several damaged fuses
- We noticed the valve cover was leaking oil so removed, cleaned and resealed
Now we find the real GOTCHA!
After installing the new drive shafts we decided to test the drivetrain and prepared the car for a test drive. On selecting reverse we hear a massive banging coming out of the transmission and the same for selecting drive. This sound is terminal.
The Sketchy owner got us good!
After searching around we locate a low milage transmission and get it on transport while we remove the transmission from the car.
We really didn’t want to go this deep in repairs in this car but we had accounted for some catastrophic issue into our buying price, luckily!
Post transmission
On receiving the replacement transmission we decided to clean it with our NDG Acidic Degreaser which restores Aluminium to look like new. (on Writing this blog we had not launched NDG Degreaser. Launch date January 2019)
After the transplant we get to go for a decent drive. Wow this is a good car and could be our company run around car.
We advertise the car with half a mind that if it doesn’t sell we will in fact keep the car. A week into advertising it we receive a message from a Swedish fellow who wants to see the car. He buys it on the spot and loads up his traveling companion and heads to the middle of Australia for an around Australia working holiday which in a one shot drive is 16,500kms.
Bon Voyage guys!
Some months later we receive an image of their trip.
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