First of all, the exact engine and transmission data, including fill quantities and oil types:
- Four cylinders in line, 1.6 liter displacement, naturally aspirated
- 8 valves with overhead camshaft (OHC)
- 87 hp on gasoline with 128 Nm maximum torque, 82 hp on LPG
- Engine code K7M 710
- Multi-point injection (MPI)
- No hydraulic tappets, rocker arms must be adjusted manually
- Cast iron engine block, aluminum cylinder head
- Euro 4 emissions standard
- Engine oil: approx. 3.3 liters with 5W-40
- 5-speed manual transmission
- Type JH3
- Transmission oil: approx. 2.8 liters with 75W-80
At first glance, it looks very robust. Gray cast iron engines are proven to be very durable and can withstand a lot. The type of injection should also be unobtrusive; apart from false air due to leaky connections, there isn’t really much that can go wrong.
After reviewing all relevant parts, here are the defects:
- The spark plugs are worn out.
- So is the air filter.
- The engine oil must be ancient.
- The transmission oil is the factory fill, so it’s also old.
- The brake fluid is also very old.
- The air conditioning doesn’t work; no cooling capacity.
- Leaves and dirt come out of the ventilation system.
- The rear muffler is rusted through, the rest of the exhaust is rusty but still tight
- The engine rattles noticeably when warm, the valve clearance should be adjusted
- All brake parts are very rusty, the front discs are also cracked and the brake pads are worn due to age
- The handbrake just about holds on a slight incline
- The valve cover gasket is leaking
- The oil filler cap on the valve cover is broken off and barely holds
- All wiper blades are defective
- A fog light broke off its mount when it came into contact with something.
- The central locking motors in the doors are barely working, and in two doors they are not working at all.
- The rubber parts on the remote control are defective and prevent it from being operated.
- Due to the accident, the metal at the rear was deformed to such an extent that the lower part of the rear apron bent upwards and now the plastic of the apron is melting slightly due to the high exhaust gas temperatures
- A rubber strip at the bottom of the windshield is loose and constantly slips off the windshield
- Many screws are loose, including the door bolts
- The speedometer occasionally switches off while driving and then switches back on again at some point
- Some wires and cables are hanging loose in the engine compartment
Is that feasible?
After careful consideration, I decided to take the car and tackle the problem areas. It helps enormously that I am quite well equipped with tools and that my family has a private lifting platform that I can also use if necessary. The arguments in favor of this car were:
- LPG operation
- Spacious interior
- Air conditioning
- Almost no rust
- Timing belt was replaced not too long ago (critical)
The next step is to group the problems, which is quite simple:
- The entire brake system needs to be replaced, which in my opinion should be done by a repair shop. You shouldn’t skimp on safety. At the same time, it makes sense to have the air conditioning serviced, which is also something you can’t do yourself (at least a refill).
- I’ll take care of the rest myself as soon as the repair shop is done.
So next, it’s time to get started on implementation.