ive finaly bit the bullet and got me another p38 after some nice frendly c~nt nicked my last one

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f43/why-153935.html

anyway its a black 1996 4.6 hse mot november completly standard except the radio and i payed £1200 (is this too much bearing in mind the following faults ive discovered)
firstly minor faults
1 no fabric on sunroof slide
2 both back tires close to limit
3 the rear bumper has a bulge (looks like its been reversed into a bollard or something) but its bluged up so that it touches the lower tailgate when its down, and worn the paint off
4 cracked rear light
5 paint work abit dull
6 aircon handbook comes on if the aircon is switched on
7 brown leather interior

i spoted all these before i bought it and i dont think any are a big deal however since i got it home ive found a few more things and now im not so sure

1 the front suspension drops overnight. equal on both sides and pops up quickly when started (my drive slopes down forward so if its leveling it should lift up)
2 somtimes when its been stood overnight the 3 brake warning lights take ages to turn off (upto a minute) also when the lights are on the brake pedal seems soft with reduced braking, but they work fine when the lights goes out.
3 when at low speed the gear changes seem harsh
4 not sure if its been chiped cos i can only get 11mpg when my old one did 14mpg on the same run and it accelerates harder than my old one

if anyone can offer any advice id be very gratefull
ill put up some pics after ive waxed it at the weekend

Also the key fob remote sometimes works fine and sometimes I have to get right up to the door before it will unlock

gfromleeds said:

Also the key fob remote sometimes works fine and sometimes I have to get right up to the door before it will unlock

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Probable cause is because the antenna (Blue) wire has been disconnected from the RF receiver due to wi-fi interference keeping the Becm awake and flattening the car battery.:behindsofa:

Don't you think cutting the paint might be a good idea before you wax it?

Apart from that it sounds like you need to check your gearbox oil condition and level, then talk to a friendly breaker for a couple of tyres, a couple of bags, a brake accumulator, a back light and a bumper.

I'm assuming you're not rich enough to afford new, otherwise why did you buy this!

Welcome back.

a bumper will cose you £70 second hand as said you need a good breaker to sort your other bits, i use emmottos of clone i find him very good. if you need his number just ask..

I think you got a reasonable deal. Had to laugh though that you mention the brown leather interior as a minor fault!

A couple of thoughts. Why only the back tyres worn would be a question. You might find the front propshaft is missing! This is a bodge to get over a duff diff. On mine all 4 tyres wear more or less evenly. I do rotate every 6 monthish though. Handbook sign in the HEVAC could be lot of things, very few of which are critical. Just make sure it blows hot and cold on command and leave it for another day. The EAS needs to be diagnosed logically, systematically and patiently. Go at it in a haphazard manner and you'll soon have dents in the bodywork from where you've kicked or punched the car or thrown tools at it! I would start with the soapy water test - check for leaks at the air harness connections to the EAS box and to the front airsprings. Any bubbles, trim the pipes back, check the o'rings and reconnect. If this fails then get under the car and check the airsprings themselves. Raise and lower the suspension while you do this. Sometimes a leak can get covered by a fold in the rubber and not be detected. Third is check the air harness all along from the EAS box to each airspring. You'll need to get out the battery compartment to do this. I am 90% certain you'll find the problem in one of these areas but if not come back and we'll all try to think of what's next.

As for mpg, I gradually improved mine by about 17% over a period of a year by fitting genuine air and fuel filters, upgrading my HT leads and plugs, switching to Mobil 1 engine oil, cleaning the MAF and TPS (with carb spray), changing the centre muffler and also changing to a better quality fuel (eg Shell instead of supermarket fuel). I also reset the ECU adaptive trims after doing the MAF and filters. So not one quick solution but collectively they all helped.

Enjoy!

Brake problem is probably the accumulator. Dropping overnight is probably perished air springs, if they are original then they will definately need replacing. Leave it and you will shag the compressor.

gfromleeds said:

3 the rear bumper has a bulge (looks like its been reversed into a bollard or something) but its bluged up so that it touches the lower tailgate when its down, and worn the paint off

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Mine looks like that too - they just warp. Easier to replace than to try and repair.

gfromleeds said:

1 the front suspension drops overnight. equal on both sides and pops up quickly when started (my drive slopes down forward so if its leveling it should lift up)

Click to expand...

Mine does this too - I think it's a height sensor on mine as it seems to be a commanded drop on mine. It's a bit odd, but I've got more important things to worry about (and pay for) at the moment! I have a feeling it might just be a bad connection/earth - almost as if the front height sensors give a different reading when the engine isn't running.

gfromleeds said:

2 somtimes when its been stood overnight the 3 brake warning lights take ages to turn off (upto a minute) also when the lights are on the brake pedal seems soft with reduced braking, but they work fine when the lights goes out.

Click to expand...

Same with mine - Needs a new accumulator. I think Island 4x4 sell new ones quite reasonably. It's on my (long) to do list!

Guy

Irishrover said:

Probable cause is because the antenna (Blue) wire has been disconnected from the RF receiver due to wi-fi interference keeping the Becm awake and flattening the car battery.:behindsofa:

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Is that behind the fuel cap in the boot?
Cos Someone else mentioned that but sometimes it works from 20 foot away and sometimes wont work untilled an out 2 foot away

drop driverside seat down take the top shelf off and it is there the one just behind the seat..