Well today I picked up a 54 plate ford ka that my dad used from new as a second car to run backwards and forwards to work. He bought a new fiat panda to replace it as it has a few faults and is unsafe to drive so wad just going to have it scrapped before I stepped in and got it.. only done 40k and full service history. didn't pay anything for it even though I offered as I'm going to use it as a run about and for work but list of problems as follows.

1. Most important issue is the brakes! The pedal goes nearly to the floor and it vibrates very badly like the abs is kicking in but it doesn't have abs.. the front discs and pads where changed last mot (Feb 2015) so some investigation work for that needed.

2. The heater is stick on hot, suspected heater control valve.

3. Has a miss fire under load.

4. Car has never has a proper clean since new and only been through the local car wash

5. Only has a tape deck. So need something more modern

A quick picture after it came off the trailer and looks slightly better now it's not abandoned under a tree covered in leaves.

Change the brake fluid and check the drum brakes.

Check the spark plug lead resistance, one or more could be 'duff' and check the plugs/coil.

Nice wee runabout in the making.

Thanks Russ will check all that out.. can't complain for free and doesn't have the usual rust problems so far that comes with kas and think it was too good for the scrappers.

As it was free, you're laughing! Shouldn't take much to right it... Good luck!

Sent via the 'Clacks'

GNU STP

Double post

Vibrations under braking could be worn lower arm bushes, they can accentuate the slightest disc distortion.

That's the brakes sorted so it's now safe to drive.. turned out to be badly fitted pads causing the pad not to sit square on the disc causing excessive wear to the drivers side disc. So the only place I could get parts was eurocar parts but on a plus side they were only £25 for new discs and pads but probably need new ones next year but I works just now..

The problem disc.

New discs and pads, purchased brake fluid to replace the current stuff and it's a dark copper colour but that's for another day as it was getting dark :(

I also popped into the local scrap yard while picking up the discs and pads and got a cd player with a aux port for a massive £8!

Fitted it and it works :D but it is a slightly different shade to the rest of the trim.

An excellent project for a prior scrapper. Looking forward to seeing how you finish this one.

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Got a few other things ticked off the list,

Cabin filter so try and help with the musty smell in the car, heater control valve too as having the heating permanently on hot is getting on my nerves

Also thought I would just change the plugs to see if that would sort the miss fire as they were cheap enough.

Getting it all fitted and I'm desperate to give the whole thing a good clean but job for the weekend I think :(

So now I have a working heater which doesn't smell musty and the miss fire has also gone so for a car ready for the scrap yard a few days ago is now getting better for not very much money at all..

nice one keep us posted

Well finally got round to cleaning it!!

Treatment as follows..

Valet pro snow foam,

2 bucket wash with meguiars gold shampoo,

Valet pro iron x,

Auto finesse clay bar and lube,

Autoglym super polish,

Chemical guys XXX hardcore wax.

Also used poor boys trim gel for the bumpers and plastics.

Some pictures of the progress,

Before

Snow foam

Iron x

To be continued :)

Finished

I purchase genuine ford mats and a haynes manual.. although after trying to fit the mats it turns out that they are for the new shape ka so will need to get them changed but inside cleaned too :)

Before

After

And something to help with the smell..

Damn man that is a massive improvement!

Sent via the 'Clacks'

GNU STP

That is one beautiful looking Ka man ;) gotta get mine looking this good now haha

Saul

Great job! Bet your Dad wouldn't recognise it now.

looks soo much better now.. whats the mechanical side like ?