Matts new Mk7 Limited

[MinorMatt]

3 weeks later... I've got to be careful or people might start calling me loot!

The van has been up in the air and both bottom ball joints and wishbones have been replaced, along with the drivers droplink (the one I didn't do a few weeks ago) ready for the MOT on Friday. Fingers crossed.

The passenger side ball joint defeated all my efforts over several days - so I took the swivel off and gave it to the guy in the unit next to me - a bit of heat and a single smack with a hammer and it went... I must have loosened it for him

The drivers side wasn't as bad - but it didn't want to go. I also couldn't get it to release the taper on the wishbone - so I undid that at the inboard end, swivelled it round 180 degrees and gave it a beating with the sledge - the ball joint came out before the taper broke

On the drivers side, the thread on the track rod end was also mullered when the nut came off, the threads have rolled. The nut didn't want to come off at all and required perseverance - it may be old damage, but may also not be. But the nut has tightened back down, I am going to order another TRE - but will take it to MOT as is.

I have also fitted the PCM from my other (breaker) van - which was apparently remapped so I will see how that goes. I need to get it warmed up etc to do the learns. This is only a temporary fit to see if it is mapped as I have someone else who might want it!

Next job is to replace the head unit, fit some better speakers and stick a bit of dynamat in the doors. I also need to put the trim piece back on the passenger door.

[MinorMatt]

So

I managed to do a few more things...

The van stopped running... it would start, but throttle pedal did nothing and it died after a few seconds. I changed the PCM back to original and it was all good again. Thats really odd as it worked okay on the 130PS PCM a few days before.

I finally got Forscan working on my laptop and checked the injector coding (for some reason my IDS crashes when looking at injectors, it never used too) - they were all very different codes than were actually fitted, so I did an injector learn and yes, you guessed it.... FAIL. Repeated 3 times without success - error 194.

Once it was up and running I got it out from the corner where it was tucked away and did a little bit more welding that I had spotted ready for the MOT that afternoon.

Took in in for MOT and... yes you guessed it. FAIL. More welding, all on the Sills. 3 of us had looked at the van and the sills a few weeks prior. I was aware there was one bit which had a slight potential for the tester to make a hole - but not 5 of them! I think he was using excessive force - but oh well. Its all done and its sitting outside their yard at the moment waiting for them to open and retest.

Other than the welding there were a few advisories, oil leak (had been fixed but not cleaned up, rusty brake pipes, old tyres on the back) and one that has puzzled me - hand brake efficiency on one side. Other than the calipers the rear brakes have been completely overhauled, new cables etc. I might have to fit a pair of calipers in thew new year.

If I remember I will fit a set of copper underbody brake pipes too.

I have fitted the new head unit loosely too. This one is definitely an upgrade - the touch screen works so you can control it!

[MinorMatt]

And... they have passed it. Just need to go and pick it up tonight

[Altransit]

And... they have passed it. Just need to go and pick it up tonight

Good result There's a lot of work gone in to that

I've decided to take mine for an MOT in the new year, and decide its fate depending on what it fails on. I know it needs tyres, but I'm not buying them only for it to fail on something expensive.

Welding will probably be the problem

[MinorMatt]

I only purchased this one because it wasn't *that* rusty. I knew it needed some work on the sills and above the bump stops - and fortunately thats all there has been - just more of it than expected (I should know better really?)

I have just found a sensibly priced set of the correct limited (tourneo) front seats too - I just need to hear from the seller if I can get them tonight.

[MinorMatt]

And... they have passed it. Just need to go and pick it up tonight

As it turns out, I didn't go and collect it. The MOT guys dropped it back at the workshop for me

Its definately got a bit of a drone.

Plans for when it gets warmer is to change the injectors, rear calipers, put copper brake pipes on, change the track rod ends and do some rust prevention works. If I can now get it to last 5 years or so with no more major work I will be very happy

[MinorMatt]

Oh, and I can now hear a boost leak

[MinorMatt]

Oh yeah!

They seem to have spent most of their life with covers on...

Not minty minty but really really good after a proper clean.

Dead happy still damp so probably won't fit them until boxing day

Only thing is now the van has developed a wheel bearing type noise - but it doesn't vary with load or engine speed. Im wondering if its the CV support bearing on the drivers side

[Altransit]

Nice

Does that have the thumbwheel height adjuster on the armrest?

[MinorMatt]

No, its just blanked

[loot]

If you pull any blank then put a really long screwdriver in the hole you can adjust the height of the armrest. This was remedied on the mk8 by a stepped stop each time you lifted the armrest, it was good but also annoying because you'd always do it a few times when you raised it

[MinorMatt]

It was also remidied on the mk5 where it had an asjuster knob!

To be honest I don't like tbe arm rests anyway so it will stay stowed in the upright position...

[Altransit]

It was also remidied on the mk5 where it had an asjuster knob!

To be honest I don't like tbe arm rests anyway so it will stay stowed in the upright position...

Ah, I loved the armrests both sides in my Minibus, and the thumbwheel adjusters. I can't be arsed to use a long screwdriver to adjust it in the Mk7, so I don't use it much.

[loot]

Only takes a min and once only,

[MinorMatt]

Arse...