SteveA Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 After a change of situations over the past few years and getting frustrated by modern car electronics, I am considering getting another Triumph. I am looking for a 2000 or 2.5, manual, preferably with overdrive and a current MOT. I'm not too fussed about originality as I would want to EFI it at some point. Thanks, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6MK3 Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Hiya Steve! How's the boat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Hi Steve, Great to hear from you. Are you in north Devon now? Good luck with your search. They are about, but you'll find prices have increased more than a bit since you sold yours! Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 Hi, the old ship is keeping me plenty busy and is a big reason for me moving to Bideford, North Devon,have a look at https://www.facebook.com/SSFreshspringSociety/ for recent pics and info. I bought an A3 last year thinking that it would be a reliable modern, but it failed it's MoT due to emissions. Having plugged it into a computer, they can see multiple sensor faults, which may be due to oil burning (could be terminal), so I might have to turn my back again on modern vehicles and go for something I can understand and and fix myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 If you want a reliable modern, you should probably avoid any VAG product (or even any German product) from 2000 onwards...... Good ones are ok. Bad ones are very shit and will break you mentally and financially. It is difficult to tell between the two at purchase! If you must own one then you probably need to invest in VCDS (Ross-Tech). There is a freeware version (though it is quite seriously crippled these days) and a less limited DIY version, though again it also has it's limitations (you are only allowed to talk to a limited number of cars with it, though earlier stuff doesn't have ID and thus doesn't register). What year and what engine? Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 Thanks for the advice Nick. The A3 is a 1.6 sohc from 2004, pretty much resigned to it being spares or repair now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtuckunder Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 2500S ESTATE on ebay at the moment, needs some work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 Thanks for the heads-up on that one. I can see the potential, but it's a bit too much of a project for me at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Multiple sensor faults...... Does it actually run ok? Do you know what the actual emissions figures were? Does it use oil? Alot of modern Audis do use too much oil but the CATs mostly seem to survive it. If there is an engine temperature sensor fault then it may run too rich 'cause it thinks it's cold. However, if the numbers aren't way out then a pot of injector cleaner and a damn good thrashing often sort things out. The MoT folks often just let the car sit idling for the whole of the test and call it warm enough at the end for the emissions test. My A8 never went through like that - both times I had to take it up the road and cane it a bit, then it would be well under. It did have aftermarket CATs though. That estate is almost local. I'd want a good poke at the structure before bidding though, the later cars can really rot. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 Apart from it not quickly dropping back down to tick-over when you let your foot off the accelerator, it starts and pulls OK, but there is excessive smoke from the exhaust. From the MOT fail: Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (four times the limit) Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits Exhaust emits dense blue smoke at idle Exhaust emits excessive dense blue smoke during acceleration It does suggest that it should be burning oil, a bottle of injector cleaner and an oil change has not changed anything. The fear at the garage I took it to was that new sensors fitted would be damaged by the burning of oil. Almost tempted to have a look at that estate as it is so close, but I fear that taking on someone else's project could be more trouble than it's worth to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Smoking on VAG stuff is often caused by breather pcv valve issues. Unless it's got diesel in it...... which expect it hasn't. If you are getting visible smoke from the exhaust after everything is properly warmed up it does suggest that CAT is dead. They are amazingly effective at making smoke disappear when they are working. The A8 was using about a litre of oil every 500 miles (some of that leaked admittedly) - no smoke visible once warm. How much oil does it actually use? Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Bit of googling suggests that PCV valves and breather pipe are indeed an issue on this engine (AKL code?). Probably too late for the CAT though...... Our Kia Ceed 1.6 has been faithful (apart from needing a clutch at 110k)......... Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 Hmm, I've checked all the breather hoses and they looked fine. I never noticed any oil consumption, which makes this fault even more infuriating to me. It's not even breathing out of the oil filler cap 'that' heavily on tick over. The engine code is BGU or BSE. Looks like a CAT would be at least £125 plus sensors and fitting, which wouldn't be too bad if I was sure that would fix the problem. I'd do a cylinder pressure test, but you can't get to the spark plugs unless you have a special tool or remove the inlet manifold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 I did find a reference to a breather box on the back of the block that gets coked solid but I think that was ref AKL...... Will take a look on Elsa Win tomorrow if I get the chance....... Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted February 23, 2018 Author Share Posted February 23, 2018 Had a look at this one https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C940292 low mileage and un-moloested (other than some MOT garage style welding) Drives nicely, though it needs a tune-up. My gut feeling is that it's a bit too pricey as it needs new tyres all round (plenty of tread, but they look to be from the previous century) and it needs welding on sills and a few other spots before the rot spreads. What are your thoughts? Am I being too pickey? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 £ 7k does seem like alot. 26k miles..... with full documented service history supporting it? Without that it's just a number on the dash. Looks like a pretty decent starting point, but there will be plenty of welding needed when you go digging. I'd have thought 4 - 5K tops. My very straight and well sorted PI EFI (with no chassis welding ever) fetched £ 5K in 2014...... I know prices have gone up a bit since then but even so..... Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 when you look at this beauty https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C941642 at "just" £ 6,750 ........ The brown one on the IOW looks nicer too and less money. https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C963219 Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtuckunder Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 nice looking 76 2000TC 5K https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C763304 and this 75 2500S up for Auction estimate 4K https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C948430 and one if I was looking I'd find out more about at 2.5K https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C957274 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted February 23, 2018 Author Share Posted February 23, 2018 Nick, thanks for the reality check, for 7K I was hoping for much better bodywork. From the paperwork it appears that the mileage is genuine, but it's that need for bodywork which puts me off it. oldtuckunder, thanks for the suggestions, I'm really looking for a manual and within about 3hrs of North Devon (though I realise that I might have to look further) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 Think the vendor needs a reality check. It is a nice basis for a light resto to sort the iffy bits of bodywork properly (not "MoT standard" plates & pigeon poo welding) - then £ 7k. It's a late car and lowish spec - the only thing it's really got going for it is the "low mileage", if verifiable, and all that probably means is it's done the miles the hard way - in 5 mile bursts, with the choke out. Try to use it daily and you'll spend 6 to 9 months getting the bugs out and they won't all be minor either. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share Posted February 24, 2018 On 2/21/2018 at 3:36 PM, oldtuckunder said: 2500S ESTATE on ebay at the moment, needs some work. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-2500s-estate-very-rare/222847327144?hash=item33e2bc5ba8:g:-8YAAOSwUiJai1pU Just to make sure, I had a look this estate this morning. Far too much body required for my liking sills, screen surround, door bottoms, wheel arches etc. Also, no fuel inlet system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 Euugggh! My concern on that car is not what can be seen...... (which is scary enough) but what will be found when given a proper poking-at........ Might not be left with much! Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMH Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 Green one doesn't look that bad, but need some welding to rectify what has already been done. Brown one - wow :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtuckunder Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 More work than you want Steve, but maybe nice project for somebody https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-2000TC-1976/232690540640?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D47112%26meid%3Dfea36f43d9e045c999651882e52b9476%26pid%3D100022%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D173198325521%26itm%3D232690540640&_trksid=p2055119.c100022.m2048 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted April 3, 2021 Author Share Posted April 3, 2021 A quick bump for this wanted, as I'm still on the look out for another Triumph big saloon. Went to look at one today, but it'd had cover sills fitted, which had already rotted through by the b-post and there looked to be jacking rust beneath them too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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