New car: ZT 190+

[jr.ewing*]

I hope you have cambelt history... If not then threads on here will drive you mad to the point where you spend £450 to replace it!

[mercedade]

So, one thing I do have is cambelt history! (30k ago).

However...in the last 48 hours I've developed a spontaneous coolant leak which is worrying. Especially because it hasn't driven anywhere in the last 72 hours.


I picked it up, drove it 50 miles home with no bother. The next day I drove it to Blackpool (approx 100 mile round trip) again with no bother. Because it's a new car, I'm pretty sharp on checking levels, noises etc.

I then left it parked up from Thursday night until I noticed on Sunday late morning a small puddle had formed under the car and the coolant level had slightly dropped.

Over the next hour or so, the expansion tank emptied itself. Looking underneath, the fluid is running down the o/s of the engine (can't see where from) and dripping as it gathers from the sump.

It's definitely on the correct side to be water pump, but it's either been too hot outside, or too bright to be able to check the exact cause of the leak.

So either:

a) I've been spectacularly unlucky to have a water pump give out on me less than 200 miles into my ownership, or
b) a get-you-home bodge by a previous owner has finally given out.

Time to go looking...

[mercedade]

Originally Posted by Rogue

It doesn't have to be a V6 to have that smug feeling they are all special in their own way
They say the first stage of kicking an addiction is to admit it and talk about it, i guess that most seem to have been here a while just shows its an addiction that's hard to kick ....

I know that addiction feeling! I've had Rover 800s on and off for 10 years now, and the ZT is supposed to be me getting rid of my last one.

However, anyone paying attention might have noticed the Rover bootlid muscling in on the picture of my ZT's interior. Haven't quite plucked up the courage to sell it yet (and just as well, based on the new leak)

[TomRS]

Sorry to hear about the coolant leak, the V6 is a bit of a bummer when it comes to stuff like that.
Inferior parts used during maintenance by previous owners, poor thermostat design all cause ill effects.
I love my 190 and it makes a cracking noise on full song, but its not been without its hassle.

Its had
New clutch
New slave
Coilovers (twice)
new vis motors
lamba's
bottom arms and poly bushes
arb bushes
rear bushes on rear subframe
drop links
discs/pads
new vaporiser for the lpg
copious services
battery
two head units....

Total expenditure is around £2000 not including buying the car (£1400) and thats only been since May last year but she should be good for another 110k now, i did put 20k on her since buying it so its done ok considering.
Belts be due next year which will be the last major cost in my ownership!

[mercedade]

Originally Posted by TomRS

Total expenditure is around £2000 not including buying the car (£1400) and thats only been since May last year

Yeowch.

Fingers crossed I don't end up on this path.

[vacuman]

I would recommend getting a good specialist garage to run diags on it. Even though all might seem OK, apart from the leak, you may be surprised what error codes come up. Most likely the VIS motors and fan for a start.

As mentioned, keeping these cars on the road can be expensive but, on the plus side, you have no significant depreciation to worry about compared, say, to having bought a BMW or Audi for what would have been a lot more money (or a much worse car).

[tony062622]

As Suzublu said in his thread most of the faults are easy fix.I was in a similar position last September when I bought my 75 CDTI, as you will see I have had a few minor problems, but got through them with so much help from the forum.Some of the bits I have repaired/changed were not needed but its additive once you start.I,m now in late 60,s and a number of years ago stopped working on cars bought mostly new or had BMW,s (am I allowed to say that word ?)as I worked at the Mini plant. But no car has put a smile on my face as this one has(even at 9,45 pm the other Friday when after changing cooling fan, condenser and silicone hoses, shut the bonnet and it wouldnt reopen.Enjoy your car and dont be afraid to ask on here,no one bits.

[mercedade]

Originally Posted by vacuman

I would recommend getting a good specialist garage to run diags on it. Even though all might seem OK, apart from the leak, you may be surprised what error codes come up. Most likely the VIS motors and fan for a start.

As mentioned, keeping these cars on the road can be expensive but, on the plus side, you have no significant depreciation to worry about compared, say, to having bought a BMW or Audi for what would have been a lot more money (or a much worse car).

Cheers - I'm actually relatively lucky in that I have access to a friendly local with a huuuuuge range of diagnostic kit (it's actually a local FE college) and, crucially, ramps.

I like to keep my cars on the road myself, so far as I'm able. It's actually one of the reasons I opted to stay in the Rover/MG family - I bought a Seat Leon Cupra a couple of months ago, hoping that would become my daily driver. It's a fantastic car - wildly fast (too fast, to be honest), but to do anything meaningful requires access to VAGCOM which just isn't very...me.

My Vitesse also talks to Testbook, but thankfully most things can be diagnosed without it. Most things, anyway!

[Beena wild]

Originally Posted by mercedade

Now, you'll notice I said that I didn't want a project.

I failed on that count

Current snag list:

No handbrake (doesn't hold on even the most gentle of gradients)
Dodgy bonnet pull (only locks on one lock, and only just)
Drivers seat doesn't slide back and forth easily (suspect a cable has stretched)
No sign of plenum mod
Clunk and vibration which sounds like a badly hung exhaust
And additional clunk which sounds like an engine mount
Mirror adjuster knackered - only 'down' works
ABS light on - suspect front o/s, but will need to confirm

That'll do for now! I'll probably start a new thread for each of these eventually

I would address this as a matter of urgency. If that bonnet lifted you and others could be in serious trouble

[mercedade]

Originally Posted by Beena wild

I would address this as a matter of urgency. If that bonnet lifted you and others could be in serious trouble

100% agree. Already been cleaned and greased. Had no idea until the onboard flagged up an open bonnet or boot.

Much happier already.

Compensator is en route as I type and I'm taking the switch inside for a scrub this evening.