My new purchase - poorly Rover 75

[Greeners]

I would start with the water issues first....

Make sure the plenum is clear and that it hasn't filled up and drowned the BCU which lives passenger side above the glove box V6 ECU's are well sealed so don't suffer in the same way diesels do.

[Rick-sta]

Originally Posted by Greeners

I would start with the water issues first....

Make sure the plenum is clear and that it hasn't filled up and drowned the BCU which lives passenger side above the glove box V6 ECU's are well sealed so don't suffer in the same way diesels do.

The plenum is completely bone dry surprisingly, I was expecting it to be full of water, so the ECU is dry. I need to check all the fuses yet though, wondering if all the water could have caused fuses to blow.

[Greeners]

As its got a sunroof check for wet carpets, and the earth studs at the bottom of both A pillars behind the kick panels

[Rick-sta]

Originally Posted by Greeners

As its got a sunroof check for wet carpets, and the earth studs at the bottom of both A pillars behind the kick panels

Thanks David I'll check the earths when I pull the carpet out, the interior is flooded as the sunroof drains have come off. The boot and interior floor on the passenger side was completely flooded.

[Greeners]

Get it dried out first before you start looking for faults

[mbonwick]

Originally Posted by Rick-sta

Issue with the brakes - the brakes don't work at all due to being sat for 5 years, really have to stamp hard on the brakes and the pedal goes very low down. When the scrappy went to collect the car they said one rear calliper had seized. Would new brake disks and pads all round fix this or would callipers and other bits need replacing?

New discs and pads all round, plus a complete fluid change is probably a decent place to start. Relatively cheap and straightforward job that will need doing regardless. If it fixes it - great. If not then at least you've ruled it out (and one thing less to replace!)

[Ian G]

Hi Rick
Looks OK.. Reminds when I bought a Peugeot 405 STi in very similar circumstances a few years ago although i do think the 405 had a bit more foliage growing on it, that car turned out to be one of the best I've ever owned
I kept it for 5 years spent very little on it and actualy sold it at a profit..
I think Tom H has a full set of calipers for sale which would be a good starting point for the brakes..
Cheers Ian

[Tourist]

Hi Rick,

Looks like an interesting prospect and a nice little project.

I've done similar work recommissioning Maestros (of all things!) that have been laid-up for a number of years. This was also usually due to elderly owners stopping driving for whatever reason.

My advice would be to assess the car thoroughly before you spend a penny on it. No point in fixing something that you're going to end up breaking for parts. Electrical gremlins aside, this means getting it up on a ramp and checking the underside for condition and also in this car's case taking all the carpets out and checking the floorpan for corrosion.

Originally Posted by Rick-sta

If anyone has any suggestion or advice..

- Issue with the brakes..

You're going to have to give the car a complete brake service. You don't necessarily need new discs if the ones on it now aren't warped / corroded but new pads are probably a good idea due to age and it having stood.

Replace the fluid and check the master cylinder for leaks, then what I used to do is remove one caliper at a time and get an assistant to pump the pedal gently while I assess the movement of the piston(s). Often with the Maestros pumping the piston out and then forcing it back in with a G-Cramp (or you can use a proper calliper winder tool!) a few times got it working OK again.

If in doubt rebuild or complete replacement is your only option. You can't afford to take chances there but an MoT test will check brake balance.

Also check the flexi-pipes for condition.

Originally Posted by Rick-sta

- The aircon doesn't work and shows up "err" on the display. Where should I start with this? Never had this issue before myself.

Worry about that later on. Or if it's bothering you, have to done the Aircon Diagnostic procedure as per another thread on this forum?

Originally Posted by Rick-sta

- I've dried the boot out but the wipers still like to turn on by themselves now and again, although it's doing it a lot less now that the boot is dry. Would disconnecting the satnav drives solve this issue?

If they're water-damaged, I would try disconnecting them. Who knows what problems they may be causing.

Originally Posted by Rick-sta

- For those who have had their satnav drives swimming in water, are they done for once they've been wet or can they be dried out and working again? I'm pretty sure mine are going to be absolutely shot but just wondering what to do?

If they've been turned on while sopping wet then in line with almost every electronic item I would suggest they're toast even if they weren't beforehand!

Finally, the advice from others to get the car completely dried out before worrying about the electrical faults is bang on the money. Dry it out and then check any earth points that may have been swimming in water!

Keep us posted with your progress :-)

[mininuts]

Looks like a car with a lot of potential, Rick.
I suppose you just have to be methodical and go through it bit by bit. It'd be a shame to break it but, if it's not economical to repair then, what else can you do?
I shall watch with interest on what you decide

I know where there's a diesel 99/00 W reg 75 Club in Steel Blue that I can have for £150. Thing is, it needs new clutch/slave apparently The owner likes to tinker and has half removed gearbox but, got fed up with it and now wants it out of his way. I'm half tempted to buy it but, I really don't need another project but, I don't want to see it get scrapped
The car is in very good condition overall and the colour is lovely.

[bl52krz]

You can refurbish the the brakes quite easily. It would be the rest that would worry me. And the bodywork looks in relatively good condition considering.