Fault finding from afar - newly bought syncro

[Jeremy]

Hello

I've just possibly foolishly bought a Syncro from eBay. It's in Germany and I haven't seen it. Clearly breaking all the rules in the buying-second-hand-cars-book.

Well, I'm off to collect it at the weekend but there's a problem. Apparently the engine dies when it gets hot, and also stalls whilst in neutral. Does anyone recognise those symptoms? It would be nice to drive it back rather than trailer it as I'm guessing these things are a bit heavy and I'm going need something fairly large to tow it with.

It's a 2.1l petrol 1989 T3. eBay link is http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0541507624

Thanks for any help, and here's hoping that sometimes fortune favours the brave...

Jeremy.

[KarlT]

Fuel supply? Filters?

[keeno]

The seller is saying that the engine ocassionally stalls in neutral, and the revs tend to raise when the engine is warm for no apparent reason. It sounds like the idle control valve is playing up. He also says that he replaced the complete gauge cluster and none of the gauges seem to work. Only the oil pressure light works. Could be a bit iffy driving that distance with no info.

Looks like a lot of bus for the money, though!

[lughole]

no, but going to that area of germany in next week or two. might be able to help in some capacity. going to bernd jagers garage on way back too.
where you taking her back to?

[Jeremy]

Thanks for the suggestions so far, and I think I may be leaning on the help from this forum for a while to come...

Keeno - that beats my google translation but that doesn't sound so bad. The owner is rather insistent that I come with a trailer though.

Lughole - I'll be taking it back to Cambridge, any help would be appreciated! I'm going either this weekend, or next.

Jeremy.

[peasant]

The owner is rather insistent that I come with a trailer though.

So would I, if I was him. The van's got an erratic engine that might stall or start to race at any time, a non-working temp guage and a permanently blinking oil light.

Imagine yer man told you it was ok to drive and you ended up in a bad accident ...he's covering his a***

[John Potter]

Trailer sounds very sensible

Price was good though so you cant go far wrong even with the extra cost of moving it.

Remember its a heavy beast so you'll need a decent vehicle to tow with.

[syncropaddy]

Remember its a heavy beast so you'll need a decent vehicle to tow with.

I used a Range Rover to tow my other Syncro home. Trailer and Syncro weighed in at just 2 tonnes so use something substantial to tow it home. Remember German police can be a little fussy about towing!

[lughole]

Lughole - I'll be taking it back to Cambridge, any help would be appreciated! I'm going either this weekend, or next.

coming to north germany via scotland from cambridge, i probably wont be of use, might see you over there!
remember to stay a day whilst your there (b4 u pick your beast up!)
Koln is good for a stop in the north. im going in 2 weeks.
good luck.

E D I T; oh, do you want to have an exact translation of whats written on ebay.de?
my wifes German.

[KarlT]

Is it road legal? Do you have AA euro cover?
Drive it, it'll be an adventure!
(I've driven worse!! )

[Jeremy]

Apparently it is road legal (has TUV) and Adrian Flux will insure it from a chassis number and also do European breakdown cover for an extra £80 - think that most European cover is only for new or new-ish vehicles.

Thanks for the offer of a translation - I have a German friend who did me the translation - and when I said should I get it she said 'NO!!!!'....

Would love to drive it back but the owner is insistent that I come with a trailer, keeps repeating the word "kaputt"! So that's the plan for this weekend - drive down Friday back on Saturday.

Jeremy.

[syncropaddy]

What are you using to tow the trailer?

[slobbo]

Ask Ian from Syncronutz for a quote. He has fetched a fair few vans for folk in the continent. Syncronutz could sort out the running issues once they get it back as well. You could pick it up from Scotland instead.

[Jeremy]

Thanks everyone for your replies - I am just back from an epic voyage across the continent which started at 6am Saturday morning and continued non-stop until back home 4pm on Sunday, driving through the night. To answer the question of what vehicle, I chose a long wheel based rear wheel drive 2.4l transit which performed admirably!

Very happy with the van - previous owner was a star and ever so helpful too. Have service history and all sorts. Not much chance to look at the van yet, except to say it starts instantly everytime and runs well enough to move it around. Will post pictures and (invariably) more questions later on!

Jeremy

[attachment=0]photo.jpg[/attachment]

Ps. That was odd, if I type 'FordTransit' with a space inbetween the words it comes up with '..transhite' ?!?

[SyncroSwede]

Ps. That was odd, if I type 'FordTransit' with a space inbetween the words it comes up with '..transhite' ?!?

Not odd just predicting the future!

I have fond memories of a similar trek picking up SyncroSimon's 16" from Belgium towed behind my Defender 90. Fun innit?!