Newbie with a Fiji green 😳

[Zillo]

Hi all.

New to the forum.

Owned a 2.8 wide body briefly a few years back. Drove it home from Edinburgh in the November and it was promptly written off due to a vehicle backing into it whilst parked.

Moving on, recently found and purchased a 1.9 built in ‘98 and registered March ‘99 with 69k on the clock. It’s a Fiji green edition. It had been off the road for around six years. Spent the last few months gradually getting everything that needed replacing replaced, which was a fair sized list. It’s cleaned and looking almost as good as I can get it.
Have a problem with the O2 sensor and rough tick over and endeavouring to get to the bottom of those. The other issue is that the hardtop has the little lever behind the passenger side headrest broken off - I’m not sure how to tackle that? If anyone knows a way, that would be really much appreciated.
Good to be here. Thanks all.

 

[Althulas]

Hi and welcome from me, do post up some pics.

 

[Zillo]

 

[Zillo]

 

[MuttyMax]

Welcome; looks nice with the hardtop so we’ll done on that….

 

[Stevo7682]

Hi and welcome from me in Scotland

 

[Ian&Sue]

from North Yorkshire.

Sue & Ian.

 

[Zillo]

Welcome; looks nice with the hardtop so we’ll done on that….

Thank you. I still can’t remove it

 

[Shelly]

 

[Duncodin]

Thank you. I still can’t remove it

Is it the lever that snapped? Can't you get mole grips on it?

Does it have the plastic cover over the fixture? Maybe post a photo.

 

[Zillo]

Thanks for your response. Yes, the lever has been snapped off at some time in the past. I’ll get a pic or two posted (it’s parked in a private space down the way because of my location). I’ve tried the offside lever just to see and that wouldn’t budge. The 2.8 I had never had a hardtop, so this is new country for me.

 

[Zillo]

 

[Zillo]

Hi Duncodin.
This is where I stand currently
I appreciate your interest.

 

[Duncodin]

At the front in the corners above the windscreen there's the two holes where the screws sit. Do you have a torx driver to loosen those? Loosening them might take some pressure off the rear mounts. Then I'd be using molegrips or a pipe wrench to try to grip the metal where the lever was and see if it'll turn.

And if I'm not mistaken, that one with the broken handle looks likes it's already partly turned

 

[Zillo]

I’ll be having a go at that later today, thank you. Yes, I have the tool - it never came with one but I ordered one in from Wiha in Germany. I’ll dig out the mole grips and update later.

 

[Zillo]

I haven’t had the opportunity to do the hardtop yet. It’s on the list.
I’ve had the O2 sensor changed today and that’s cleared the code. Now I have number four cylinder misfiring. I’m checking what I can tomorrow. Is it possible to answer would I need the pack or just a lead? The plugs were changed about 200 miles ago.

 

[Duncodin]

Misfiring. What does it drive like? I mean is it smooth? You've only got 4 cylinders so if one of them wasn't firing at all then you'd really notice it.

 

[Zillo]

It’s rough running and feels as if I were not to keep up the revs at standstill, it would stall. But in a straight line, it’s okay.
In recent weeks, I’ve changed the cam sensor (not OEM as was desperate to get it on the road at the time and had one in the boot when I bought it). New oil and filter, plugs, reconditioned DISA, air filter and checked all pipe work/hoses for air leaks. Cleaned the MAF and had the O2 sensor changed today.

 

[Zillo]

Just an update. Broke down again while on the way to get it read at the local indy yesterday. Ordered an OEM crank sensor to go in it as there’s no indication of rpm when spinning the engine. This should be the end of the marathon to get it running right

 

[Zillo]

At the front in the corners above the windscreen there's the two holes where the screws sit. Do you have a torx driver to loosen those? Loosening them might take some pressure off the rear mounts. Then I'd be using molegrips or a pipe wrench to try to grip the metal where the lever was and see if it'll turn.

And if I'm not mistaken, that one with the broken handle looks likes it's already partly turned

This advice did the trick. Bit of penetrating spray first, then worked a treat. Appreciate your help