Mechanical woes

So, insulation etc is done on the panels and arches, leaving the rear tailgate, the roof lining and under the floor to do still.

Aside from this side of things, I managed to find a replacement engine. This one has done 126k (60k less than the van has done), and apparently the gearbox was reconditioned 8k ago and a new fuel pump 1500 miles ago, so all should be well mechanically.

The engine/gearbox/pump has cost £720, plus £395 fitting and trailering from and to my house. . . . . So, basically, this has immediately doubled what it cost to buy the van in the first place!

However, the van now starts better, and with no smoke (well, a tiny bit for a couple of seconds, it is an old diesel after all), and no fuel leak! Excellent stuff.

Except it was excellent only til the next day. The mechanic had told me about a little tiny coolant leak that needed fixing, but wasn't immediately important, so I had put cardboard under the van. When I got to it the next day, as well as coolant, I noticed there was an oil leak! Surely that should have been noticed before coming back to me.



 As well as this, the mileage on my dashboard had gone blank, nothing on there at all, and the brake light and glow plug lights were flashing all the time



Also, my AUX belt has a quite alarming slap to it now when sat at idle



So, it had come back with the original issues fixed . . . . But still come back with more faults, by number at least, than when it went away. But, will this put me off or drive me to sell the thing? Absolutely not! I am already invested (literally and figuratively)in this thing more than I expected I would be, and I will persevere 'til I literally can go no further.