BrianHorn

Hi all, I haven't been around for a while as I've sold the seven but you're probably still the best (unbiased 😬) source of knowledge! I purchased a Compaq V6000 Presario last year with view to using it in the car etc. The problem is I can't see a bl**dy thing in daylight on it. Is there, do you know, some kind of filter available which would kill the gloss but allow the screen to be read? Much appreciated, Brian Brian Common sense is in spite of, not the result of, education. --Victor Hugo

Any ideas guys?

I'm going away for 10 days from next Saturday to a fairly remote area of France but would like to be able to get on the net whilst away. I've done a search and there are no WiFi hotspots in the area at all, so.......... Are all the mobile connect cards all contract or can you get 'pay as you go' type of deals? I wouldn't really need it very often at all. Just when I go to France once, maybe twice a year. Suggestions? Edited by - BrianHorn on 18 Jun 2007 11:06:43

Yesterday I spoke to the new owner/driver at the time of the incident and he swears blind that he did NOT over-rev the engine at any time. Nor did he miss a gear etc, etc. That being the case, is it therefore possible that the valves just 'failed' through metal fatigue eg? It's not something that I have heard of before.

Just seen the damage inside. Piston is embedded with bits of valve so that needs renewing. Are Accralite 83.5mm pistons available singly? Bore has escaped damage thankfully Builder suggests a whole new set of valves. I take it this will mean springs, collets etc and where can I get them from? Burtons or Caterham or Redline? Also thinking of rocker arms with shiny new faces as the valves will be new. 2 new conrod bolts also suggested. He's going to look at the bottom end tomorrow to see if there are any nasties lurking down there but we think all is okay as there was plenty oil in the sump Anything I have forgotten? Brian Common sense is in spite of, not the result of, education. --Victor Hugo

Graham, Have you spoken to my engine builder this morning ❗ Spooky because it has dropped two valves on 3rd cylinder He reckons it was over-revved and snapped two valve stems. The valve heads are lying on the piston crown or what's left of it all! There is metal lying in the inlet manifold nr.3 which i think explains why there was oil in there (according to the driver). He's going to strip the head off today and see what damage lies within however it's a safe bet the piston is broke(pun intended) and cylinder lining damaged. Hopefully the head will be salvagable and just needing a bit of whatever it is they do to save heads!! A rebore and a new piston should sort that out but the bottom end is still to be checked. I'll let you know.

Well, the car has finally arrived back here in Germany at the workshop. On my way round there now to see what the problem is. Wish me luck!! Brian Common sense is in spite of, not the result of, education. --Victor Hugo

I'm inclined to agree that no financial burden should be placed on me however, I'm still of the belief that if it had been me that had bought the car and the engine broke, how would I feel if the owner from whom I just bought the car told me, "tough titty"? I would be gutted to say the least! I am going to have the car brought back here to the workshop that I know and have had dealings with and we can both look at the car and assess the damage. What I would be VERY reluctant to do is let the car go to a workshop in a foreign country and then be asked to stump up x amount of euros! That's where I could have the wool pulled over my eyes, as it were! I also still believe that the guy is genuine. That may be my undoing but I think I am a fairly good judge of character as I deal with the public day in and day out. This also wasn't just a business transaction. It was a seven enthusiast buying his first seven from another seven enthusiast & I think we have an unwritten code of practice within the community or am I being naive? Brian Common sense is in spite of, not the result of, education. --Victor Hugo

Thanks RJ but the car is now just north of Paris and we're getting it brought back here to Germany. Johnjulie, I'm 'fairly' sure that everything is kosher about this. (Unfortunately)!

Paul, I think he has some experience of older cars as he has previously owned an MGB and more recently an MX5(pop up headlight job) and an Elise. I believe he misjudged the oil usage of a car like that and like I said before, if it was me who had bought the car and was driving 700kms home, I'd like to think that I would have checked the oil at least once. Hindsight, is however, as we all know, a wonderful thing. Paul, I forgot to say thanks for your offer of help but Konstanz is as far from where I am as you are now! Edited by - BrianHorn on 4 Jun 2007 17:09:11

Manxseven, He says that he was driving the car at around 120-130 Kph (ie, about 70-80 mph) ie fairly steady most of the way. It was all motorway. Gambo, I told him on Saturday night when we spoke that the carbs are mounted on rubber washes and that there is a bit of movement in them. I can't understand why he would have thought that the issue might be there.

John, that's EXACTLY how I feel. As we all know we spend a fair bit of money on our cars in upgrades, improvements etc, not to mention the hours in the garage so I think he got a very good car for his money. But he was such a nice guy and we had done the deal by email etc so I don't want him to feel that I've had him over because selling a specialist car on the net between two different nationalities requires building a bit of trust in each other.

After receiving your input last week re tappet adjustment I was feeling confident that the new owner of the car would be very happy with it..........when he saw the car he said it was just what he had hoped for. I got a sms from him on Saturday night to say that the engine had seized on the way home It appears that it ran out of oil!! He tells me that the pressure was ok as he kept checking the gauge and that the water temperature was also good......... and then the knocking started. Lightly at first so he stopped to have a listen. He said it sounded like it was coming from the carbs so he tightened the carbs on their mounts *confused* citing that they were loose and then continued....for not much further when the knocking started in earnest from 'down below' When he pulled over and stopped the engine to let it cool, the starter wouldn't spin the engine over so he thinks it has seized. He also says that was oil residue in and around the carbs. That really has got me stumped. So far I have agreed to have the car 'rescued' back to Germany for inspection but there will obviously be a cost involved in putting the engine right but I believe that I cannot be expected to contribute. The chap didn't check the oil level. Not once on a 700km drive on the motorway in an 18 year old car that he didn't 'know'. We topped the oil up before he left but I guess the other question is; where did all that oil go? That's over 3 litres of oil in 6 hours! It has NEVER used that amount of oil I could I suppose take the attitude-you pays your money, you take your chance, but I work on the principal, how would I feel if it happened to me. So I am willing to help get the car up and running again but VERY reluctant to foot any of the costs. What do you think? Edited by - BrianHorn on 15 Jun 2007 13:29:06

Hi Roger, So a few rattly tappets are better than nice quiet ones working on the premise that quiet = tight = burnt valves? Thanks for your, as always, valued input

Thanks to all for your comments. I spoke to the engine builder yesterday who tells me that he races cars with rattly tappets week in & week out and that it is MUCH better that way than too tight! Apparently the head on Kent engines 'grows' when hot (and it gets hot!) therefore taking a bit of play out of the valve clearances. If adjusted to be quiet at tickover and lower revs for example then the play will disappear when it gets hot, perhaps enough to cause the valves not to close properly therefore burning the edges. Obviously not the ideal scenario. I'm going to have to run with this explanation as I've sold the car now and it's being collected tomorrow. Brian Common sense is in spite of, not the result of, education. --Victor Hugo