Hello and a massive thankyou!

Hi all!

Recently bought a 98, 1.3 6 seater hi-jet in blue as a project for a business idea, to be used spring 2020
It had a flat battery and a overheating issue. Bodywork is very tidy

I paid very little for it
This is the 2nd hi-jet ive owned and pretty much identical to the last, only this one is four wheel drive!

I have read 1000's of posts that have proved invaluable to repairing this little beast,

So a massive thank you to all the members who have built up this bible of hi-jet knowledge.


i have rigged up a bleeding system with quick release fittings that allows me to easily connect up a header tank for filling / an isolating valve to close the supply without introducing air / a pump and gauge for pressure testing / or a block gas test reservoir for testing possible head gasket failure.

It makes bleeding the hijet an absolute doddle

I believe my overheating issue is due to a tiny leak in the rad, that only seems to happen whilst driving and when the thermostat is fully open.?... after countless bleeds, refills, testdrives, pressure tests, block gas tests and replaced components, i am now waiting for my new £63 ebay radiator which hopefully will be the correct one.....

I will start a project thread once i get the mechanicals right, when i get to the fun stuff!

Keep up the great work! (you know who you are)

Welcome aboard, nice to find someone who does proper research before asking questions. A pic or 2 of your bleeding system may be of help to others.

Will do! Once ive got the rad replaced...

Heres a pic of the radiator leak,

Was hard to spot as when the rad fan kicked in, it sucked all the water vapour through the radiator

Looks promising!

Heres a pic of the temporary bleed/fill up valve,

The only reason im bleeding and filling it from the heater return is due to the fill up point on the solid pipe (fill up point under passenger seat) is trashed and partially missing and doesnt seal at all, currently it is sealed with a variety of hose clamps holding it down....eventually if successful, i will weld a threaded pipe fitting on to the fill up point to mount the valve, radiator should arrive tomorrow.... Fingers crossed

Lets hope you don't have to swap that strangled octopus pipe. Finding a good replacement is almost impossible.

I have one that woodie sold me last year. I didn't need it so if anyone needs one, give me a shout

I will probably take you up on that.....it will need replacing at some point, Ive seen a couple on flea bay, but at £120 from germany for a new one, id rather avoid it!

Radiator has arrived... Looks correct, wont know for sure til i pull the old one, new plugs, filters and oil have also arrived so looks like ill have a busy weekend....

You will have to swap the bung over in the bottom of the radiator

Cheers!

New radiator is in.... Now to find out if its still overheating/sucking in air

2 fully loaded trips to the dump and a visit to the supermarket whilst driving like an absolute hooligan, temperature has stayed in the first half of the gauge..... Looks promising but until ive completed a few thousand miles i will hold off declaring victory!

I did manage to cure the engine management light being on... Was a dodgy connection to the temperature switch in the head that feeds the ecu

Ive ordered a 2nd hand solid coolant pipe from ebay, only £22 so worth a punt, ill hold off fitting it until im sure the overheating is resolved

Good luck. Draw a line on the water line of the coolant bottle when cold. Its a good way to keep tabs on it.