Another newbie

Hi. Another newbie to the fold. My wife decided on a whim to bid for a 1999 1.3EFI Hijet on an MOD auction site without viewing it. Well we won at £803. We are still open minded as whether we have bought a pig or a gem. The good bits is the mileage is really low at 23k and we had it transported down to us in Ipswich and it sailed through the MOT. We have now insured and taxed it and took it for a spin yesterday. It runs really sweet. So the bad points: The paintwork is poor, the drivers window is not working and there are no struts on the tail gate. It did come with quite a few spares such as a new window winder mechanism and a spare handbrake cable. So I wonder if any one can let me know how easy it is to replace the missing struts? All there is are 2 holes in the tailgate and where I assume the top end of the struts go are 2 pivots. There is no radio so that will be my next job. Otherwise everything is working fine. So hello and finally can anyone recommend a decent independent Hijet mechanic in Ipswich or Suffolk?  

Welcome along, winder mech's are common breakages, Woody or HJ will have spares for the struts.
Enjoy it, it'll break soon enough..........

Welcome to the forum! Bit of TLC and it sounds like you'll have a nice little van!

welcome   

Thanks for the help and encouragement. I did get a bit worried when I read through the forum that I may end up with an overheating van with a useless fuel gauge to name but a few concerns. Thankfully its all good so far. Tonight after work I put a ply floor in the rear and managed to put the tailgate struts on in seconds. Think I will try to do the window winder over the weekend and then we will be very proud and happy hijetters

Window winder mechanisms are easy enough to do, once you have the door card off all becomes apparant

enjoy it, they are great little vans.

You mentioned an 'MOD' auction site, whats that?

UK MOD?

Only asking as I have just left the service.

craig2859 wrote:enjoy it, they are great little vans.

You mentioned an 'MOD' auction site, whats that?

UK MOD?

Only asking as I have just left the service.

Just Google MOD-Sales (site wouldn't let me post link). My Hijet was ex RAF

Hi Joe welcome along to the fold.
The hardest part of changing the mechanism is getting the window winder clips off between the handle and door card. I use a tool like a Dentists Pick. The clip needs to be hooked and pulled from the bottom of the winder handle.
You will need a flat blade screwdriver inserted between the handle and the door card to create a gap so you can see and get to the clip.

The clips have a Kamakazee Pilots Licence and always go off on unescorted Flying Lessons.
So be warned and vigilant.
The mechanism is held with 10mm set bolts and if you have a 1/4" drive socket set it make it easier.
There are two plastic lugs bonded to the glass which bolts to the winder arms. If the lugs have come of the glass you will need to bond them back on. I use Polyurethane Sealant.

I have gas struts with the body mountings and ball joints and can post them to you.

Have fun in your new toy.
My number is 0786 303030 and email is
hi.jetmaniow@gmail.com

Woody.

Woody

Hve you not tried the rag method to remove the winder handle?

First take a cloth or rag, preferably a piece with a seam for strength but that’s not absolutely nescessary.

Next wind up the window and then turn the handle back until it is straight up and down.

Then take your piece of cloth or rag and slide it down the handle and position it BETWEEN the handle and the spacer or washer that sits up against the door trim. (see picture)

Then grab each end of the cloth in each hand and pull down. You may also need to rotate the cloth back and forth to loosen the clip (see picture). 9 times out of 10 the clip will be caught in the cloth, but please do this step somewhere were you can see the clip if it falls down i.e. not on the front lawn!

To refit simply fit the clip onto the winder first with the open end facing down the handle, fit the washer/spacer first and then push the winder on and you will feel it click into place once it’s in far enough.
Too easy!

That's brilliant D1NOH. I would never have thought of that and I am usually very innovative making up tools for jobs and finding ways round problems.
All the years I was specialising in Fords I hated getting those damn clips off.
Well as the saying goes " you can teach and old dog new tricks". Woof woof Logi.   

Thanks so much for the brilliant advice on replacing the winder handle. Must admit I have not tried it yet (or any other work) due to the World Cup however after last nights result I now think I will have plenty of time free quite soon.

I have tried it and found it a bit fiddly so have made my own improvisation-- thin Venetian Blind Cord
which is quite coarse so latches onto the prongs of the clip and removes it in two seconds flat at the first attempt with towel at the ready to catch the errant missile.

Those clips ping off so fast they slip though the fabric of space time and into a different dimension - never to be found again.

Yeah. They go off into space like an Exocet Missile seldom to be seen again.  

Hi now that the World Cup is over (for England) I got around to changing over the window winder bits. Tried every trick recommended here to get the handle clipoff and the *"*&$ clip would not come off. My daughter said why don't you try some cable tie and got the clip off in one second    

The old mechanism had totally expired and also had come away from the glass. Have used clear silicon to fix it back on and will give it 24 hours to set. I was going to take the glass out and fix the two lugs to it but figured I wouldn't be able to line up the nuts so put the mechanism in and silicone the lugs and put the glass in and then wound it up tight. There seems to be some resistance. Maybe the rubber guides are rubbing. Any idea what to lubricate them with or is there another common problem you know of?

I tried the cloth trick  and didn't have any joy so after a bit of hunting around hit on the Idea of Venetian blind cord between the handle and the plastic disc and two seconds flat the clip comes off every time.
Where the cord is a coarse surface it catches the clip and pulls it off easi-peasy as Logi would say.  

I have a set of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SYKES-PICKAVANT-Door-Handle-Spring-Clip-Tool-058900-/120418221138?_trksid=p2054897.l4275