Newbie needs help

Hello. I bought a Hijet 1.3 EFI van last weekend and had to have the MOT done before 4 January so had it done yesterday. It passed but I have some advisories. I would normally consult a Haynes manual at this point...so I'm a bit lost. I don't mind getting my hands dirty at all, but like to have half an idea of what I'm doing. The advisories are:

1. Brake load sensing valve linkage stiff.
2. Offside front upper Macpherson strut has slight movement in the upper supporting bearing assembly.
3. Service brake has only just met the required efficiency. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair.
4. Parking brake system requires adjustment or repair.
5. General light corrosion to underside of vehicle.

I've gone round with some WD40 today to make a start on some of this. I want to make a proper start with brakes.

I sooooo love my van and want to keep it happy and healthy. If anyone can help me get started I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you!

Hello, welcome to Hijet ownership,

1. Brake load sensing valve linkage stiff.
Take it off, free it up

2. Offside front upper Macpherson strut has slight movement in the upper supporting bearing assembly.
Worry about it later

3. Service brake has only just met the required efficiency. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair.
4. Parking brake system requires adjustment or repair.
Prob new pads & shoes needed?

5. General light corrosion to underside of vehicle.
Light? PAH! If only mine had light corrosion.......

Don't forget to post a piccy up of your van

Thanks, Logi.

Will checks pads and shoes to see if they need adding to the shopping list. Already need wire brushes and POR15 to get some rust under control before welder and welding lessons need to go on the list! The list of things to worry about later is also growing. The first item on the list is "worry about this list later"

The van is pretty exciting to drive in ice. The gear ratios will take me a while to get used to and I think I'll have to keep a bag of sand in the back until April.

Pic of van is my avatar. Nice blank canvas for me to personalise

I wouldn't take the brake valve off unless you have too, brakes can be a bit of a pain on these. The actual moving part of the valve is only supposed to move a few mm so if it passes as it is i'd leave it other than a bit of wd40.

Still haven't dealt with the brakes but I have dealt with my first bit of rust! Now, I say I've dealt with it but I should perhaps come clean and say I've explored an area of my van that's got bigger problems than I first realised. The story, if you have time, is this... The passenger side door had some rust in the seal around the window, so I took the seal off and cleaned it all up (i.e. got loads of rust flakes out of the seal so it would fit properly) then I took a little wire brush to the skinny bit of metal that the seal goes on. Most of it was not too bad (the bit at the top of the door) but then I worked my way down to where the wing mirror attaches. Oh, boy. I'm not really sure what's holding that mirror on! Anyway, I've tidied it up and put some hammerite on it and most of it should at least not get any worse for a while but I think it will ultimately need some welding or a new door or part of a new door (back to welding...). Has anyone else had an experience like this? What should the long-term solution be?

Does anyone know if the shell is different on the 1.3 to the 1l I may be able to get a white door for you.

My old one failed on the brake bias valve, my solution was to move the valve to the open position, then I sort of mig welded the inner (hard steel) to the outer (alloy) so it stayed in the open position and put it all back together so it looked original. I found the braking much better afterward, and the pedal lost that weird soggy feeling under heavy braking.

I think the bias valve goes stiff because hijets rarely have enough weight in the back of them to make it operate.

Logi's list is bang on the money, "general light corrosion" - thats a selling point!!

If the answer is a new door I guess I have to go with that. Will that mean I end up with 2 different door locks and need 2 different keys? I'm complicated enough as it is (chick!! ) but this could be an interesting addition

EvaInNorfolk wrote:If the answer is a new door I guess I have to go with that. Will that mean I end up with 2 different door locks and need 2 different keys? I'm complicated enough as it is (chick!! ) but this could be an interesting addition

Just transfer the lock from your old door.

Waz

Or live with the rust, it's a Hijet....

I can live with a bit of rust, but this bit in the door is going to give me mirror-leprosy (or whatever disease makes bits fall off). I'll get into trouble for that! Guess I'm in the market for a new door. I'm sure most people can "just" move the locks over but I'm not most people. This could be a real episode of pain. Still, they reckon no pain no gain so it looks like this project can only improve me!

It is quite easy to take a lock of. Take the door trim of, the lock is normally held on with a slip clip. Slide the clip of, you may have to tap it with a hammer, undo the connecting rods and that is it. Just reverse the procedure for refitting.

Waz

Thanks, Waz. I'll be particularly careful when I'm tapping things with a hammer! Got to get a door...

rich the mechanic wrote:Does anyone know if the shell is different on the 1.3 to the 1l I may be able to get a white door for you.

I'll find out if the place that does my MOTs wants to sell a door off a donor that they used to fix a piaggio.

Door

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/daihatsu-hijet-o-s-door-excellent-condition-/270897903448?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f12c5f758

Thanks for all your help guys. The door on the ebay site has the same colour stripes and is the same reg as mine! Rich - is the Piaggio door something similar and about the same money? I'm totally rubbish with ebay

Is yours a purple stripe? can't tell from your pic and the one I maybe able to get is a Daihatsu.

Hi. Yeah, it's a purple-y / burgundy colour. Not a hugely important detail for me. I had another look at the door on ebay and the photo is of a driver's side door so am pretty nervous about going anywhere near that! As long as the bit around the window seal is an improvement on what I've got and the mirror is going to stay on I'll be a happy bint.

EvaInNorfolk wrote: I had another look at the door on ebay and the photo is of a driver's side door so am pretty nervous about going anywhere near that! .

Good thinking, keep women away from the drivers door...

LOL! You're a naughty boy, Logi. I don't have much of a choice given my personal circumstances. Would you like me to put a tracking device on my van so you know where I am and can avoid my area? Scotland to Norfolk is probably on the boundary of your comfort zone

Tracking women gets you into bother

I'm Going to get some bits off a White 2003 van at the weekend/early next week. Its got maroon/burgundy strips. Do you want me to see how much he wants for the door? I'm in Norwich so you could collect it if I brought it back with me.

Guess I'm too late now Thanks for the offer. I'll take you up on this next time!!!!!! If it's any consolation I'm covered in plaster dust and paint blobs from house renovations which is what I've been doing rather than watching this site. Body hurts like heck from working above my head (which is nearly everything...) which I probably deserve.

Hope the travelling in this weather hasn't been too awful.

EvaInNorfolk wrote:Guess I'm too late now Body hurts like heck from working above my head (which is nearly everything...)

Are you really short?

I haven't been yet as it happens, if your still interested let me know, i'm going sometime this week if the weathers good.

8 bit why don't you exchange phone numbers with eva, you can then phone with condition and price.

Waz

EvaInNorfolk wrote:I'm covered in plaster dust and paint blobs from house renovations - Body hurts like heck from working above my head (which is nearly everything...) which I probably deserve.

Seems like doing up a house is a pretty common cause of hijet ownership! I saw mine as a bit like a van, but also a lot like a skip!

Anyway, I feel your pain, just about to plaster the joint in my ceiling! Just done all the prep and now my arms feel like lead. Hands above head time

Yup. Poor van has been used as a skip, Jewson delivery vehicle and garden waste bin. Before long I want to start insulating the interior ready for the camping season. I'm thinking of gluing rock wool to the sides then covering over with strong upholstery fabric. Does that sound realistic? How should the fabric be attached? More glue?!?! The roof seems to be done so I shouldn't have to work overhead!!!!! That should give you an idea to my height

Would you need a toolbox to stand on to do the ceiling?

Toolbox would have to be the right size. Something like these... http://www.toolbox.co.uk/roller-tool-chests-10-13486-0000 Might need someone to steady the wheels