Right I have just aquired a j plate('92) xr2i 1.8 16v and have just had a quick poke and play with it and would like some opinions on the following things,

1. The gearstick is very loose, ie. like a spoon in soup what are the probable causes/solutions? is the gear linkage from selector to box a rod system like a 205 which is likely to have failed?

2. The passenger rear quarter is rusted to buggery, the fuel filler neck has gone completely and theres another few bubbles around about the area, this has been badly fixed with a patch and the whole lot now needs cutting out and replacing, is this worth doing or is it better reshelling it all? the rest of the bodywork isn't to bad really just a few bits of surface rust here and there

3. The steering is very very heavy, does the car have pas which may have failed or are they naturally very heavy? in comparison i drive a non pas clio which is no where near as heavy on the steering, also does anyone know what the tyre pressures should be

4. On the dash there is an orange light that stays on, it is a circle with a car and some lines in it, is this an engine management light? if so this this mean there is a fault and also how do i access the fault codes?

5. The engine feels very unresponsive when driven, i think this could be linked to 4. aswell as needing a good service, also there seems to be alot of induction sucking is this normal when an aftermarket filter is used or does it point to something else, i think maybe an air leak somewhere

6. Finally the mileage only shows 5 figures and i know its not only done 34k so under the speedo displau in the clocks does it have a 5th number that i could see if i took them apart?

overall the car was bought cheap for parts but im now toying with keeping it instead so need to know the above to aid the decision

cheers
chris

 

anybody?

 

Hi mate I don't know a lot about the xr21 however:

It is possible to buy a new patch repair panel for the petrol cap for about £20 then cut and weld this in, fill and spray. A half decent bodyshop will want about £300 to do this. Or if your feeling really flush you can buy the whole quarter panel and have the whole side cut out etc. I know some one on here has done that in the restoration section. 1900cvh I think.

There are only 5 numbers on the speedo. If it's showing 34k but you are sure it's done more, and by your description it has it's probable 134k. ie it's been round the clock once.

Have a look in your owners manual or search the net to find out what your light is. This may point to your heavy steering or your running prob.

Hope this helps.

 

the light is ABS warning light, caused by a broken drive belt to one of the 2 pump/modulators droven from each of the fornt drive shatfs - either a broken belt , OR the switch has poped out of its housing showung a broken belt.

i had a k plate 16v rs1800, and that was a rusty bad of nails with Awfully heavy steering - likw wooden siezed feeling, but apparently thats normal

 

hi drive a 2i 16v
my gearsticks got a similar problem been told its the selector bush
my steerin aint that heavy so u probably have a problem, if your wheels are standard pressure is 30 all round
the light thats stays on is it the one near your handbrake light?? if so check ur brake fliud level (as it lights when low did on mine anyway)

hope thats some help for ya

 

The 2i hasn't got PAS. But what casues heavy steering on these is the universal joint knackers up so it probably needs changing.