Had my Porto 20vt a month now and have found the forum very useful to get a better insight on some of the car's "issues".
I purchased the car from a good friend who showed me the history which includes a recent clutch, hose of death and cambelt change! He also pointed me in the direction of the forum and I signed up very shortly after taking a look.
The car is great fun to drive and I can see how it draws people in to spending rather more than they really should in keeping it in good order...
Not being especially mechanical, the forum has encouraged me to have a go at the following;
1. Fitting a new leather gear lever and handbrake gaiter with the Italian flag which brightens things up inside. I had to remove the handbrake centre console, remove the rivets holding the original plastic gaiter and use suitable self taping bolts for fixing the handbrake gaiter and metal bracket to the plastic console. Completed.
2. Following the purchase of a replacement rear passenger grab handle on ebay, I have struggled with removing one of my grab handles clips without damaging the holding clip and plastic washer...(an office hole punch/"bodger has finally allowed me to release the deep plastic cap and now it looks like I need to drill out the retaining rivet?)
Now completed
Update - after only about a week I accidently broke the replacement when pulling the passanger seat forward and the headrest caught the grab handle.Thinking the seat was stuck I unwittingly forced the seat rest forward and learnt how they get broken!
Thus I will be looking out for another grab handle!
3. Faulty washer jets for the wipers, have led me to take a good look at the windscreen washer system and I determined the pipes under the screen panel have been damaged and are leaking
4mm pipe proved too large, so now trying 3mm. I worked my way through the forum remedies for faulty washer jets, but in the end I determined that as the retaining clips which hold the n/s washer pipe to the wiper panel, had all come away, the remedy was to superglue the clips back on and wait for the 3mm pipe to arrive from ebay! Took the opportunity to clear out all the gung from the y junction and spray nosals afixed to the wipers. Have now used 3mm pipe (although strictly 2mm would have been better!)and o/s good, n/s still not spot on
Will seek replacement y junction when my Halfords have re-stocked.
4. Spent many hours working on cleaning up my headlamps.
Practised on my A6 first (just in case!) using wet and dry papers, graded and starting with 400, then 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500 and finally 2000 grade.
I then used T-cut followed by glass polish. So far the results are pretty good, but not perfect. I see others have used T-cut scratch remover as the last stage, so will try that as well. T-cut scratch remover worked well and clearness has been further improved with W5 carcare and the final last stage will be to use G3 Liquid Compound (thanks Moz)
. Completed
5. The leather seats are pretty good, but I have purchased some colour restorer to repair a few small white patches where the black colour has gone/faded. Completed
6. Car is suffering severe brake squeal! Rear discs and pads need to be replaced, so looking at potentially Brembo drilled/groved rear discs to use with existing calipers. Also the car has poor retardation whilst on the handbrake.
7. Alarm and remote control does not work? Central locking working ok, so need to investigate further. Have the original remote control fobs (x2).
8. Rear screen demister does not work? Fuse? Faulty filaments?
9. Airbag warning light on. It seems to be a known fault.
10. HID bulbs for headlights to improve lighting? Have now fitted Halfords H1 120% Extra brightness bulbs which have definately improved lighting.
11. Refurbish alloys. Now have a second set which whilst also need of a refurbishment (my thanks dougvt), means i do not have to do a exchange of my originals which are pretty sound. All I need now is to locate a good local refurb service
(Glos) Been quoted £75 per wheel!
12. Noisy exhaust. Not sure if it is just loud or has a leak?
13. Indicators do not cancel and wiper stalk has a very eratic control of wipers! I have a replacement and see from the forum, the battery needs disconnecting to provent airbag going off! I also see the indicator stalk can be remedied with some plasticard.
14.Some cosmetic paint from occasional knocks, digs and stone chips etc.
Added 21/6/2012:
15. Replace radiator. - Completed 9/7/2012
Added 10/7/2012:
16. Replace air conditioning pipe to condensor at lower joint.
17. Fit chrome rings to heater controls - purchased off ebay from Tuning Shop at £16.99. Completed 1st Aug 2012 - see later post photo.
That's it for now....