Yikes !

Noah & Nelly

Guest
Hi everyone.
Been watching for a few weeks now and find your site all very interesting.
We've just got ourselves a 1983 Renault Trafic coach built by O'Brien of Dublin{apparently} off eBay. Flew down to London and drove back up to Scotland via Tanhill pub, as recommended by one of your members. Great pub good food and hospitality and a magnificent view in the morning. :) When we got home I had a better look at our van and started to realize it needs a bit more "tidying" than first thought. Don't go on eBay when you've had a few shandies. :eek:
Anyway that's it for now no doubt I'll be on looking for salvation and lots of tips in the near future as this is my first attempt at this malarkey.
Cheers J.C.
 
Condition....

Firstly... Welcome!
I have found that one of the biggest problems with ebay is the condition of items either purchased or sold as the condition of an item is subjective! I purchased a Shell oils/Ferrari sweat shirt last year that was described as "new" when it arrived it was obvious it had been worn as it stank of cigarettes and there was ground in dirt on each sleeve and had to claim off Paypal in the end! I also purchased a set of drills described as "as new used only once" when they arrived they were a blunt as an elephants hide and when I enquired about this I was informed that they had only been used once and would be like new once sharpened! Needless to say I again claimed from Paypal!
 
Drills and shirts are one thing, but I'd never buy any kind of vehicle without looking at it first.


We did get Roger off eBay - had a very extensive inspection and test drive BEFORE making a bid.
 
Life's too short {and so am I}

See where you guy's are coming from but hey if you're not living on the edge you're taking up too much space. The van did come with a full years MOT and it drives like a peach. It just needs a little, well a lot, of internal refinishing.
I'm starting this weekend and was wondering if there would be any interest in a photo log of the progress ? I've seen this done on some motorcycle forums and thought they were very good.
I'll keep you posted anyway.
J.C.
 
Images ...

Images are always welcome! Now I would say that as a photographer wouldn't I
 
ebay stuff

Have to say I took the gamble and purchased my old Merlin from Ebay and took the train down from Cheshire to Berkshire to collect. Gave the van a reasonable once over and a test run and then coughed up the money. Drove home quietly content (well actually I was bricking myself)that the person I bought it off seemed straight enough (plus I collected from his home, know what he looks like and surprised him by telling him where he worked and what he did for a living).

A couple of days later there were small things that were hyped up in the ad (quality sound system??, the guy must still own an old record player) which which didn't ring true and that irked me a bit but not to the point of a violent and vengeful frenzy. The van has since done over 1000 miles and the engine is wonderful and reliable. I guess the moral is go with your instinct and at least arm yourself with some basic knowledge of the vehicle and do some research on the address person etc who's selling the van you're about to spend your hard earned wages on.

Happy Camping.
 
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personally I've had some bloody good bargains from ebay, and only had one deal go bad.
I guess ebay is like anything - if it ain't as descibed in the advert, don't have it. The most you've lost is your travelling expenses.

Anyway, Noah and Nelly, welcome, hope your problems, if any, are minor and you have many happy miles from your purchase. Theres always plenty of helpful advice on this and other similar forums.

Enjoy,

Voxy.
 
ebay

Just like to say not every thing is bad on ebay .My son has sold and brought several items for me , all been ok.Its all down to if the person is being honest , best to have a look at there history and ask for more photos and ask more questions.We have sold a motor with no problems,but would recomend veiwing exspensive items first.
 
Hogmany !!!

Hi everyone.
Just back from a few days up at Glencoe for the bells & Ner'day. What a hoot.
The wee van got us there {just} and we had an absoloutly fantastic time.
We saw the bells in at the Claghaig Inn which is off the A82 just before you get to Glencoe village,traveling north. We pitched up at a campsite [Red Squirel] which is whithin an easy stager from the pub. Not exactly "wild camping" I know,and a tad expensive at £6.50 a head. But it seemed to fit the bill. Overnight it was positivly damp which showed up some water ingres to the van :p . Traditional Ner'day lunch followed the next day with some further light entertainment that evening. ;) The journey home proved to be more interesting with the van stopping after every 20-30 miles :confused: Fuel starvation,mmm, nope. Electrics ?? maybe's. Anyway got home at last and stuck it back down the drive and it's sat there since. Think it's the coil but would appreciate any comments. So now the real work begins on the refit. I'll keep you posted on my [slow] progress. Cheers Noah & Nelly.
 
hi welcome to a frendly site in reply to your e bay experiance i got my camper from it also mmm went from s yorks to essex by coach trains but no planes when i saw said van ad stated needs tlc yes it did anyway did a deal with the guy i dident fancy the coach trip back home it drove fine home about 2 weeks later decided to give my newly accuired van the required tlc they did make fiber glass talbot express vans then ! any way a few months later it was back on the road 99% solid all new panels still it only stands me at about 1800 quid ok didit all myself and ok will never be like new but at least it aint a a shiny looking thing full of filler that cost too much you are always changing things you always spend more money and it is worth it in the end when it costs next to nothing to have even just a weekend WILDCAMPING good luck
 
Hi there

Hi Noah, If its the elec, 1st think to check are the plugs, take one out, and hold in a pair of pliers just away from the engine block, get someone to turn the engine over and look for a spark, if there is one and its good, check the other 3. If OK then its not the elecs. If you have no sparks or they are weak, look at the points if fitted, again check them for wear, burning etc and also qap. again get someone to turn over engine and check for a strong spark. Also look for wear in the rotor arm,and the cap. If they are OK but you have a weak spark, check the coil, To do this pull the lead out from the cap end nearest the engine and place near the engine block. get someone to turn the
engine over and look for a great big spark, if you have one thats good, if not check the wires to the coil, or if fitted it maybe the regulator which is a small silver cylinder on the side of the coil, these break down and will give all sorts of faults. If nowever the elecs are OK, then just take the air fillter off the top of the carb and have a look inside with a torch, get someone to press on the gas and you should see petrol going into the carb from the jets .
From what you say it looks like the coil is breaking down, it then gets hot and stops working and when cool starts ok again, tell me does the engine start ok now, Sorry its very hard to say more without seeing the van, if I can be anymore help I am here online until thursday. terry
 
Coil

Hi there.
Thanks for your reply. I'm pretty sure it's the coil as I have checked the fuel supply to the carb,lots. And as you say when you sit for even 10 mins it will start and run no probs. I'll pick up a coil from the breakers and stick it on at the w/end and see what happens.
 
Noah & Nelly said:
We pitched up at a campsite [Red Squirel] which is whithin an easy stager from the pub. Not exactly "wild camping" I know,and a tad expensive at £6.50 a head. .
Click to expand...
Yup expencive and very poor faciltys(porter cabins) onley stoped there coz i needed a shower (ponged a bit) ;)
 
not too good from breakers

Hi Noah, I was thinking of it again last night, and yes it stongly points to the coil, But getting one from the scrap yard is not to good an idea. They are only 20 to 30 pounds new, and buying a new one means if you still have a fault at the end of fitting the new one, You know for sure its not the coil.
I would get a new one and have done with it.
terry
 
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