what to look for (viewing to buy)

[fudge]

hi
i am going to have a look at a 2.3tdi fronty on Sunday and i wondered what i should look out for
other than rust :p
oh and it is a 1994 lwb one and the pics seam in good con.

any help would be much appreciated

[jmc]

Trying to remember.I still have mine its not on the road at the moment. See if you can start it when its stone cold. It will be a bit smokey when you put your foot down this is normal for 2.3's. If it seems really slow then it could have a crack in a small plastic pipe which goes over the top of the engine from the turbo to the pump this is easy to fix just cut the damaged end back to new tube and push it back on.
The nearside front wheel bearing might need doing.
If you want to come and look at mine you can its got no radiator in it at the moment so limited drive time. I loved my 2.3 I only have a 2.5 now because i couldnt find a 2.3 to replace it at the time and gregster came to the rescue and sold me his 2.5 which I like too. I got 35mpg around town solo and more on a long run in the 2.3. Its not as good up hills or for towing its fine its just not as powerful as the 2.5. Its also not got a good heater.
In spite of it being not the fastest thing around and a poor heater I was looking forward to many years with mine.
What colour is this one? and is it local to you?

[jmc]

Sagging drivers seat, check to see how the spare wheel swingarm is if it has one.

[andysd1]

they tend to have a bit of oil round the rocker cover, (cork gasket) low oil pressure, (faulty switch, located at the lower half at the front of the engine on the right) could be lose wire, could be worn oil pump plate, have a look in the 2.3 section, some good write ups, check rear axle for leakage at the front where it meets the prop, check the donut in the center of the prop for deep cracks, if so it aint going to last long, check leaf springs for play, also take a good look at the rear from a distance, you are looking for wheels sticking out more than the other,
but just in-case i have missed something, have a good look through here

viewforum.php?f=17

[gregster]

Hills.....thats what to look for if buying a 2.3td.....

If you can see any hills then check how much tax is left on it....dont want it running out of tax half way up do we....needs a least a few days left to be safe!

Also check the condition of the mirrors...these will get lots of use on hills as you prepare for milkfloats and mobilty scooters overtaking you...
Check the speed rating of the tyres...if they are VR or ZR rated, then someone has been fleeced visciously at kwikfits in the past...
Dont bother checking the brakes, they wont have worn out believe me...
Rear foglights are important, as when starting from cold they will be the only thing visable to cars approaching from behind...


Seriously....they are a good truck, slow but nearly always get there (sometimes the same month even!)...but dependable...
I loved my 2.3, until it went swimming in the very deep end and everything started going wrong...but that wasnt really its fault...
And you get a drop down tailgate not a silly side swinging jobby...
Oil pressure, alternator/vac pump, starter motors and dodgey spare wheel carriers are the only real things that cause probs on em...

[andysd1]

[gregster]

[andysd1]

[jpbiketransport]

Hi ive got a 1993 2.3 and i love it, There are lots of jokes about the 2.3 being slow, but it will out accelerate my mates 2.5 disco up a steap hill near here, they keep up with modern traffic fine. [well modern trafic is stop start max of 2mph ] In all fairness they are brilliant [my heaters fine ] It has no oil pressure but runs fine Mines only done 86k and ive done very little to it just keeps going and going