Off to view a Jimny tomorrow

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationSeen a jimny nearby, about what i'm looking for. You may remember me, i was kicking about a few months ago querying whether they'd be suitable for 4x4 response work. Anyway after the winter we've had driving a hatchback back and forth to work at 5am (pre many roads being cleared properly yet) i am unwilling to not have a 4x4 next year. And given i'm having to reinsure the car in May i thought i may as well look now.

Going to view this

I'm obviously not keen on the plated bumper or spoiler or that current owner suspects a clutch change soon but they're all bargaining points and i've still got my car so i can get the clutch sorted before i need to rely on the jimny. Anything particular to look at aside from what you would any other car (of course 4wd system needs checking) and i'll see what the recovery points at the front attach to. Cheers, Jonathon

Hi, jack the front wheels up. hold the tyres in your hands and wobble left to right, then up and down, shows play in kingpin bearings and wheel bearings, also make sure the engines nice and quiet, no rattles, there prone to top end camshaft failure from oil starvation. Seems to have some Vitara wheels on rather than the original Jimny wheels ( i have a spare set of wheels you can have FOC, just get a courier to collect) Spolier and spare wheel cover will sell well on ebay though.

Gary

If its for 4x4 response work be aware that its not going to be able to recover heavy vehicles without some help (a tree, anchor, heavy vehicle to strap to and winch off). The rear seats are "cosy" if the response work involves carrying people. I did some response work this winter, strapping to lamposts let me winch out 3 tonne Range Rovers (including my own ). Had to resort to the Range Rover when carrying ambulance people around.

Gary has summed the rest up for you, make sure you are happy with the way it steers and brakes. The handbrake looks to be at full stretch indicating no rear shoes, badly adjusted shoes or a pair of stretched cables.

Martin

Yes i had noticed the handbrake being quite high! I notice neither of you mentioned the clutch - which is to me the biggy! I've been along to my local mechanic who would charge in the region of 150 just for labour as he says they are a pig to do. I'm going along to see it regardless though he may not be willing to jack it up for me....where are the jacking points on these? Is it the axle where the suspension mounts are as on my old defender?
I do know it wont do everything i'd like of it regarding recovery and carrying ability but this is very much a compromise vehicle - i want its 4x4 capability coupled with its economy...not as good as my car but deffo better than a disco and i will be keeping my jobs on for the time being - particularly the 30 mile round trip one hence the consieration of running costs. Appreciate your continued input greatly!!

I think a clutch kit is around £80 ish. I'd take a jack with me and jack it up under the axle, just enough to get the wheel off the floor. If you look st the big jimny shop it'll show you how much wheelbearings and kingpin bearings are per side, plus some fitting obviously.

Gary

The clutch is a real pig to do, I hated every minute of doing mine. The transmission tunnel is so narrow that even with every bolt undone and the gearbox pulled back from the flywheel I could hang underneath it with my entire (and not inconsiderable) weight and it wouldn't move.

So why didn't I comment...beacuse at £150 labour I would bite your mechanics arm off - I would almost tow mine up North for that price. Mechanics must come in at between £40 and £50 per hour when you consider he has house, family, workshop and accountant to feed - so 3 - 4 hours work he is forecasting. It took me just over a week of evenings (mixed in with other activities)

martin