My beloved Renault 19 16v Convertible

[Sat_dan]

My Renault 19 16v came home last week after a slight bump that required a new front end.


Essentially, I bought this car just before Christmas 2011 for £500.





First things first, I was unhappy with the look of the car as it had black wing mirrors and a missing rear moulding.





So I put a new moulding on and some red wing mirrors from eBay.



The drive-shaft died shortly after Christmas, so I fitted a new one and changed the brakes all round. I also swapped the track-rod ends and lower arm ball-joints. I also changed the middle and rear parts of the exhaust.





I then had the cam-belt and water-pump changed and the rear bumper restored. I also had the rear arches restored and they are rust-free.

Then driving home from work a few months back ... my stupd work shoes, that have been binned now, caused me to bump a VW. Swaped the front bumper and 1 headlight. While stripped back in my garage I changed the coolant and rust-proofed the front panel and inner wings.









Lots of chemical metal later ... I reapired the battery bay which I noticed had corroded a bit.









Dropped the car with an excellent re-spray company who pulled the bonnet, resprayed my second hand bumper and made everything look better than new.



Came home two weeks ago and I couldn't be happier.





Took it for its MOT this morning. I was a bit worried when I pulled up as the ABS light came on but ... it passed. Yay!!! The ABS sensor sometimes needs a clean so I expect I'll swap that one soon. So impressed that the only advisories were for some underbody rust, which is the next job, and a misalighned light.

Sorted the light this afternoon and changed the gearbox oil, just in case.

So pleased that it passed first time. O and thanks Jay for selling me the centre-caps. They set the car off a treat!

Next jobs after summer ...

1) A new red-roof.
2) Under-body rust repair

To be continued ...

Had the roof refitted this summer and am thrilled with the car. Gorgeous in my eyes!!

 

[Peter T]

What type of ABS does i have, It's a K plate, and might run the Window maker Benadix system

 

[Sat_dan]

What type of ABS does i have, It's a K plate, and might run the Window maker Benadix system

Hi yeah it has the old Bendix system which I was worried about. The ABS light started coming on just before the driveshaft died. It stayed on until I cleaned the front driverside sensor. So I'm quite confident it's that playing up. Again, I'll keep my eye on it and see how it goes.

 

[minichapperz]

What type of ABS does i have, It's a K plate, and might run the Window maker Benadix system

Window maker hahahah pmsl

 

[Larry]

good ols widowmaker, my third cab had them, when they fail they fail, i was left with less than zero braking

 

[Prab]

Rip the widow maker out! TIB on here had a lucky escape when his ABS went while he was on track! standard non abs brakes ftw!

 

[Neal R19]

Reliable ABS is a lifesaver.

Bosch ABS > no ABS > Bendix Widowmaker ABS

 

[minichapperz]

yeh quite a few times ive poo'd myself in the wet

 

[bidderman1969]

i've had one go too, i remember asking Renault how much for a new one, back in about 2002 i think, it was £750 just for the air tank part

what on earth were Renault thinking of............

 

[Neal R19]

Same system as used on the Pug 405 and 605... I think it is known to have claimed a few Mi16s over the years too...

 

[Sat_dan]

Rip the widow maker out! TIB on here had a lucky escape when his ABS went while he was on track! standard non abs brakes ftw!

I'd love to try but I think taking it out would be well beyond me.