My Search for a Clean VR6!

[jono0309]

Also, sounds bloody awesome now with the airbox done! haha

[VR28LT]

looking good jono

i like the fact that you are doing your service items and maintenance before anything else

its as simple as this, if you look after her she is gonna look after you

[jono0309]

Thanks mate. Well it is 13+yrs old/220,000km so its the right thing to do. Cheers!

[jono0309]

OKAY! So today I went to replace my broken driver door handle, basically the lock works, the inside door handle works but the outter door handle doesnt? Go figure...

So the guy I bought the VR5 off gave me the big white unit that holds everything together inside the door, the latch and locking mechanism.

I started working on the car, started off with the best tool I could find...



Door trim off...



Inside the door...The ba5tard of a unit to get out!





Put the whole thing back together with a replacement unit from a wreck, the new unit looked good, not rusted and also didnt have bent metal on it like the one fitted to the car originally, door handle felt great, etc.



...and then...I went to pull the door handle thinking it would work, and it didn't! So the unit was not the problem, must be the door handle unit. I am a bit confused as the lock works but the door handle does not? and the inside door handle does?

Any advice?

Here is my cruiser too:
09 VE SV6, 20s, lowered on SSSL springs, full fusion comp sound system, 2.5inch exhaust, Growler intake, debadged, no rear spoiler. Just got a full respray under insurance, Amazing place called Detroit Custom Bodyworks near the City do the best spray jobs, insane restorations, built 60s/70s muscle cars, camaros and the lot.

[jono0309]

So today...

I went to give the old girl a good clean and just made me angry at how tired the paint job is! Ah well, life goes on, but things I do want to give attention to is...

That bloody horrid inside of the gear shift, it feels notchy and just terrible, I opened inside and it looked very sorry for itself, I will try to get a new unit soon for it and give it a good clean, I also think a change of gearbox fluid will help the notchy feel...and yes I have ordered a new gear knob, the carbon fibre ****ter on it now drives me crazy (sorry for the pun) so I have ordered a Mk4 Gearknob which is to arrive soon!





I have been thinking of also painting my calipers, they have a bit of surface rust and just look terrible, would it be easier to just buy new calipers rather than disc and wet sand them and just can spray them?



The car came with a cracked rear tailight, so I got a hold of two rear smoked VR6 lights for $80, soon to be picked up and installed!



Also due to smoke the front bumper lights, they just look tacky! Should I smoke them grey or just completely black them out?



A bit of chipped and terribly repaired paint...jesus christ what were the previous owners thinking!



Thanks guys, I hope some one actually reads this?! haha

[jono0309]

Ah and more to add!

Sourcing new door handles for drivers side as its rooted and just crumbled, very flimsy from factory even just looking at the tolerances in the handle!
Trying to find new rear ash tray unit as the hinge it moves on it just plastic and its just crushed and snapped on the hooks.
Thanks

[jono0309]

Today I found a bit of a problem, it has been raining quite badly in the coastal areas of Sydney, so I went to drive my VR and noticed the passenger side carpet was soaking wet, dripping, and when I press on it, the water rises out of it, really heavily drenched...but I only noticed it now, when its starting to rain..

Whats the cause of this? I tried googling but couldnt find much on this issue.
Thanks.

EDIT: Found one or two american forums, and they think its the holes in the doors behind the door trims. surely this cannot be the issue here, its almost a puddle FFS!

[VR28LT]

i would dare say if its on the passenger side you may be leaking water in via where the cabin filter sits ???

pull the rain tray off , remove the cabin filter and have a look

[jono0309]

I have to apologize but I do not know what a rain tray or a cabin filter is?

I found a thread on here, which says its basically your heater core/matrix, a door seal or something in the firewall blocking the water flow.
It is on the passenger side and i have only noticed it since its been chucking it down the last day.

[VR28LT]

Have a look where your wipers sit, below that is the rain tray and if you remove it you will find the cabin filter located on the passenger side

My old grey VR was involved in a small crash on the drivers side fender and after the crash it developed a leak through the cabin filter area, the new owner fixed it up by sealing the whole area and it never leaked again.

Yes it may also be a heater core issue but im sure if it was drenched as you describe your expansion tank will be very low on coolant and not only that your cabin would stink like G12 .

Good luck with it all because finding the cause of a leak can be a real mofo