Proton Saga Iswara BROKEN - won't start - can we get it fixed for Festival of the Unexceptional?!

[@jimbofaulty]

I think the biggest hero here is the Starter motor. 3 cheers for the starter motor 👏👏👏

[@alexandrecouture2462]

Quality starter!

[@championn3c574]

When I was running a car garage, I could never understand the logic of people who wouldn't spend a few hundred quid on an old but reliable car because "that's more than it's worth", even if it was likely to give them another year's service, but would happily spend a couple of grand buying another car. They couldn't see they'd just be £1000+ out of pocket & stuck with a car they knew nothing about.

[@allandavies9488]

A car is worth what it's worth to you, not it's so called value. It is usually worth repairing a car rather than replacing it.

[@seanhumfrey]

I love that Kevin arrives in his Triumph 1500 to save the day 👍

[@robertngreen6]

Thank goodness you have found an interested, knowledgeable expert in Andy. I fully support you in keeping the Proton going. It means a lot to you now!

[@stephenricketts7764]

So pleased you got the Proton running again. At least Kev found that it had a spark using his 'Sparks Doings' and changed the parts that he thought might be the problem. Nothing wrong with asking someone else for help and Andy as it turns out was the right person. You and your friends and contacts have saved another one from the scrap yard and that is what counts Steph. I hope the Proton continues to give you good service. 👍👍

[@noellegunning3301]

An elderly lady who lived near me had a proton car similar to this one back in the early 1990s. This brings back memories.

[@Rinty145]

Your videos are never boring.

[@mrcogginsgarage7062]

Steph if nothing else you have learned a useful lesson Never be afraid to ask someone who understands how your car works ,now Kev is great at what he does ,but as he himself says the proton is not in his ball park ,however it's an older more simple engine management system,so not as far into the realm of rocket science as some might think,at the end of the day it's an engine and it needs the same basic ingredients to work as a marina or a minor ,remember his in this order Fuel Air Spark Timing And you need to understand that with all those in the right order it will work as it should At the start of the film when you sat in the car and were trying to start up,I thought to myself that's spinning quite freely,almost as if it's valve timing is out,now it's easy for me to say that with the benefit Of hindsight having watched the film ,if you get the chance this weekend talk to Pete and ask him to explain what does what and why ,he will have you with a much better understanding in a short space of time.. Well done you for sticking with the old Proton,many more happy journeys to come .

[@phillipevans9414]

All True. I thought it sounded "weirdly free" when it was turning over, but didn't make the link to the next logical step of compression (lack of) in my mind at the time - but now you mention it, it's...of course! I'm also sticking with my '93 Ford as my "classic" even though it's not worth much either. Cheers!

[@davidhinkson8856]

Happy to see you got the Proton back up and running. If a car has sentimental value to you its hard to let it go, and if you have people around you that can help diagnose and resolve any problems with it, that's great.

[@grahamroberts1833]

To be honest, I understand that you said you spend the money based on the value that the car has to you, irrespective of its financial value, and to me, fair point. However, this is a rare car and it is perfect as a daily... bit quirky, likely to get you from A to B etc. I feel the same about the early 2000s Daewoo saloons, yes they were cars for the masses, but the masses have moved on.

[@angahsyber68]

Finally your sending the right people to fix the car, in Malaysia not many Iswara parts available right now. I use Aeroback version 😊

[@sjg4967]

Steph I am Kev's age and I swore that I would never have another car that was smarter than me after I had to let my Audi 80 Cabriolet go when it developed a stalling problem that was stumping everyone. However, I had to bite the bullet in 2015 and bought a 1998 a6 2.8 Avant Quattro for £600. So I had to buy myself a cheap OBD2 scanner and learn how to use it. Mr Coggins below is right, these early systems are pretty easy to get your head around and now I love fixing my car with my laptop... I would just say that it is worth trying to get a full list of required maintenance by mileage and time, it's so easy to miss simple things when you have a car for years and it's not going to a dealer for service.

[@RealBastard-q9u]

It's great this worked out so well!

[@johnpritchard2772]

Hello Steph, Kev and Any. What an wonderful video, really! How honest you are Steph in getting the right people to help you with your car. It is always a worry when the car does not work as it should do, and it can be the smallest of fault(s) that causes the problem. Hope you had a wonderful smile as you returned home and the relief in knowing that your car is now well and fit for the road!! Best wishes from Lincolnshire (you know where that is now!! ha-ha!!)

[@richardhemingway6084]

Well done for getting it fixed. I know hindsight is a wonderful thing. But, when I heard that initial cranking over, it sounded like there was no compression. It turned over like the spark plugs had been removed.

[@tobeycat2007]

I've had several of these early protons including rare Prism model, all great. Know you have several cars but to me the proton is the best.

[@pauldeacy9989]

Like others on here I thought a tap on the fuel pump would save the day. Fascinating to watch the elimination process from finding a spark to checking fuel and sensors and so on. A very beneficial vid for all of us!

[@RonaldThomas-j9g]

I am really glad to see that you have gotten the Proton fixed and back where it belongs on the road for you to enjoy and I would be very much confused under the bonnit of a 90's car as well as the more modern car's .

[@allanmollison6971]

Another learning curve for you Steph. Enjoyable as always. 😊👍

[@josephmifsud8261]

Glad the Proton is back on the road. As you said, sometimes your pride and joy has to visit a professional. I can see how much this car means to you, and that is priceless.

[@alansimpson835]

Sorry Steph. I'm totally behind with your videos. Combination of work and holidays! So glad to see the Proton fixed. You know how much i love this car and i hoped it would be something straightforward. Even the most dependable cars need a little TLC sometimes and it is 30 years old now bless it. I agree. A car is so much more than just a transportation device. It shares your adventures, becomes your stage when singing along to music, takes you places with people and sees you at your best and your worst. If cars could talk i bet they could tell some stories. The whole back story of this one and how it found you is wonderful too

[@Dave_Stafford]

I think the realisation that any car is worth more than it's book value is the exact thing that makes driving one cool.

[@robertblair-uk4ph]

So pleased you got this sorted Stephen. What a relief

[@Joe-ug1vu]

I thought the belt had snapped by the sound it was making whilst cranking

[@rickroberts1344]

I totally agree with you about it not being the monetary value of the car but what it's worth to you. I've previously been talked into scrapping 3 of my favorite cars due to low value at the time, (Citroen BX, Saab 900 and Alfa 156) because nobody would do the work to sort them out, even though I was happy to pay whatever the bill would have been. Yes you are very wise to have taken your car to a specialist to sort the problem. There's a limit to how much head scratching a person can do, especially when someone is watching you from across the road! So glad you've got it sorted.

[@ArlenMoulton2]

You'll have to show it the videos of 6D Diesels' Pug 305 that sat in a hedge for 33 years and made it, that'll shame the Proton into working!

[@Jaxs2]

Pleased for you Steph , keep them going 👍

[@Phiyedough]

Always worth checking the compression as it eliminates broken timing belt, stuck valves, lack of valve clearance, head gasket failure, holed piston etc with one test.

[@hobgoblin283]

Fantastic video Steph, you just summed up why I drive 90s cars and keep them going.

[@PaddyWV]

So that's why the other channel miraculously appeared in my timeline. Protons coming out of the woodwork all over!

[@kellybrickey4300]

In college ,I drove a Plymouth Champ (badge engineered Mitsubishi) with the 12 valve engine, and I just loved it! It was a stripper level car, with a four speed. The engine was so damn smooth that I would be cruising along on the interstate, and realize I had just left it in third gear! Long live the Proton!

[@MrJoshiej]

Very glad you got it sorted out Steph definitely worth getting it repaired if you absolutely love the Car

[@Dhira108]

Glad to see the proton back on the road, yes value isn't always seen. And a wise person always knows when to get help

[@jimmcdonald9618]

Oh boy. the second i saw the ECI multi on the intake i knew i'm looking at the motor from my 1994 Hyundai Excel. This is fun to see the distributor off the other end of the motor and air cleaner jambed in such an odd place. My brake booster is in the same spot. Which is just odd because i'm in Canada. Left hand drive with right side master cylinder. So there's a cross shaft & linkage under the dash to make it all work. Mine is at 92K at 76K i change the timing belt. Not because it was about to go, but the car is 30 years old. At 15 years into it's life i handed the injectors over to a diesel shop & had them rebuilt. At 20 years old you do the cap & wires thing to dodge that bullet. The sound from the motor cranking was da,da,da,duh. Which is one cylinder down from the rest. Yep 3 cheers for that starter it put up with that cranking. I've got a zing noise coming from my starter right now."End bearing in starter." So i'm ordering a new one before there aren't any spares left. Plugs are cheap & easy to get at. This motor likes plugs. (don't put fancy plugs in this motor) This is OBD1 so an OBD1 to OBD2 adapter is needed but i'm not sure what a modern scanner can see from the sensors (another horrid test i'll be put through) That mechanic did a wonderfull job on the valve train you can hear it on start up. Enjoy.. Please keep it for a bit longer.

[@henkhoogenraad6473]

You are absolutely right, enjoy your Proton.

[@vespaveloce1924]

I absolutely agree with you - not just cars but stuff in general. We’ve all got different skill sets; and yes it might be good to try and learn new skills but if it’s not your thing, then it’s not your thing! You can often cause more problems/expense by trying yourself (electrics at home for example…!).

[@anthonygregg862]

Hi Steph. Great video and you are so right. it isnt the car it is definately how it makes you feel. My late dad and myself had a peugeot 309. We had so many road trips, family outings. Yes we had issues with it keeping it going but the memories that car created money cant buy !!! I miss that car to this day.

[@trevordelamotte9017]

I'm happy for you Stef that you stood your ground made up your mind to get the Proton up and running your car is your car after all you love the car so do what it takes to enjoy it 😁😁😁

[@punkypink83]

oh this brings back memories. grew up in singapore in the 80s and 90s and my dad had one of these as a company car for awhile. it felt like it was going lightspeed at like 50mph and to a small child it was very exciting and probably one reason i love cars and going fast now 😁

[@Saskue78]

Good to see you got it back up and running OK. 🙂

[@martynatkins1351]

I had a proton on H plate H91CUT . aerodeck drove it 4. Seven in that time all it had was a few fuel pump. GR8T CAR . GLAD ITS SORTED.

[@garyhowtobluetoothjblheadp3583]

It's is a quirky and cool car! Not boring at all?! It is a testament to Malaysian engineering - pragmatic, modern and sturdy, and certainly reliable enough to withstand the tests of time!?

[@simon.easton]

Glad it turned out well in the end and that Kev turned up in Thomas! I met a poor miserable chap at FOTU who had a Toledo but clutch slave cylinder had given out so was broken down at the event. He said he was packing it all in and getting rid of his car. I hope that they got home ok and changed his mind!

[@kokwahgoh1932]

I love those green lights on the instrument clusters. Well done of getting your Proton 1.5GL working.

[@OldcarsNmusic]

I do a lot of my own automotive work and I enjoy the feeling, when the work brings success. But when I know something's out my wheelhouse, I have no qualms about farming it out to the professionals. Bruising to my pride but good for my peace of mind.

[@notwocdivad]

i HAD A 1500 AERODECK IN RED! A lovely car with, I think a Mitsubishi 3 valve per cylinder head? It was quite a nippy little cer and very comfortable and practical. The only problem i HAD WAS THE DOOR BOTTOMS ROTTED OUT! I couldn't find any in Auto dismantlers at the time as there were very few in our area of Northumberland! So sorry when it was sold!!!

[@CortinasAndClassics]

Fantastic Steph. I'm really pleased you got the car fixed ❤

[@paulquinn9922]

Nice to see one of my old Premier Autocentres cars still going string!

[@springy-2112]

Glad it worked out Steph. No shame in getting help. I totally understand why you want to keep the car going as i chose to buy a skoda roomster and its perfect for me! Peace and love Steph 👍✌️❤️

[@mikenewman137]

Lovely car, really pleased you fixed it.

[@a11csc]

glad its fixed Steph,big pat on the the back to all who tried

[@19892CV]

So pleased it is fixed. I agree it isn't about its monetary value, it is about what it means to you

[@lucythemoggy1970]

great outlook on life steph!

[@davefrench3608]

Oh, and Jon Coupland and his dad have a great channel.

[@JonCoupland]

Appreciate that - thank you

[@KammbronnRC]

I agree with saving and maintaining the older cars. I recently bought a 1997 daihatsu move. far from cool. not that practical (its the 3 speed auto). But i love driving it and put smile on my face. been looked after in past, except being revrsed and driven into a post! But I love it and got big plans fix it and make it stand out. Will do FOTU one year but 7 or more hour drive in the little 847cc move! I do love these protons too.

[@trevatkin4869]

In my neck of the woods there Steph. Like you said it's not about the money, it's about how they make you feel. Any new cars are really boring so driving something different is a win in my opinion.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

I have never understood the attitude of get rid of it because it will cost more to repair than its worth. If it was rusted out and requires lots of other work then fair enough. The ironic thing is people will happily go and purchase new car that ends up being so complex that it just ends up at the back of the dealership waiting for the next back ordered part. In reality you will always get a Proton part somehow.

[@stephenwestley1017]

Based on how you feel. Hit the nail on the head thays why we love older cars glad its fixed

[@DoctorAlex1]

I know all those train stations very well, my mum lives near Retford. And was one of the reasons I bought the Daf 44 ;) :D :D

[@TroyGoodacre]

Hi Steph. Have you thought of asking Jon coupland if he has any spare wiper arms for your car. The rusty ones spoil it

[@idriveaclassic]

Work have said I can get them powder coated on the next load that gets done. They’re on my list x

[@robertford4278]

1st comment but I’ve watched most/ all your videos your very formative entertaining 👌Just a pointer. Don’t crank it to long or the starter burn out. let it cool a bit between cranking ✌️

[@manicmechanic6406]

I am so with you on what you said. I have a 1985 camper. I have 1990 vw golf syncro and a 53 plat kia Sedona when was the last time you saw a old kia in good condition

[@MichailKnoller]

Yes, I love you for the statement that not everything should be based on printed paper. I drive cars which are not valuable - and never had a new car. To me, the Proton is in fact - t o o new, but I appreciate somebody to rescue it. Why ? All of the " run of the mill " - cars disappear - and only certain models survive in big numbers. As a Borgward - driver ( yes, regularly ) I am disappointed, that there are more Isabella Coupes - than Lloyd 400. This is not how it used to be in the 1950's... On the other side, if there is zero compression, you can actually h e a r that ( I had it on a Borgward Isabella when the timing - gear went ) - so I wonder if valves have been damaged by that ? On a Borgward : no; plenty of space between piston and valve, but on a Proton ...? It might not be worth more than 2 1/2 p....but it gets you from A to B. That's what a car was made for...not to show off your money. Have lots of fun with that Proton, Steph !

[@michaelstaunton1632]

Best of luck with everything 👍👍👍

[@Shaun_rennycinq]

Hahahaha, I get the looks everytime I go to start my Mk2 renault5, the fuel drains back to the tank when she's left a few days. My trick is pop the air filter lid off and spray cheap deodorant in while I crank it and use it to prime the fuel 😂 works every time! Ain't built like that anymore ❤

[@daviemaclean61]

Must get myself a "sparks doings"! ;-)

[@davefrench3608]

I’d missed that too. I thought immediately fuel pump I’d forgotten the 3 step rule: Mechanical first Ignition next Fuel last.

[@brianmcelvogue3370]

well done lass ⭐️👏

[@jamesdecross1035]

Likewise, I changed vacuum lines in my Saab diesel - after thinking about it for months. No idea why I ddi n't do it. The fuel economy and power is back. No smoke on throttle. Totally transformed my car. Sooo… wish I did this earlier.

[@jaggass]

I mostly maintain my car myself but when there's something wrong with it i take it to a garage as i don't want to make a problem worse and there's only so much i know. I'll always have my car fixed regardless of the cost.

[@thesmallerhalf1968]

Newark Castle has a pretty station building. Clearly from the heyday of British railways.

[@davidrhodes7655]

Had a 93 Toyota Corolla bullet proof had it five years never let me down did my own service s

[@pauldavies6037]

The Proton Triple Valve was one of its selling points an unusual engine and fault no Steph its a modern car still and like many others in that golden age should be kept on the road

[@neilgorin1037]

Application of wallet, as my late uncle used to say, is always the quickest and best way out of a hole.

[@alexandrecouture2462]

I'm so glad the problem was found! Whenever it's possible for people with a few older cars, it's good to make sure that at least 2 are functional, so if something happens to one, you can take the other.

[@Gavgav6764]

Hi, do you have a longer video of the full time you spent trying to start it in the rain please?

[@idriveaclassic]

Why do you need that please?

[@Gavgav6764]

@@idriveaclassic Interested to see if the compression improved over the duration. Starting out on a basic mechanics course and it would help me

[@idriveaclassic]

@@Gavgav6764 sorry to say it didn’t :(

[@Gavgav6764]

@@idriveaclassic Have you traced the problem then? Sounded like a timing issue to me

[@brenglover72]

It sounded like a timing issue when you were cranking the engine.

[@grrfy]

SouperCoup to the rescue!

[@JonCoupland]

:)

[@RUfromthe40s]

i´m recognising some parts , dash from seat 80´s ibiza porshe system on valve cover and the pointers with the heat were glued to the back of the panel so no speed info. but no matter ,it was a two cylynder working car from a crazy girl friend i separated the words, we had a contest who could appear with the most strange looking car ever, now i had the visa vibration, nice starter engine doesn´t burn or is it a renault 9 ,11 mix , the mk last, not aq single view of the entire car, well maybe a second or two

[@ljp1942]

Had a 1992 Toyota Celica 8 years ago did a timing belt replacement and changed the water pump at the same time as recommended big mistake as mechanic was unable to source a new water pump from Toyota so ended up getting a second hand pump from a car wrecker the Celica lasted 3 months after that 😢

[@cambridgemart2075]

I don't follow how the car can have been running OK, to having no compression on all cylinders, when the problem was valve clearance. Having had an issue with a car where the exhaust valve seats recessed (due to running LPG), the problem manifested as a slight misfire which gradually became worse; I never got to the point that the engine wouldn't run at all.

[@drfalcon4102]

when you were first cranking it over, I thought it had jumped time,,, but, then he said it had spark,,,,its a Mitsubishi, engine, simple to work on,,

[@ivomac416]

are Protons still made in Malasia?

[@jamesrichardson1901]

The hardest part of being a mechanic is diagnostics.

[@hotpuppy1]

Mitsubishi engine. Lots of parts out there for it. Back to basics: air, fuel, spark AND make sure there isn't anything mechanical>>have to have compression. Got lucky with the timing belt. Interference engine with a bad belt means bent valves.

[@JimF500]

Glad it was able to be fixed but hindsight is a great thing, isn't it? Why was there not any damage done when the belt snapped? Must be a non interference??

[@nothingmuch.3014]

The belt didn't snap. It sounds like there was an issue with valve clearances

[@Parknest]

Steph, there's no shame in farming out a job to a professional. It can work out cheaper than firing the parts canon. Clint Eastwood once said something to the effect of that you have to know your own limitations. I'm in the same situation with my 2003 Volvo XC90 which is now booked into a specialist.

[@kumming5243]

Classic

[@garycorbin2789]

Crank angle sensor

[@lesklower7281]

Basically a valve adjustment and l new cam belt and your Proton it not just a Proton it Proton and Steph it doesn't matter how much you spend on it and the problem wasn't an electrical problem it was a mechanical one

[@alisonhowes8498]

the ultimate eco approach is to save something and not excavate a ton of lithium for the elec battery blind alley.

[@VinceCollis]

Proton is noted for this get a good auto electrician to bypass the alarm system

[@jetblack5115]

Fuel pump problem they suffer from it

[@charlesreids9152]

pump the pedal hard

[@mb-pg5cl]

If you move your feet in the pedal maybe She start....

[@eneaauriti]

Starter panked

[@grayfool]

Always start with the simple, basic stuff. All the modern electronics are such a pain. I'm with Kev, I just don't get it. Too old now, I guess.

[@EricCoop]

You're gonna burn the starter.

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

Your proton is NOT a neutron!

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

Even ones underware is worth spending money on to wash it.