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James's Green Geo Metro; It's ... Alive!!!
Topic Started: Jun 29 2014, 05:03 PM (5,799 Views)
ZXTjato
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bass heads

Dude major fist bump for having a good attitude to this. Don't worry man, if your not a great mechanic it's cool, we have some of the best online help on the web here at GMF.
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brsja
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JimmyStewart
Aug 26 2014, 08:58 PM
Since Geo Jeff already has a bad reputation on here, I don't think that I need to tell anyone about some of the odd stuff with the car (which I have already done). I made the mistake of buying the car without checking Jeff out online first. I'm also not a professional car mechanic, or even a good mechanic. I'm just a guy who likes to tinker and learn new things.

Everyone makes mistakes sometimes :smackface , and I made one by spending too much money on a car. I have hope however that things can be reconciled and old "Dr. Lincoln" can be made whole again. I'm also thinking of calling out Jeff on his blatant false advertising, which I plan to do. I really would like to not spend a lot of time thinking about the infamous "Geo Jeff", and would not like this thread turn into a Geo Jeff bashing event.

If enough people request and think that it's a good idea, I will start a thread about "Geo Jeff crazy stuff" that I have found in this car. Lord knows that there's plenty.

So with that said, if anyone has prior experience to dealings with this man and his cars; please let me know about some things to look for, and spare me mean spirited comments that should be directed at Jeff.

-Jimmy
:gp :rocker
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Mythstae
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Read you loud and clear, Jimmy.
No anti-Jeff posts; but "fix what Jeff broke" posts are acceptable.
We can do that, and...
You can do this! :thumb
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Metromightymouse
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Powdercoat Wizard

I agree and think that the appropriate place to post the evidence is in the wall of shame and possibly in an existing Jeff thread. Overpaying for a Metro is different than almost any other purchase. Unless you get one with frame rot, you will still make the lost money back in savings over almost any other cheap car you could buy. This is one of the best cars to learn to wrench on, in the same class as an old air cooled VW. Keep us posted and we will either guide you with what to do or direct you to where you can get the help you need. I'll consider this car a rescue and you will be the hero that rescues it.
Edited by Metromightymouse, Aug 27 2014, 03:17 AM.
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JimmyStewart
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[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Here's the newest update on the Geo that I have dubbed "Dr. Lincoln". So regarding the previous owner, who from now on I shall refer to him just as "the previous owner": I had forgotten to mention a couple of things that he had left unchecked with the car. 1) One of the coolant hoses running around the throttle body was leaking right onto the alternator! :smackface Also the air filter was filthy and full of oil. Those 2 things were replaced as soon as possible, along with the rest of the coolant lines. Then there was the horn not working. Some aftermarket horns were installed. All that was wrong with them was poor electrical connections (an easy fix). Also, only the right side speakers were working with a lot of rattling from loose panels. This was also an easy fix.
About a couple of months ago I had flushed the coolant out, which to the previous owner's credit was looking ok. I ran some white vinegar through the system for a couple of days, then replaced the coolant. I had some issues shortly thereafter with overheating going up hills, so I burped the coolant system. I just jacked the front end up as high as I could, then ran the car until the electric fan started to cycle. I think this eliminated most of the air. This evening I drove all the way up to Whitefish mountain to give it a test. I drove a couple of miles up steep hills and no overheating problems whatsoever. :) Thanks for that suggestion guys.
So that's about all that's on my mind for now. Does anyone else feel like the Little Engine that Could climbing hills?
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JimmyStewart
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:dunno Today I put a new fuel filter in the car. I just took out the plastic one and replaced it with one that NAPA had listed for that vehicle. It looks about 5 times as big, and works much better. The car doesn't lurch as much as it used to when you let off of the gas pedal. Also, I used to have to press the gas pedal in to get the car started, which I no longer have to do. I guess that the old filter just wasn't letting in enough gas. The older filter also had a lot of soot and metallic looking chunks in it. Is this ok? :dunno
Also the dude at NAPA totally gave me the :-/ face when I told him about the plastic filter.
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brsja
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JimmyStewart
Sep 4 2014, 08:39 PM
The older filter also had a lot of soot and metallic looking chunks in it. Is this ok?
Next project, drop and check/clean gas tank...
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JimmyStewart
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brsja
Sep 4 2014, 08:51 PM
JimmyStewart
Sep 4 2014, 08:39 PM
The older filter also had a lot of soot and metallic looking chunks in it. Is this ok?
Next project, drop and check/clean gas tank...
Think I'll do that. I also noticed while crawling around under there that the fill tubes are dry rotted. Maybe I'll do both of those at the same time. :hmm
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ZXTjato
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bass heads

Heck yes it's easy to replace the hoses with new while the tank is down. Also I noted on my own car that the bolts to hold the tank in are made of butter and twist off super easy, I broke a few of them and as replacement used some stainless hardware and a lock nut. Maybe while your under there give them tank bolts some spray, if that helps idk.
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t3ragtop
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Turbo3 and Twincam Tweaker

brother, as the final owner of many hoopties i would advise you to leave the fuel tank alone, replace what you need to with oem parts, new or used, and use the factory fuel filter to catch the corruption pumping out of the fuel tank. drive the car until it forces you to fix it. :P

let sleeping dogs lie, don't fix what ain't broke, leave well enough alone, don't try to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear - all those old sayings can be inserted here. :P

unless you are an anal retentive old guy with lot's of time and ocd like me, and it's a "special" car don't burn a lot of time on something like rust in the fuel tank. :D the last time i pissed around fixing a rusty fuel tank and sweating bullets over a stopped up fuel filter i ended up losing a half of a tank of gasoline in my driveway and pulling the tank 3 times. i installed another bad used tank that puked another 5 gallons of gas in my driveway and then bought a new fuel tank from rock auto. :P

i should have just bit the bullet and bought the new fuel tank first. ;)
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Metromightymouse
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Powdercoat Wizard

I'm a little surprised none of us managed to tell you to replace the plastic fuel filter. It was one of the things I showed my wife when talking about Jeff and his world class skills. Her comment, made multiple times, was "how is this guy allowed to stay in business? I would like to personally apologize for not screaming at you to replace that fuel filter and the look the counter guy gave you was well earned (for Jeff). That filter is what is used on an air cooled VW and is designed for that kind of fuel pressure (less than 10 lbs generally). Your fuel pump is putting out up to around 30. Needless to say it is more than it was designed for and could have burst and sprayed fuel all over the engine compartment leading to really bad things. Thank god it held up and all is well with an appropriate fuel filter under the hood.

I agree with T3, unless you are going to replace the fuel tank or have plans to empty and treat it with a gas tank sealer kit, leave it alone. If there is a reason you have to drop it and open it, like fuel pump replacement, then that is the time to do some cleaning and see how bad things are, otherwise let the filter do it's job. If the filter clogs in a couple of months (unlikely) then you should think about the options for fixing or replacing it. If the hoses are bad I would replace them.

MMM
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JimmyStewart
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Well, This week marked a sad and aggravating chapter in the Metro's story. I got into the car on Thursday morning and it smelled awful. Well it turns out that my landlord's cat had climbed through the window at night and sprayed in it! :smackface
So, I have taken the carpet out of the vehicle, AGAIN :coffee Then I sprayed it at the carwash with a pressure washer and soap for 10 minutes straight. The carpet still smells a little if you get really close to the affected area. The car also still smells a little, I'm going to do another round of cleaning to try and totally get rid of that disgusting smell. :shit
Does anyone know of any good products that can eliminate odors? Wish me the best.
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econoboxer
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I am the one on the left.

ammonia on the carpet. soak affected area then spray until flushed out of fiber.
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brsja
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I see you still have the factory installation/padding on your carpet. We pulled the insulation off my sons carpet due to odor and went back with house padding under the carpet. I think it worked out well, and getting ride of the wet/smelly factory insulation glued to the carpet helped with the odor problem. We didn't use a pressure washer we used a big tub of hot water, first soak had a little bleach (no fading happened), second soak had simple green and third soak was clean water. Used the garden hose between soaks to rinse the bleach, the simple green.

Ooo, and can't help with the cat problem...sorry
Edited by brsja, Sep 21 2014, 09:34 AM.
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ZXTjato
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bass heads

Oh man dude sorry bout the cat, I thought it was bad having it on a bumper and smelling it occasionally when walking by, I can imagine inside the car.....oh man that's horrible
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