July 2001

David Marchant

A friend has recently had his BMW 3 series re-chipped and not only has it increased his performance but he says it has improved his fuel consumption. Apparently it has not affected his warranty. I have a Honda Accord 2.0I SE VTEC and wodered if it would be an advantage to look into re-chipping and whether it is likely to give me the same benefits without affecting warranty. I would value your opinion as you always give good sound advice. Many thanks, David Marchant. Read more

Jonathan

Are you trying to get my car stoned?

Lynn

I have a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Hatchback - 5 years old. (28,000 miles).
During the last two years my vehicle whilst being driven has inexplicably burst into flame with smoke pouring from the bonnet.
Local garage has repaired vehicle, and reported that the starter motor on both occasions had become engaged whilst engine was running.
The first occasion the ignition switch and well as the starter motor was replaced.
Last week I had a second "experience". On this occasion the starter motor had blown the battery. so this too along with the starter motor had to be replaced.
The ignition switch was found to be sound and working correctly with no signs of "sticking".
On investigation local dealership/& Vauxhall technical division say they have had no reports of similar faults reported.
Local garage is completely mystified as to the cause ! Unsurprisingly, I feel reluctant to authorise a complete replacement of the wiring circuit without knowing where the fault lays.
Has anyone else had a similar experience ?
Interestingly, my local garage reported exactly the same "fault" last month from a Vauxhall Tigra.
Even more interestingly, a collegue at work on hearing my conversation with Vauxhall, told me of an identical incident involving a collegue who owns a Tigra last month. Read more

afm

Hi Lynn,
I looked at HJ's car-by-car breakdown re Proton Select (don't ask). The following defect was mentioned;

" faulty starter motor relay may cause starter motor ot operate independently of ignition switch. Starter motor relays to be replaced."

It sounds like a plausible explanation for your problems.

Recalls

Giles

Hi,
Does anyone know whereabouts I might be able to get a performance exhaust (just back box) or/ and induction kit for a 1985 Polo Classic C? I have seen modified old Polos, but they might be specialist jobs I suppose- anyone know anywhere that might do a custom exhaust for an old Polo?

Thanks for any help,

Giles Read more

Michael Thomas

Don't worry about your detractors, a Polo Hatch was my first car. Leave the exhaust alone.

Instead replace the VAG air filter, sparks and HT Leads, they are all sh*te so get the best ones you can afford. That will make the biggest improvement to the running of the car. They do not make the car 'modified' either.

Next, look at getting the ignition timing advanced if it hasn't anyway for unleaded fuel. However, power is up but fuel consumption and pollution is up as well.

Long term, your best bet is to grin and bear, most of you have had to do. With my Polo I blew the head gasket trying to reach 30 in second. It's your first motor.

Wait for the performance cars after a few years, it is worth it in the end.


BTW: A Golf GTI is a classic car. An 8v in good nick wouldn't set you back more than £1000.

Alvin Booth

After watching Quentin Wilson with his programme of imported stolen Japanese 4by 4s I bet a few people are quaking in their boots.
My neighbour has recently bought a Shogun which is an import ex Jap.
He's an emotional type of fellow who is prone to bouts of depression and I keep expecting to hear a gunshot from next door if he watched it.
Must dash off I think I heard something.........

Alvin Read more

Mark

Thinking laterally there may be another scandal underneath all this.

There are many companies now importing used motorbikes from Japan and one of the main reasons for the availability is often explained away by reference to the stringent Jap version of the MOT.

The grey import of M/Cs is similar with the usual arguing over spares non availability, crash damaged being repaired and sold as straight etc etc.

I wonder if there is a parallel story to the 4x4s here after you can ship a lot more M/Cs for the cost of shipping a car and at £2 -£4k each retail in UK there might be even more money to be made.

just a thought

as ever

Mark

TIM

Hi Guys, Many thanks to all the replies to a problem I had with a Volvo fuel injection system. The problem has defeated 2 main dealers, but the Volvo Owners Club (which I joined on-line) came up with a guy who sent me a whole load of info on the system. I will be an expert in a couple of days (when I've waded through the manuals) and then I'll be THE MAN to talk to.

I've got a new problem with the other motor now and I hope I can get a few good pointers. I've got a Range-Rover with a Nissan FD 35T 4cyl Turbo deisel engine it. The one thing I cannot find is a source of injectors or places to re-con the injectors. Loads of people say that they can do it, but when it comes to it they say the parts can't be found. Someone will sell me injectors but the bill will come to about £600. Does anybody know of a REALLY GOOD deisely sort of bloke who could help out.

TIM Read more

David Lacey

Just leave it alone - we have many identical Rover 220/420/620 models with the L series DI engine that have covered in excess of 180 000 miles with no injector or fuel system woes. MOT's are passed with ease (smoke test) In fact, the only major replacement was a blown turbo last week. My god, the accumulated oil in the exhaust system took a long time to go away!!

Rgds
David

Mark (Brazil)

Kind of a follow on from the pervious note (lpg).

Two questions really;

1) What's the state of progress and usability of electric cars these days ?

2) Are they really better than other fuels when you include generating the electricity, making the battery, disposing of old batteries etc. etc. ?

M. Read more

Jonathan Shaw

Andy
I have t confess I didn't realise that there was such a thing as a 5 cycle/stroke engine! Nor Series and Parallel hybrids - will have to do more surfing to lean more.

Not sure why a hybrid has to switch off frequently even with a small battery pack? Or why it shgould be a problem for deisel. is it because the diesel gets cold and so need a glow plug style start?

Thanks
Jon
Remove nappy before replying by email

Charles

I've been out making enquiries about buying a Dual Fuel (Petrol/LPG) car. My experience has been Vauxhall are the only manufacturer with any readily available information but production of cars has been temporarily suspended.

The Ford dealer did not have any information whatsoever.

VW does not produce any LPG equipped cars.

Renault have still not launched their models, they were meant to be available at the end of last year.

Overall my experience is that the only option is to have a car converted which can have teething troubles/warranty implications.

Has anyone else found that it is almost impossible to buy a factory dual fuel car? Read more

Steve

I had my Rover Sterling converted about 12 months ago, after a few initial teathing problems it has been great.

I went to Scotland the other week and worked out that it did the equivalent of 58mpg (petrol at 79 pence per litre) which for a 2.5 V6 is fantastic.
The only gripe I now have is that the lpg fuel gauge is vastly inacurate.

chas

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT .....Due to technical problems at xrs.net , there may be difficulties accessing the CLASSIC CAR RESTORATION COURSES UK website at www.restoredclassic.xrs.net.

The SAME website ( with the same information ) can also be accessed via an alternative web address :

www.restoredclassic.cjb.net

Apologies for any inconvenience. Read more

Alex Varela

I own a 1988 Rover 820 SE Automatic. I know that the engine needs resetting after the battery is taken off or loses its charge- I just can't remember exactly how to do this. I know it involves starting the enginne and waiting for the fan to come on- then performing some sort of operation with the gas pedal. Can anyone with a similar car tell me exectly how this procedure should be carried out?

I'd really appreciate the help. Cheers.

Alex Varela Read more

Andrew Moorey (Tune-Up Ltd)

The throttle dancing routine was only applicable to the very earliest 820 single point injecton cars. Adam is correct that a visit to a main dealer may be necessary but you may just get away with starting the engine and letting it warm up without touching the throttle after reconnecting a FULLY charged battery 20 minutes or so prior to starting the engine. Hope that makes sense.
i.e Fit battery, leave for 20 mins then start engine and allow to idle till hot then a good 10 - 15 mile run in mixed traffic before finally shutting down. Then a quick visit to a gas analyser to check the CO% is between 2 - 3.

Vin

Did you know that the original rationale for parking meters was as a temporary measure unitl enough revenue had been raised to pay for free off road parking in city centres sufficient to hold all the cars in a city?

Think how much faster traffic would flow in London with all the lanes of parked cars nicely out of the way off the road. Unfortunately, the plan was changed for short-term revenue reasons by politicians. Now the same politicians are planning to charge us just to use city roads, let alone park. Read more

Chris

Tom Shaw wrote:
>
> Buses are one of the main causes of city congestion. The
> change to one man operation alone is responsible for major
> traffic disruption, where we all have to queue behind one of
> these big red dinasours while some old dear fiddles in the
> bottom of her bag for a pile of loose change.

Er, if we're "lucky" we'll all be old one day. And in any case, buses are far more efficient at carrying lots of people in a small space than cars are. Seventy people in a Mondeo? In city centres (note not always) it's the cars that hold up the buses and make them unreliable and smoky.

Chris