August 2002
My 309 1.4i is due, probably over-due for a service. I'm assuming poor condition of leads and/or plugs is the reason why it a) is getting quite sluggish from cold and b) stalls if the throttle is blipped very slightly when idling. Acceleration when warm is fine, and I got 43ish MPG on a long journey recently involving not the kindest of treatment towards the car.
However is there anything else to consider as a reason for stalling and the iffy running from cold?
Clunking: still a problem; I posted a while ago. Both driveshafts have been replaced (CV joints failed on the nearside and the offside shaft became very loose at the gearbox casing recently, causing the 'wobbling' which I have also posted about.) It sometimes makes prounounced clunking noises when a pothole is hit, and does something similar when moving away or dropping down a couple of gears to overtake. This problem remains a mystery because it passed the MOT fine, it was doing it before the MOT, and both driveshafts have been replaced.
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Whilst the owner manual describes the pressure to be set at 29 psi would any tyre experts consider this to be too low? Comments please. Read more
Loking for help on 98 c240 auto still with 1 months warranty from merc dealer
1: On turning ignition I get "ticking" rather like flat battery sound but no flat battery.
On turning to second position engine fires first time
2: In neutral engine/belts run quietly but on engaging forward or reverse I get engine "squeal" again like fan belt squeal but on returning to neutral squeal diappears.
Can be replicated every time you move in or out of gear.
Are there problems with transmission and how does it work??
Any help apreciated Read more
As David W. says take it back to the dealer.The second problem will be a contaminated polyvbelt in all probability.Look for an oil leak on the offside front of the engine,around the cylinder head joint.
Simon T.
A member of my family is taking his Discovery TD5 to Guernsey later this week and is wondering whether to fill up here in England before he goes (£60ish) or whether to wait until he gets there. I told him that I am willing to bet that fuel is a lot dearer on Guernsey but can anyone confirm it? Read more
Boff, I know how you feel! I thought I had made a mistake last week but I was wrong! Bearing in mind that Guernsey imports all its fuel (I think) I felt a bit guilty about taking 15 gallons of it away; then I thought a bit and reckoned it is that greedy chancellor chap who should be feeling guilty, not me!
In my \'new\' Vectra I have a couple of \'big\' fuses. They are about 4 times the size of the little ones I am used to. I thought to carry spares until I found they are £3 each - and I don\'t plan on using them so that would be a waste of 3 pints of beer or so if I bought them.
My question is. Is there anything wrong with using 6 pieces of 5 Amp old fuse wire together to replace a 30 if it blows and 8 pieces to replace a 40? I am aware that there are a variety of \'surge protection\' and \'time delay\' fuses - but is the lump of low melting point metal in a 30 A fuse that sophisticated that it can not be replaced by \'fuse wire\' - at least to find out if a short has occurred that would immediately blow any £3 replacement?
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I have resorted to a few strands of freshly salvaged speaker caable in order to get home, but this is not recommended.
Hi all,
A friend has an old Vauxhall Carlton 1.8 and when under load (eg going up a hill) the engine just starts to die. If he lets off the accellorator the engine picks back up and runs ok again.
Any Ideas? I was thinking maybe carburettor or timing?
Regards
Graham Read more
Thanks for all your help. Ive forwarded all your ideas/comments on and will keep you informed of the outcome.
Regards
Graham
Super Unleaded fuel gives an improvement in consumption approximately equal to the increase in octane, ie 95 > 98 = 3% better consumption. The downside is that SUL is more than 3% more expensive than unleaded. Does HJ, or any other contributor, know of any Octane Booster which is cost-effective to use? Read more
Given that aviation fuels still use lead additives to boost octane rating, it's not true that there is a relationship between calorific value and octane rating.
I should perhaps have said that I believed there was no significant difference in cv between UL and SUL. It's true that petrol calorific value can vary slightly depending upon the hydrogen/carbon ratio. Data I have indicate a 5% variation in net cv between 41.9 and 44.0 GJ/t. I believe that covers all petrols, including aviation fuels, and I suspect the variation for motor fuels is lower. Some of this variation will also reflect the blend changes between summer and winter fuels. Therefore although it seems feasible there may be some small cv variation between UL and SUL I'm intrigued it's as great as 3%.
I'd welcome at least the simplified version of the background to this if you have it.
As you say, though, the potential cv improvement alone doesn't justify the cost premium of SUL.
Regards
John S
It's probably me and I will take the inevitable flack but, am I alone in my opinion that this TV programme, which could show much promise and interest, has now sunk to blood curdling levels of banality and bad manners ? Yesterday's offering, the ressurection of an Autogyro, could have been SO interesting but, had me reaching for the off button when I could no longer stand the commentators total lack of the command of the English language, and his complete inability to convey information to his audience. One of his fellow "renovators" asking to borrow someone's "snotrag" was the final straw. Where do they find these people ?
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Really, if the lower orders don?t set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them?
Stu.
Less than two weeks to our SW Scotland hols. Usually we go all the way up the A1 from Peterborough and cross over on the A66.
This time we will break the journey in Kendal Fri PM and I wonder about the best route from the A1 to Kendal.
A59/A65 from Wetherby to Kendal? Will it be busy Friday afternoon?
What about the "scenic" A684 across The Dales.....too slow a route??
Thanks.
David W Read more
David,
Sorry my absence from the site prevented an earlier answer, bit late in the day, used to live in Ilkley, so Dales are old stamping ground.
A684 is a good choice, Askrigg is worth a diversion if you remember All Creatures Great and Small. Mind you if you are feeling particularly in need of wild and woolly motoring why not hang a right at Hawes, over Buttertubs pass and join the B6270 into Kirby Stephen? I guess the girls are too young to appreciate a pint at Britain`s (England`s?) highest pub @ Tan Hill?
As for the weather question, if its truly horrid the Ure floods very quickly, but looking at the forecast you’ll be OK. BTW the B6270 is the only place I’ve seen it rain uphill due to the wind blowing up the escarpment.
Plenty of decent places to stay with horsey interests around Middleham/ Leyburn and I seem to recall Bedale was quite nice last time I called, long time ago now.
A65 is too busy too slow and the scenery is nowhere near as good. Plus the drag through Leeds/Bradford is exactly that a drag.
Cheers,
Stuart
For the sad and lonely anoraks, the following site makes for some interesting reading.
I imagine this is the source for hj cbc breakdown info, but you may wish to add to list of useful interesting web sites.
www.via.gov.uk/enforcement/recalls_bulletins/
pmh (was peter) Read more
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Dave
The clunking is probably worn bushes, ball joints or shocks in the front suspension. Could also be worn engine mounts. Unfortunately MOTs are not foolproof, and don't always pick up such defects. My Minor passed MOTs with severely worn trunnions.
Regards
John S