October 2002
I have an old Mazda 323 H Reg and since the bad weather started I have had problems with the electrics. Every morning the car does start but the engine keeps missing and I end up feeling like a kangaroo. But what is strange is that after stopping and turning off engine for 10 mins then starting up again the problem is not there.
I guess that its the damp weather affecting the leads or distributor cap but wondered if I can use anything to stop this from happening.
Any ideas? Read more
I just discovered a car I had never heard of - Audi S2 Avant. Basically an 80 estate (1992-on) with the 5 cylinder turbo engine and Quattro drivetrain. Not the RS2 - that's something different (more power, naff interior trim). The S2 sounds like a car that would be worth trading in my 20V Coupe for, and there are a few around the £7K mark (although they all seem to be in Scotland). Well outside my normal price bracket, but I started listening to Radio 4 at the weekend, so perhaps I'm getting too old for bangers.
Anyone know anything about these? Any notable weak spots? HJ's Car by Car Breakdown doesn't mention this model, so presumably a real rarity with nightmare parts availability, but I'm already used to that after the 20V.
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com Read more
I used to be keen on Audis. Tough cars. Good bodies. Good mechanics but when the quattro drive (Torsen diff) goes, expect BIG £000s bills.
Ideal for bad driving conditions. Great grip and handling.But fuel consumption unlikley to be better than 30mpg on a long run as 4wd costs 2-3 mpg.
Now in this world of highly prized trademarks, a car's name seems to be very important and manufacturers are keen to protect them. I seem to remember Peugeot and BMW having a disagreement as some of the numbers each company use were in danger of clashing.
I only know (but am sure there are more examples) of a name being used by more than one manufacturer.
Maserati Bora
VW Bora
Is this strictly legal? How can such a beautiful car share its name with something so forgetable? Read more
Anyone know what the very first trademark was for, and who
it was registered to? (Answers on a virtual postcard please.) Here's a clue ... it was granted to a well-known UK brewery for a symbol that was also the Alvis logo. Registration of this trademark was only very recently dropped by the brewery and I've an idea that the brewery recently changed its company name.
I'm sure you've been dying to know the answer to my question, or could it be that you couldn't care less? I'm going to tell you anyway ...
The very first registered trademark was granted to Bass and it took the form of a Red Triangle, which also happened to be the logo of the Alvis motor company. Probably the only acceptable instance of drinking and driving going together!
-Idling/running problems(during idling the engine sometimes hunts between 300-1200rpm especially when cold.Whilst trying to drive in this condition acceleration feels jumpy to say the least.)
-Gradual loss of coolant.
-White exhaust smoke during operating temperature.
The car has been to Fiat a few times and all they have done is changed the Lambda sensor to no avail.Charged me £200 total for the 2 visits.
No engine overheating.Does this sound like a blown gasket?If so what sort of cost do you think I will be looking at with an independant garage?
Read more
The last two sound like head/gasket problems, the first, not so sure about. Look for:
Residual pressure in the cooling system - take the cap off when cold - there should be no hiss if there is, your system is pressurising (also check the top hose, if it feels soft when cold but goes rock hard with the engine hot, that's a bad sign).
Bubbles in the coolant - carefully remove the cap with the engine running, and look into the coolant, a steady stream of small bubbles, increasing with engine revs is a sure sign.
Oil in the coolant - floats on the top, looks like a rainbow
Water in the oil - makes mayonnaise under the filler cap, and in bad cases on the dipstick
It possible to get a garage to stuff the probe of their exhaust gas analyser in the header tank as well to see if it reads any combustion products.
Sorry, no idea how much you're looking at to do this at an independent (and he won't either till he gets the head off and assess what head work needs doing), but I would get a second opinion, and then ask what Fiat are going to do about wasting your time and £200!!
Richard
This is Volume 6 & is closed.
Please see Volume 7 for continued discussion.
Mark (RLBS)
Moderator at Work
mailto:mark_moderator@honestjohn.co.uk Read more
Pulling the threads together
Has anyone had experience of any problems from UK Main Dealers requiring sight of the original Europe Dealers Supplers Invoice prior to them agreeing warranty work? Read more
The dealer is still insisting on the original suppliers invoice.
Toyota Warranty Department also confim this is the requirement.
Good job there is nothing major at fault!!
Ever seen any of those old car ads of the Fifties, where the proportions of upright boxes such as the Ford Popular and Humber Super Snipe were subtly (sometimes not so subtly) tweaked to make the cars appear longer and lower?
The practice died out when manufacturers started using photos rather than drawings in ads. But now it's back. Today's Telegraph, page 18, Fiat ad. One of the cars has very obviously been digitally 'enhanced' to turn it into a sleek, low-roofed sports coupe. No prizes for guessing which.
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com Read more
"The practice died out when manufacturers started using photos.."
Not entirely. It's still common practice to place weights inside a car to make it sit lower for photos - unless it's an oleo-pneumatic Citroen, of course, in which case they probably have to jack it up!
Further to the recent discussion about the new Top Gear, am I alone is wishing there was a serious magazine program on TV about cars, bikes and motoring in general? One that concentrated less on the personalities of the presenters and more on genuine, in depth features.
The level of features I have in mind would be, for instance, a brief history of the Lotus 49 and then put Tiff Needell in the car on a proper circuit for a modern perspective on its performance and handling.
Other features could inculde the technical development of modern FI cars. Yes I know most of it is confidential but we could have an overview.
It would also be useful to have features on SH cars at fixed price points and the current state of the motor trade.
While I realise the program needs to be entertaining and no one is going to watch endless articles on road safety and diesel estate cars, it would just be good to have more interesting and well researched content.
Driven recently featured two aged Nissans pushing one another out of a circle. It really makes you look forward to the next edition that one!
Top Gear has also been pretty dire at times in the recent past. I have nothing against Jeremy Clarkson he has an obvious and genuine enthusiasm for cars. I would just like more intersting and serious content. Read more
You're really not missing much on cable/satellite - the ones I've seen are dross !!! Some are even dubbed into English and 'narrated' by morons.
5th Gear & Top Gear are about as good as its gets at the moment but there's always hope.
Nice motor, I own one! R17 TJM!!
Any thoughts?
Terry Read more
These really are nothing special. Secondhand, they are well within the reach of most people, especially on an R reg.
Anyone who wants to put their name on a stupid finance deal could own one.
Bit "Carlos Fandango" for me though.
I've just searched through the Back room archives, and can't believe how much problems there seem to be with Omega's, I've had to copy/paste it into Word to read later, off-line....90 pages!!!!
Anyway, my point..... I wan't a 2nd (big) car to run along side my Leon TDi. I have basically decided on an Omega Estate due to it's excelent value, and good style.
What i'd like to know is:
a, Are there any positive stories, and
b, What people think of the following models in terms of perfomance, economy and reliability.
The main models of interest are:
2.2 DTi - For it's economy, and low down torque, especially when chipped.
2.5 TD - For economy and refinement
3.0 V6 Manual - Ex-Police models seem to be very good value, with 2000W/X going for about £7000-7500 with 55-75,000 miles
I'm not against the 2.0 16v or the 2.5V6, even the newer 2.2 16v, although if I go for a V6 it might as well be a 3.0. so feedback on these models would be appriciated too.
My main "wants" are Estate body and manual gearbox.
My budget depends very much when I decide to buy, if I buy now I only have about £1500-2000 to spend, and use it as a stop gap, in which case maybe a 2.0 16v would be better. If I wait a year I would stretch to £7000 and go for a Post-1999 facelift model.
It wouldn't do more than about 8-10,000 miles per year, and most times it would be used for local driving, with he odd trip up north or abroad. I would leave the main brunt of my 35k miles / year to the Leon due to it's economy.
Cheers,
Neil T
SEAT Leon TDi 150 Read more
Can I interest you in a '98 MV6 3.0 saloon, 83k with FVSH for less than £5k?
robert.h.harvey@btinternet.com
south Bucks
Browse
HT current tracking to earth from the plug covers/caps is a common problem on these. Cleaning caps and leads with WD40 as described may effect a short-term cure, but in my experience it will not last long. Sometimes you can see tiny white "star" marks on the plugs covers where tracking has taken place. I always advise new leads (and plugs) in this case, and unless it has already been done a new distributor cap as well.
HTH, Adam