January 2003
My Golf 2001 1.6 16v has suffered from an annoying problem since new. When started from cold it's fine and performs well, but when started from hot the engine is incredibly sluggish. At the same time the throttle sensitivity changes making pulling away more tricky and the engine note also becomes more boomy. Curiously, the warmer the engine when the car is started, the worse the problem is but performance never deteriorates if the car was started from cold! It's as if the ECU makes some kind of decision on how to setup the engine when the car is first started. The car is an import so is now out of warranty but three ECU,s, two EGR valves and several other sensors later and nothing changed. Basically the stealers didn't give a toss because the ECU has never logged any faults. Whether related or not I don't know, but the car has always had a tendency to pink under load, especially with normal unleaded - something the dealers reckon 'they all do'. Again, this was never fixed. I did notice over on www.honestjohn.co.uk mention of an ECU problem on 'Y' and '51' plate 1.6 16v's causing poor performance which was apparently a glitch in the software but typically the dealers have ever heard of this.
Anyone got any ideas?
Matt.
Read more
Do HDI engines get turbo lag? Dads dealer says it doesnt exist on those engines.
Ben Read more
I'm under the impression that certain engines use a variable geometry turbo to reduce lag whilst still being big enough to keep the engine fed at high revs? Is it VW that's using this technology on their diesels?
Steve.
Hi,
I wanted to drop a short post in regards to my current situation and would like some impartial advice if possible.
In late December I purchased privately a MK4 Golf GT Tdi 110. I took the car for a very short test drive 2 weeks before hand although this was only in a 30/40 limited area, so I went through the gears fairly quickly and didn't "boot" the car.
The car was stated as being in "Excellent" condidtion (aren't they all) and looked clean inside.
As soon as I'd taken the car away, I noticed problems with the car not accelerating properly and failing to build up any speed. The car was not a shade of the 110 Passat. I thought nothing of this at first as I was driving on fairly hilly roads. On getting the car home I decided to have it looked at by my VW dealer, who drove it for me and ran diagnostics which proved that the air mass meter had failed, thus there was no (or very little) boost into the engine.
I spent ages over Christmas tracking down the cars' history from the 3 main VW dealers who'd seen it, (may I add how extremely excellent and helpful Silver St of Taunton are and how crap Murray in Plymouth are!!) and found that no fault had been detected, although the last services had only been oil changes.
To cut a long story short(er), I have had the car fixed at a cost of £280 which I am now trying to get back from the guy who sold it to me. He denies there were any problems with it - I know he's lying! I've written and am about to start Small Claims Court proceedings against him to attempt to get the £280 back now.
Has anyone else ever had problems like this? If so, how did they turn out in the end? Do you think I'll have any joy with small claims (citizens advice seem to think so)?
Thanks for reading and not falling asleep...
James Read more
Not any chance really. I think a private seller only has to declare faults if you ask about the item in question. If you asked about the airflow meter and he said it was fine to the best of his knowledge then i'm afraid you do not have a leg to stand on.
Some time this morning some people (for want of a better swear filter friendly word) decided to break into my dad's 3 series, they broke one of the back windows, but the deadlocks stopped them, so they have screw drivered the front lock in the passenger side and smashed it, the handle and the door skin.
Does anyone know where we can get a de-locked handle to replace it with?
Under normal circumstances the car would be alarmed and operated by remote, so the locks are nothing but a liability anyway.
Don't know why they picked his car, there was *nothing* in it, even the radio front was off. Still, they must have enjoyed themselves 'cos they also had a dump on the front lawn!
At least they didn;t get into the car to relieve themselves in it. :)
Blue Read more
It's a 1996 car so it does have an immobiliser, and the incident has prompted us to fix the alarm. So they can't spend a long time on our drive anymore. :)
Does anyone know whether the rear door handles would fit the spaces on the front door without any modification?
Blue
Currently in the process of changing car, from my zippy, handles like it's on rails, but frankly slow Fiat Punto Sporting. I'm after a marginally bigger 3 door hatch, much quicker, couldn't really give a stuff about image, 3-4 years old car for about £8000.
The Civic VTI looks really good and is favourite at the mo, but I was wondering if anyone could recommend a similar performing/sized car for the same dosh.
Sim Read more
306 GTi-6 ?
I've got a 1.9 XUD turbo engine in a Citroen Xsara. After an oil leak which slopped down the back of the block the rev counter has been knocked out.
Any ideas where the rev counter plugs into the engine? Read more
Check that the cable has not been chewed by a pulley, or damaged somehow. Not sure of the layout of cables on your machine.
This was the case with the XUD in my 405. Masses of oil from a weeping head gasket that I thought had contaminated the sender head. Much concern about access to sender, electronics in speedo cluster, etc, but, in the end, it was a good ole broken cable.
HTH
rg
SWMBO is having trouble with her Rover 214SI (P - 1997)
This week it has begun refusing to start regularly (with no turn over sounds at all).
It does start eventually (so far) but can take half a dozen attempts or so. Once the ignition turns over (i.e. makes any sound at all) it always starts.
She has noticed a lot of damp/condensation on the car (due to the weather) when she has been having the problem.
Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions for fix? (Damp in ignition module/Electrics?)
Many thanks. Read more
It's probably the starter motor brushes / solenoid. Next time it does it, get out and clout the starter motor with the wheel brace (or a wooden hammer handle if you have one handy!). If it now starts then there's your problem. Check the security of all the connections to the battery and starter motor as well. Some cars (don't know about this one) have a starter relay - this may also be playing up causing no current to the starter. You'll need someone who knows, or a wiring diagram to find out, and find out wher it is located.
Richard
My Renault Clio (R Reg 1.2RL old shape 37k) has recently developed this strange grinding noise from the rear passenger side when I touch the brakes. It is not the brake discs or shoes as I've had 2 different mechanics look at it and there is loads of life left on them. It seems to be a lot worse when its cold and wet, and seems to dissapear on dry days. The same noise is made when the handbrake is pulled up whilst the car is rolling slightly. The car stops with no trouble at all but it's very loud and makes me feel pretty unsafe.
Any ideas?
I've also lost the use of the back windscreen wiper, washer and front washers - all on the same stick. I've checked the fuses and they are fine - could it be the motor which powers the front washers? If so where abouts is it and is it easy to replace (and how much)
Any help/ideas would be geatly appreciated.
Cheers
Chris Read more
Hi
I have exactly the same problem with my P reg Clio. The rear brakes grind in the winter but not the summer unless it rains. When I had it MOTd the garage checked them for me and told me they were ok. I know they had the drums off as they replaced the cylinders. I ve also had the drums off and checked for stones but nothing.
I'm sure someone quoted a good tyre price in the last few days in a thread here, but I can't find it. Anyway I got a mailshot today from Pug (ExpressFit) dealer in Crewe with a BOGOF offer on Firestones:
165/70/13 for £43 a pair
185/60/14 for £57 a pair
and other sizes between £40 and £100 a pair. The catch - the price excludes valve and balancing which you have to pay for. But even so the offer looks good. Read more
Express Fit in Bridgend, south Wales, is even cheaper...
... like a tenner for an oil change, or £90 for 4 195x65x15s, including valve and balancing.
No idea about the quality but if you're keeping a banger on the road, it's got to be better than doing nothing.
Hi,
l'm off to France this weekend, l need a clutch kit for my 405 and other service parts, am l likely to buy these parts cheaper from a french peugeot dealer/garage than in the UK?? if anyone has any useful contacts in the Calais area for cheap parts please reply. Many thanks.
Duggie Read more
See posting in Discussion forum
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I dont get any pinking on my Octavia 1.4 16V (same engine as golf 1.4 16V) on 95,98 or 99 RON petrol. Shell Optimax (99 RON) improves the performance though.