January 2003
Dear VW Golf 1.6 CL (1989) diary,
Week 1 - Initial problem was the distributor cap split - Easily replaced (leads on exactly as they came off!) and it started ok. However, from there more problems occured and since then the timing has never been quite right.
Week 2 - MAIN PROBLEM: On motorways the carb lasts for about 40 miles and then splutters (unless you floor it) till it chokes itself to a stop. I have to pull it over and let it clear, before I can move away again, so the cycle continues.
Week 3 - I've got someone to clean the carb, replace the sparks, replace the air filter and the coil. Which after all that, did improve its running, but only slightly and did not resolve the main problem.
Week 5 - Someone said that the carb is icing up and I should set it to a winter setting. Is there a winter setting (I'm blowed if I can find it) on the carb?
(PS: Its now cold and wet here.)
Rabbit. Read more
I have a mk 1 golf 1.5 automatic. It's a 1979 model. Problem is that the car stalls when it comes to a halt. This is only a problem in the first few minutes of driving. It restarts with no problem and then never cuts out once warmed up. I had the car serviced and had the carb cleaned. The problem has improved but it is still vulnerable to stalling (ONLY when halting, say at a rounabout or traffic lights) when cold. Can anyone help? Read more
Another carb icing VW.
Check the warm air intake pipe between exhaust manifold and air filter housing. If intact (it usually splits or drops off)check that the vacuum operated flap inside housing is operating.
Prompted by a comment in the MPG thread, I thought I'd ask if anyone here knows what the typical accuracy of a forecourt petrol pump is when dispensing less than 2 litres ? I've done a bit of googling but can't find what type of pump and measuring device are used in them. Weights and Measures regulations and Trading Standards procedures only seem to test continuous deliveries greater than two litres.
The reason for my question is that I always used to brim the tank when filling up to delay my return as long as possible. A few months ago though, while waiting for the tank to fill I was keeping myself occupied by reading all the print on the pump display.
Manufacturers name, Pump Serial Number, Minimum Delivery 2 Litres, Certificate of Conformity etc. etc.
I've read the Minimum Delivery thing hundreds of times and never really thought about it because I'm always putting loads in. This time however I realised that every extra squeeze of the pump to top off the tank was adding less than a litre or so and probably constituted a seperate 'delivery'.
Since then, I've stopped brimming the tank and just wait until the nozzle shuts itself off.
Unscientific I know, but the range I get from a tankfull doesn't appear to have changed very much but my refills are a few quid cheaper.
Could be a nice little earner for the garage if each pull of the handle counts as one delivery and the pump accuracy isn't too good.
Kevin...
Read more
I asked Weights and Measures about this but forgot to post the response so here goes....
/* Quote
Kevin
I am not sure I understand you when you say 'each pull of the pump handle',but assume you mean each time the nozzle lever is squeezed to allow flow.
All petrol and diesel dispensers have electric pumps and the dispense can occur when this mechanical lever on the nozzle is squeezed. Each delivery commences when the customer lifts the nozzle from its stowage point and has been authorised by the forecourt operator. The customer can then take fuel, including short stops as might occur if the customer wants to completely top up his tank, or get to exactly £20 say. The delivery ceases when the customer returns the nozzle to the dispenser stowage point. We require the dispenser to be accurate for any quantity greater than two litres. For type approval we carry out tests at the minimum delivery and various other quantities, and at different flow rates. We also carry out a flow interruptio >test to ensure that the dispenser is still accurate when the flow stops and starts within a delivery. The limitation of a two litre minimum delivery is mainly an acknowledgement that the dispenser is less accurate with smaller deliveries due to a number of random errors that become insignificant with larger quantities. However I would accept that the uncertainties of our test methods also tend to increase with smaller quantities.
I hope this helps
Endquote */
A seperate email also stated that deliveries must not be consistently over or under the required amount. That is to say that a pump that always delivers slightly more (or less) than the indicated amount would not pass approval.
Kevin...
PS. I must say that W&M were very helpful and PDQ in getting back to me.
Have recently purchased a S/H diagnostic tester, product of a well known UK manufacturer, for use on small Fiats 92 onwards.
I am having some difficulty obtaining the required pod and lead to go with it.
I now have two persons telling me not to waste my time with the unit because it is so unreliable as to be practically useless when attempts are made to use it on Panda/Uno/Cinc and MK1 Punto.
Can anyone offer further confirmation on this question please, before I waste any more money ?
I do not wish to mention the manufacturers name on a public forum and will be happy to receive direct replies ( in strictest confidence ) on petel@clara.co.uk
Please note, I am private, no connection with motor trade.
Thank you. Read more
How about it folks ?
How long should I sensibly get away with oil/filter only services? I've got a 1996 VW Polo 1.0 in good nick,76k, which is now used for very local/travel to BR stations trips, less than 6k a year. I'm going to run it into the ground. I can do the basic checks myself (brakes/other fluids/tyres etc and fill the washer bottle, which is something I've always been charged for whether it needs it or not)and if I spot something amiss that involves more than basic maintenance I take it to the garage. For the last year I've been taking it to National Tyres for regular six monthly oil/filter changes, and this is all it needs at the moment. Am I acting wisely, or should it go to the garage annually? Read more
Thanks for the advice. I reckon that, with regular common sense maintenance and checks, oil/filter is the only regular work that needs doing. I was getting fed up with paying in excess of £100 for this plus a general look around and non existent screenwash top up.
I've flattened the battery on my Yamaha YZF750 and I'd like to know if I can charge the battery in situ. If I try to remove the battery my Datatool alarm goes off, but I'm a bit wary of charging it on the bike and maybe zapping the electrics. Any ideas? Read more
I flattened it trying to get it going after Xmas. The bike was put away wet, poor drying weather, so I've had to wd40 everything and put new plugs in. Carnell (Riossi) reckon you can't get Optimates at the moment as they were closed for 3 weeks over the hols. I put the alram in service mode yesterday and charged the battery off the bike, with 1.5 amps per hour for 3 hours, just so it didn't sit in cold in a discharged state.
In June of last year I bought a 16v Lancia Delta Integrale. It had a top end rebuild and a cam belt change carried out by a company working on behalf of the dealer. These people also back the warranty. Now I have just discovered that the cam belt wasn't tensioned correctly ( car was making strange jangly noises) which is a serious mistake and it will mean it will have to be done again and properly. Some other belts that are changed at the same time weren't tensioned correctly either, one tensioner was misaligned, the cam cover was bent and an inner cover had a bolt missing. A right pig's ear. They also changed a radiator for me while they had the car which I paid for and they managed to 'forget' to put in anti-freeze when they did it.
Now my question is this: as the work was carried out on behalf of the dealer do I have to pursue him for the cost or alternatively go after the warranty company who actually carried out the substandard work and risk losing 'good will' for the rest of the 6 months remaining on the warranty ( I have already claimed for a new ecu and power steering pump as they both failed not long after I had the car so that was about £600 worth)? There is a shadow over the warranty as the dealer gave out the warranty after the warranty company told them they would not warranty the car and have since ceased all business with this dealer. I think I only got any work done due to the intervention of a friend of mine who has a great ability in getting people to do things which I lack! A right pickle....
teabelly Read more
Hi all.
I have a 1993 k mondeo and none of my keys will work the alarm or double locking. I`ve been told my car won`t need a red master key as its an older model, my problem is how do I programme the keys I have to work the alarm. Read more
happened to my 94 L Mondeo as well, was a back door switch on mine though so remember to check the switches in all the doors and even the boot.
it wont alarm or double lock if any switches are not working properly.
cheers, cHEv
Got the bike booked in to have a new rear tyre fitted next Saturday. Pinned on the dealers wall was the usual warning about taking care for the first hundred miles on a new tyre till the release agent from the mould had worn off. Apart from the boredom of riding on tip-toe for a hundred miles, I don't fancy the thought of limited grip should an emergency arise. I have often wondered if five minutes with a scouring pad and a Fairy Liquid solution would do the trick instead.
Anyone got any knowledge on this? Read more
The tyre fitters at the depot I use are both experienced motorcyclists. They tell me that examining the appearance of the tyre during the "running in " period will reveal a gradual change in colour from black to a bluish grey. this change is subtle and needs careful interpretation as the colour change slowly works its way down the tyre towards the edge. It is not so much a product of scrubbing in as such but more the result of the rubber twisting and flexing , working and squeezing. This perhaps explains why sandpapering tyres isn`t effective. Personally I proceed cautiously for the first hundred miles, and try to coincide tyre changes with the warmer weather.
Of course, regularly checking tyres is a must especially on motorcycles and given the recent splitting phenonema of a well
known brand.( cosmetically disturbing but not intrinsically dangerous).
I have had a new mondeo tdci since september,i have just completed 5000mls in it.It runs lovely except on occaisions the engine stalls approaching a junction.I hasten to add this was the second car i had in sept the first one stalled three times in first 60mls all 3 times was when i was over taking coming down from Motorpoint of Derby.The fault couldn't be fixed within 2 weeks so they gave me a new car.I was wondering if anyone else has had the same problem and have you had any joy with the main dealer repairing?
Read more
Browse
Did a search on Google for: pierburg carburettor VW Golf Polo
The first link that comes up is
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/?f=4&t=8799
There are many other useful links thrown up by google.