May 2003
When the car reaches normal operating temperature it begins to run lean and pinks very loudly. The temperature does not rise but the pinking gets worse, so bad that the car will not tick
over and can even cut out between gear changes if I am a little slow changing up or down.
While the car is getting to normal operating temperature it runs perfectly, except when the auto choke is operating, then it will rev up and down, reaching 2500rpm, from a normal choke
peak of about 1800rpm. A while after the pinking starts the light depicting an electrical fault appears although this can fade if I am very gentle on the accelerator, but will come on
again later.
The fault started after a medium run when I got a leak in the oil cooler, this caused the engine to overheat and the pinking started, fortunately I was able to top up the engine oil
before the oil level dropped below the minimum mark on the dipstick. The car continued to pink and overheat on the way home so much stopping and starting was required. I have now removed the oil cooler from the circuit and am waiting for a new one to arrive, but the car continues to run lean and this is despite the temperature not rising past normal.
The car is a 1995 1600cc 16 valve Carina e GSi, it is not thrashed and most of my driving is in town but it gets a good run once per week.
The car ran fine before the oil leak and there were no electrical connections on the oil cooler. I cant understand why the car is having this lean running problem and the electrical
fault light is showing, any advice would be gratefully received.
Thank you. Read more
If anyone is looking for a cheap Zafira then Brokers4cars is the place to go.
We have just taken delivery of a pre 2003 1/2 facelift at 10,600 OTR . The whole tranaction was carried out totally efficiently and we are delighted to have a car at £1400 less than Vauxahlls "special" internet price.
A main dealer in London told us that it must be an import at that price.
The dealers here are asking 9k for 3 year old ones !!
No connection with B4C but have not seen a deal anywhere near this elsewhere just a very happy customer
PS Honest John on your list of brokers today no mention of Vauxhalls under B4C! Read more
hi, can anyone give me some advice please? i've got about £10,000 to £12,500 to spend on a car. i am looking for a reliable car but also one that looks good. i know you'll all shoot me down in flames but i do like the hyundai coupe (sorry it's me mid life)any advice gratefully received thanx Read more
Hyundai is a good car, but you say 'It's me age!!'Then don't be your age!!WHATEVER IT IS!!
Please take a look at how OLD most of the Hyundai drivers are & look - then check how YOUNG the OLD drivers of late plate Mx5 owners look!!!
You will find a pre-reg, year or so old Mx5 around your budget, with a bit of a haggle!
3 years warranty, with these, remember.plus they don't go wrong, anyway!!!
VB
I have just received my "Home Trader" supplement to Car Mechanics and interesting reading it made too. Lots of sensible tips for people thinking of starting up in the motor trade.
It seems a reasonable living can be made if you are reasonably astute, especially when buying in. Work your own hours, be your own boss etc.
But, but, but - why is there always a but?
What about the neighbours? Do you really want the bloke next door dragging non-runners in, to what may possibly be a shared drive? Of the areas I know where this goes on, property values must go down.
A few miles from where I live, just on the Middlesex side of Walton Bridge, there are a couple of home traders operating, with cars parked in the road or in lay-bys. A number of people told me they had complained - to no avail. The council were not interested and the trader/s ignored them and then one night someone went round several of the cars and smashed the side and rear windows!
No, it wasn't me and I don't condone it, but I understand a few of the local residents were a little happier. What do you think?
Regards Don drbe Read more
Starvation wages if you think you can earn on less than £56,000 turnover.Ever heard of \'spares&repairs\'insurance, advertising, delivery&collection, valeting, etc,etc.
My sister\'s 106 has just failed its MOT with a broken rear axle! She knew nothing about it, has never been in an accident or anything. Anyone else heard of this happening?
Hers is an R Reg diesel. Read more
I believe it is the cross beanm at the back, took it to 2 other garages for second / third opinion, both said highly unlikely but then when they checked it , both agreed with the original diagnosis.
Actual fail was for excessive wobbliness in rear wheel which turns out to be stemmed from the beam.
I have a P reg Saxo, 1.5 diesel. One problem I have had with it is the fact that it will sometimes jump out of 5 th gear. It will never do it if you're accelerating or cruising, it only does it if, for instance, you are coming off a motorway slip road. Any ideas what is causing it and how easy/cheap it would be to fix?
I have lived with it for a year so its not "life or death" to get it sorted.
Thoughts? Read more
Gearbox oil is fine....
Hopefully someone can help me with this query that has puzzled me for a while. What exactly are the Health & Safety Rules for workers on Motorways?
I regularly travel the M8 Glasgow to Edinburgh and see workers having to run from the centre island to the waiting lorry on the hardshoulder dragging the big "Roadworks 800yds signs" etc.
Are they been forced to cut corners or is this the accepted method of working?
I know I wouldn't like to try running across a motorway alone, never mind dragging one of these signs behind me!
What happens if they trip?
Any roadworkers out there? Read more
I don't know why anyone should be surprised at this. Big business isn't about touchy-feely stuff. Hard-nosed bean-counters run the show. I don't find that rough formula the least surprising: I have come across it many times in my career.
Welcome to the real world.
I want to get new injecotrs for my Passat CL TDI M reg. The originals have done 150k and according to my Haynes manual they should be changed every 100k. Can someone reccommend a good parts supplier (not VW main dealer of course) that would sell me new injectors, i would rather not reconditioned if possible.
many thanks
MG Read more
Euro ( www.eurocarparts.com ) has them for £66 + VAT with a £12 surcharge if you don't hand over the old ones. Bosch ones are £98 + VAT. I don't know if that works as a set or if there are several to buy, sorry.
Hi all
I just thought I would let you know that after ceaseless searching I have finally managed to secure the bargain that I wanted.
I have just bought a 98 'R' Mazda 626 with 103k (warrantied) with air con, cl etc for the princely sum of £1650 at auction today. the car itself is filthy, so needs a good valet. I will also change the oil, filters and timing belt asap, but otherwise is a good car, with no sign of bodywork or paint jobs and no big scratches or scrapes.
I have looked at all the guide prices (CAP, Glasses and Parkers) and all of them are above this price except for below average condition.
Is this a bargain?
Jonathan Read more
Burn et al
I have now picked up the car and given the car and docs a good going over.
2 owners, first for 2 years, last (lady) for 3.
The MOT was done in Feb 2003, so has loads to go.
The last service was done at 98k in February. The rest of the service history is good. Most stamps are present and there are a few service sheets with the car too. The oil is still quite clean after 5k in 3 months. Tyres have a few thou' left also.
I gave the car a really good clean (still needs a pro to get the dust and debris out of the nooks) and it has come up really nice.
Seats look like new, the last owner must have been a light lady.
All the bits work, windows, sunroof, air con. remote central locking, deadlocks. Alpine Cd player stereo too!
All in all it's a steal and I'm well chuffed.
Very stupidly I pierced a tiny hole in SWMBO's Honda air con condenser by leaving a spark plug tool lying around. The local aircon specialists reluctantly agreed to get someone to have a go at resealing with a weld since the cost of replacement (if they can find a condenser)is probably as much as the car is worth. After £50 worth of trying they called a halt because nitrogen testing showed pinprick leakage through all three welds tried. The welder (from a different company) wasn't present to explain further. My question is whether there is a welding process that might provide a gas tight seal since the problem seems to lie with the porosity of the materials used.
If it can be resolved I'm keen to do so before seals start drying out since they are not ideally suited to the replacement refrigerant in any case. Otherwise, it's back to opening the window. Read more
The Molecules of the gas are very small and will penetrate most DIY repairs and fail!!.
Try loc tite 270 or go to their web site for advice, alternativly find a good refridgerant engineer to make a duplicate part. good luck
K2
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Not the 2.0l Diesel I hope?