August 2003
I have a 1999 Peugeot 306 2.0L 16v. The problem is similar to many others in these threads, but I hope someone can clarify a point. The symptoms are intermittent and two fold, firstly when the foot is taken off the accelerator the revs can drop to 500rpm, occasionally stalling, a loss of power is experienced for a few seconds, as if running on only 2 or 3 cylinders before picking up. Secondly but more rarely there is temporary loss of power during normal driving at about 2500 to 3000 rpm. Is this likely to be the stepper motor bearing in mind that the revs always drop and never rise and does this have any effect in the 2500-3000 rev range or does the problem lie with the coil pack. All help will be appreciated. Read more
I have read some posting w.r.t. the conversion of a Pierburg to Weber carburettor for Volkswagens. Has anyone experience with this conversion for the Volvo Pierburg 2B5? And with which supplier? Read more
As I was casually flicking through the mryiad of home shopping channels the other morning, the thought crossed my mind as to whether any car manufacturers would ever consider selling new cars by one of these channels?
Could you argue that manufacturers could offer cars at a lower rate than dealers, due to few overheads? Granted, it could cheapen the brand image of some of the luxury marques and would perhaps only be of interest to the more budget end of the market, but would it work? It could certainly be a marketing opportunity for those car brands that do not have an immediate presence on the high street (e.g. KIAs, Protons, Daewoos etc).
I know. I know. I must get out more!
Cheers,
TT. Read more
I like the thinking... but can you imagine the finance risk profiles? And the APRs? Probably delivery would have to be done through a dealer unless a very long term contract was envisaged. Even jamjar and the like have some main dealer involvement at some stage.
Also, most people want to part exchange their existing car and have little or no idea of its value, so that kind of negotiation (and upselling of things like mats, paint protection, and so on) almost has to be done face to face.
This will sound unbelievably snobbish, but... the kind of person who researches a purchase on the net, knows about finance and the like, wants a good price and a convenient solution, probably has the means to follow through with the transaction, plus a half decent p/x and not a K-reg Proton they want £2500 for. This simplifies the whole negotiation process immensely.
Also, home shopping people are not known for selling goods cheap. A computer I heard about would sell in PC World for about £699 or £799; online maybe £600-£650; guide price was £1600 and it sold for £1k on the shopping channel. Their marketing is all about opportunism and high mark up, not long term infrastructure and regular goods.
I think it could work, as long as the manufacturer found the right partner who could work around all those objections.
Ford are recalling all 2003 Mondeos due to an assmbly fault which results in a direct connection between the exhaust catalyser and the ashtray inside the car. Originally this new feature came about as a result of some clever thinking by the exhaust designers using backdraught and advanced eddy technology to clear the contents of the ashtray directly into the catalyser of Duratorq-engined cars. This little-known feature was heralded by Ford of Eurpoe boss Nick Scheele as a great way to remove tobacco ash odours from the car interior leading to stronger residuals in the used Mondeo market.
As a result of Belgian assembly workers failing to understand the complex assembly instructions of the ashtray-cleaning device's non-return valve, there is apparently a way through from the exhaust system to the interior of the car. Dustbins around Genk have been filling up with the components of the vital valve as exhausted factory-workers, unable to fit the device on the assembly line, pocket the unit and dispose of it on their way home from the factory. Allegedly, providing it is given enogh incentive, a domestic mouse can easily find a way from the exhaust pipe at the rear of the car to the ashtray in the centre console. Richard Parry-Jones, head of Ford's prestigious Premier Performance Division commented as he adjusted his prototype Aston-Martin badged air freshener, "It's a complete disaster, boyo. Fortunately, the Mondeo is nothing to do with me since I took over PPD, look you".
The fault was first discovered as Ford's new Mondeo advert hit the nation's television screens recently. According to the script, the stunt-mouse was supposed to end up in the engine compartment after running along the exhast pipe, squeezing through the catalyser, climing the exhaust down-pipe, finding a cylinder with both inlet and exhaust valves open, contorting his way into and out of the cylinder head, sprinting along the inlet manifold, chewing his way through the air filter and emerging to sit on the car's radiator. However, tired of the taste of air-filter paper, the mouse took the path of least resistance through the ill-fated ashtray-cleaning device to skip across the leather interior and recline on the steering wheel.
Ford are at pains to point out that everything possible is being done to resolve the problem.
Hawkeye
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Stranger in a strange land Read more
Brilliant, Hawkeye. I think the new Golf's feature whereby the heater switches to recirculate every time you use the windscreen washer (so you don't smell the additive) comes pretty close to a real-life example of this thinking.
My daughter has my wife's old Fiesta Azura 1995 25k miles. Over the past few weeks it has begun to stall occassionally, usually but not always when cold. It takes a short break then a few churns of the starter to get it going again.
It was Ford serviced in the early spring and hasn't covered a huge amount of miles since, but isn't showing signs of the emulsion which it has previously.
Unfortunately I've never been around when it stalls to get exact circumstances, although I got there just afterwards once and agree it was difficult to start. It seems to be mainly when she is pulling away. My inclination was that it was flooded, for no good reason.
Where should I start to poke around? I think it's on the fuel side rather than electrical catastrophe, although quality of spark might be a factor I suppose. I haven't looked at anything yet. I took it for a run last weekend and it seemed to run fine to me. Read more
Well it has a rotor arm and a distributor cap, so
i assume it has points inside
Not necessarily. Because of the need to control the ignition timing in light of requirements from the engine to do with emissions, most car engines nowadays (post catalysed) time their ignition electronically and just break the connection to the coil pack electronically whenever a spark it required. A rotor arm and distributor just make sure the spark goes to the right plug.
Some engines, e.g. Fords', have a coil pack with switch between sparking two lots of two cylinders (i.e. 1+4, 2+3, 1+4, etc.) thus having a wasted spark on exhaust strokes, and no distributor. Other engines have a different coil pack for each plug, each electronically controlled seperately, but these naturally incur higher costs. Hence why a distributor and rotor are still used (one coil and a dizzy is cheaper than 2+ coils).
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Mike Farrow
Hi,
Quick question.
My diesel Renault Trafic camper van has attained a clunk noise when I switch on/off the engine ignition. It happens more when the engine is switch off, as if 'something' is taking a second longer to stop - it also makes the engine judder slightly.
It originated when I switched off the engine and let it roll to a stop, (i.e.. not bringing the vehicle to a halt first and then switching off the engine).
This may be a silly question but in doing the above, could I have caused some damage to the engine or knocked out the timing - is it possible to knock out the timing in a vehicle.
Hope someone can advise before I take it to a garage. Read more
Diesels cannot pre-ignite, it is all down to injection timing.
Only petrol engines pre-ignite.
Hi Chaps/Chappeses!
Just a quick question. Myself and my brother are going to be bought for our birthdays (30 & 28) a half day rallying course (we have no experience apart from our youthful experiences on the country roads--I know slapped wrists...) or maybe longer...if the price is right (i.e. if you guys give it a great recommendation we'll pay for the full day)
Anyhoo I thought I would ask you keen backroomers if you have any suggestions for any companies or race areas? I am based in London and my brother is based in Leeds so I reckon we have most of England covered.
Anyone got any thoughts?
Cheers
Rozzer Read more
I can echo Renault Family's opinion. I did the Phil Price rally day. It was great fun. Lively cars, excellent tutors, very friendly.
No idea on cost as it was a present from the Mrs.
Go in the winter as mud is better than dust.
I have a Mk5 fiesta and it came as standard with a ashtray fitted. I have seen several other Mk5's that are fitted with a Cd storage tray/coin holder fitted as a optional fit item instead of the ashtray.
Does anyone know if this is available as a spare part conversion, i've tried my ford dealer and they are saying that its a production line fitted item only.
Any news would be helpful.
Pastyman..
Read more
You think you've got it bad ...
Harare - The price of fuel in Zimbabwe went up by more than 500% on Wednesday as the government announced a deregulation of the petroleum oil industry.
Diesel that used to cost 200 dollars a litre will now be sold at 1 060 dollars while the petrol price has gone up from 450 to 1170 dollars.
Lately fuel has been available on the black market at prices that were eight times more than the official pump price.
The largest denomination note in Zim is the $500. On the present exchange-rate, if you can find anyone to touch them, that is worth about 45p.
So work out how big a wallet you need!
The price of goods is so astronomical, that it would work out cheaper to use the smaller denominations ($5, $50 etc) for the task than to use it to purchase lavatory paper.
Read more
Yes I have friends in Zim and they joke grimly about needing a wheelbarrow to take their money to the supermarket. Shades of the Reichsmark in the Weimar Republic. Can only be a matter of time.
One of my colleagues drove into work today with their brand new car - a Suzuki Swift! I couldn't believe it - I thought these cars died years ago!!
After checking the prices etc I can see why its a good "budget" buy, although my preference would be a better used car for the money.
However, it made me think, what is the earliest Swift registration with the same shape - I am sure I have seen P regs?
Also, what is the longest a current car in production has gone without a change? Peugeot 206 goes back to S reg, any thoughts??
Incidentally, I thought the older Swifts looked nicer than the current ones with their huge black plastic bumpers! Read more
I would also have to say the Hindustan Ambassador aka 1956 Morris Oxford, but another contender would be the Iranian Peykan aka 1967 Hillman Hunter originally assembled from kits imported from UK, but not to any great degree of exactitude. These things still chunter around Tehran as taxis and rather like Datsun 16O's in Karachi imported years ago from Dubai, simply refuse to die. I believe production of a modified version is still in place.
The Fiat 124 is still running round in its Turkish version. It's kind of a Lada Lite.
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Just an update: I installed the Weber conversion kit and it's a big improvement. Thanks for the input.