August 2004
On reading the reliability/satisfaction survey thread, I was wondering what you all thought about this question which I anwered on a recent survey.
The question asked "How would you rate your cars economy?"
Now I have an Alfa 156 GTA which is far from efficient, I get around 25-26mpg, so you would think a poor rating. However, the makers claim is 23.9. So how would you answer? Read more
Have changed plugs,leads,coil packs,fuel filter but still get intermitent hesitation on this car.Am thinking of changing throttle potentiometer,at 55gbp!! Possible air leak in manifold?? HELP
Read more
Doris,
When do you get the hesitation? Is it during the time when you are moving the throttle, or as the vehicle accelerates at constant throttle position? Does it happen every time you accelerate, or is it truly intermittent?
Before changing the throttle potentiometer, it might be worthwhile checking it using a multimeter. The main thing to check for is that the signal output changes smoothly as you open the throttle - check at the potentiometer connection, and then at the ECU pin. If you find that the voltage reading becomes unstable, and changes wildy at a given throttle position, you have a faulty potentiometer.
If the fault is truly intermittent, take the time to check the cleanliness and security of all the engine management connectors on the engine, and the associated earths.
number_cruncher
Hello
any ideas??
when i press the brake pedal, i can nearly push it to the floor, they feel very spongy
i've checked the fluid and there is no loss
the pads are ok
the discs are also ok
would bleeding the brakes cure this?
or as ive heard the master cylinders are known for going on golfs
has anyone else experienced this??
thanks Read more
MonkeyFunk,
A useful diagnostic step is to clamp off all of the flexible brake hoses with special brake hose clamps (not mole grips!).
If you get a stiff pedal, then your fault is in the area of one of your wheels, and can be pin-pointed by removing one clamp at a time, and feeling the pedal.
If you don't get a stiff pedal with all of the clamps on, then your problem is between your brake pedal and the clamps. Don't forget to look for mechanical problems - i.e., are the brackets that hold the pedal, linkage (if any), servo and master cylinder ok?
I know that I shouldn't need to say this, but don't drive your car with any of the clamps in place! ;-)
number_cruncher
My parents got a new car. Old car was gonna be scrapped..God know why but I thought it far to good to scrap so invested a little time & money & a new second hand engine fitted later, got it running again. It is now MOT'd and ready to get tax in order to drive/sell.
I already have my own car i drive daily. If I add this 2nd car to my current insurance - is possible for 30 days at a time up to maximum of 90. Fine - but I am told I cannot tax the car as confirmation of insurance letter is not enough - post office need a Certificate of insurance - which I won't be getting as it's only a 30 day added vehicle.
Is there any insurance company which quote for just a 3 month or 6 month contract as I know I won't be keeping the car, just need to tax the thing and let a prospective buyer test drive it.
(I'm thinking now it's getting to the stage I wished i'd let the oldes scrap it !!!)
My second question - as it has had a replacement engine - still a 1.1 so not improved just equal to old one - do the insurance companies need to know this and do i need to quote the engine number? Read more
This is what Direct Line have to say when asked this question.
Changed engine - straight swap: no issue.
Changed engine for larger engine size: revised premium is function of percentage horsepower increase. No requirement for engineer's report etc.
WARNING! The insurance premium for the modified car (e.g. a 2.6 engine in a 2.0 car) is way way way in excess of the insurance premium for a plain vanilla 2.6 car.
I have V6 406 coupe with 110 k on the clock. The engine is sound as a pound ? no leaks and very smooth. I think its about time for an oil change and as I like to do as much work on the car as I can myself am looking for recommendations on the best oil to put in it.
There are 1001 varieties on the market and wile I?m sure many are the same some must stand out for one reason or the other.
Any thoughts?
Tim Read more
Around about the changeover from R to S plate Peugeot changed from mineral to semi-synthetic oil, and service intervals went up to 20k accordingly (previously it was 9k I think). What were the service intervals on your car - that should tell you what oil was being used.
If your car was running at 20k intervals, I\'d stick with a semi-synthetic and reduce the interval to 10k (20k is a long time, especially for an older engine).
Is it possible to have an air conditioning system fitted I have an Audi 80 1.9tdi which Iam happy with but these warm days are a
problem
Mike Read more
It is possible but would not be economically sensible to do so. Better to trade your car in for one that has a/c fitted as standard.
I remember reading an article a couple of years back in the Times motoring section, about courses to teach safe, fast driving of high performance cars which is donein your own car, on roads not track.
Does anyone know who this was, or can anyone recommend something similar?
Thanks! Read more
>>"...conducted at Elvington airdrome a few miles south of Leeds.."
I always understood Yorkshire folk to be a canny lot, yet no one has spotted that I somehow managed to move the massive Elvington runway (it's around two miles long) somewhat further west than its geographical position south of York and the A64...:-)
Hi folks,
I need to strip the Brembos down on my 97 406 Coupe to give them a good clean and re-grease. I know they are held together by a handful of hex bolts but how do I find the correct torque necessary to reassemble them? There is no Haynes manual for the coupe.
Many thanks.
Tim Read more
I am not, and never will be, a caravan owner, so don't necessarily understand the psychological make-up of caravan owners. One thing above all about caravans causes me to scratch my head: Why are they all painted in such pale colours?
The range consists of white, cream, very pale green, beige etc and nothing darker, apart from an occasional stripe or two.
Why aren't some vans painted the same colour as the towcar, to make a nice outfit (a la Honda Goldwing + trailer)? Or, even better, British Army matt dark green, so they blend in with the countryside? Don't manufacturers offer a choice, and if not, why not? Read more
Or, even better, British Army matt dark green, so they blend
in with the countryside?
IIRC, during the seventies, there was a scheme, possibly experimental, where static (I think !) caravans on sites in National Parks could only be painted in a limited range of 'environmentally sympathetic' colours. It didn't catch on - an eight berth caravan painted in the 'olive drab' beloved of landrover owners and airfix kit builders is not a pretty sight.
There were practical problems, such as finding your caravan on a dark night when you'd just come back from the pub
--
you have to get out of the car sometime
so visit www.mikes-walks.co.uk
Hi all, does anybody have any tips when replacing a starter motor for the above car? I've never replaced one before so any advice would be appreciated.... thanks in advance
HR Read more
The important first thing to realise with any starter motor is that there is a very hefty cable running to it from the battery which is ALWAYS LIVE. Your first step therefore is to disconnect the battery, but you will need specific advice on storing radio codes or powering any other sensitive electronics.
An expert will be along in a moment.
Browse
On the other hand, Gregory in the Technical thread writes: 'And my sister's averages almost 90mpg compared to my 125cc's 85mpg.' - so he is unhappy about only getting 85mpg rather than 90mpg.