November 2004
The problem - X reg Focus 1.8 Zetec with 75000 miles. Engine sometimes races between gear changes, or hangs on to the revs before eventually dropping to normal. Also sometimes it is reluctant to start from cold, it starts but it's like it's not getting the cold start enrichment (?)
Now I've heard talk of problems with some early Focus ECUs, can anyone shed any light on this and give any pointers so that I can get it fixed.
Thanks Very much
Bobby Read more
If you don't want to spend lots and lots of money on fireworks this year, have a look at the following website:
www.maylin.net/fireworks.html
You could use the money you save by not buying any to put some fuel in you car (motoring thread!) Read more
my!
What happy thoughts......
;) JaB
Leafing through the "What Car?" reliability surveys it is noted as ever that the prestiege marques came out very low down the table while some more budget brands came very high up. Since these surveys do not take account of just full breakdowns but also of little niggles that keep the car off the road, could this possibly be because of different owner expectations. E.g. I test drove a new Fiesta Diesel and it had a couple of creeky dash panels with just a thousand miles on the clock. If I've paid £10k for the car I'm not gonna complain too much about that. If I've bought a Jag/Merc/BMW/Audi/Range Rover and the CD is a little noisy as it slides into the player then I might.
How much of it is that genuinely the prestiege cars don't live up to their badge, how much that a Daewoo owner is less liable to complain about a creaking dash, and how much due to Japanese cars being so dull to drive and be in that their owners avoid driving them and fill in reliability surveys instead?
Regards
Chris Read more
I have raised this before, but in the German reliability reports which are actually manufacturer independent but have their limitations, the VW Golf does better than its Seat Leon and Skoda Octavia siblings which themselves fair better than the Audi A3. As these vehicles are mechanically fairly identical I put this down to a number of factors:
1. Seats and Skodas are bought on a budget and are not serviced as well as VWs.
2. A3s are generally loaded up with highly unreliable electronic kit.
3. You can interpret whatever you want into reliability reports.
Hi all.
Just a quick question. I know this has been covered on many previous threads (which I can't seem to find) but I am going to fix an idle problem on the missus 1996 Fiesta 1.3LX (Endura-E Engine) tomorrow. The problem is the revs will not decrease when slowing and/or putting your foot on cluth/brake and seem to increase.
I am thinking it is the idle control valve at fault and have cleaned it but to no change in the fault. My real question is could there be anything else at fault before I shell out £70 on a new valve?
And also could it be a switch of some sort on the clutch because I am intrigued to know how the engine (A perfect Working engine) knows to cut the revs to idle when you press the clutch pedal? Any advise very much appriciated. Oh and ok it wasn't such a quick question sorry!
Steveo Read more
ca***.
C*A*R*S*E
The filter thinks steve is swearing.
--
(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters
Faintly interesting prog on tonight @ 7:30 London ITV
Tarrant is doing a series of road journeys in his wifes fathers 1938 Bentley Derby, Using only the roads available in a 1950 AA motoring guide.
Tonight was around my home stomping ground so of some interest.
Esher - Basingstoke. Stopped off at Brooklands, where they met the only surving racing driver (90 years old) who used it. The bentley went up on the 500 metres of the Weybridge bank (its very hard to stand on it at the top its that steep)
Then via Woking to Farnham where they enacted the first traffic prosecution (happened in Farnham apparently) Man fined for driving at 9mph exceeding the then 4mph (2mph in towns) speed limit.
Ending up in Basingstoke where they decried the 1960's destruction of a quaint market town for the concrete hell that is modern Booringstoke.
Next week its London to Oxford.
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Scotland and Scottish roads are absolutely wonderful - some of the off the beaten track A roads are single carriageway with passing places...:-)
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
I have just purchased a 4.6 unit from a Range Rover in good shape.It is a block with heads only.
I wish to slot it into my rover p6.
Having no electrics on the 4.6 for ignition can i fit the timing chest from the 3.5 incorporating the distributor housing etc.
An inlet manifold and carbs will solve the fuel problem.
A gearbox that will handle the power any idears?
Regards Dave
.
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Thanks for the information
Regards dave
I think my 1997 2.0 XSi needs an ECU download. Has anybody had a download that did make the car perform better, and how much roughly was it (my local dealer was too busy to answer their phone today!).
Cheers. Read more
Having done some web research, it appears that most info on line is very 'car model related' and the specialist private manufacturing companies (for obvious commercial reasons) wish to mystify the process. They also restrict access to code to people with their specific hardware. It is also generally aimed at the performance upgrade market, rather than the to update to latest specn concept.
I like the idea of one specialist who (for a TT, I think) offers you as a free test, a time limited software upgrade which allows 5 hrs of use before stopping? (or reverting to safe mode?). More info is available on Merc and BMW than most smaller family models. But manufactures seem releuctant to give on line prices for hardware/software.
American suppliers seem mor prevalent, but for American models only?
If you do a comparison with the web sites that once proliferated for pirate satellite analogue decryption software to reprogram smart cards, (and there are many more technically aware car users out there than satellite Geeks). There must be a huge opportunity aimed at the home updater.
I will continue to browse and when I find the £30 multi manufacturer hardware solution with reliable shareware software source, will post the results. Manufactures parts/manuals CD are easily avaiable on Ebay, there is no reason why in the future software upgrades couldnt be equally easily available.
pmh (was peter)
Hi all,
For the past month or so, I have been using my car to commute to Uni. I had been doing park and ride schemes until now, but I'm thinking of using the bus instead, as its cheaper and less stressful (and better for the environment;-))
Thing is, this would mean the car would be left standing outside for long periods of time without use. It'll probably be left for about a week at a time.
So the question is, how long could it be left without a run? And what are the problems if its left too long? The chances are that when it does get used, it'll be for journeys of about 20 minutes, mainly by dual carriageway. When I used it to go to college, it was used once a week, and didn't have much trouble.
The car is a 1993 Polo with 103000 miles. Its also just been fully serviced.
Am I being paranoid?
Any thoughts much appreciated.
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Thanks for those comments so far.
It'll definitely get a long run at least once a month (20mins+?) so I?m ok there.
In the service, oil and brake fluid were changed, and the coolant was replaced last year, so they should be ok too.
Can anyone offer advice please. I have a customer who wants to be driven from Sloane Square to Stansted Airport at 10am on a weekday.
What is the best way to go? Presumably not through the City to the M11. Possibly Edgware Road to A41 to M1 to M25 to M11?
I may even very, very politely suggest a black cab to liverpool Street and then the Satansted Express.
Suggestions gratefully received.
Regards drbe Read more
Steve
nightmare route, against commuter flow?
I use the last section, - 33 miles of A10 A120 VERY regularly as the alternative to M25 - M11. Much better, and if you use the back way into the airport via the Hilton Hotel you can catch planes while 80% of the passengers are stationary at the M11 junction to A120. (altho this is not now such a great problem as it use to be with the opening of the A120 entrance).
The M11 - M25 road works or any M25 section are a nightmare and can easily make you miss a plane!
pmh (was peter)
Just how bad is this unit? is there a way of avoiding head gasket failure? any opinions welcome even positive ones! the car is a rover 45, 49000mls HGF and it has run the crank also!
thanks in advance. Read more
The modified version wasnt realy a cure. From what I have seen so far depending on. Whether it was a head problem/rather than H/G. Both not cheap to repair. overheating may not only cause H/G failure but also distortion of block surface. Or contact area of h/g to block. I dont actually recall anyone mention this
I did raise the point with rovers.But they said it cannot happen.Apart from keeping to service intervals ie change oil and filter on time. keep a strict eye on water levels. and make sure anti freeze is changed on time at least..That is all you really can do..It isnt uncommon for H/G failure for a second time. But as long as you follow servicing rules you have done your best..Cant do more than that
--
Steve
Browse
Dipping clutch does help but it is mildy disconcerting when you lift your foot off the throttle to slow do and find yourself speeding up for a moment...
Looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and let the dealer hage a look.