December 2006
I have a 94 model 2L Sri with Ecotec engine, 86K miles, FVSH, that has been standing around for a few months. It is now very difficult to start mainly when cold (eg if left overnight) Turns over OK, eventually catches and immediately dies. Crank it some more, catches, misses, dies splutters etc (sounds like fuel problem?). Eventually it will catch and splutter into life, after which it runs, but I have to keep my foot on the accelerator for the first minute or so or it stalls again (would ICVS cause difficult starting. I have had idling problems with it in the past and have cleaned it out, does it need this again, or is ICVS not related to bad starting). It is also throwing up an engine management light, which the blink test indicates is crank sensor (code 19 Simtec), but this was changed at the last full service (6K miles but 2 years ago)...Not sure relationship of crank sensor to this problem, as if was faulty I assume car would not start at all, or does turning it over several times give ECU enough information to start? It was running fine before it was left standing about. Urgent help appreciated as have long drive ahead Read more
A colleague has a 307 circa 2002. Recently, at about 55000 miles, his warning light came on, for the Cetane(?) addative needing replenishing. We did a search on the web, to try to find some. Prices ranged from about £19.00 for a litre. However, we couldn't find a supplier. Eventually, after parting with well over £100.00, Peugeot kindly gave him 3 litres. (The tank holds 5 litres)
Does anyone know where this elixir can be purchased from, and is it easy to get into the tank, once obtained.
Thanks in advance,
Urban. Read more
MB, VW and Smart are surprisingly low - especially since it's a German survey.
--
Phil Read more
Jaguar appear to be heading in the right direction however what
has happened to Nissan since Renault took over?
Need you ask. As the owner of a Renault-contaminated Nissan, I can assure all concerned that once I get my car back - again - from the dealer, my hard earned will not be spent with them. This is my 8th and last one for sure - quite apart from the fact I harbour no desire for the vans with windows they are now churning out, the build and general reliability has gone down the Khazi. For the record, this time my car decided to pay its own small scale tribute to the Buncefield depot and awaits a replacement engine for its efforts (2 years, 36k miles)
www.mobilemag.com/content/100/354/C10295/
blog.cardomain.com/blog/2006/10/clear_wheels.html
And if you still have money to burn--
The video clip referred to is four and a half minutes long and totally repetative.
www.ifilm.com/video/2781478 Read more
The snag with fireglass and nowadays carbon fibre wheels is that they have no give and at extreme loads will shatter rather than bend.
I take issue with the 'Class' bit - I had to clean a two month old A-Class the other day and I could hardly believe just how low rent they are!
Its just tragic how bad things have got given how good the cars used to be.
My particular concern was the quality of the boot trim - I know it may seem like a minor thing, but its soooo cheap and tacky, I wouldnt have been suprised to find out that its the same materials used in the base model Proton.
The plastic trim on the bootlid is unbelievably nasty, not to mention the Reliant Robin-like clang when you close it.
There was a marked difference between the boot area and the cabin, but even the cabin wasnt exactly nice. Sure, there are a few nice bits, but the vast majority is exceptionally poor for the price of the car.
I just couldnt believe that anyone would think that at £18,000, this car was remotely good value ( my customers partner works for Merc so they get them very cheap ).
The other thing that made me laugh - how can we be this far along in diesel technology and STILL Merc are making diesels that are rattly and loud - the only improvement between the 1.8 diesel in this A-Class and a 1990's Escort is the lack of vibration, but the noise is just as loud.
What a throughly disappointing car. Read more
I think there are three cars that id love to own - the Merc 190E, a Volvo 240GLT and Saab 900, early 80's. Three cars that are a lesson in how to build a car that will last - something that todays car makers ( Subaru aside ) should take a hard look at.
Hello, may have the chance of a job i would like, but it would involve approx 100 mile round trip a day, 90 of which motorway.
Criteria, very economical on fuel and a good reputation for reliability, up tp 5000 pounds.Any opinions please? Read more
I'd try before you buy on that Fiesta. Had one
on rent for a week a while back. It's personal,
but I found the front seats are a bit small (short
cushions) and uncomfortable, certainly compared with the seats in a Corsa.
The TDCi was economical, but had a desparately small useable
rev range and was, I thought, very noisy. It was
probably least objectionable on a motorway, so if you can put
up with the noise the rest of the time it would
do the job. Have you considered a Corsa diesel?
I reckon they are better built than the Fiesta.
JS
i would agree with this statement the corsa seats are far superior to the fiesta in every way
Do you find that appearance figures highly in your selection of a replacement vehicle?
For instance I personally find the mid size japanese cars ie; Honda Accord, Toyota Avensis, Mazda 6 etc; rather bland and lacking in visual appeal, although I know that they are very good cars.
Which figures most prominently in your wish list when the time to change looms?
Read more
>>I love the feeling of looking over your shoulder at it after parking it whilst walking away
Michael; why would you be looking over my shoulder after parking your car?
I find the appearance of my car very important after I've lent it to somebody else.
I find the disappearance of my car very distressing. It has happened twice.
Is that what you meant, OP?
This is a general query about 2 stroke engines. In my teens I owned a 2 stroke motor cycle and noticed at night it used to run smoother. I picked up somewhere that it was due to more moisture in the air at night. Is this a correct and is this the reason that some WW2 aero engines had water injection? Read more
>>I think that water injection is used to ... but it
will also add more oxygen.
Eh?????? How???
Discombobulation.
Hi Folks,
Just a couple of quick questions for you, I ?think? I know the answers but would appreciate confirmation.
At the end of February (when V.E.D and Mot expired) as an experiment to see if I could reduce my carbon footprint (for the good of the planet), I decided to SORN my car and see if I a) could manage without it. B) save a few pennies per annum.
Results??. A) only really needed to use a car on Four occasions, b) saved a fortune on running expenses, so now am thinking of letting it go altogether.
The first couple of times I needed it, as I hadn?t cancelled my fully comp insurance, I borrowed a friends car (third party cover), the second two times I managed with public transport,(was time consuming, more leg work! bah! humbug etc). however, my insurance has now expired, so assume my borrowing of friends car is now not an option?, and without my own insurance could I still hire a car if I needed to?
Cheers folk
Billy.
{Moved from the 'I have a Question' thread as the question is motoring related - DD} Read more
Since reading all of your replies, I have given my insurers a ring, and they have indeed confirmed that they will keep my details on file and my NCD alive for two years, furthermore as it's currently 9 years they will welcome me back ,(or pester me every month until i agree :-) )
Hopefully by then (Feb 2008) i should definitely know if the "cunning plan" is working, or that i will have to revert to becoming a "govermental car owning money dispenser" once again.
Tommorrow night me thinks is the time to broach the subject to friend (using a substance that is usually banned from motorists, to help me become a part-time one,! oh! the irony of it!)
thanks all,
Billy.
I have golf 1.3, 1988.
Causing me trouble is an intermittent fault with the engine spark.
I could be driving along and suddenly the engine will stop, other times it wont start in the morning when it cold, sometimes I could stop the car for five mins when the engine is hot and it may not start again. Neither does it matter if the weather is wet or dry.
I know what the problem is, but not the remedy.
When this happens the car has no spark, so every time when this happens I disconnect the HT lead from the distributor and earth that end of the lead to the engine block.
I leave the other end connected to the coil and turn the ignition key to see if there is a spark produced by the coil. (note I don't turn the engine over I just turn the ignition on and off) to see if there is any current coming from the coil.
When I do see a spark then I reconect the HT lead and the car will start first time.
I have changed these parts individually to find out what the problem could be.
The (ignition coil, the ignition switch, and the ignition module) (the one near to the windscreen motor).
I have also cleaned all the earths I can find.
Sometime there is no problem for 2 or 3 days and suddenly its back again.
I do have one idea left and that is it may be the ht lead itself the one from the coil to the distributor.
Does anyone else have an idea; has anyone else had a similar problem and solved it?
Read more
Were you able to buy a new sensor. I heard of some people being told that they no longer sell just the sensor a new dizzy was the only way. Glad your running again. Regards Peter
Browse
trouble is I can't read the Simtec with the engine running. It goes through the blink sequence no problem with the ignition on, buyt as soon as you fire it up the ECU light just comes hard on. I've raisesd this before as Topbuzz definately says that you should read it with engine running, and I definately can't...or am I doing something wrong?