April 2007
I am puzzled that my 1.9 diesel 110 bhp Toledo continues to loose coolant.After a round trip of 230 miles, the coolant usually goes to or just under the minimum line after having started on the maximum line in the coolant box. The car still does around 60 mph on long runs and doesn't use any oil. It has not lost any power, it doesn't smoke and the oil is clean. I recently got the coolant cap replaced; but it still looses coolant. Hozes have been replaced.
The boss at my main dealer is a thoroughly experienced man. He says the car is starting to have cover head gasget trouble, as he saw a certain amount of dirt in the coolant box. He said there are many different ways the wearing of the coverhead gasket can show, not necessarily only water going in to the oil.
I really wonder if any knowlegeable person out there has any other ideas, as the car goes fantastically. It has done 140,000 miles. It has never let me down.A fantastic car!! Read more
Hi!
Would appreciate an opinion on this.
1994 Fiat Uno 1.1ieS
Intermittent fault. Sometimes engine will not start after being run and then standing for a while. Leave for another ten minutes and it starts.
Ocassionally revs drop when idling then it cuts out.
Can run for several days and fault doesn't show.
New petrol pump one year ago.
Recent new distributor cap (electronic ignition).
Just put a new coil on.
Any ideas appreciated!
Ag
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Thanks doc!
Will try.
Ag
Some 6 weeks ago we had the air-con radiator /heat exchanger replaced after a front impact with motorway debris. The air-con seemed to work OK when we tried it briefly after repair. However, now we are using it regularly, switching it on causes a series of random short vibrations which usually cease after 2 or 3 minutes of running. Engine idle speed drops considerably during each vibration burst. I also believe that we are only getting a small chilling effect from the air vents.
Coincidence or related to the repair?? the repair comes with a 3 year guarantee if the problem is proven to be related.
Thanks in advance
Howard
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Sounds like the system may have 'air' in it due to not being correctly evacuated and re-charged. That would cause the problems your having. If they have simply just charged it up then air will be present and will cause excessive compressor discharge pressure and little cooling.
If this is the problem it needs sorting asap as the air will turn to water & ice at certain places which will block / corrode the system. Also if it's had new parts fitted have they been kept clean and dry? Mechanics are notorious for having filthy hands on the job. Could have got some grit or dirt etc in the system?
In my experience many of these garages which have suddenly become 'air-con specialists' overnight know little about the basics of refrigeration and air conditioning and usually just use an all in one machine which does the job for them........until it packs up !!
I'd be asking a few questions when i took it back about the repair job etc.
Hope this helps, would be interested to know how you get on.
I posted regarding the demise of the a30 the other week and I noticed today road markings the reason for which I cannot comprehend. A couple of feet from the curb on both sides of the single carriageway road have been hatched out effectively narrowing the road and making oncoming vehicles nearer to each other. Any shed any light or have similar mysterious road markings? Read more
It's the latest left-wing fad. The A614 in Nottingham was done a few years ago. It is supposed to discourage overtaking by making the road too narrow. The number of accidents increased by a lot, but they refused to remove them.
Ever since Mrs S's MR2 got rear ended she has been hankering after another convertible, so having a little time in hand on the way home today we stopped for a impluse look round the local cheap & cheerful cars sales outlet ( ex petrol station; 20/30 cars; £500 to £5k )
1995 Mk3 convertible, 84k, 1.6 ( I think ) petrol. but it looks like it has a squashed carburettor between the air filter and the inlet manifold; is this the dreaded Pierberg contraption that I read so much about on the forum, or is it a harmless form of fuel injection?
We have made no commitment, I dragged her away in order to consult the C by C section. No history, so probably wants a cambelt & water pump, is the screen price of £2.4 too high assuming I could knock off £200/£300 to allow for the cambelt change and sundry brake work?
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One mans junk is another mans treasure Read more
Experience. If these items have not been changed already then it is highly likely that they are due. The two flexi's round the rear beam wil be the first to fail an MOT and if you take a rear drum off and list the seals you will probable find fluid in there. This build used steel pipes and fittings and shanging a cylinder usually means changing the pipework down to the flexi so it it easier to do the whole thing and be done. Regards Peter
Bet the owner of this car finds it a bit twitchy around corners...
www.autoblog.com/2007/04/19/aerodynamic-dyslexia/ Read more
>> This was always my favourite..
>>
>> www.moparmusclemagazine.com/featuredvehicles/1970_...#
Apparently the wing worked aerodynamically at 12" high, but they couldn't open the boot (or trunk). So they doubled the height of the spoiler. Why didnt they just mount one on the bootlid?
I wouldn't fancy doing 200mph in one of those!..
Hello,
Last november my car was hit by another driver pulling out of a side turning.
As a 3rd party I claimed on her insurance and had my car fully repaired. IE my claim was settled, albeit slowly, in full.
I informed my insurance company of the accident but didn't claim on my insurance, I didn't even make use of the claims assistance. (wonderful things - camera 'phones and witness statements!)
When my insurance is up for renewal do I still need to "declare" the accident ?
I don't really have a problem with declaring it as it's obvioulsy 100% no fault but if I don't have to I wont.
TIA Read more
Yes, you do have to tell them, and yes, in my case even though I claimed on someone elses' insurance and costs were fully recovered, my insurance went up. The reason given being that "well you obviously are more of a risk because of the places you drive..." Hmmm
First Alternative only used to ask for three years' history instead of five, so I went with them because it meant I didn't have to declare a separate claim from (then) four years previously, which was bumping up my quote with everyone else.
Hello Backroomers
Wife has a new Fiesta Zetec Climate 1.4 petrol.
We have had it two weeks.
When travelling along at approximately 60mph the steering wheel wobbles and feels light.
What could cause this on a new car?
All help and opinions accepted.
--
(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters Read more
tracking might be miles out as well
get it back pronto
Pig fat to be turned into diesel
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6571993.stm
The diesel when produced will be pumped into a network and mixed with other types of diesel. It will not be possible to tell at petrol stations whether the diesel is made from animal fat or not.
In a statement, the animal rights group PETA expressed its dismay.
"A recent report published by the United Nations concludes that the meat industry is responsible for more global warming emissions than all the cars, trucks and planes in the world combined."
"Clearly, the answer to global warming isn't to fill gas guzzling cars with ground up remains of tortured animals, it is to go vegetarian, which is something every person can afford to do and should do for the sake of their own health, animals and the environment."
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"I just think many pressure groups damage their cause more than they promote it "
Quite. But then again it is easier to talk in simplistic slogans that to engage in intelligent debate.
So will the exhaust gases smell of roast pork then? It would make driving through Golders Green an interesting experience.
Seeing that this engine is now available in the new new MINI made me think, this must be about the most widely available engine these days, knocking previous favourites (various VAG lumps and A-series) into a cocked hat. Let's see now:
BMW MINI
Citroen C4
Citroen C5
Ford Fiesta
Ford Fusion
Ford Focus
Ford Mondeo
Mazda 3
Peugeot 207
Peugeot 307
Peugeot 407
Volvo S40
Volvo V50
Can anyone think of any more?
But more seriously, is this good news for indy garages? - i.e. will the same engine diagnostic computer work on all these models?
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The Ford/PSA 1.6 (90 and 110ps) and 2.0 (134 and 140ps) are related, they are both belt cam 16v engines, there is a 2.2 version in the 407 and C5 which will also appear in Fords soon.
The Ford 1.8 engine is based on the mechanically fairly old unit used in the Mk I/II Mondeo amongst others though is refined and punchy, it is 8v and belt cam, it is used in the MkI Focus (100 and 115ps), new Focus (115ps) , S-Max/Galaxy and new Mondeo (100 and 125ps).
The Ford 2.0 (115 and 130ps) and 2.2 TDCis used in the current Mondeo and X-Type (and variants in Transits) are 16v chain cam engines, they cost more to produce that the belt cam Ford/PSA units in part due to the economies of scale in prodiction of the latter as illustred by the OP re the 1.6.
Browse
My 51 Golf 110TDi started loosing water around 50K. Dealer couldn't find any visible leaks, so they changed head gasket (under warranty) at 60k. No more coolant loss until it went back to leasing company at 99k.