August 2007
Is it me or has anyone else experienced soft brakes on a 407?
I have a 55 plated 2L diesel - super car! At normal town speeds the brakes feel fine, except for a little excessive pedal travel in my opinion.
The issue starts when braking heavily from 70 plus mph - the pedal travels a long way down, feels soft, and the amount of pedal effort does not seem to equate to the stopping rate: not a flash from the ABS light (if there is one), not a rumble or any sort or pedal feeling telling me the ABS is operating - and not a squeal from the tyres.
I guess either the ABS is not needed or not working - how can I tell which?
It is not a reassuring feeling when the idiot in front has braked quickly and I am travelling towards him at a rate of knots with half the brake travel gone and the feeling that I'm stamping on a caulliflower - and still no dramatic retardation!
Or is it me?
Kind Regards
Hugh
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I have just received a new catalogue, which appears to have taken over from "Innovations". Not naming it a s I am going to pretty scathing! The latest magnetic manifestations include the usual fuel line magnets but these work in a new way."- - The activated hydrogen and oxygen molecules bombard the combustion chamber, cleaning the injector nozzles and removing carbon and varnish build up"
The next device is alleged to assist with Masculine Difficulties. "Magnetotherapy is widely believed to encourage blood flow and increase oxygen supply. The 3600 gauss magnets help to increase the supply of sexual hormones" You carry this thing in your pocket for a few hours a day and might get lucky!
Finally, there is a £40 magnetic disc on which you stand a botle of wine and age it by 10 years in 30 minutes. Truly, magnets are all things to all men!
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I realise they work on water, although even that is regarded as snake oil in some quarters (we have an electronic descaler in our house) - I'm talking about their fitment to gas lines. Quite common commercially, and not a trival cost, either...
As this is my first turbo diesel i want to try and keep the turbo healthy. The horror stories of death by turbo failure are not a nice thought therefore i'm looking for advice.
My turbo seems to "spool" up from around 1.6krpm with max torque delivered between 2k and 2.5krpm with max power delivered at 3.6krpm. After 3k miles i find i mainly drive between 1.8 and 2.4k rpm with the occasional burst up to max power. Can i assume that driving within this range my turbo is constantly in use; if so should i be concerned about this if i am to keep the turbo in good shape for years to come?
I'm finding it odd adjusting to the diesel way of life. At this stage there no way i could give up 180bhp and 400nm of torque but i cant help feeling i'm thrashing my car sometimes because of its low down power as i like to treat my cars gently/well so they last a long time. Should i be worried?
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Thanks for that reply, OldSkoOL. You and I are on the same wavelength....perhaps the same generation...ahem. Do let me know if and when you are willing to part company with your Auris.
Slightly moist outside, dusk too,,,,,,,176mph on a motorbike? Not for me thanks, gives me the heebie jeebies.
www.liveleak.com/view?i=531_1188170101
Made non-clickable in accordance with site policy. - PU Read more
and here's the conclusion of my R1 owning colleague:
'That?s in miles, I think. Don?t know what the bike is, but to accelerate like that it must be modified (turbo or something). It may be an old GSXR1000 K1/K2. It went from 130 to 170 in a flick, normally the last few mph take a bit of effort? It would be red-lining at that speed, the revs are appropriate?'
Possibly looking at changing my Megane 225 for something more economical to run and insure/tax as I am likely to be increasing monthly mileage quite a lot from about 200 to around 700 miles a month just commuting.
I always owned the 225 on the basis of lowish mileage and mainly a 'fun' car.
If I look at economy figures from manufactureres what tend be the most accurate as to what I am likely to achieve?
I would like to get around 55mpg if possible - currently get about 26mpg!
Driving will likely be on A roads with 60-70mph limits but in rush hour so sometimes queues. Obviously considered diesel but several people have suggested a reasonable petrol may be just as cheap to run as the car may be cheaper to buy.
Possibly spent to £13000 but less if possible. One other thing. I have also seen the likes of the Focus 1.6TDCi has two versions of the same engine. How would I know which it was?
Andrew Read more
Thank you to everyone who has replied here.
Some very helpful comments, links and feedback. Also to see the actual cost saving that I would (wouldn't) make in fuel is helpful as it gives me a more realistic idea of the point of the exercise.
Although if I did change I would intend to save on insurance, tax and other running costs where possible.
I suspect what I will do is keep the car until I have done a few months of the extended travel and then see just how much more it is costing me to run the vehicle. apart from anything it seems to eat tyres - but that is probably driving style. lol
Andrew
while reversing my car with a trailer on, the clutch got a bit hot, and whilst reving the engine the stereo went pop. I had been listeng to Radio 5, (Medium wave or AM). Result was just noise, as if the radio wasn't tuned in.
It turned out that the stereo, tape player and CD are all fine except the Medium wave. The noise is simple crackle, i.e there is no change in pitch as if its picking up electrical intereference.
Any suggestions on reasons and cure for this strange fault?
Steve Read more
Didn't the Americans broadcast in stereo on AM, I had a friend in school who understood it !
Self Edit. You don't need friends anymore !
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AM_stereo
HJ's "Car by Car" Guide says that the ABS on my Audi is switchable.
Any idea where the switch is located?
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The switchable ABS is on the centre console, marked 'ABS', next to the fog light & heated rear window switches. Pressing the switch results in the orange 'AUS' light on the instrument cluster.
If your car has ABS, the option code 1AC will be listed in the service book, or on the sticker in the boot.
This applies only to Type89 Audi 80/90/Coupe, manufactured between 1987 and Nov. 1991 (July 1992 for the Coupe), model designators 8A20xx for the 80, 8A2Sxx and 8A27xx for the 90, 8B30xx for the Coupe.
Audi 80s built in 1992 onwards are series 3, and the ABS is not switchable. I'm not sure when the changeover date for the Coupe was - October 1992?
Ian.
Anyone had any experience of a Company known as "Shires Performance Tunning" or as "SP-Tunning", remapping Diesel and Petrol ECU's.
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Yes, I had my Xsara HDi 110 remapped by them a couple of months ago. I would certainly recommend them, its made a significant improvement. The engine is smoother generally and pulls from lower revs far better than it did, its noticeably quicker too. MPG appears to be the same or perhaps very slightly better.
im in need of a new wiper arm on a 2001 306 and a mate is breaking a 1999 3 series bmw. I was wondering if the wiper size was the same if the splines would fit my car?
Id simply try it but hes about 80 miles away at the mo.
Cheers Read more
short but sweet.
thanks very much
is there any affordable way of repairing damaged paintwork (i.e the paint has come off) of a car - or at least something that will make it less noticeable so ones father doesnt see it and kill yours truly??
Do they make any sort of bubble wrap i can put around my car to stop it getting damaged in the first place :) Read more
your car is quite new .Go to the dealer who supplied it and get 2 paint touch up sticks,and laquer if its metallic.Touch in the damage, it will be barely noticeable,exept to you. When you come to trade it in eventually the dealer would much rather see this and any further minor damage touched in than lots of respraying which could mean major damage has been repaired.Cars collect damage, nobody can expect them not to.Treat minor damage repairs as maintenance and you wont go far wrong,stonechips on the bonnet and so on
Browse
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Nice Mr. Peugeot at Marshalls Newbury has thoroughly tested the barakes for me and confirms that they are just like any other 2.0 HDi 407. However, he has bled them (not a trivial task on the 407 apparently).
The brakes do now feel a little tighter but to be honest, most reviews of the 407 comment on the brakes and describe them as adequate but no more. One site I read said they lacked 'power'. I say they lack confidence!
Would my P warranty be invalidated if I tried different brake pads? I'm thinking of the 'Green Stuff' pads. Any thoughts guys?
Kind Regards
Hugh