October 2007

Dan29

Hello all

I bought my 2001 2.0 Zetec estate at the beginning of 2004 and after a few months of driving fine it started to become slightly jerky under acceleration - not so much that passengers notice but I can feel that it's not as smooth as it should be.

When it was serviced at the local Ford dealership they said it would cost £70 to diagnose the problem, so I got them to do the full 4plus service and that solved the problem - until it came back a few months later.

It's not a serious fault and doesn't seem to be getting any worse, but I'm mystified as to why the service cleared up the problem but then it came back. Has anyone got any idea please?

Thanks in advance for your help.
Dan
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Screwloose

Dan

That's a difficult question; I'd just give the leads to the guy changing the plugs - it's a matter of moments to refit the new ones instead of the old.

octa

Could someone advise if NGK plug type BKRGE-11 is suitable for above-1 .4 engine.If not any recommendations?
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Dynamic Dave

Well that goes without saying surely


You'd have thought so, but I've seen it previously been asked.
Ronaldo

My daughter has a 1998 1.6sx which refuses to start - was going OK, but now isn't. Starter motor turns, camshafts move (so timing belt intact), checked HT leads for spark, disconnected fuel line, and petrol P's out when engine turns so pump etc OK (and yes it's petrol). Could it be the immobiliser cutting something else out that I haven't checked? If so how can I check? Any help appreciated.
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Ronaldo

Tried the car again this morning, and guess what? Yep, first time and every time since. The only thing I notice is that today, the immobiliser red led went OFF (i.e. unlit) when I turned the ignition key, yesterday it stayed on, plus, before I started the car I noticed the led was flashing ON and OFF, whereas yesterday it appeared to be flashing ON and DIM (i.e. not totally unlit). Do immobiliser systems suffer from intermittent faults, or are they always working or not working? Given that it's pouring with rain today, could it be a dodgy earth that's 'fixed' itself. Anybody out there know where the immobiliser is situated in this car?

I'm unhappy at giving the car back to my daughter having not corrected the fault since it's bound to re-occur, and probably at some unGodly hour, miles away from anywhere, and guess who she'll call!

Brian Tryzers

On the M40 this morning, I was passed by a newish XJ - 54, I think - that seemed to be trailing a little silvery cloud that wasn't spray rising from the wheels. As it disappeared, I noticed it was also leaving behind a strong whiff of diesel fuel. Anyone like to suggest what might have caused this - and what risk it might have posed to the Jaguar driver and the rest of us? Read more

Bromptonaut

Or maybe split fuel return pipe.

sadie

The hydraulic pipe from the OSF suspension unit is leaking. Changing it seems to be a nightmare. has anybody got any advice
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mjm

From the Haynes Manual: -

Working in engine compartment, pull the cable securing pin from the geagbox/transmission housing, then release the end of the cable from the geagbox/transmission.

This covers removing the one end. It then just pulls from the bulkhead fitting if you need both ends released.

Can't help with the location of the pin, I'm afraid, no picture in the book and mine's the transducer system.

hth

Hugo {P}

A rare breed these days.

But people don't have cars or drive for several reasons, besides age or disability of one sort or another.

When I worked for someone else I worked with a young couple that simply adopted their lifestyles to eliminate the need for a car.

They walked to work, took the bus to the shops and went on longer trips by public transport and/or taxi. They were both capable of driving and IIRC had driving licenses.

I could understand it if they lived in London, but as they lived in Plymough I thought it was quite an achievement.

It seemed strange that he and his wife bought a house with a garage..... Read more

milkyjoe

if you look in the island of Sarks telephone directory you will find hundreds of names and adresses of people who dont drive!!!!

y2k+4

I was wondering what the BR's experiences of the Mazda 6 are, as I have read on a couple of reviews (online) that there has been some issues with the model, and wondered if these were just one-offs, as the car seems to perform well in JD power and Top Gear surveys...I would be considering a model out of warranty which is the reason for my concerns...
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y2k+4

I already know that the Mazda 6 engines are not PSA-sourced. They are Mazda-own. That said, with Mazda's limited experience of the technology, you have to wonder whether this is a necessarily good thing?

I will be considering the petrol models - does anyone have any specific experience of the 1.8 vs. the 2.0?

Nige

Just asking for input from other folks. In March this year our Saab 93 had 2 x 215 / 45R17 Aurora K10's fitted on the front. (deleted (possible naming & shaming removed - DD) did it as part of a service and MOT - and didn't give us a choice of manufacturer - but we assumed as main dealers they would be ok). Monday night, rush hour on A3 by Hook, middle lane, left front has a massive blow out - just the beading left and the rest of the tyre gone. By the time the car can be safely pulled off the road one expensive ali rim is scrap. But we are alive thankyou Saab designers.

Bad luck we expect was the reason.

So anybody else had problems with Aurora tyres? Why are we asking? Because the garage that fitted them (edit by DD as per above reason) is doing the repairs and tell us they no longer use Aurora as they wear quickly and can be more prone to blow outs. Nice to know as there's another one on the driver's side front!! Anybody else had this sort of reaction from a garage??

Please let us know!
thanks,
Nige

{A couple of changes made to both the subject header and text in the main message box - DD} Read more

Nige

Hi Doc,

Thanks for input. No jet washer to blame - always hand wash and garden hose. Luckly additional damage, other then the wheel was just some rubber on the sill. BTW if you want to see the rest of tyre, the full circle of thread, unbroken, minus side walls is wedged in the central reservation of the A3 just before the Hook underpass!

allanapp

I've just bought a new LHD Citroen C3 Pluriel from Belgium to take to Portugal in about 18 months time. In order to register in UK I need to change the headlights for ones that dip left (I alrady have them) and I wonder if anyone can tell me where the headlamp fixings are located. I've looked on the replacement ones and can see three fixing points. What parts do I need to remove to gain access to fixings.

Thanks

Allanapp Read more

elekie&a/c doctor

It might be an old post , but it’s the same job to replace a headlight. Bumper will need to be removed to access the lower fittings.

Old Navy

Having had the use of diesel cars, trucks, farm tractors, and marine engines, in my experience the operators / engineers invariably say that the engines run smoother after a full load run when they have been lightly loaded for a period. Does this clear out of soot have a similar effect as a fuel additive. I make a point of accelerating up a steep hill or motorway slip road if I have been pottering around for a few days and have produced some spectacular smoke, my current car (2.0 tdci) doesnt smoke given this treatment, modern technology? Read more

Number_Cruncher

>>They are basically forcing fuel under higher pressure through a nozzle to start the combustion process

No - the fuel injection pressure remains unchanged, in general terms, only the duration of injection changes. There are some CR systems which can vary the pressure, but it isn't a large effect.

>>If you ever noticed, diesel oil gets very black very quickly.


The colour of oil has *nothing* to do with its ability to lubricate your engine. Soot is relatively benign, and isn't a problem.

>>it can reduce lubricity

Really?

>>Valves still get clogged up


There are some engine where this happens, but in general, this is rare


>>Wouldn't want to do it too often though as it puts strain on the turbo

As long as the turbo gets a chance to cool off, and it's lubrication system is well designed - i.e., there's plenty of flow, there's no problem. Ignoring wastegate operation, a turbo always simply balances energy lost in the compressor with energy gained in the turbine.


>>Going past max power puts extra strain on the engine as it runs out of air intake from the turbo and struggles


No, the stress comes from the extra inertial loads of moving the pistons up and down, which increases with speed squared. Yes, the airflow does reach a limiting value, but this just prevent the engine producing more power, the lack of extra airflow doesn't actually stress anything.


>>changing gear at this point puts a lot of stress...

Depends how skillfully you do it

Number_Cruncher