January 2008
Do (any) modern cars, when rolling down hill with the drivers foot off the accelerator, supply *no* fuel at all to the engine ?
I know electric things like the Prius had that feature where it would stop the engine if it detected it wasn't need, and start it again when the pedal was depressed.... but I've heard that modern petrol cars will now use no petrol when the car is just rolling.
Is that true ?
What is the most fuel efficient way to drive down a steep hill ? 'Drive' down it, or roll down it, with the clutch depressed, or not ?
Cheers !
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I had the good fortune to be sent to a week?s conference in Buenos Aires last week.
I thought the back room might like to hear something of the differences in the driving experience.
Despite the economic crash the ?car fleet? is pretty new and largely European in nature with a sprinkling of ancient Peugeots and Ford Falcons still on the road.
Trucks are a different matter with anything from US extra long semis to 40 foot flat beds hauled by modified pick up trucks. Some trucks are in terrible states with half shredded tyres, shattered windscreens and plywood ?extensions? common place.
Driving style is very different and would be considered appalling by us.
If there is a single left turn lane they think nothing of squeezing in either side to make three lanes to make sure they make the turn on the next light.
Under taking and weaving on the autopista are often seen, with inches of clearance when cutting back in.
When the road narrows they jostle for position right up the last second.
At city intersections cars and trucks often block the entire junction if their exit is not clear (No yellow box junctions).
However ? there is no aggression, no coming together, no beeping of horns. They just make room for each other at the pinch point and get on with it or sit back a smile if they can?t get past.
If this happened in the UK we would have horns, ?shutting out? the other guy and crashes or even fights as a result.
It was an eye opener and I have to say I rather enjoyed it. But then I was a passenger and not having to drive that way.
Off motoring ? BA is a great place. Safe by South American standards (Cops everywhere) and the best steaks I?ve ever had.
Even better it was 28 deg C and the pretty girls were out ;-).
I?ll be looking for an excuse to go again.
Dan
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my daughter who is presently living in peru, emailed last week and said she had nearly been knocked down twice by busses running red lights. Must say i agree about naples it must be close to the worst their is.
There was a report in this weeks Auto Express regarding problems with a couple of Toyota engines.
The 1.8 VVTi apparently is suffering from piston ring problems at 50,000-60,000 miles, causing excess oil consumption, and requiring new short engines, but Toyota are only paying where there is a full Toyota service history.
The 2.2d engine has apparently been suffering from injector problems.
Does anyone have any experience of either? Read more
Check out the following site:
toyotaownersclub.com/forums
lots of accounts on the above site of 1.8 problems.
From what I have read it was supposed to affect only pre-04 1.8 VVTi models.
Strange thing is that this problem has been highlighted several times in the past few years, so not sure why Autoexpress have made it a news item now.
www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/214788/...h
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Morning All,
I have challenge of organising a family trip (5 adults, a 7 year old and a 2 year old) to Boston for a family wedding.
Flights and hotel are easy enough, but car hire appears to be a bit of a minefield!
I've had a gander at Dollar and Alamo's websites and there is a myriad of different options for insurance and waivers and taxes and surcharges. I've also googled to see if there is a comparison website for the US, with no success.
Anyhoo - does anyone have any hints or tips? Is a big minivan suitable for 7 people, or are we better with two cars? Does a 7 year old need a booser seat as they do in the UK? Questions questions questions!
Thanks,
DB Read more
Cheers 'copter
Strange re the number - when I rang it was a single long ring tone...
DieselBoy/Helicopter,
Peter is in the USA at the moment - he has property there.
He still opertates his 'one man' business from the USA and his phone diverts; so that explains the 'long ring'.
Incidentally I have never met Peter, but I have hired cars for the USA from him scores of times; and I booked last week for my trip in a week's time. The prices he offers are better than any place I know, albeit not by much, but it is a personal service that I have found totally reliable.
There is a great deal at the moment with Alamo for SUVs.
Two mates had their cars serviced last week, the first a 3 year old Renault Scenic with front discs and pads plus two tyres on top replaced was just about £1000. The BMW ''w'' 3 series came at £1300 ish with nothing major done. The Renault main dealers charged £200 for the tyres. Both blokes did not think the cost excessive, what do you think? Read more
they were done
All,
Recently bought a BMW 318i with 46k miles.
Its been fine but recently noticed when it warms up it seems to alternate between 1000 revs and 1500 revs. This is not very noticeable when driving but in traffic its quite noticeable.
Petrol economy guage also seems to fluctuate when this happens
When I get home if I leave the car to cool for an hour and then re-start it seems to idle fine.
Any ideas ?
{header amended to make less vague} Read more
I agree with the last respondent....worth a check. I have a 2003 Merc C180k which developed a similar problem, the cause of which was a leaking vacuum pipe in a difficult to see, inaccessable place. Get a can of Q20 or similar spray (flammable) and spray it in likely areas around the engine when the problem is occurring....this quickly shows up trouble spots in the induction side....the engine will either slow down or further increase revs. Also check the vacuum line to the brake booster. Good luck !
One for the legal eagles.
Noticed a signing anomaly this morning.
Drove through Gilson, small village with no streetlights, 30 sign on entry and 30 repeaters. About 200 yards beyond village (still with 30 repeaters you come to a full size 40 sign on the left and a repeater size 40 sign on the right. The repeaters switch to 40s.
Now is the 40 correctly signed or does the speed limit stay at 30 because the 40 is not signed correctly, or does the lack of 30 repeaters after the 40 sign mean that neither 30 or 40 is valid and NSL of 60 applies?
B4117 heading towards Coleshill. Read more
30mph repeaters are illegal (I have never seen them but painted on road it's OK)
Major to minor side street with lower limit only one sign on left is required.
Sizes of roundels when entering a new limit seem to be 'recommended' sizes....
www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tpm/tal/signsandsignals/s...s
H, reading your link it contradicts your first sentance - according to the link 30 repeaters are only banned if the road is lit, and even if it is the lights have to be a certain distance appart - the OP said the village was unlit, therefore it should be legal?
Churchill, a village near Brum has similar 30 repeaters and is unlit, the limit was reduced a few years ago from 40, though I don't know why as the nature of the road tended to keep people's speed down already.......
(Ooops, should have read next post more carefully!)
Keyfob won't open doors, although key LED comes on and key battery OK. The key turns round in the lock without opening the door. There had been a problem the previous day with a loose battery terminal / flat battery which was charged up. Anyone got a clue how to get into the car? Read more
Sussed.
Battery flat, yet to find the reason, and Drivers door lock bust!
Managed to reach up underneath the n/s front, behind the radiator to attach a charging lead to the battery +ve terminal. (Other terminal onto chassis).
Two minutes charge was enough to power the central locking.
Just general, not motor.
And that's why it's gone... PG Read more
Hi,
My friend has a Metro, 1.1 K series engine. Not certain of year: guess 1994.
The car was running fine until the headgasket blew. It wasn't worth spending money getting a pro to do the job, so a couple of amateurs had a go at changing it for the cost of just the headgasket kit.
The car drives, and passed an MoT. However, it drives really badly and has done ever since the headgasket change. You can put the accelerator pedal to the floor and the car will actually slow down, it even thinks of stalling. If you accelerate gently, it is ok, but power still seems down.
The car does not use oil or water any more.
The car was fitted with a new cambelt by a mobile mechanic so it "should" not be a timing issue.
I think the problem is due to something that was disturbed when the head came off that wasn't put back properly - any ideas what? I am not ruling out stale fuel because it's had the same unleaded in it for over 9 months ever since he bought the car.
He should take it to a garage, but he's too lazy to. He spent a good few bob getting it fixed and through its MoT yet does not drive it because of its rough running. Read more
Hi
The camshaft pulley has 2 key ways/peg cut outs on the pulley I would suspect they put the peg in the wrong cut out. The timing may well look correct on the belt but the camshaft is in the incorrect place.
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Thanks for the replies, all. Makes for an interesting read.