March 2008
With the current cost of petrol and the VED changes in the budget everybody is talking about fuel consumption and emissions. These days most cars come with all the extras (PAS, A/C, e/w, etc.) which add weight and increase fuel consumption. Has anyone ever worked out the cost of these on a per annum or lifetime basis? A friend ran a base Ka for many years. She recently changed it for a more recent model with PAS and A/C. After 5,000 miles she finds the newer car does 5 - 7 less mpg. Having ridden in both the new one also seems busier (lower gearing?). She finds the PAS an unnecessary extra. It would appear that besides adding to the purchase price it also adds to the onging running costs. Read more
Hi Guys, firstly hi and secondly thanks a bunch for your replies to other threads on here, you saved my bacon yesterday. I will start from the begining as its a long story!
Ok from the start, basically my girlfreinds 1.3 96 fiesta 1.3 8v needed a service so being fairly technically savvy I attempted the service myself. Firstly I went for the plugs which on inspection had rusted paper thin and all sheared off including the bolt to tighten down into the plug recess as well so I looked on here for a how to guide on removing the remaining thread and managed to pick up a torx t55 head and we hammered it into the plug holes and screwed the remaining threads out....needless to say the plugs were pretty shagged, all 4 snapped with little pressure from the wrench so all needed hammering and twisting out. still a few bits of ceramic in the plug holes so needed a few cranks with the coil diss-connected to blow the broken ceramic out but some remained so went at it with a hoover to remove the rest. finally finished putting in the plugs earlier and its now developed a nasty ticking/click click click noise that increases with revolutions of the engine....now im praying that this could be the gapping on the plug or possibly highlighting other things like tappets or timing as the old plugs were so old.
I just wondered if anyone else has experienced any thing similar?
Please help :-(
Mike
engine and year details edited in for you - we only ask three times so very easily missed Read more
I think ex-TM may be on to something. Focus taper-seat plugs are 6mm longer below the seat than the Fiesta ones. What is the number on those plugs?
I'd have thought that any bits of ceramic would have been smashed to dust by now. Only a steel electrode embedded in a piston crown would have survived.
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Decades ago before number plate transfer was big business, you generally got the number you were given! - unless you were rich, famous, or had loads of "reddies" when you "could" sometimes buy a "personalised" one privately.
Billy
hi all. has anyone any idea as to why my revs are staying up. insted of staying at about 750 rpm ish they are staying up at about 1200 - 1500 rpm. i have greased / lubed the cables and the springs etc arount the throttle housing. i have checked all air pipes for cracks / splits etc etc, all seem fine. any help would be a great help.
kevin Read more
mondeo lover
It would have been a lot better to have continued your previous post. Combine high idle with hesitation and an air leak comes to the fore.
Double check the breather hose running under the coil to the back of the inlet manifold; they split and fold inwards making it near impossible to hear.
I have accidentally disconnected a clear thin plastic hose, 7 mm o/d, 380mm length, having a black plastic elbow connector on one end. The end (approx 50mm) without the connector, is blackened with carbon or oil deposits. The hose was located in the centre section of the engine compartment where the battery is located. I think the hose may relate to the operation of the fuel consumption computer, which now fluctuates erratically. Can anyone explain where/how I should reinstall the hose? Thanks.
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Thanks Screwloose, your a star! Your rapid diagnosis is spot on. I obviously disconnected the hose when removing the old battery - has always been straightforward on my previous cars, but a bit of a pig on this passat. Come to think of it, I have never come across a battery vent hose before. Thanks again.
I've just changed the in tank fuel pump after it failed and fuel filter. I've read horror stories of the high pressure pump failing and being costly. Am I at risk of this?
its done 180,000 miles but still feels smooth. Its due for an mot and requires a new rack and maybe clutch but i dont want to spend money on it if its going to cost loads for a pump
{year/engine details added in (found via forum search - points to those 3 separate requests that ask for it to be included - DD} Read more
I've replaced tens of tank pumps on Peugeot HDi engine'd vehicles and have only had to replace ONE HP pump.
I don't think you need worry.
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
The modern car is complex. So complex that many of us would no longer attempt to do more than the most basic of maintenance on them for fear of making an expensive error or simply because it just looks too hard. Now I know that many good features have been incorporated into the most humble of production cars in recent years but in turn the technology involved has alienated all but the most determined of home tinkerers.
Conversely, I can recall as a young lad being able, with the most basic of tools, to virtually strip down and rebuild my early cars if I chose. Now I pretty much stop at filling the washer bottle !
I think there could be quite a following for a modern day "simple" car. Think of a 21st century Mk1 Escort to get an idea of what I mean. Kept as straightforward as possible within the confines of modern regulations but with the advantage of perhaps galvanised components or the judicious use of fibreglass panels etc. surely it should still be possible to produce a car that could be worked on domestically. There was a great deal of satisfaction in having "fixed" your car on a Saturday afternoon and still having it back together again in time to go out that night.
If the Backroom were to be given the brief of contributing the critical ingredients to a design team for such a car what would be on the list of requirements and why ?
To start things off my tuppence worth would include --
Rear wheel drive - simplicity of layout, ease of engine access when longitudinally mounted, practicality of non-assisted steering when not coupled to FWD system ( oh yes ..and more fun )
Modular interior trim - In other words eveything should be removable / replaceable with no more than a screwdriver and a socket set.
No carpets - just removable rubber matting
Wind up windows
An engine you just put "oil" in having only had to establish if it is suitable for cars or bikes !
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I don`t want to go back to following cars emitting puffs of smoke like old Fred used to do in team meetings with his pipe 30 years ago...
Followed an old diesel from the bygone era recently and shut the cabin external air supply off even though it was two cars in front. Remember your car headlining getting grimy after years in the `traffic of the day`?
Think I will stick with modern emission systems. I wouldn`t have said that a while back but just returned from the petro chemical smog of Hongkong.
hi there folks.....before i start, i DON'T have a porsche......But i do have a part from one, which im trying to get some help with.....im hoping one of you lovely people can help.
Its the cold side of a turbocharger....part number is 5324 101 5075....i understand it to be a kkk26 from a 993/911 turbo - prob 3.6L 6 pot, 1995-1999 ish
Can someone confirm any of these details.....to explain......im building a hybrid turbo, and im very happy to say its now build, and will be offering me a HUGE increase over the std item..... the main problem is, i can't find a actuator bracket to fit it.....im hoping if i can confirm the car/turbo setup, i can find a oem actator bracket....to which i can adapt a -31 cosworth actuator to.
For reference, this is a kkk16 - from the C20LET vauxhall engine.....its only the cold side im having problems with
Pictures
www.the-duignans.co.uk/tub/2.JPG
www.the-duignans.co.uk/kkk1.JPG
www.the-duignans.co.uk/kkk2.JPG
www.the-duignans.co.uk/kkk3.JPG
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Hi, I have a 2001 '51' Civic Sport SE and the air con has stopped working. I've owned the car for 4 months and had it re-gassed when I bought it as the air con wasn't blowing very cold. It worked for a while but gradually stopped. The garage that re-gassed it for me put some dye in the air con system to see if there was a leak somewhere. I'm taking it back next Saturday for them to look at, but I've recently read on this forum about an extended warranty by Honda for the aircon on Civic's. Anyone know if my car would be covered if it's year of manufacture is 2001? Regards
{3 separate requests missed, so I'll add the year for you - DD} Read more
Hi I have a 2001 '51' Civic Sport SE and the air con has stopped working.
snipquote
I have just successfully arranged for a free fix on my 52 '03 model (note the year, 03 Reg + 3 years standard warranty + 3 years extended = Jan 2009, so was eligible under this scheme - but you could try your luck - after all if it is this particular fault (corrosion on a condenser or something) then it is a manufacturing issue and they didn't exactly go out of their way to make it public, I only found out on Honest John.
Just had a chance to try the new Subaru Diesel, in an Outback. Very surprised at how long it took to warm up, even after idling for some minutes outside the dealers (why?). Didn't feel much heat from the heater either. Much depends on this long-awaited engine. Hope its going to be ok. Read more
........... it is well known that an efficient diesel takes a very
long time to warm up.
That's no good on a cold frosty morning when the windows are all iced up and the inside of the car is at ambient air temperature.
Browse
If it is lower geared, perhaps that is to blame for the mpg, not the PAS and AC?