July 2008
Hello all.
On Saturday I had the air conditioning on our 2002 Scenic dCi re-gassed (apart from the fact that the air con didn't seem to be blowing that cold all was well before the re-gas).
Took it to a local(ish) garage who told me the gas level was low, they re-gassed the system and all seemed OK. However, when I got the car home (5 mile drive) I could hear a relay(?) clicking in and out every few seconds and the air no longer seemed cold. I phoned the garage and was told it was the system 'settling down'. Later that evening we used the car and the clicking every 5 or so seconds had been replaced by a 'boing' type noise (sorry - best description) every 20 seconds, when this occurred the revs dropped, then bounced back up again.
Car went back to the garage on Sunday and I was told it is a relay clicking in every 17 seconds, not to worry and to bring the car back in a week or so and they'll check the system.
Frankly, I'm not happy and worried. The boing noise is still occurring every 20 or so seconds with the accompanying drop and rise in revs, and the air is now no cooler than it was before I took it to the garage. I also noticed there are no condensation drips from underneath the car. It makes no difference if the air con is on auto or manual, and the 'boing' noise stops when the air con is turned off.
Very grateful for any ideas as to what's going on.
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Hi,
My Zafira suffers from a nasty wiper clunking noise that happens when the wipers change direction, any advice?
Cheers,
Steve Read more
Probably the multiple ball joints in the wiper linkage are worn &/or need some more grease to take up the slack.
"swap for small car or van, tax to January 09"
Seen in town on the back of an R reg Jeep.
Bodywork Looked in good condition for its age, running on half worn `general Grabbers` or something chunky like that.
Never seen it spelt out so bluntly before, so Lets hope they enjoyed its earlier ownership as surely there will be few takers. It must have been a different ball game 10 years ago for the Jeep.
We kept pace for a few hundred yards, me doing 63mpg and him no doubt, around 18mpg..
What`s betting that in 10years time, someone is running alongside me in an electric car (News this AM) and thinking the same of mine?
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I think it's also born of practicality. My brother used to lecture in a specialist technical subject in Japan. He speaks little Japanese but found that many educated Japanese people spoke English. Few of them spoke any other western languages.
I recently bought a 2.1td manual hatch, initially for spares as it needed a clutch, but it was in such good condition that I decided to repair it which I have. The previous owned said he had the injection pump overhauled (Bosch mechanical) The first thing I noticed when driving it was a very loud diesel knock, although it drove OK apart from a little smoke at full throttle at around 2000 rpm. I concluded tthat the pump timing was over advanced and retarded it about 1/16", it now sounds much better and the performance is relativly unaffected, but it still smokes. I have two similar estates, the performance is about the same, although I would have expected the hatch to be better as its lighter. Apart from the smoke, the only difference is lack of the usual low down torque, below 1800 rpm, which these engines are famed for. Although the engine sounds OK at higher revs, it is quieter at tickover than the others, suggesting that it is retarded at that speed. After all that, my question is, could the advance curve be wrong, is it adjustable, could it be set up incorrectly?
Thanks in anticipation
Peter.N. Read more
I am no expert on industrial production but an article in today's DT Business section reports on the success of Mini production and the number now exported to USA. It goes on to say that the Oxford factory employs 4700 people, split between 3 shifts, who produce "Up to 200 cars a day". I realise that there must be some admin and technical support but that production figure seems ather low to me. Anybody got any thoughts?
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It was a quick google AS. And you're right it's Swindon that presses the body panels. The DT seems to have quoted a figure per shift not per day.
I cannot comment on Bridgend for engines (Ford make petrol engines there) because the petrol BMW engine's for the Mini are produced in Birmingham at Hams Hall. And all BMW 4 cylinder petrol engines are apparently now built at Hams Hall.
EDIT: PSA machine the diesel engine parts but the assembly for BMW/Mini is at Hams Hall in Birmingham. And the DT article too says Hams Hall ;-) You need new reading glasses AS.
"When production started at the factory in 2001, exports accounted for 60pc of output. The Oxford factory employs 4,700 workers and operates a three-shift pattern, building up to 200 cars a day. Another 2,100 people work at the pressing plant in Swindon and the engine factory at Hams Hall, near Birmingham."
Hi
Just bought a Focus (C-max) and one of the very few disappointments is that if the window is open more than half an inch or if the radio is on more than half a decibel, I can't hear the click of the turn indicators from the dashboard. It's such a quiet click.
Is there any way I can make it louder, e.g. by wiring in an additional relay?
I just know it won't be long before I cause someone else a problem by not cancelling them after a manouvre. PS I find the green arrows aren't very bright either, on a sunny day, but I can live with that.
Thanks in advance.... Read more
This is a common issue on most modern cars that don't use a conventional "clicker relay" type flasher unit.One possible fix is to wire in a small bleeper,similar to those used when a tow bar is fitted.hth
I have notice very pronounced uneven rear tyre wear on my Renault Megan cc. The rear tyres are wearing to smooth on the outside and still have 3 to 4mm of tread depth on the inside. The renault dealership don't appear to accept a fault in design. I have had a 4 wheel alignment (computerised) check done by a reputable tyre company and all wheels are within the manufacturers stated tollerances. Has anyone else experienced a similar problem?
{volume level in header lowered} Read more
Have a look on the Parkers website. Some unhappy Migraine owners on there with their tyre wear issues.
How much of a jobis a timing belt on the 2.5l diesel. I have been asked to do one but dont want to accept if the job involves various dealer only special tools. Read more
Hi
There is a hole above the starter to lock the flywheel so that bit is easy. The hard bit is the camshafts, There is marks on the pulleys but these don?t line up and the pulleys are free wheeling so if you undue the centre bolt you will have to do it the hard way. So if you have a universal tool to lock the camshafts on the sprockets it?s an easy job. Dealer should charge 4 hours to change. The hard way is to take out the two blanking plugs (4mm alen screw) in the cam cover, one behind the alternator the other one in the same place on the other side and screw in the locking pins.
Hi all, I'll be going to Manchester for the August bank holiday weekend but all the local hotels were booked so I'm staying out on the M62 and will need to get a taxi in.
I always try to avoid paying the Hackney rates if I can, so, can anyone recommend a cheap but reliable private firm that we can book to take us into town and also back to the hotel in the small hours of the morning?
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Some car parks are cheaper on Sunday try round Bridge St/Salford station - you're on the right side of town and two or three big car parks there
I have a 98 1.3 fiesta finesse. I've changed front bearings on older fords (eg mk2 fester) and now need to do them on my mk4. Is it a similar job in that I can punch out the old shell and use that to drift in the new one or is it a case of having to have them pressed in/out like the focus rears? Just thought I'd ask before I start turning nuts.
Cheers Read more
Thanks for that, its a very useful tip to know and not one I'd come across before!
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They put too much gas in it and it's bouncing off it's high pressure cutout switch. The noise is the poor little compressor being asked to start up with super high pressure in the system.