November 2008
Hi
I have a problem with my Focus 2.0 (52 plate, 48k, FSH). I have only recently bought the car and the problem has started in the last three weeks.
(For reference, it sounds identical to this youtube vid, which was posted by honestjohn user djmontara. See: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPYxoFwG5io )
I find the noise is much worse when the car is fully warmed up, although I can hear it from cold, although not as obvious.
If you let the car idle when hot, it sits at 700rpm steadily. If you tap the accelerator there is a rattle from the near side of the engine compartment, as if below the air box. If you accelerate smoothly there is no rattle. Next, if you depress the clutch and tap the accelerator, there is no rattle. This got me thinking that the problem is the input shaft bearing on the gearbox. Does this sound plausible to anyone? (Strangly, if you depress the clutch and accelerate to say 2000rpm and then release the clutch, there doesn't seems to be a rattle as the gearbox engages, which I might have expected.)
The same noise appears when the car is under load when driving, say dropping down to 3rd gear to take a corner. Or when accelerating away from standing (although you can 'accelerate out' of the noise once over 2000ish RPM). At first I thought it was pinking, so I have changed the plugs and cleaned the MAF. I havn't had ford check for any diagnostic messages yet, mainly because I can't afford to. But the engine management light is not on and the car starts and drives ok other than this noise.
Any ideas appreciated.
Andy. Read more
Hi all
I have a S reg Ford Escort 1.6 16v petrol. The car has done 103500 approx miles and I use it as a run around for my work.
Afew months back the exhaust started blowing, I took it to the mechanic who has been looking after my cars for years and after having a good look around the car informed that it was the middle bit of the exhaust that was blowing, it may last alittle longer as it wasn't blowing excessively but would need a new middle exhaust evenually, also the cat converter was falling apart but again it was not determental at the present time but would need sorting out before the next MOT.
Due to lack of funds I was unable to get the work done until now. A new middle exhaust and cat converter have now been fitted, approx 4 days ago. The day after the work had been done the exhaust was sounding like it was blowing again, I rang the garage and they took it back in to double check it but couldn't locate where it was blowing, the mechanic agreed it sounded like the exhaust, he suggested I take to his friend who specialised in exhausts, the friend looked at it throughly but he also could not find a problem (he also checked all the seals), he suggested that sometimes when a new exhaust and cat had been fitted that the emissions could be heard resounding off the hollow pipe until a layer of carbon had built up in the new exhaust pipe hence muffling the noise, what I would like to know is, is this true or is there something else I should be looking at.
many thanks Read more
Hi,
My cousin owns a 2002 52 Focus 1.6, with about 60K on the clock. During a recent visit, she told me that the oil light had occasionally started coming on, often after the brake was applied (flashing on, then off... not staying on).
A few enquiries revealed no recent service (ie over 12 months) or oil check (I had to show her the hidden release behind the Ford badge!). I know the importance of annual oil changes and fortnightly checks, and that the oil light isn't a low oil warning light etc, so I don't intend this post to generate polite "told you so"-esque responses.
A few dipstick checks (cold engine) revealed no reading on the dipstick (and still no reading after a short journey). Compared with my Daihatsu, the upper and lower levels on the dipstick are very close. I can only assume that the oil level was very low, but there was clearly oil in it!
A quick trip to Halfords later, and I put in 2 litres (sump capacity circa 6). After an hour, there was still no reading on the dipstick... and no the dipstick has not snapped.
Again, my assumption is that there is simply not enough oil in there to register on the dipstick, and that, because of the dipstick markings being so close, the sump needs to be at least half full before it shows on the dipstick.
Is my assumption correct? I was wary about over-filling it, especially if the dipstick was in fact playing silly beggars, having done this to a friend's Ka in the past with rather smelly and smoky consequences.
Of course I explained about the urgent need for a service and oil change... but (as with many people) they only lift the bonnet when things go wrong.
Any advice appreciated. The car is otherwise running fine. Read more
It holds 4.25 litres; so, if the light was flashing, it was probably down to it's last litre.
Adding another 2, still makes it at least a litre short; so add some more, half-a-litre at a time, until it shows on the stick.
The engine damage will already have been done; so maybe think of P/X-ing it.
Frankly; she should be walking anyway. If she doesn't even check the oil, what are the tyres, wipers and the inside of the windscreen like.
I have a Renault megane P reg petrol that has started to play up; when starting from cold or hot the revs will go right up like I am holding my foot to the floor. I have had a problem with the map sensor hose and when checking for leaks, I popped the pipe off and the rev dropped to a normal idle speed but the engine was running lumpy but the car was drivable. Does anyone know what might be the problem, I am going to check all hoses for leaks but I fear it might be another drop off at Renaults for another rip-off expensive diagnostic again? Read more
possibly the throttle position sensor? (if they go round back before the "idle" point then the ECU thinks you've got the throttle wide open!)
I guess its not the idle control valve as it wouldn't rev that high?
Does it stop if you press the pedal a bit?
James
HJ said "Watch Sterling on Monday."
What price the BBC leads with 'Osbourne causes run in the pound' if it drops yet again, ignoring the fact its lost 25% of its value in the last few months without him saying a word! Read more
US light crude fell today to $50.25.. this was equal to the 1 day lows of 18th January 2007.
Apart from that one day, you have to go back to May 2005 to find a lower price.
US imports of Saudi crude have fallen 40% in the past 4 months..
Demand destruction on a huge scale.. I am expecting GDP losses over this recession of about 7 to 10% (The 1929-32 one in US was 30%).
So lots of scope for oil prices to fall to say $30.
At that price exploration in non ME countries is uneconomic as are virtually ALL Green energy projects.. So do not expect UK gas and electricity price sto fall as much as they should do.
Of course, exploration budgets will be slashed if this continues for years thus virtually ensuring a shortage when economies revive as IEA assessments suggest non Saudi fields are depleting reserves far faster than thought...
My comments only.
Shell has stopped expansion in Canadian tar sands projects,,uneconomic below $75.
Hi all, I've been moving recently and having come to put the seats up again I've found that the belts have tensioned and locked. Is there anyway to solve this? Read more
Had the same thing happen on my C-Max. Just persevere with tugging the belt, continuously. Eventually the inertia reel will slacken.
So tug hard, when you feel the lock let the belt retract slightly then pull out belt lightly, should release. Worked every time for me.
Has anyone made the trip to the 'ring with their weekend pride and joy and if so how did you get on?
The idea of having a car for this sole purpose seems to get more and more appealing as opportunities in this day and age for 'enthusiastic' motoring are a trifle rare.
I have seen that the circuit runs week-long training courses in the summer months which look appealing, I quite like the idea of being coached by the professionals in one of the circuit's cars before committing to any solo laps. It would also teach car control skills which could prove invaluable in a real world emergency.At the very least it would make the long journey worthwhile.
Surely there can't be a greater challenge for the keen driver, at least if we want to keep it legal. What do you reckon: a cheap, reliable kick-around for the mundane every day stuff, and 'ring toy in the garage? Read more
I see the record has been broken by a Dodge Viper. 20.8 km in 7 min 22 sec or 169.4 km/h.
Suddenly starting to get wet carpets in the driver's footwell after heavy rain even if it is standing on the drive. Some leaves off surrounding trees had built up in the scuttle area (certainly over more than one year). Does the air intake for the heater originate within the scuttle and might water be diverted inside the car due to this leaf build up? Trouble is I removed as much dead leaf matter as I could and removed the rubber wotsit attached to the bulkhead so there is no restriction but after heavy rain the carpet was soaked again. The windscreen seal looks in excellent condition (which was another theory. Read more
Wife has had a letter from the Honda dealer who sold us her Jazz. They're offering Hondas (well Jazzs, Civics and CRVs) at cost price with the Honda invoice taped to the screen to prove it. Minor catch, you have to buy with one of 2 credit packages, though the rate on one is 1.9%, or a service package. Next weekend only. If they don't have what you want they will show you their cost price and allow you to order at that price.
As I said following the last offer, my money's staying where it is!
JH Read more
Making money - in a fairly small way but quite substantial if you were pumping gas (as they say) for a bit of a living.
Bob was crucial to the whole plan. Better still was two bob. Then there was two and a kick. And what about half a bar? Or even a tanner? We still have thruppeny bits in rhyming slang.
Oh dear. I knew the whole education system had failed when "nelsons" was causing a problem the other day.
I should, however, like to make it clear that all procedures were correctly followed.
some urgent help needed here please.
My friends younger brother has a Mreg polo. We went to put a new stereo in for him yesterday but it did not go to well.
The wires were in a terrible state and we couldnt wire the new one into them properly. so we put his old one back in but now it does not work.
Anyway now the car will not start.
The battery is not flat (put a multimeter on and reading was fine) and all fuses are in tact. The only way for the car to start is for us to 'bump' it.
We are going out of our minds now - PLEASE HELP Read more
If it cranks but won't start, then starts with a bump; I'd check that you are still getting a feed to the coil when it's cranking.
As TB says; ignition switch.
Browse
It is not carbon in the pipe-the muffler filling-usually Basalt wool- is placed in the mufflers in thin plastic bags-to protect the assembler and the environment-these melt when the system get hot and then the filling settles into place.