January 2009
I've has this Clio for around 4 years and about 2 years ago it started suffering from a problem where the Electronic Fault Light (has a picture of a glow plug on it too) comes on a few seconds after starting the engine. The engine then hunts around looking for idle, revving up to 1000 and down to almost a stall, if no gas is given then the engine eventually stalls. This problem and warning light used to clear if you could get the car up to speed (around 35 mph) and keep it there for about 30 seconds, the engine seemed to be a lot more stable under load as it still hunted quite a lot if you tried to keep the revs up in neutral. The problem used to be very intermittent, maybe once or twice a month.
Now the problem is almost every trip, a bit of research seems to indicate that this problem is common on Clios of this era. I've had a good look in the engine bay, looked in the fuse box for chafed wires and wiggled all of the looms I can see while the engine is idling normally to try and induce the problem but no luck. The Clio is an old style Clio II but with a 16v 1149cc engine (apparently the old style usually have the 8v engine). Can anyone suggest a way forward with this, its been to the garage a few times recently (head gasket, water pump, coil pack and MAP sensor replaced) but I'm not overly happy to chuck more money at it.
Thanks for any help. Read more
I'm looking to replace my N reg Citroen Xantia 1.9TD estate with something needing less repairs/maintenance!
Basic requirement is for :
-roomy load space in back when rear seats are folded down,
-need to be able to carry a couple of large items(bumpers etc)
-reasonably economical, prefer diesel
-not too young-(pre 2000)so no catalytic converter test on MOT
-reliable and well built, not requiring constant repair
-I've got a motor trade background-so can do do my own work
-considering Volvo 940/VW Passat/Ford Mondeo etc but am open to suggestions
-not keen on french models.
Thanks
Bumperman
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ESCORT.
Provided the engine's good (ie no piston ring damage from the wrong oil) they are very hard cars to scrap on the bangernomics principle. Almost anything that goes wrong will be cheaper to fix than it would cost to replace the car, even more so if you do the work yourself.
Should mention that the wishbones only tend to last a couple of years, worth checking regulary as they send the tracking out, replacing the wrecked tyres can cost you more than replacing the wishbone.
Ihave a 1998 Finesse 1600. It was bought in 2001Mileage22000. In Oct 2003 at 28000 I changed the cam belt, pulleys etc with a kit purchased from the local Ford dealer.
Now at a mileage of 43000 the 5 year belt change recommendation is due on time alone.
Should I change the belt etc. again?
Thanks
Freman Read more
Thank you to Honest John and freman for the 5 year comment. My 85 year old mum was concerned about whether to get it replaced and this was very helpful.
Peace of mind for for about 70p a week. Only you will be able to judge whether that represents good value.
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Some of you will remember the 25% + inflation of the 1970s. A Sunday newspaper was suggesting ways of coping and mentioned that the RAC were offering life membership for £100. I 'phoned up on Monday to be told that this option was no-longer available. Ignoring this I wrote to them and sent my cheque for £100. Amazingly I got my life membership and a refund of £20 because I had already been a member for a number of years.
It covers both my wife and me and has only been used twice - once when my wife ran out of fuel and once when the windscreen shattered.
Hi
Corsa needs some new clips on the CV joint as part of the MoT.
The Haynes manual recommends special pliers to secure the ends, which look like top cutting pliers just with blunt ends.
Having a look in Halfords tonight, I see only hose clip pliers which look very similar, but my question is are these the same thing? Read more
Soft iron wire can be used-one complete loop round the cover and then twist.
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Thanks jbif. What I would try to avoid though is using shares. For one Microsoft's implementation of a file share protocol (SMB) is very inefficient for small files. On the same PC it makes sense to access the music directly.
See here for details - tinyurl.com/7k5pe9 As the list below shows, they do a full range of checks, but looks like anything (maybe incl oil change) will cost extra. Anyone ever had one of these?
Selective quotes from the above pages:
Is your Ford over three years old? If so, it qualifies for a £99 Ford Value Service ? a cheaper alternative to a full service, designed especially for older vehicles.
1. Pop in for a Ford Value Service at just £99 and we?ll give you a £25 giftcard to spend at any of seven specially selected retailers.
2. Combine a Ford Value Service with an MOT and you?ll pay only £129 ? saving 15% ? plus, you?ll receive a £25 giftcard, as above.
The Ford Value Service includes checks on:
Handbrake
Clutch
Windscreen
Washers, wipers
Exterior lights and fascia illumination
Instrument gauges, warning lights and horn
Heating system, blower motor
Air conditioning
Seat belts
Bonnet catch
Wiring, pipes, hoses, oil and fuel pipes
Engine, vacuum pump and cooling system
Coolant expansion tank, windscreen washer, power steering and brake fluid reservoirs
Coolant
Auxiliary Drive Belts
Battery
Automatic transmission
Steering, suspension linkages, ball joints, driveshafts, gaiters
Front and rear wheel bearings
Engine and transmission
Exhaust
Underbody
Braking system
Tyres including spare wheel
Wheel nuts
Air Filter
Oil & oil filter
If any work is needed, it?s carried out using Ford quality parts, as they guarantee your vehicle will perform to its optimum level. As for our workmanship, we have it independently checked by the RAC, to help us maintain the very highest standards.
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Yep!
Its a minor service and of course includes an oil and fliter change, also air filter IIRC.
Hi
Drove the car about a 1000metres got to some lights and car cut out.
Now whenever I try to start the car it turns for about 10-15 seconds then starts - once I push down the accelerator the car cuts out.
When the car is finally started it will run for about 2-3min then cuts out. (only runs if I dont push down on the accelerator)
At a guess, could this be the fuel pump? Is this something that happens to Golfs? My SDI has only done 55k miles.
I have also noticed that my fuel consumption has increased over the last 2 months from where i was getting approx 450 from the tank recently I only got 390 from the tank
Any thoughts guys?
Many thanks in advance for your help
slt Read more
Had it checked out and apparantly its the Fuel Lift Pump
and this is apparantly somewhat of a common problem, guy down VW garage says its they do atleast 2 of these a week.
Gonna cost me approx £280 inc VAT!
Oh and this type of problem doesnt get picked up by the diagnostic check either!
Heater only blows cold air.
If i turn the fan off and leave it for a few minutes, then start the fan up again... warm air blows out for a short time, then goes cold. This can be repeated.
Heater control valve?
Thanks,
Details: T reg 1.25 engine, coolant level is fine.
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Apologies for the lateness of the reply to this thread but to Willow and Mikey, the latest contributors before me, if you struggled to replace the heater valve in vain, i sympathise. You also flushed the radiator to no avail, I hear. I can only imagine that the control panel inside the car is faulty, which is more costly to replace, I believe, as I have gleaned from this and other threads in this forum's subject. I hope you got the problem sorted out without too much expense. Scrap merchants have better deals than the manufacturer I hear. Good luck!
However, I would like to thank all the contributors in this thread because I am a complete amateur and I would never have bothered to tackle such a relatively simple car maintenance task without reading the thorough questions from individuals with the same problem and the simple and well-structured replies from the amazing and persistent experienced members of this site.
I am very grateful.
You have saved me a fortune.
With confidence, I bought a "buy it now" heater valve from Ebay for £17 quid plus £3 postage which was posted the next day. I had checked the description of the heater control valve and its location in the Fiesta engine compartment from a previous member so I was pretty sure i was ordering the right thing.
It arrived this morning!
It was a struggle, bending over the fiesta engine compartment. I was also grunting often and loudly while using cheap long nose pliers to loosen the clips which collared the 4 pipes to the old heater valve. Passers-by looked on in awe at my blue jeaned ass, humping my wife's fiesta in its face. There were many expletives to syncopate with this audible rhythm, from neighbors as well as me. However, after 50 mins, I had the new valve in place. I switched on the engine and within 3 mins, hot air was embracing my cold and numb appendages.
My wife was very proud. As was I.
Many thanks. I sometimes have to use the Fiesta on cold mornings. Now I can have peace of mind that the windscreen will clear without having to be wiped a lot and not turning up at work late with icicles for fingers.
Regards
Amoss
This guy does not want to play by the rules:
tinyurl.com/dmsrjn
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IIRC - Ignorance of the Law is no defence, or is he just simply ignorant and arrogant, if this tw!t had run you over driving away from court would you be so quick to defend him - NO, didn't think so.
Browse
hi, i have the same problem with my car, i was just wondering if you have the problem fixed? if so, what was the problem and how did you go about solving it.
kind regards...