May 2009

simpsonsw

ABS light permanently light on 1998 2.8TD Shogun LWB. Brakes seem fine. Have been advised that sensor maybe dirty. What do I do? Any ideas what might be causing it? Read more

t2myd

hi ,ive replaced engine on my a4 tdi (afn) ,ive put injector pump off original engine on new engine . timeings spot on ,problem is theres no fuel getting to the pump.?

slt Read more

dcfc79

Im looking at possibly buying a replacement for my 2004 204 1.1 but im unsuyre which car is best to go for in terms servicing or things going wrong with them, theres nothing wrong with the 206 i just want a car with a bigger engine than 1.1, Read more

Armitage Shanks {p}

www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=294

gstilphen

So my '91 535i was running strong as always. I went to get new tires. while I was heading there, it stumbled twice, but small, just a single missed fire on each occasion which I attributed to the engine being cold and old, but still idled smooth and ran strong. I pulled up at the tire place, and went inside. They came out a few minutes later and it didnt want to start on the first try, which is wierd, then it started right up but idled a bit low(probably around 500rpm). They pulled it in, turned it off, and lifted it. they lifted it a bit off balance though. all pressure was on the back, the front was about 2 inches off the lift, but it was just one of those low lifts that brings the car up just high enough to do the wheels, so I didnt say much. Car wasnt teetering or anything. They put on new rubber. lower it, and it cranks right up. They back it out about 6 feet just past the bay doors and leave it idling, I get in and get ready to backup and it just sputters out. I try to crank again and no start. no spark, no fuel. Starter motor is turning engine over, there is plenty of power from battery, but just no start. I was supposed to be at my grandmothers funeral in an hour, but no such luck. So I started with the obvious.
-Battery-OK(brand new)
-Checked all Fuses-OK
-Checked Ignition coil(new MSD coil) plenty of spark.
-Checked Fuel pump-OK
-Checked Fuel Pump Relay. No ground, but when I jump ground to a nearby suspension bolt, fuel pump fires right up, so PUMP is OK.
-Relay told pump to turn on, so RELAY is OK
-Checked CrankShaft Position Sensor-not sure how to test, but also less than 6 months old and appears fine.
-Checked all connections and wires in both electronics boxes under hood,
-Checked all connections and wires under rear seat and in trunk.

After getting the car towed and getting a ride to the funeral, I dug a bit deeper and started replacing things. here is everything that is new:
-DME-NEW
-Crankshaft position sensor-NEW
-Main relay-NEW
-Fuel Pump Relay- NEW
-All fuses-NEW
-Ignition Coil-NEW
-Spark Plugs-NEW
-Fuel Pump-NEW
-Battery-NEW(and expensive. red top optima battery)

-Fuel Pump turns on when jumped from relay terminals 30 and 87 but still no start.
-Fuel Pump does not turn on without jumper.
-No Spark from coil.

So to me it seems like maybe the DME isnt powering up? Maybe a bad ground somewhere? Gonna check the grounds in the morning, its dark and raining out there now.

Any other ideas?
Read more

beamer boy

How did you get on since Sunday? No doubt you checked fuel was getting to the injectors, and there was a spark at the plugs? Basic I know, but often overlooked..

defender

I see as a result of a crash between a police car on a training run and an ambulance in the highlands the road was closed for nearly 12 hours ,surely this is a bit over the top ,
it was all in daylight hours so no hold up there .
I realise a reasonable time is needed but a closure of this lenth of time which means a 70 mile detour I dont see the need for . what are they going to find after 10 hours that couldnt be found in 6 for example ?

on another closure that was caused by a cycle race and caused locals to be stuck in their own homes for a few hours someone scattered carpet tacks and managed to puncture over 500 of the bikes ,cant say I totally approve but at least their problems will be addressed by the organisers instead of being ignored as before Read more

guss

I believe from news reports here that the RTA was initally treated as an accident by the police, but the usual closer investigation by traffic investigators at the scene highlighted more information, that is now being treated as murder. Certainly highlights the reason why police are rightly thorough at the scene of all fatal accidents

steveo3002

we have 4 cars in the family , all could use new coolant

anyone suggest whats good stuff ? id like a good few years corrosion protection from it, and prefer not to buy ready diluted stuff i see in all the local shops Read more

gordonbennet

between France and the England was washed away after the ice age....
;-)


Pot, kettle and black spring to mind oh he who coats everything in grease.
Good tease though..;)

On the subject of leaks and colour of coolant, didn't the problems mainly occur when people bought the much cheaper (orange?) methanol based coolant from their local accessory shop.
I seem to remember that very short life stuff having a habit of searching out any weaknesses.
oilrag

We were down there by chance in 1993 a week before the race - just as the scaffolding was going up for the stands.

I remember the Maestro Clubman D (non turbo) going up the hill, palm tree (original then?) on the left.. It lumbered up like an old truck with a ponderous gait and a sound like the U-boat diesel on Das Boot. Then down into the tunnel at around 30mph - mixing it with the best.
We drove through the streets of St Tropez a little later - past the pavement cafe with the view of the harbour resplendent with gold coated men and sun tanned women.

Then crept out without stopping or even being noticed - towards the back-lot of the campsite and tea bags in tin mugs in Le- Lavandou.

The Maestro...It knew it`s place.

Read more

Dynamic Dave

Never done Monaco but I've driven Silverstone .....


Same here. It was at the Top Gear live event there back in the late 90's.

Also drove around the Stow circuit in a Ford Puma with an instructor telling me to drive it like I had stolen it. Fastest time of the day got given a Puma (a brand new one, not the ones that were thrashed within an inch of their lives)

Later I was taken round the main track in a 4 seater race prepared Nissan Primera touring car - which was far more enjoyable and breath taking than any ride at Alton Towers. The driver even burnt up one of the Volvo T5 estate police cars that were there.
Lesley1716

Can anyone tell me how to de-activate the immobilser on this car? It's my dads car and it's alarm system allows you to start the engine only if you open the car with the key fob.....if you lock it with the key and open it with the key then the engine will start, but if you lock it with the fob and open it with the key, the alarm goes off and it won't start because of the immobiliser. His problem is that he locked the car with the key fob then the fob broke and he opened it with the key, now he can't start the car.....are you still with me??....anyway, he reckons if he could just either immobilise the alarm and immobiliser he can just carry on with using the key. Is this possible?? Or is he going to have to give in and buy a new key fob??
Thank you
Lesley1716 Read more

parchwba

Have you solved this problem yet??

If not, if you look inside the engine compartment near the front off side, there is a keyhole with on/off. ive got one in mine but not sure if this is to switch off the alarm. I have no key for this so can't test it.

Javalin

Hello all,

Anybody know how to take the slack out of the accelerator cable on these? Mine has a slight bit of "nothing" before the engine starts picking up which makes it a lumpy drive.

My 1.8GL picks up as soon as you look at the pedal!

Cheers,

James Read more

Javalin

thanks again Woodspeed - one more notch sorted it!

James

GroovyMucker

So I managed to burst a tyre (stupid alloy wheels) just outside the office. Rang the breakdown company and went back into the office to wait. Two young women there told me they could change the tyre for me (where's the "embarrassed" smiley?) but at my age I'm not going to start doing that sort of thing.

Any breakdown company that you'd recommend? Read more

AshT

The standard of service depends largely on the patrol who attend. I've changed from my previous breakdown cover a few years after being left out in a lane for four hours on a freezing December night. I've called my current service twice since I joined, once for a clutch cable, and just a few weeks ago after running out of fuel (yes, I know, no excuse really but I'm blaming the fuel guage in the Espace which swings wildly between forlorn pessimism and amazing optimism).
There were two patrol men who attended the clutch cable and although they arrived promptly their level of competence was slightly below that of Laurel and Hardy. Suffice to say they proved totally incapable of fitting the cable, and I ended up driving the car 20 miles to my local home mechanic who did the job on the spot in less than half an hour. I complained about the service and was offered a 25% reduction in the next year's cover which I accepted.
The guy who attended when I ran out of diesel on the other hand was great - turned up quickly with a tin of the thick stuff, gave the engine a good looking over, primed and started it, then followed me up the road to the nearest garage to make sure it was running well - and didn't laugh at me once.