July 2009

Tazer_uk103

Hi Guys,

It's been a while since I've been on here, but now I have an odd problem that no one else seems to have any ideas on.

I've got the vehicle above and quite simply, it won't start. Spark is good, but the ECU isn't chucking in any fuel. No injector clicking, nout.

However...if you pour a bit of fuel into the intake to get it started, suddenly the ECU wakes up and starts fuelling keeping it running. Stop and restart it's absolutely fine. If left for more than a few mins though, back to the original problem.

So...any ideas?

James. Read more

Number_Cruncher

An idea that will cost you nothing to test;

Check the voltage reported by the throttle position sensor. If the ECU thinks the throttle is wide open (TPS voltage above a given value) while cranking, the ECU switches to a mode where the injectors are disabled, to clear any possible fuel flooding. Once the engine is running above a threshold speed, this mode is cleared.

archy1

hi am after timing marks for 99 v reg td astra got the gm engine.thanks

Moved from Discussion and slt Read more

Pugugly

Had one today for a couple of hours as courtesy car whilst a friend's A3 was in for a service. It was in a sort of plum red, and I think it was a basic spec car, however it boasted cruise, a flashy infortermaint screen, climate. Nicely made car, felt far more solid than the Golf I owned and the Skoda (!) - everything shut with a proper thud. The motor was as silky smooth as any four pot from BMW and a vast improvement on the PDIs I've experienced - time will tell whether its as reliable though.

Being a very long car (longer than the CRV at first glance although it was only a glance) it could have done with reverse sensors perhaps ?

Another slight oddity were the otherwise excellent instruments - the speedo when reading zero was at the 6 o'clock position with 120mph at the twelve o'clock position - slightly unsettling that !

Nice car, nicely made with an altogether not too bonkers electronic handbrake.

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Lou_O

This is on my list for my next car - although the A5 is also
very nice. Despite faults on my VWs I had I still like VAG cars.

>>

Audi A5 revealed by Which as least reliable new car.

www.thisismoney.co.uk/bargains-and-rip-offs/motori...9
tomo4

Is the picasso a long term ownership option, at 3 years regular faults are occurring is this likely to be the future for this 20l auto. I thought at this age they would have sorted the bugs. its an 06 plat

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Bromptonaut

While Cit's lack a reputation for durabilty the OP's experience could be down to abuse or neglect by a previous owner.

Plenty round here (we had, until recently, a well regarded Citroen dealer) seem to just go on and on. The one i had on loan for a couple of days was very nice to drive though it was beaten by a Berlingo as final choice for family transport.

jp147

The 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 litre petrol Ford Focus are fitted with the iB5 manual transmission whereas the 2.0 litre petrol and 1.8 litre turbo diesel are fitted with the MTX 75 transmission.

Because my Focus is a 1.8 petrol it uses the iB5 gearbox.

I have read conflicting reports on the internet that with some manual gearboxes it is possible to overfill the box with oil. I think they mentioned that if the gearbox has a hole for checking and also another hole for filling then it is possible to overfill with oil whereas if the box only has a single hole for checking and filling then it is not possible to overfill with oil.

Does anyone know whether it is possible to overfill the iB5 transmission with oil

thanks. Read more

jc2

Be warned that they use different oils;you can tell which g/box is fitted by the gearlever in the car.MTX75 has a lift-up detent under the knob to allow reverse to be selected;the iB5 has only a spring detent to stop reverse being selected.The reason for the reverse detent and different oils is that MTX has synchro cones on reverse.

steve is trying

Hi, Could anyone out there enlighten me as to what a 'p bush' is please.
Quote from MOT failure 'Offside (p bush) Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement [2.4.G.3]'
I've asked a couple of people with 'don't know' replies, and the Haynes manual isn't very helpful.
Any pointers would be appreciated. Thanks. All the best, Steve Read more

steve is trying

Hi Thomp1983,
Thanks. It could be something like that, but not sure as Mine is an Estate. I will go to GSF tomorrow and see if they can put some light on this p bush. (I can see where the 'p' comes from now from your link.) Thanks again. All the best Steve

Bilboman

tinyurl.com/nwlstc
I came across this article today and, somewhat embarrassed, started to list the utterly useless accessories my friends and I fitted to cars years ago before we knew any better. The list is as long as it is embarrassing... The clip on notepad with a carpy pen attached post-office style by a coiled lead - with its own built in reading light. (Never wrote anything down on it, least of all at night: never had any urgent phone messages as it was 20 years before I even got a phone in the car!) Those colour-keyed plastic gaiter things to adorn the base of the windscreen wiper arms (presumably intended to save impacted pedestrians from undue harm in those murderous pre-NCAP years...) The beaded seat cover. The in-car rubbish bin. My own list of shame ends with a dashboard mounted cassette rack (99p from Woollies) - revealing to all and sundry my own dubious taste in music ensured that my car was never broken into, and there I was thinking that it was the bright yellow gearlever/handbrake lock that kept my car safe...
Eclipsing all this tat is the LED clock, proudly adorning the (mock walnut) gearknob of a schoolmate's 850 Mini (He had a Saturday job in a motor accessory store and unlimited scope for accessorising his car!) It had the all-important stopwatch with lap timer and even a tiny one millionth candlepower backlight. (The watch was only vaguely readable if the car was at rest and in second gear.)
What were we like.....

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the swiss tony

latex gloves were targeted not because the user maybe allergic to them but to reduce
the risk to others alot of latex allergies only need secondary contact (i.e someone wearing
them to prepare the persons food) to have a reaction.


So bananas and condoms will be next?

Ok I understand in a food prep environment, but when working on the dirty bits of cars, trucks etc?
the alternatives IMO are not as good, when working on small oily components (repairing gearboxs for instance) you need to keep as much 'feel' as possible, this you loose using vinyl gloves.
RobertyBob

... get a hat.

Earlier this year we decided that it was time to replace Mrs RoberyBob's '99 Fiesta.

We came close to buying a new Fiesta but fortunately common sense prevailed: we bought an MX-5 instead :-) One of the last pre-facelift models at a good price.

Now, given that we have actually had some sunny weather this year and that we often drive with the top down ? what would the appropriate headgear be for a 'mature' couple?

I have a baseball cap (worn the correct way round) that also acts as a good sunvisor. Mrs RoberyBob cannot bring herself to wear a baseball cap.

What do other lady and gentlemen open air motorists wear when their top is down?
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ifithelps

...Get a roof!...

I've got one, thanks.

It's just that I sometimes choose to store it in the boot.

cazzy

Hi I'm really hoping someone here can help me as I have searched everwhere for some advice on this!!!

I have recently bought a HRV and although the car is right...the fact there is no rear centre seatbelt is annoying when ferrying kids around.

Is there anyway I can have a rear centre belt retro fitted?


Many Thanks

Cazzy Read more

mike hannon

I thought Backroomers might be interested in this glimpse of the way industrial relations works in the French motor industry.
A few weeks ago, workers angry at being told their jobs were on the line were content with kidnapping and interning their bosses.
But now:

tinyurl.com/mthgr2

Going on past experience, the gendarmes are likely to stand back and decline to involve themselves.
What might have happened to Longbridge, etc, eh? Read more

mike hannon

Yes, point taken. I was an NGA member (and official) once, and I saw exactly the same situation in the newspaper industry, pre-Thatcher. A dialogue of the deaf indeed.
I do feel some disquiet, though, about the way industrial anarchy in France appears to be condoned, in the motor industry and elsewhere, as a way of making the state do what is perceived to be its job.
Last year I had to drive through a burning barricade to get into the ferryport at Cherbourg, and that after the main road into the city had been blocked. There wasn't a gendarme in sight, anywhere.