October 2009
My Renault 2.0 litre petrol Grand Scenic (55 plate) has an autobox which I believe may be by Nissan. There is no torque converter -- it's a robotised manual -- and no Lock or Hold. If manual intervention is called for, you shove the lever to the left and it becomes a flip-lever manual box.
I do not normally use kickdown, but if a bit of urge is needed I just move the lever into manual and flip it to drop a gear, afterwards moving back to auto.
Another driver (with me in the passenger seat) drove it over the weekend. He used kickdown and we both observed that although the car responds OK there is a rather long delay, after backing off the throttle again, before it engages a higher gear. The effect is similar to a slightly sticking throttle cable (which it isn't, but you get the idea).
The main agent who supplied the car tells me that this is normal with, and that this a frequently-asked question from those accustomed to older auto-boxes. Apparently the 'smart' box waits to be sure that the driver really does want to use kickdown, and is not just having a temporary burst of speed, and that additionally it is a matter of the box adapting to the driver's style -- if you don't normally use kickdown then it will wait to check. Hmm . . .
Now to be fair, I may not have got this quite right. The chap I spoke to was no doubt a very good technician -- he certainly knew these boxes well -- but did not express things too clearly, so I may have misunderstood something.
What is the Back Room's experience of these boxes , please? Read more
Morning all,
Next Thursday I have got to be at Heathrow for around 0830 to meet a friend coming in from the USA.
Plan is to leave home about 0530 but which route do I take?
Preferred route is A11, A505 to Baldock, A1, A404, M25. What are the roadworks like at the Hatfield Tunnel?
Other (boring) router is M11/M25.
I know either can stop me if there is an accident, but forget them, whats the normal traffic like?
Thanks in Advance
ND Read more
I fly overseas about six times a year from Manchester - usually going east.
The cheapest flights usually go via Heathrow, but there is no way we will do that. It is so congested, there are so many delays of flights arriving, planes stuck in limbo on the ground waiting for a parking space.
We usually spend a little bit more and fly via Amsterdam, Frankfurt or Zurich which are pleasant enviroments. Also, the time spent hanging around in these airports is far less than at Heathrow where for one of our regular routes, the stop over time at Heathrow is about 5 hours (and I can fly the whole route via Zurich in 6 hours and 40 mins).
Hope this is in the correct place as it is my first post. I have the above vehicle (grand voyager but option not given) which has an electric tailgate. The problem is I am constantly setting off and forgetting to press the button to close the tailgate. Unlike the doors there is no warning alarm to tell you the tailgate is open. I was wondering if it would be possible to wire it into the existing open door alarm system, or fit a stand alone alarm? If anyone has any advice I would be very grateful. Read more
Why is the Uk the only country that does not turn its traffic lights off at night?
Also why does it not allow left turns when lights are on red? Read more
As already stated up thread pedestrians have right of way at a junction once they
are in the road
I did also say "except at certain cossing points" which you had cut from my post... but in general they don't have right of way... unless FT knows different?
So why do road planners try and do this
Around where I live there are a number of examples, where you can choose two lanes to go right for instance at traffic lights, but once you made your turn the road narrows down to one lane within a short distance
Read more
In Glasgow we have the opposite problem due to the ongoing M74 extension works.
Aitkenhead road, T junction, 2 lanes, inside lane went left or right, right hand lane right only. This was because when you turned right the road was 2 lanes as well and that was the direction the majority of traffic goes.
Now when you turn right, it is down to one lane about 100 yards along due to the roadworks. So in all their wisdom, they have actually cut the approach road in Aitkenhead Road to one lane as well. Therefore all traffic, going left or right must share the one lane.
The easy solution would of course be to keep it two lanes, but left lane strictly left turn only.
But I suppose that makes too much sense.
I guess the planners would retort that drivers would not be trusted to not go down the left lane and then try and turn right against the cone layoput which has probably got an element of truth in it.
Friday evening ( of course) - departure time fortunately a little flexible.
My usual route from Esher to east of Cambridge is - from north of London ( M25)
A1(M) to Baldock, A505 to Royston to Duxford and on to the A11.
I like this route. It is quite a pleasant drive and much nicer than the M11
( the Hatfield tunnel works has not been a trouble to me so far)
With the above in mind and if this route is to be used what is the best routing from Wandsworth up to the A1?
The routing to the A1 looks fairly straight forward.
( daughter is more familiar with Paddington, St Johns Wood area)
All the route planners seem to say cross London, Blackwall Tunnel etc and then M11
This looks a complicated route.
Thanks.
Read more
What time of year are you planning this run?
If in the next couple of months it shouldnt be too bad for the last bit on the A11 to Elvedon (Centre Parks). This bit of road, if you dont know, is single carriageway and the lights in Elvedon normally has it backing up for most of the 7 miles.
Should you come through London the obvious route is to come up the M11 to Junction 9, but what about coming round on the M25 and then up the A1/A505. If taking the A1 route, come off at the M1 and take the A404 cross country (assuming you dont already).
Hi
my voyager is cutting out without warning as if the immobiliser is coming on. it does it 2 or 3 times a day after 1 mile or 30 miles. I have followed the advice given my MerlinTec 7 simon(many thanks) but there is no obvious problem. I have re- earthed the supply to the heater matrix & immobiliser & clocks plug but this has not solved the problem. The fob works fine when locking & unlocking it disarms the alarm ok. When it cuts out i lock the doors and wait for the LED to flash slowly I then unlock seems to disarm but will not start. After 10 min to 30 min of continually locking & unlocking it will start & run fine. I did think it was something to do with the vehicle cooling to allow start??
I also have the aircon light & the button next to it flashing continuously, I have followed instruction given on the forum but cannot get these to stop flashing. Finally!!! my cruise control & horn do not work. I am in need of some expert help my local auto electrician says there is nothing he can do. It always seem to cut out at the worst places(islands. in traffic0 I see Merlin Tec seem to know there stuff I am in South Birmingham are yuo anywhere near. I HAVE MOVED THE IMMOBILISER INTO THE GLOVE BOX & CAN HEAR IT OPERATING Any help would be gratefully appreciated or can anyone point me in the direction of a specialist.
Thanks rugby robin Read more
sorry error in date,
see my report HJ back room > tech matters > select voyager dated 04 Jul 011...
hi
friend having problem with his audi a4 diesel.
generally in getting into car after it has been raining or driving whilst it is raining the car makes all the noises of missfiring, spluttering, black smoke and loss of power. once it stops raining or left over night and is dry the next day it runs fine, power returns no sputtering and no smoke. had it in the local garage who can't find anything wrong.
any ideas.
thanks in advance
Read more
Wiring loom on injectors could require changing. Part costs approx £68.
Wiring becomes brittle and cracks causing a cylinder or cylinders to misfire intermittently. Easily changed and instantly cured my engine idling/loss of power problems.
uk.cars.yahoo.com/06102009/36/lucky-escape-ferrari...l
OK, the Ferrari story is incidental, I didn't realise that NCAP didn't test supercars as they had to meet half the costs themselves. With hindsight it makes sense but would have thought it would have been compulsory up to a certain level of production.
With more hindsight, I don't think Ferrari drivers buy their cars based on NCAP ratings! Read more
That one must have passed me by on the local news! Looks nasty!
Fiat doblo 1.9 jtd common rail diesel 97,000 miles has failed on emissions , run diesel clean throught it but still chucking out black smoke on throttle, emissions read abou 5.0 , any ideas please Read more
thanks for reply, had diagnostic, it was air mass , £170 from fiat but got it sorced at £75,cheers
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Many thanks -- that figures. Do you know if this is in fact a Nissan box? First registered September 2005.