November 2009
On an auto, if you lift off the accelerator and coast then the revs drop down. So the torque converter allows the wheels to turn faster than the engine. But if I select a low gear when going downhill, I get engine braking, so the TC must be forcing the engine to turn with the wheels just like a manual would. I've seen this behaviour on all autos I can recall, so it seems pretty standard.
So what is happening? Does selecting a lower gear engage the TC lock-up clutch, or is there something else going on?
Read more
To compare and contrast with the "Biggest Improvement" thread, Avant posted a reply that I felt warranted a thread of its own. So - can you think of any new models or range updates that were touted as progression but were in fact anything but?
I'm thinking along the lines of particular vehicle ranges rather than general technological developments such as DMFs, DPFs or catalytic converters. Examples mentioned in Avant's post include:
BMC 1100 to Allegro (which should have been a British Golf with a hatchback)
Alfasud to Alfa 33
Peugeot 205 to 206 and 306 to 307
Saab 900 (pre-GM) to 9-3
Read more
Thats a heck of a number for a van.
Carrying on from the thread asking for pictures of our cars, and the current thread of idiot bike riders, I thought I would post a link to a part of a video I made four and a half years ago on a 4 day road trip in Scotland.
It sums up for me why riding a bike is just great !
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWBJAklSKlc Read more
Edit - was in blinking Slough today......
Come friendly bombs, and fall on Slough.
Ted
Hey Guys,
Can anyone shed some light on my problem, as Mercedes just shrug their shoulders and say i need to take it in for a full assessment £££££.
I've got a great low mileage 1990 2L 190e. since I bought it, its had its ups and downs but generally purrs like a kitten. Recently it has started a weird little problem.
Most of the time it starts first time without effort, no matter what the weather is doing, but now every 5th to 10th start, it just turns over with absolutely no sound of even getting a spark. Its so chalk and cheese as its totally perfect when it does start but absolutely no go when it doesn't.
A hour later I can go back and it starts first time again. weird. its got me trouble a few times now so i need to sort it out. Any ideas?
The coil? the distributor? are there other little control modules that can go dodge?
Thanks chaps,
Stubakka Read more
These 190e models are generally very reliable and suffer very few component failures on the fuel injection system.However, an erratic starting fault could be caused by an intermittent problem with the fuel pump relay.Iirc it is situated behind a plastic cover,behind battery.I doubt if a M/B dealer could fix this,they have probably never seen one before!!hth
I'm trying to replace an Omega with a small economical car and also have a scrappage vehicle, so may for the first time, against my better judgement, be looking at a new car. The Note feels big enough, but the dealer says it won't hold a proper full spare wheel. Could the wheel well be bodged to take a full sized wheel?
I've also looked at the Ford Fusion, and that dealer says that a real spare wheel will fit, but it will have to have a label on it "emergency only". Can anyone explain what that is about? Read more
I have a new BWM on order which was due w/c 23 November (i.e. this week). Dealer emailed me to say that "production has slipped slightly" and estimated delivery is now 14 December.
Is this normal? BTW, I did secure a very big discount on the order so I'm starting to wonder whether this is the dealer's way of getting me to back out of the order altogether.
I'm also a bit concerned about any further slippage meaning VAT payable at 17.5% instead of 15%. Read more
Nice - enjoy, don't go out in the snow !
Hi, I have a VW Polo (2001).
My car horn has started going off by itself, whilst driving. It's usually a few short, sharp beeps. It's becoming increasingly embarrassing! Anyone know what could be the problem? Is there any way to disconnect the horn for the time being until I can get it looked at? I'm not sure where the fuse is. Read more
Who drew the short straw, Blackpool to London on the 22/12 and returning with family on the 23. Any views on how bad this is going to be, hoping with kids on holiday and a lot of folks taking the whole week off.
Train is not an option, to much luggage. Read more
Thanks for the replys folks. If i take it easy could be fun, Asda the evening of the 23rd is probably going to be the nighmare.
Been caught out twice now. If my car has been standing for a few days and I unlock via the driver's door but open another door first, the immobiliser kicks in and I have to (fully) lock the car and wait for some sort of timer to kick in and restore my access to a running engine. Around 20-30 minutes, I guess.
This doesn't happen when I've recently used the car, say shopping & opening the back.
Any ideas round this?
Read more
does any body know how to by pass a heater matrix for the time being? Read more
it's a C reg Nova ;-)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>or it could be a b reg nova too ;-)
Browse
.jpg)
It's not the torque convertor.
When you're in drive, in some ratios there are overrun clutches in the gearbox which allow this freewheeling behaviour because it leads to a more relaxed jerk free drive.
When you select a low gear hold, an extra clutch is activated in the gearbox which locks the overrun clutch solid, removing the freewheel effect, giving better downhill speed control.
There are rare faults where the overrun clutch fails completely, and these faults can be diagnosed by having no drive in that gear while in D, but, having drive in that ratio while in the low gear hold selector position.