December 2009
Hi. I think I have a slight problem with my 05 Focus 1.6 zetec (100BHP). When the engine is cold it hesitates on acceleration at low revs/speed 1800rpm 20 to 30mph 2nd and 3rd gear. 1/4 throttle. Once warmed up this does occur a little but not as much and only when the vehicle is on a slight gradient. As if the engine is under more load. If the revs are higher 2500rpm it pulls away no problem. It has a new air filter and plugs (Bosch gap set to 1.2mm). The exhaust seems a little throaty. This has been checked and no blows were found.
Anyone with similar, is it a characteristic of the vehicle? Read more
Hello fellow dirty fingernail men,
My daughter's 100bhp diesel Passat has done 113k miles and been trouble free. I heard a different engine noise last week and suspected the alternator bearings or the PAS pump. Her garage confirmed it was the clutch drive on the front of the alternator and replaced it. The old one could not be turned by hand after being removed. Result happiness ??- not quite.
Just been on a 400 mile motorway run in it and it performed well, as usual but at exactly 1500 rpm there is now a booming noise from the engine bay.Not alarmingly loud but quite noticeable and just at 1500 rpm - not 1400 or 1600. Change down or increase revs and it disappears totally. I dont think it was there before the alternator was changed.
Its almost a "harmonic balance " thing - bit like when you can get pipe hammer in your house copper central heating pipes at certain water pressure/flows.
She's not even aware of it (and I wont tell her) and I suppose it may disappear in time when a drive belt or something settles down but I would like to further my education if anybody has any ideas.
Thanks for listening/any advice and a Happy Christmas
Mike
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I had the same problem on 53 Passat tdi. I used a cable tie to hold the duct in place (looped the cable tie through the headlight bracket). I also found wear on the wiring loom where it had been rubbing on the air duct. Used self amalgamating rubber tape / electical tape to protect the loom from further damage.
Was at lights and a 58 reg Prius was in front of me puffing away due to the cold weather. Correct me if I am wrong but they I thought they used stop start and didn't use the engine at low speeds? Read more
I'm fairly certain the Honda IMA doesn't have a "battery only" mode.>>
You're right Bagpuss - We had three of these in work one after another >>
Aha!
Speaking to a German today on the ham radio he tells me that it's illegal to drive in germany in winter without winter tyres fitted, he says you can drive but should you have a bump the insurance won't pay out?
So my guess is they have 2x sets of wheels or drive all year on winter tyres?
And just to rub it in he said petrol is cheaper!
I was going to say a spitfire was much better plane than the meshersmit but i declined.! Read more
On a wee aside it astounds me the high performance cars fitted with poor quality
"no name tyres"
Agreed, i couldn't get a 57plate prestige German car onto the truck last week without extreme difficulty, all the others no problem at all, then i noticed the new high quality Chinese ditchfinders (lowest priced everywhere) proudly mounted on the rear 19" alloys, unbelievable.
Moving to 'B' from 'D' in a Prius II introduces a slight engine-braking effect. On any significant downhill incline, however, the car will accelerate more than engine braking can prevent and braking is required when for any reason, such as a limit, congtrol of pseed is necessary.
I use the example of my Prius, but imagine the same problem may appply to other 'CVT' transmissions.
The cold snap makes me ask whether this absence of effective engine braking is not a danger when driving in icy conditions, in which I have always relied on having the option to change down manually, or to select a lower range in an automatic transmission. Prima facie, I would not like to be unable to avoid accelerating down an icy hill with nothing to stop me except the brakes.
What is the approved answer in a Prius or other 'CVT' vehicle? Read more
I suppose we're coming up to Christmas Mystery time.
Here's a nice family saloon to start us off.....make and model ?
tinyurl.com/yhe3voo
A virtual mystery prize to the winner.
Ted Read more
Trojan...you spoil mine, I'll spoil yours ! :-)
Ted
the wiring to my heater blower motor is melted. how can i change it. the plug is totaly knackered. could you tell me were it joins the main loom and which trim parts i need to remove to get to it. many thanks rich Read more
A new loom is available
I remeber hearing on the radio 'If you see an Armstrong Siddely...salute' is Siddely spelt correctly? Made me think how many makes have gone in my time. We are heading for a market dominated by the big boys but that is how the world seems to be going. Austin, Morris, Simca, Rover, all gone.
Must be many more.
Maybe the backroomers should start a car company................... Read more
The list of British Leyland's victims is interesting.
At least one of them made an escape though. Alvis was bought by United Scientific Holdings and is still making vehicles, albeit of a military nature.
I have to say that we had some pretty freezing and snowy conditions last night causing some very dangerous driving conditions on non-major roads.
However first thing this morning a saw, in just a couple of miles, 4 or 5 drivers in 4x4's (mixture of Discoveries, Audi Q7 and BMW X5), driving as if it was 25 degrees and hadn't even rained for weeks !
No I dont care a bit if they wrap themselves around a lamp post, but its a different story if they take someone out with their huge hunk of metal by driving like this.
Even with 4WD, there is no way on standard tyres that it can have been kosher driving according to the conditions, so I must conclude that their thought processes had been altered in some way by the vehicles they were driving ?
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The most common "ditched" vehicle in the Scottish highlands?
An "out of area" skiers 4x4.
Hi Guys.
My fiesta stopped blowing hot air a while back it hasnt had any effect on the car, runs at normal temp, not using loads of water, etc.
checked the relays and they all seem to work ok.
any ideas what may be causing it...? one person has said it could be a valve or something, any help gratfully recieved! anything to stop me getting frost bight on the way to work! lol.
cheers. Read more
Browse
Thanks Rattle the car is going into the dealer I bought it from tomorrow. Won't be suprised though if they say nothing is wrong. The hesitation is minor and I put some 97 U/L petrol in yesterday and things improved slighlty.