OCCASIONALLY STINKY
Q: My recently-bought S-plate Ford Fiesta Encore 1.8D intermittently pumps black fumes from the exhaust, mainly in 2nd and 3rd gear. When this happens there's also juddering from the engine; what's happening?
Posted by: LadyV
A: It's hard to tell for sure what this is, but the intermittent nature of the fault suggests an electrical problem. As the only electrics that can have an effect on engine operation on this model belong to the emissions control system CVT valve, get its operation checked out.
A LOCK OUT OF LUCK
Q: The key won't turn in my car's ignition lock - it gets stuck halfway round its movement. I have lubricated the inside of the lock with WD40, but it makes no difference. Incidentally, the steering lock isn't applied.
Posted by: SiobhanMorgan
A: The ignition lock barrel is unfortunately worn out. While there's a slight chance it's the profile of the key shank that's severely worn, it's more likely the lock (you can tell by trying a duplicate key). You'll need a professional workshop to replace the lock assembly.
NO MOTION WITHOUT A CLUTCH
Q: I have a manual-gearbox Honda Concerto that simply will not move! The only way I can get to even trickle it forward is to keep it in first gear and rev the engine so hard that I start to smell burning. What's wrong with it?
Posted by: anon
A: It's quite simple: the clutch has burnt out (that's what you're smelling) so there's absolutely no grip to transmit the drive from the engine flywheel to the gearbox input. A new clutch assembly will be the cure, assuming you haven't damaged the flywheel by overheating it with clutch slip.
CLOGGED-UP FORD
Q: I cleaned out the gummed-up breather hoses from the rocker cover of my 1992 Ford Escort. Afterwards I used flushing oil in the engine, and changed the oil and filter. Now after 500 miles the hoses are blocking again and there's oil coming from the air filter and oil filler cap. Why?
Posted by: Mikeslorach
A: You've got excessive crankcase pressure, and that's caused by piston/ring and cylinder wear - unless there's a jammed crankcase breather valve in the breather system preventing the release of crankcase gases. If the oil is old and sludgy this will exacerbate matters.
WHEN FOUR BECOME THREE
Q: I have a 1997 Renault Megane 1.4 which, when idling, sounds as if it's running on three rather than four cylinders. I know there's nothing wrong with the engine map or ignition coil, because they've been replaced.
Posted by: hxjpipejoint
A: If it's running on three cylinders, it will not only sound rough and 'chuggy' but the engine will be shaking on its mountings. You'll have to change the spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor (if fitted) and HT leads to eliminate the possibility of high-voltage tracking to earth. Also check cylinder compressions as this may be a valve problem.
DON'T BLAME THE FITTER
Q: I have a six-year-old Fiat Brava that has had its throttle body and valve replaced. Over the last two days I've noticed the temperature gauge reading higher than usual (three-quarters toward the red) and I'd like to know what the connection is with the work that was done, and whether this is serious.
Posted by: annaclaire.smith
A: There is no connection: the throttle body and throttle valve have no effect on engine running temperature. This sounds as if it's just a coincidence, so check coolant level, cooling fan and thermostat operation.
CARRYING PEOPLE BACKWARDS
Q: My 1993 2.8 Renault Espace automatic will only select reverse gear; I can't engage the forward gears at all. I have dropped the transmission sump and found that the gearbox oil is black.
Posted by: Anne-Marie Stevenson
A: You don't say whether or not the gear selector lever moves. If not, the mechanical linkage needs inspection, and any interlocks on it. If it does move properly there's probably obstruction of the control valves - that would fit in with the black oil!
JUST HARMLESS MOISTURE
Q: Most of the time when I stop driving my Vauxhall Vectra and switch off the engine I notice a pool of water by the front passenger-side wheel. However, this is a mystery as I don't seem to be losing any water.
Posted by: selswan
A: We'll wager your Vectra has air conditioning, right? What you're seeing is water that has condensed from the atmosphere onto the air conditioner's evaporator, draining onto the road. It's perfectly normal.
DESTINED TO STAY SLOW
Q: My 1995 Renault Master van with 2.5-litre normally aspirated diesel engine is painfully slow compared with the previous one I used to drive. However, my Renault dealer said it drives perfectly normally. How can I get a bit more pep out of it?
Posted by: srbtrading
A: It's almost impossible to improve the performance of a non-turbo diesel, in fact the only way is to have a turbocharger fitted, which is necessarily a very costly exercise. Sorry!
60MPH IN FIRST GEAR!
Q: My 175,000-mile 1996 Eagle vision ESI accelerates up to 60 mph but won't go any faster. Right up to this speed it stays in first gear, nudging the rev-counter redline, and won't change to second or third, let alone fourth gear.
Posted by: carlos7957
A: That's one hell of a road speed for first gear, and can't be doing the car - or you - any good. There clearly is a fault with the automatic transmission - probably a blocked control valve circuit. Check the selector linkage, flush out the valve block and change the transmission fluid.
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DON'T BLAME THE FITTER
Q: I have a six-year-old Fiat Brava that has had its throttle body and valve replaced. Over the last two days I've noticed the temperature gauge reading higher than usual (three-quarters toward the red) and I'd like to know what the connection is with the work that was done, and whether this is serious.
Posted by: annaclaire.smith
A: There is no connection: the throttle body and throttle valve have no effect on engine running temperature. This sounds as if it's just a coincidence, so check coolant level, cooling fan and thermostat operation.
CARRYING PEOPLE BACKWARDS
Q: My 1993 2.8 Renault Espace automatic will only select reverse gear; I can't engage the forward gears at all. I have dropped the transmission sump and found that the gearbox oil is black.
Posted by: Anne-Marie Stevenson
A: You don't say whether or not the gear selector lever moves. If not, the mechanical linkage needs inspection, and any interlocks on it. If it does move properly there's probably obstruction of the control valves - that would fit in with the black oil!
JUST HARMLESS MOISTURE
Q: Most of the time when I stop driving my Vauxhall Vectra and switch off the engine I notice a pool of water by the front passenger-side wheel. However, this is a mystery as I don't seem to be losing any water.
Posted by: selswan
A: We'll wager your Vectra has air conditioning, right? What you're seeing is water that has condensed from the atmosphere onto the air conditioner's evaporator, draining onto the road. It's perfectly normal.
DESTINED TO STAY SLOW
Q: My 1995 Renault Master van with 2.5-litre normally aspirated diesel engine is painfully slow compared with the previous one I used to drive. However, my Renault dealer said it drives perfectly normally. How can I get a bit more pep out of it?
Posted by: srbtrading
A: It's almost impossible to improve the performance of a non-turbo diesel, in fact the only way is to have a turbocharger fitted, which is necessarily a very costly exercise. Sorry!
60MPH IN FIRST GEAR!
Q: My 175,000-mile 1996 Eagle vision ESI accelerates up to 60 mph but won't go any faster. Right up to this speed it stays in first gear, nudging the rev-counter redline, and won't change to second or third, let alone fourth gear.
Posted by: carlos7957
A: That's one hell of a road speed for first gear, and can't be doing the car - or you - any good. There clearly is a fault with the automatic transmission - probably a blocked control valve circuit. Check the selector linkage, flush out the valve block and change the transmission fluid.
next page
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