WASHER JETS AND ROCKET SCIENCE
Q: The front and rear windscreen washers of my Ford Mondeo are not working. What should I look for in diagnosing this problem?
Posted by: the_lad69uk
A: It's hardly the most technically challenging job! First listen for the sound of the electric pump whirring when you operate the washers. If you can't hear it, you're looking for a fuse or wiring problem, or a failed motor. Next check there is sufficient washer fluid. Finally, pull the pipes off the washer nozzle stubs under the bonnet and check that screenwash pumps out. If so, the nozzles are blocked and can either be cleared with a pin or renewed.
IT'S LOW GEARS OR NOTHING
Q: My 1998 Mazda 626 automatic fails to select the next upward gear after going through the first two. I have to switch off the engine and restart it before the car will move, after which the same problem returns. What could be wrong and how can it be corrected?
Posted by: aro.tunde
A: If the car won't move after it's gone through gears 1 and 2 it must be putting itself in neutral. This is a fault either of the control system or the transmission itself - if the latter it's probably with the valve block. There's nothing you can do other than check the transmission fluid level, and if that's okay take it to a Mazda dealer.
KNOCK KNOCK - IT'S SUMMER
Q: I hear a knocking sound from the rear passenger side of my Mk3 VW Golf 1.6. It only happens over bumps or potholes, and it's less frequent during the winter months, though I can't understand why.
Posted by: amit.kadchha
A: I can see no obvious reason why cold weather would make it quieter; the opposite usually applies as bushes are harder at low temperature. The most likely cause is a worn or loose damper top mounting, although the damper itself could have a noisy internal valve. A mechanic's bounce test will soon have it pinpointed.
CAN IT BE STIFLED BY AIR?
Q: Would an air leak on the diesel fuel supply lines cause an Escort TD to suffer from a lack of power and generally poor acceleration?
Posted by: tvi32
A: It could, but it's far more likely to cause very difficult starting (especially first thing in the morning). A blocked fuel or air filter, however, will give just the symptoms you describe.
BELT-THROWING BRAVA
Q: The steering belt of my Fiat Brava 1.4 SX recently came off and I had to be towed home. The belt was replaced but that also came off - the following day. Apparently one of the cogs the belt runs on is loose and needs replacing. Is this an expensive job?
Posted by: darren
A: That depends on whether it's the crankshaft pulley coming adrift because its locating key has chewed up its slot in the crank nose. That doesn't bear thinking about, so it's more likely you need a new pulley AND key, and a drop of thread sealant on the pulley retaining-bolt threads.
DARK WATERS AND AN OLDSMOBILE
Q: My engine oil is very dark and watery, even though it has had two oil changes in one month. What do you think is the cause? By the way, the car is a 1992 Oldsmobile six-cylinder.
Posted by: ycazast
A: Dark oil is dirty oil, but what do you mean by watery? If you mean very thin, it's diluted with petrol. If it has beige, sludgy emulsion in it, it's contaminated by water from a leaky cooling system. Change it again using fully synthetic oil, but first clean out the engine with flushing oil. If it happens again get a professional to check the state of the engine.
STUCK IN UNDER-DRIVE
Q: My K-registered Mitsubishi Pajero 2500 lwb has an automatic gearbox which will not engage its top gear. Consequently, when cruising at motorway speeds it sounds like all hell is let loose. What to do?
Posted by: roznsky
A: I think you're either not keeping overdrive engaged, or the overdrive engagement circuit has a break in it. Basically, fourth gear on this box is 'overdrive' and unless the overdrive button is permanently pushed in, fourth isn't available.
TIME TO QUIT SMOKING
Q: My Fiat Brava turbodiesel smokes an awful lot. This doesn't happen all the time but is intermittent. I've changed the fuel injectors but the problem remains. Do you think it might be the injection pump?
Posted by: bipin_c
A: If it's thick black smoke under acceleration it's unburned fuel; if it's bluish-white it's engine oil burning. Assuming the former, you must check the air filter condition - if it's dirty that will do it. Does it idle okay? If not you can suspect valve/tappet wear; however, if cylinder compression is okay get a diesel injection specialist to go over the pump settings.
THE CASE OF THE POISONED PETROL
Q: Today I put some petrol into my 2002 Ford Ka and the engine started knocking and vibrating. It was very little to start with but worsened as I drove. Could the petrol have been wrongly labelled?
Posted by june.stone
A: If the car was fine before refuelling but misbehaved almost immediately after, the petrol may have been contaminated with water. It may be possible to spot water in the fuel filter or by pumping some into a cup and letting it settle. Alternatively this might be a completely coincidental engine fault making itself apparent!
NOT SO GOOD IN THE MORNINGS
Q: My Peugeot 306 1.9 TD is no longer starting in the mornings, and I depend totally on it for getting me to work. Do you think the glowplugs might need changing? If not, what do you suggest?
Posted by: lilacturtle112
A: When diesels don't fire in the morning it's usually due to air creeping into the fuel system overnight. If you park the car nose-upward this is aggravated. If you do, try it the other way round, and if that solves it, you've got an air leak. The glowplug system may be at fault, but if so you can always start the motor by cranking for a long time - battery willing.
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DARK WATERS AND AN OLDSMOBILE
Q: My engine oil is very dark and watery, even though it has had two oil changes in one month. What do you think is the cause? By the way, the car is a 1992 Oldsmobile six-cylinder.
Posted by: ycazast
A: Dark oil is dirty oil, but what do you mean by watery? If you mean very thin, it's diluted with petrol. If it has beige, sludgy emulsion in it, it's contaminated by water from a leaky cooling system. Change it again using fully synthetic oil, but first clean out the engine with flushing oil. If it happens again get a professional to check the state of the engine.
STUCK IN UNDER-DRIVE
Q: My K-registered Mitsubishi Pajero 2500 lwb has an automatic gearbox which will not engage its top gear. Consequently, when cruising at motorway speeds it sounds like all hell is let loose. What to do?
Posted by: roznsky
A: I think you're either not keeping overdrive engaged, or the overdrive engagement circuit has a break in it. Basically, fourth gear on this box is 'overdrive' and unless the overdrive button is permanently pushed in, fourth isn't available.
TIME TO QUIT SMOKING
Q: My Fiat Brava turbodiesel smokes an awful lot. This doesn't happen all the time but is intermittent. I've changed the fuel injectors but the problem remains. Do you think it might be the injection pump?
Posted by: bipin_c
A: If it's thick black smoke under acceleration it's unburned fuel; if it's bluish-white it's engine oil burning. Assuming the former, you must check the air filter condition - if it's dirty that will do it. Does it idle okay? If not you can suspect valve/tappet wear; however, if cylinder compression is okay get a diesel injection specialist to go over the pump settings.
THE CASE OF THE POISONED PETROL
Q: Today I put some petrol into my 2002 Ford Ka and the engine started knocking and vibrating. It was very little to start with but worsened as I drove. Could the petrol have been wrongly labelled?
Posted by june.stone
A: If the car was fine before refuelling but misbehaved almost immediately after, the petrol may have been contaminated with water. It may be possible to spot water in the fuel filter or by pumping some into a cup and letting it settle. Alternatively this might be a completely coincidental engine fault making itself apparent!
NOT SO GOOD IN THE MORNINGS
Q: My Peugeot 306 1.9 TD is no longer starting in the mornings, and I depend totally on it for getting me to work. Do you think the glowplugs might need changing? If not, what do you suggest?
Posted by: lilacturtle112
A: When diesels don't fire in the morning it's usually due to air creeping into the fuel system overnight. If you park the car nose-upward this is aggravated. If you do, try it the other way round, and if that solves it, you've got an air leak. The glowplug system may be at fault, but if so you can always start the motor by cranking for a long time - battery willing.
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