Astra Mk1 in glorious poo-brown. SOLD

[Louise2cv]

Nope I don't think so, it's the other side of the block. I'd have thought the Carb cleaner and any WD40 I've sprayed looking for an air leak would have burned off by now?

 

 

To explain how I did the timing and got it running no choke, so you can pick holes in it (I'm worrying about the temp affecting things really):

 

Started the car with choke. Pushed choke lever in until the car was just about the stall, pulled it out a touch to get it smoother. Adjusted timing turning dizzy cap and using strobe on timing marks.

 

Let it run to get warmer, repeat above. I did this a few time until I found the choke was all the way home and then checked my timing marks.

 

You see my prob with it not running without the choke is I can't set the timing on tickover... it is always revving a bit due to the choke, am I missing something about how to tell what the revs are or owt?

[Louise2cv]

Oh and the oil on the dipstick is clean but the water in the tank looks sort of shiney but no obvious gobs of oil like that streetwise ebay pic.

 

I have no idea about HGF.

[Pete-M]

Apologies for not managing to get over there yet! Still not managed to get to Llanberis!

 

Glad it's running though.

[Louise2cv]

No probs, whenever you're ready!!

 

Also I forgot say, I don't have a garage or anything so I wouldn't bother coming if it's raining, it'd be horrible!

[dollywobbler]

I'm also sorry for being (by Welsh standards) really very close today (Blanaeu Ffestiniog). Did entertain the notion of nipping over for a meddle but spent pretty much all day changing one lousy door. Thought I'd got it all sorted but just got back, put the car in the garage and found I couldn't open the door using the internal handle! FAIL.

[M'coli]

Eliminating the obvious: the vacuum advance has been disconnected prior to setting the advance at idle? Work through stuff methodically, and remember that every non-faulty component that you replace means that you've got a proven functioning 2nd hand spare component!

[Morgan84]

Eliminating the obvious: the vacuum advance has been disconnected prior to setting the advance at idle? Work through stuff methodically, and remember that every non-faulty component that you replace means that you've got a proven functioning 2nd hand spare component!

 

Yes,never throw anything away until you are sure its faulty.Having good emergency spares around you can be the difference between getting out of a muddle fast,or having to wait a few days until you can source a replacement

[Louise2cv]

So, it ain't going to fix it, but how do I test the fan/fan switch? The temp gauge is hitting red and the fan to my knowledge has never moved!

[John F]

So, it ain't going to fix it, but how do I test the fan/fan switch? The temp gauge is hitting red and the fan to my knowledge has never moved!

 

Is the gauge going straight to the red zone? If so, check that the temp gauge wire hasn't just been knocked off the sender on the inlet manifold & shorted out on something.

[Louise2cv]

Actually, I've bypassed the switch and the fan works. Shame I didn't think to test it before changing the coolant. A grade berk.

[John F]

Actually, I've bypassed the switch and the fan works. Shame I didn't think to test it before changing the coolant. A grade berk.

 

lol numpty

[Louise2cv]

Yeah, cheers.

[Louise2cv]

Although to be fair it's not like the facking thing is going anywhere!

[Morgan84]

If the car is still 'Choke addicted',then it does hint to me that its running weak,and needs a bit of choke to enrichen it sufficiently to run correctly. If its not the actual adjustment thats at fault,could there be a carburettor gasket which has failed/been damaged,and is causing a air leak,which will make it run weakly like a bag of old nails.

 

Another source of airleak could be brake servo or its pipes - does the brake servo work ie

 

With the engine switched off pump the brake pedal a few times till it feels firm and hard to press

 

Keeping your foot on the brake,start the engine - the pedal should sink a little and when pumped,feel lighter to operate,yet still firm,and not down to the floor

 

Turn the engine off,and pump the pedal on and off - you should have at least 3 full on and off pumps before the pedal goes harder to press again,and also hear the sound of the servo operating - like a foot pump/hissing sound

 

Air leaks will sod up the running of a car perfectly

[Louise2cv]

I'm going to try again in a minute, just to check...but it was just working

 

I played with it a bit, wound the mix screw right in, in an attempt to blindly have another go at that, and found it still wouldn't run with out choke and was very very lumpy! Then I begged it to heal up and went in for a cup of tea and a re-read of Morgan84's post. Then I came out, did part one, when to start the car and it didn't like the choke any more than halfway out, decided I was happy the brake servo was doing its thing and then started the car up again.

 

It's going beautifully. If not idling a little fast.

 

Still gets hot pretty quick though. Can I make a manual fan switch for the time being??

 

Also got a huge wet mark on the floor, but I have found a leaky coolant hose, so hopefully some jubilee clip fiddling willfixthat. Fingers crossed.

 

Seems like asking it nicely was the key.

[dollywobbler]

I'm tempted to make a trip north, bringing my temperature sensing multimeter with me. You did mention cake in an earlier post? I want this car to work almost as much as you do!

[Louise2cv]

Well I've driven around. Like as in actually actually around the place. In the Astra. No stalling.

 

Now the fuel gauge is reading empty, this wasn't all down to dirty fuel or something was it?

[Louise2cv]

We can always find cake Ian. ALWAYS.

[John F]

Well I've driven around. Like as in actually actually around the place. In the Astra. No stalling.

 

Now the fuel gauge is reading empty, this wasn't all down to dirty fuel or something was it?

 

Great news, Louise! So it's all working properly then? Re. overheating, if the fan switch is OK it could be that the thermostat isn't opening... they're fairly cheap.

 

Unlikely to be dirty fuel, but fuel starvation can cause curious running problems.

[Louise2cv]

I think it's the fan switch, I by-passed it and the fan runs, I changed the stat for a new one as part of the service.

 

I've been for a halfhour drive, up and down the by-pass and round the villiages and all seems well. I think I can go out on a limb and say we've fixed it!

 

Thanks for all the help guys!

[John F]

No problemo... it only took 10 more pages than explaining to Luxo how to hammer a slightly smaller socket over a seized wheel bolt

[Louise2cv]

Oi!

[Skizzer]

I think I can go out on a limb and say we've fixed it!

 

Yay!

 

I've been following this and making notes as I reckon half of the problems you've had also apply to my Golf. That suffers from the usual Mk1 thing of rust in the fuel line, a weird tendency to over-rev sometimes and a history of minor but irritating cooling problems. I'm living proof that cluelessness is not gender-specific, so for me this thread's been a mixture of helpful Public Information and suspense-filled drama - a bit like The Archers, or maybe Tufty the Squirrel

[John F]

Oi!

 

 

That wasn't a criticism though... you've rebuilt a carburettor & ignition system, which is a bit trickier than removing a wheel

[M'coli]

Great stuff!

[Louise2cv]

Seriously I wasn't sure if I was getting irritating, probably it would have been much more sensible to get a proper person to do it!

 

But I've really enjoyed myself, and learnt loads!

 

I reckon next job is to go and visit the garage to get the carb set up with a gas analyzer. I've got the new column onits way though, so I might wait until I've fitted that and get that checked too.

[chaseracer]

No problemo... it only took 10 more pages than explaining to Luxo how to hammer a slightly smaller socket over a seized wheel bolt

Y'see, this is where we all went wrong - at no point did anyone suggest hammering a Nova over it...

[Danblez]

Woooooooohoooooooooooooo seriously impressed with you keeping the faith. TOP JOB!

[myglaren]

Well done Louise, perseverance has paid off and as you say, you have learned loads and that will always be useful to you.

 

Been a very interesting thread from the beginning.

[Morgan84]

Its always nice to hear when a headache finally gets sorted;we all get problems from time to time,and banging the head against the brickwall feelings are usually par for the course when dealing with anything new or old.

 

I thought I had mastered my Sierra with its intermittant gremlins,but it would seem they liked the car so much,they came back again 300 miles later..... Although I think I'm dealing with the throttle potentiometer this time

 

Electrics are the biggest pain in the backside,and as our cars get older,sourcing parts gets harder