Ask a Shiter

[scaryoldcortina]

C3's love a bit of fuel pump trouble.

[Kiltox]

Just been asked to look at a neighbour's 57 plate citroen C3 1.4 pez.

 

Starts but cuts out after about 3 seconds.

Any suggestions? Was going to have a crack at cleaning out the throttle body but beyond that no idea.

Does it cut out even if you keep the revs up or does it only cut out if you leave it idling?

 

Something that age id start with a code reader before anything else personally

[Dave_Q]

Cuts out either way, doesn't seem to rev at all even with foot to the floor.

[scaryoldcortina]

Probably fuel pressure related then. Either a knackered pump or poor wiring with a "maybe" fuel pressure sensor for good luck because these (iirc) control pressure by PWM to the pump motor and don't even have a return line. Guess is it's pressuring fine while cranking but not when running.

[Dave_Q]

Thanks all for the sage advice.

Am going to have a 10min look at the throttle body but beyond that will AVOID as sounds like potential arseache.

[cort16]

VAG shite question.

There's a TT with the 3.2 engine on Ebay I quite fancy. It's FSH but has 170k on it and DSG box. Now I drove one of these years ago and it was lovely but is a high mileage DSG cause to RUNAWAY?

[Richard]

On the subject of gearboxes, what are these automated manuals they have now? The picture I have in my head is a manual box with little robots working the clutch and selectors.

[cort16]

On the subject of gearboxes, what are these automated manuals they have now? The picture I have in my head is a manual box with little robots working the clutch and selectors.

 

That's exactly what it is. You push the button and a little actuator dips the clutch and moves the gear linkage. They're pretty shite as they always jerk when changing fast hence why VW developed DSG I guess.

I drove one of the first Quattroportes, which basically had a Ferrari engine combined with a selespeed gearbox to make it "sporty". It totally ruined it. I think they saw sense and put a normal autobox in it a few years later.

[cort16]

Yes.

 

Chris Harris had an ex-press fleet s4 with a DSG problem, couldn't find any independents to fix it so had to pay VAG £6.5k for a new box.

 

 Yes I don't fancy that much. It's a nice system when it's working but I seem to remember back in 2003 the 3.2 was about the limit of its strength. I think the RS6 and S6 of that age just got the normal autobox.

[cort1977]

E36 M3s with the early automated manuals are worth far les than proper manuals as generally a bit jerky and shit.

[cort16]

BMW tried really hard with SMG it's even in the previous generation M5. By all accounts is a bit shit compared to modern fangled twin clutch gearboxes.

The problem with the robo boxes is they're not that good at being a manual or an automatic. I think NSU had it right with the ro80. A proper gear stick but no clutch pedal.

[cort1977]

Mercedes W210 question lads.

 

Finally got the repaired* rusty wing back on my 2001 E320 estate yesterday.  It's been sat since before Xmas due to my ineptitude but started first turn of the key so happy with that.   Took it round the block to pump tyres and get rust off the discs and it flashes a warning 'steering gear oil' and the steering assistance disappears.

 

Can't see any obvious leaks so thought I would top up the fluid.   Mine has the self leveling rear suspension which I believe uses the same circuit for the power steering.   I checked the reservoir and it was well down, put 1 litre in and it brought the level up but needs more to reach the max level.

 

Any common issues with these?   I read that the spheres in the rear suspension can fail and fluid leak in to them with no external leaks.   Any advice welcome.

[castros_bro]

On the subject of gearboxes, what are these automated manuals they have now? The picture I have in my head is a manual box with little robots working the clutch and selectors.

 

 

 Here bee roberts in a Ford/Mazda Durashift semi-auto.

 

No no no it's windscreen wiper motors with GCSE level mechanical bit added

 

 

one wiper motor does the fore-aft movement

 

 

one does the side to side movement

 

 

after a while the non lubricated bits and electrics exposed at the front lower of the gearbox stop playing

 

 

The other bit is a pump to control the manual clutch   WCPGR ?   Normally no one knows how they work nor wants to be involved with them.

 

But it does mean that a manual gearbox can be used in an automatic car till it stops working then billions of pounds as it's usually a "known good unit or new"  swap for each component till it works again.

 

 

 

 

 

P(is)S.  If you have a Fiesta or Mazda with Durashift which doesn't work then either contact me for a bit of help or sell it to me very cheaply as I may be able to fix the mechanical/electrical/electronic fuckery.

[forddeliveryboy]

Mercedes W210 question lads.

 

Finally got the repaired* rusty wing back on my 2001 E320 estate yesterday.  It's been sat since before Xmas due to my ineptitude but started first turn of the key so happy with that.   Took it round the block to pump tyres and get rust off the discs and it flashes a warning 'steering gear oil' and the steering assistance disappears.

 

Can't see any obvious leaks so thought I would top up the fluid.   Mine has the self leveling rear suspension which I believe uses the same circuit for the power steering.   I checked the reservoir and it was well down, put 1 litre in and it brought the level up but needs more to reach the max level.

 

Any common issues with these?   I read that the spheres in the rear suspension can fail and fluid leak in to them with no external leaks.   Any advice welcome.

 

If the rear ride was v hard it's possible the spheres have failed. Or a rear ram has leaked, but mud has soaked up the oil. The rams are prone to going ime if worked hard or the bellows have failed (they do) or the spheres are flat, but quick and easy to change. Just don't believe the MB line that it's a self-bleeding circuit, it isn't beyond the height corrector.

[gordonbennet]

Bloody automated manuals, there's only one good one and its made by Volvo and goes in there's and Renault's lorries.

 

Everything else commercial or car varies from unfit for purpose to utter shit, even Toyota couldn't get the things to last, when they first came out and i used to deliver them one dealer was telling me how wonderful they are on the motorway, so that'll be the motorway you sit in top gear on for mile after mile presumably, idiot.

 

I would not spend a penny of my money on any car or van with such a contraption, give me a torque converter auto any day, the extra bit of fuel it uses is more than made up for by the typical reliability of the things, as with many modern things though best if you give the car makers advice on servicing a good ignoring, sealed for life sir even though we only guarantee the fucker for 3 years so if it shits itself in year 4 you can bollocks.

[cort1977]

OK ta.   Ride at the back is a bit hard I think but have not tried one in good working order to compare.   I'll get it up on stands and have a good poke around underneath.

[Lacquer Peel]

Bloody automated manuals, there's only one good one and its made by Volvo and goes in there's and Renault's lorries.

 

Everything else commercial or car varies from unfit for purpose to utter shit, even Toyota couldn't get the things to last, when they first came out and i used to deliver them one dealer was telling me how wonderful they are on the motorway, so that'll be the motorway you sit in top gear on for mile after mile presumably, idiot.

 

I would not spend a penny of my money on any car or van with such a contraption, give me a torque converter auto any day, the extra bit of fuel it uses is more than made up for by the typical reliability of the things, as with many modern things though best if you give the car makers advice on servicing a good ignoring, sealed for life sir even though we only guarantee the fucker for 3 years so if it shits itself in year 4 you can bollocks.

 

Emissions is everything and most of the first owners cars of vans get shot of them in 3 years. I'm going to keep 1990s designed cars going for as long as I can.

[gordonbennet]

Emissions is everything and most of the first owners cars of vans get shot of them in 3 years. I'm going to keep 1990s designed cars going for as long as I can.

Christ yes, ours are serviced and rustproofed like billio.

 

Thoughts for the future include grey importing a 2003/2005 Outback or Prado direct from Japan, again 90's designs basically just facelifted for the noughties, cars that won't have seen any road salt since new so a good prospect to see us into our dotage with a bit of luck.

The thought of a modern snot box fills us both with dread.

[Pillock]

I'd quite like to rig up one of those automated manuals to a regular manual, so as it changes gear you get the lever  flapping about and the clutch pedal going up and down.

[Richard]

Now that automated manuals have been explained can somebody explain twin clutch gearboxes?

[cort16]

Now that automated manuals have been explained can somebody explain twin clutch gearboxes?

 

[anonymous user]

Chap at petrol station today asked if he could jump start his Isuzzu 4wd thing, he had the leads ready, but they made him push it off the forecourt first. Happily they were decent leads and reached my under-seat battery. Daft question, his vehicle had two batteries under the bonnet, one each side. (we jumped it using the one on the driver's side) I asked him what the other battery was for and he didn't know, do they all have two, in which case why, or is it likely to be some sort of lash up?

[cort16]

Winch maybe?

[Richard]

My Transit has two batteries. As far as I can tell it only uses one when the engine is off and if you flatten that one, which I do quite a lot, it actually jump starts itself.

[Cheggers]

My Merc has a 2 battery set up - one for the roof & toys with the other for starting and running the engine's systems.

[cort1977]

Some Land Cruisers have an auxiliary battery as standard (at least in Australia).   For winches and stuff but may also be able to place in parallel for extra cranking capacity.

[djimbob]

Chap at petrol station today asked if he could jump start his Isuzzu 4wd thing, he had the leads ready, but they made him push it off the forecourt first. Happily they were decent leads and reached my under-seat battery. Daft question, his vehicle had two batteries under the bonnet, one each side. (we jumped it using the one on the driver's side) I asked him what the other battery was for and he didn't know, do they all have two, in which case why, or is it likely to be some sort of lash up?

Japanese winter pack, the North Island gets fucking freezing and many Jap imports have two starter batteries, as does my Transit minibus as it happens

 

Some diesels also have a button which ups the tickover therefore enabling the engine to heat up the cooling system and internal heating in stop start tokyo (other large conurbations are available) traffic - can't for the life of me remember how I know this, apart from owning many Jap import people carriers with these top features!

[Lacquer Peel]

I've seen grey import 4x4s with twin batteries so I'm not sure it's anything to do with a winter pack, just a backup for churning a big indirect injection diesel over when it's cold.

[KruJoe]

Some diesels also have a button which ups the tickover therefore enabling the engine to heat up [quicker].

 

My Pleasure Wagon has this, and it closes a flap to restrict the exhaust too. I've not found a second battery on it though.

It also has a socket for a 110V mains plug-in, I don't know why, or how to use it!

[tooSavvy]

To boil a UK 240V kettle verrry slowwwwwwwly

 

TS