The Doctor's travels through time. Fin.

[Lacquer Peel]

If not primed just right they can be an arse to start after a fuel filter change indeed. 

[DoctorRetro]

41 minutes ago, rob88h said:

I’m by no means a diesel mechanic 😂 but I had a similar priming problem with the S123 when I changed the fuel filters. What worked in the end was a mega amount of cranking - I drained the battery..., then ran it off a jump from another running car. Eventually I was graced with that beautiful acrid diesel smoke. 
Let me know if you want a hand in person, but my help usually only extends as far as turning a key, scratching my head and then leaving having probably made things worse. 

Funnily that is just the problem - I've got it to catch a couple of times, but stretching between the key and the bonnet you don't have time to operate the accelerator before it cuts out. I got it to catch using Wd40 into the manifold, but my arms only stretch so far. And now I've flattened the battery 😂

 

[DoctorRetro]

I also managed to suck diesel out of the fuel return using a clear tube, but it was quite bubbly. 

I think just going for a solid filter will be the best bet... 

[DoctorRetro]

Went round with the bumper gel and did a cursory tidy of the wheel trim edges (poundland silver, what else?).  Doesn't really show. 

I can safely say I don't have any affinity to this car, I'll use it for a while as efficient transportation then probably sell it on for the same price I bought it for. 

[bunglebus]

9 hours ago, TheDoctor said:

The 4 pot 1.2 16v engine is way better than the 3 cyl 1.0, by a country mile. 

Nothing happening with the Fenlander, I have two insurance policies, so it just means I've got a shitter to run around in (I'm doing 70 miles per day at the moment) while I give it some attention. 

I need to figure out how to get the stupid thing started first of all.

It's hard work being out on a limb here, with nobody to call on, even for moral support. I know it's my own doing, as I push everyone away, but I feel so alone when it comes to cars. 

I might try to find a half decent mobile diesel mechanic to come round and help. 

 

Give me a shout if you're stuck. I'm no expert but sometimes just having someone to bounce ideas off helps

[Fumbler]

47 minutes ago, TheDoctor said:

Went round with the bumper gel and did a cursory tidy of the wheel trim edges (poundland silver, what else?).  Doesn't really show. 

I can safely say I don't have any affinity to this car, I'll use it for a while as efficient transportation then probably sell it on for the same price I bought it for. 

It's a good stopgap is anything. You've made it look quite good too!

[Cavcraft]

54 minutes ago, TheDoctor said:

 

 

I can safely say I don't have any affinity to this car, I'll use it for a while as efficient transportation then probably sell it on for the same price I bought it for. 

You know when you get a new job and there's a secretary that you don't really pay much notice to, or try and upskirt  say hello to on the stairs? Then before you know it, you're all like 'yeah, actually she's quite a bit MILF' and a couple of weeks later you're openly flirting and enjoying every minute of her company.  That secretary is your Corsa.

[DoctorRetro]

I'm confused. There's a horrible shaking from the front of the Corsa at certain speeds, like a duff ball joint or something. It's occasional though, depending on road surface or in fact how quickly I accelerated. 

I've had the car up on the jack and I can't detect any movement. Could it be as simple as needing the wheels balanced? 

 

I've just had a thought while typing this, that I only jacked up each side individually, perhaps if I get both wheels off the ground it will become more apparent. Possibly steering related?

[Cavcraft]

Strut tops or engine mount?

[Supernaut]

59 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

You know when you get a new job and there's a secretary that you don't really pay much notice to, or try and upskirt  say hello to on the stairs? Then before you know it, you're all like 'yeah, actually she's quite a bit MILF' and a couple of weeks later you're openly flirting and enjoying every minute of her company.  That secretary is your Corsa.

That's actually how it went with my Saab. I wasn't sure about it at first, now every time I drive it I grin.

[bunglebus]

Yep both front wheels off the ground, check for play top to bottom and side to side. Does it shake the steering wheel or do you just feel it through the car?

Wheel imbalance will be felt at about 50MPH

[DoctorRetro]

Just now, bunglebus said:

Yep both front wheels off the ground, check for play top to bottom and side to side. Does it shake the steering wheel or do you just feel it through the car?

It's more the noise than the feel, but yeah I can feel it through the wheel

[bunglebus]

You feel wheel imbalance quite noticeably through the steering wheel more than anything else, so it's probably not that. 

If it's an engine mount you can try putting the handbrake on and letting the clutch in and out a bit aggressively to try and get it to do it

[wuvvum]

See that's what I thought was the missfire - it felt to me like it was sometimes dropping down to 3 cylinders at higher speeds.  The fact that it is most noticeable when accelerating hard made me think that's what it was.  If it was a wheel out of balance or whatever it'd be doing it every time you went over 60, whereas the Corsa seems to do it randomly.

[loserone]

Warped driveshaft?

[wuvvum]

Again, though, you'd expect that to result in a consistent vibration, rather than occasional.  I'd also be surprised if the 1.2 had enough power to warp a driveshaft...

[DoctorRetro]

27 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

See that's what I thought was the missfire - it felt to me like it was sometimes dropping down to 3 cylinders at higher speeds.  The fact that it is most noticeable when accelerating hard made me think that's what it was.  If it was a wheel out of balance or whatever it'd be doing it every time you went over 60, whereas the Corsa seems to do it randomly.

Yeah, it's definitely not a misfire, but I think it's a combination of a couple of things, perhaps a steering bush as well as unbalanced wheels maybe. 

[wuvvum]

Could be I suppose - although in my (admittedly limited) experience a worn bush / balljoint in the steering gear would make the steering wheel shake more than it does.  Same with a strut top mount - when the one on the V70 wore out it felt like it was going to rip the wheel out of my hands.  Plus the suspension would be a lot noisier than it is if that was the problem.

Might be worth getting the wheels balanced to see if that does help though.

[Noel Tidybeard]

spin the filter back off check the seal are seated ok then glug some diseasel into filter before refitting then try a churn of the key

mondingo tdci can be a complete and utter barstad to bleed/start after a filter change

[DoctorRetro]

New filter added. 

Still nothing apart from a few coughs. 

Fucksake! 

 

Corsa has the right idea

[clayts450]

Have you checked the fuel cut-off button hasn't wedged in ? Not sure about the L-series, but on the K it's hidden behind the centre console

[DoctorRetro]

7 minutes ago, clayts450 said:

Have you checked the fuel cut-off button hasn't wedged in ? Not sure about the L-series, but on the K it's hidden behind the centre console

Not sure what you mean? It's an XUD... 

[clayts450]

D'oh, of  course it is. Ignore me, I'm rambling....

[DoctorRetro]

I found out that I should have been priming it with the ignition on to let fuel past the cutoff solenoid. Sucked the fuel through the pump via the return pipe, hooked the jump leads to the Corsa and voila! 

 

 

[DoctorRetro]

Mind you, now all I can taste is diesel. 

Some pictures, just because. 

 

[MorrisItalSLX]

10 minutes ago, TheDoctor said:

Mind you, now all I can taste is diesel. 

Better than petrol, in my opinion.

Kerosene is the way to go, though.

[Dan302]

13 minutes ago, MorrisItalSLX said:

Better than petrol, in my opinion.

Kerosene is the way to go, though.

Used chip fat 🤤

[DoctorRetro]

26 minutes ago, Dan302 said:

Used chip fat 🤤

Lucas pump 😔

[DoctorRetro]

Just to report, drove the Fenlander to Chelmsford and back yesterday afternoon and it was fine, apart from the occasional slight cough it has always had, you know, the one I was trying to eliminate by replacing the fuel lines and filter in the first place? 😂

Oh well, it's not causing any issues, I'll just ignore it. 

 

[DoctorRetro]

It's annoying, my missus is away for two days so it would be a perfect time to replace the rear springs, but I'm confined to my bed at the moment due to my back. Getting old sucks. 😔