The grumpy thread

[Fumbler]

Fucking car won't start well at all today, meaning the jets weren't the problem at all. At least it runs better. I'm at my wits' end- I replace that made the car run unreliably (but would start) with one that makes it start unreliably (but runs perfectly). I just don't understand what is the problem. The only two things with the fuelling/ignition system I haven't touched are the pump and the ignition timing.

If it consistently was a pig to start then it's be easier to diagnose, but sometimes it starts normally as if there isn't an issue. Unfortunately, it's not like this most of the time. For example, today, like most days, it kind of starts then dies, and won't restart without a good 10 seconds of cranking. Once it's been running for a bit and it's shut off, I can literally turn the key and it fires up immediately. WTAF? I wish I knew what was actually going on.

[wuvvum]

It's being French, that's what's going on.

[Fumbler]

52 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

It's being French, that's what's going on.

It's a rather fitting answer I suppose!

[omegod]

1 hour ago, Fumbler said:

Fucking car won't start well at all today, meaning the jets weren't the problem at all. At least it runs better. I'm at my wits' end- I replace that made the car run unreliably (but would start) with one that makes it start unreliably (but runs perfectly). I just don't understand what is the problem. The only two things with the fuelling/ignition system I haven't touched are the pump and the ignition timing.

If it consistently was a pig to start then it's be easier to diagnose, but sometimes it starts normally as if there isn't an issue. Unfortunately, it's not like this most of the time. For example, today, like most days, it kind of starts then dies, and won't restart without a good 10 seconds of cranking. Once it's been running for a bit and it's shut off, I can literally turn the key and it fires up immediately. WTAF? I wish I knew what was actually going on.

Brûle le

[Fumbler]

3 minutes ago, omegod said:

Brûle le

Give it time...

[sheffcortinacentre]

11 hours ago, Talbot said:

When it comes to the staff at the local tips around here, I can ABSOLUTELY believe that rather than properly risk-assess the situation and do what would actually be helpful, useful and proportional,  they would happily use it as an excuse to close the site and "self-isolate" for a couple of weeks.  On full pay of course.  I've witnessed several incidents of people who asked for some assistance, and the attitude of all the staff there was inexcusable. 

Sounds like the ones here in Sheffield.

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

What great timing,  got a keen buyer form my ford focus coming round early tomorrow morning, just been out after a week and found it won't start,  first time un 11 years this has happened. Battery voltage also seems fine at 12.6v.

Strange electrical goings on in the car, i hope i can find a new battery gast tomorrow morning. Fat chance, i live in the sticks in italy !

Would need 6 meter long jump cables. Taking the battery out of wifes company modern will i am sure cause headaches.

I will sleep on it.

I feel a lost sale coming on.

 

[cort16]

Can anyone tell me why Motortrend and hotrod magazine are such absolute dick heads?

First off they limit the content on available to europe

Hotrod magazine have blocked content from the EU (all other US websites have the same issues around GDPR but still allow access)

Now motor trend have pulled out the EU so there's no access to some of the good shows the made like RoadKill etc.

I can only presume they'll fuck it all up in some way and all those shows will go down the toilet.

[High Jetter]

52 minutes ago, Sir Chocolate Teapot said:

What great timing,  got a keen buyer form my ford focus coming round early tomorrow morning, just been out after a week and found it won't start,  first time un 11 years this has happened. Battery voltage also seems fine at 12.6v.

Strange electrical goings on in the car, i hope i can find a new battery gast tomorrow morning. Fat chance, i live in the sticks in italy !

Would need 6 meter long jump cables. Taking the battery out of wifes company modern will i am sure cause headaches.

I will sleep on it.

I feel a lost sale coming on.

 

Cancel the sale, and it will run like a dream.

[mitsisigma01]

17 hours ago, Talbot said:

When it comes to the staff at the local tips around here, I can ABSOLUTELY believe that rather than properly risk-assess the situation and do what would actually be helpful, useful and proportional,  they would happily use it as an excuse to close the site and "self-isolate" for a couple of weeks.  On full pay of course.  I've witnessed several incidents of people who asked for some assistance, and the attitude of all the staff there was inexcusable. 

Horsham by any chance 🤔

[AnthonyG]

5 hours ago, cort16 said:

Can anyone tell me why Motortrend and hotrod magazine are such absolute dick heads?

First off they limit the content on available to europe

Hotrod magazine have blocked content from the EU (all other US websites have the same issues around GDPR but still allow access)

Now motor trend have pulled out the EU so there's no access to some of the good shows the made like RoadKill etc.

I can only presume they'll fuck it all up in some way and all those shows will go down the toilet.

The US and EU have fallen out big time over data rules, and some US sites are so keyed up to track users they don’t work in the EU.

I suspect American corporate lawyers being risk averse for the reason you can’t access certain sites anymore. 

We have just agreed ‘data equivalence’ with the EU, so basically the U.K. will stick to GDPR and likely keep in step with EU changes in the future.

Someone who knows far more about the interest than I will tell you how to set things up so you can pretend to be from outside the EU, people do this to access US streaming networks with region specific content. 

[Heidel_Kakao]

22 hours ago, Bren said:

There are lots of people - especially in public services - who would happily use the virus as an excuse not to do very much.

True and I was one of them 😀 A decade with HMRC, I was a workshy little fucker haha.

[cort16]

5 hours ago, AnthonyG said:

The US and EU have fallen out big time over data rules, and some US sites are so keyed up to track users they don’t work in the EU.

I suspect American corporate lawyers being risk averse for the reason you can’t access certain sites anymore. 

We have just agreed ‘data equivalence’ with the EU, so basically the U.K. will stick to GDPR and likely keep in step with EU changes in the future.

Someone who knows far more about the interest than I will tell you how to set things up so you can pretend to be from outside the EU, people do this to access US streaming networks with region specific content. 

I know GDPR has caused problem for sites outside the EU but I can still visit the new york times website, wired.com etc they just put up the normal cookies tracking prompt you get on every other site.  

As for motor trend they've been happy enough to take your money but you can't get access to the half the shows on their platform including the ones they make themselves. They're probably pulling the plug as european subscriptions dwindled because of this but they caused the problem themselves.

[Remspoor]

16 hours ago, Fumbler said:

Fucking car won't start well at all today, meaning the jets weren't the problem at all. At least it runs better. I'm at my wits' end- I replace that made the car run unreliably (but would start) with one that makes it start unreliably (but runs perfectly). I just don't understand what is the problem. The only two things with the fuelling/ignition system I haven't touched are the pump and the ignition timing.

If it consistently was a pig to start then it's be easier to diagnose, but sometimes it starts normally as if there isn't an issue. Unfortunately, it's not like this most of the time. For example, today, like most days, it kind of starts then dies, and won't restart without a good 10 seconds of cranking. Once it's been running for a bit and it's shut off, I can literally turn the key and it fires up immediately. WTAF? I wish I knew what was actually going on.

Have you a thread on this that I may have missed?

Have you checked the electrics, (now waiting for the usual wise cracks about French form others)🙄

A bad earth or a coil or even a condenser can cause intermittent faults like you describe.

I doubt if it is fuel related as they are usually indicated by a more permanent issue.  Even an issue with any diaphragm, in the carb, will cause a permanent fault.

 

[fairkens]

On 7/1/2021 at 10:20 PM, Barry Cade said:

This. 

I'm going to be replacing the MIL's  clutch next week, as no garage in the area will do it, and the ones that would even give a price were in the region of 6-700 quid.

This example of an exotic,rare and difficult to work on car to justify this lack of enthusiasm and big price?

A 2010 Focus.. 1.6 petrol

 

Had a car on the back of the truck on Saturday, puncture no spare.. rip in sidewall, so transported the old guy and car round the local tyre fitting chains. He was distraught as he was going to hospital to visit his very ill wife.

Not one place had a tyre of any brand on the shelf. 

This rare exotic car which required a tyre to be specially ordered?

A 2013 Ford Fiesta Titanium..

I Despair.. I really do.

I get similar everytime I drop my car (1999 Mondeo) in at the garage. The bloke who runs it is a nice fella but it's always 'if I can get the parts' even though all consumables are freely available from multiple motor factors. 

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

14 hours ago, Sir Chocolate Teapot said:

What great timing,  got a keen buyer form my ford focus coming round early tomorrow morning, just been out after a week and found it won't start,  first time un 11 years this has happened. Battery voltage also seems fine at 12.6v.

Strange electrical goings on in the car, i hope i can find a new battery gast tomorrow morning. Fat chance, i live in the sticks in italy !

Would need 6 meter long jump cables. Taking the battery out of wifes company modern will i am sure cause headaches.

I will sleep on it.

I feel a lost sale coming on.

 

A little update.

Remember i am in italy.

My trusty ford is sold, we did 0 to 160000 kms together , a sad day really .

The car must have know when i washed it last week for sale, so yesterday wrecked its battery.

This morning a fast, pay full price be thankful the one shop round here had one in stock €90  battery later everything was back to normal. So down €90 on deal but still happy.

Now the fun bit .

2 ltr petrol 145 hp. The  cost of italian bureaucracy to change ownership,  bearing in mind i sold 2009 focus for €2500, wait for it cos you will all be shocked.

 

 

€700 !

Seven hundred euros to change ownership of 12 year old car. !

To be agreed between parties but normally the buyer pays this, in my case they did thankfully.

Thoughts ?

This is why italians keep their cars a long time and hate their systems.

[hairnet]

when you can buy stuff for the price of change

why change

insane

spend money on gelato and pasta instead

[Fumbler]

1 hour ago, Remspoor said:

Have you a thread on this that I may have missed?

Have you checked the electrics, (now waiting for the usual wise cracks about French form others)🙄

A bad earth or a coil or even a condenser can cause intermittent faults like you describe.

I doubt if it is fuel related as they are usually indicated by a more permanent issue.  Even an issue with any diaphragm, in the carb, will cause a permanent fault.

 

Every start with the new carb consists of around 20 seconds of constant cranking, then this happens:

Doesn't seem electrical but it may well be.

Once it's started, it's fine. I can even run the fuel bowl dry and it'll restart once plumbed in as if nothing has ever happened. I may need to employ @Talbot's thimble-of-fuel trick again, but the inconsistency in how the car starts means I might not get any clear cut results.

[Dr_Slow]

The air con on my TT 225 failed so I took it to a well known rapid fitting company for a re-gas (free if it all leaks out). That wasn't the problem, so I agreed to let them look into it. The problem was in the fusebox, which also prevented power getting to the cooling fan. They found this out by letting it overheat, crack a cooling pipe and dump its coolant...

I am now waiting for them to fix* it as its immobile and am fearing the impact on the head gasket.

When I do pick it up, what (apart from 'mayo' under the oil filler cap) should I be looking for, especially as I won't be in a position to drive it very much over the next couple of months? Anyone also have ideas as to my rights in this situation?

[Remspoor]

3 hours ago, Fumbler said:

Every start with the new carb consists of around 20 seconds of constant cranking, then this happens:

Doesn't seem electrical but it may well be.

Once it's started, it's fine. I can even run the fuel bowl dry and it'll restart once plumbed in as if nothing has ever happened. I may need to employ @Talbot's thimble-of-fuel trick again, but the inconsistency in how the car starts means I might not get any clear cut results.

How does it start with just a Gravity feed to the carb? For me the cranking in the video  cranking is not excessive.

[Remspoor]

4 hours ago, Sir Chocolate Teapot said:

A little update.

Remember i am in italy.

My trusty ford is sold, we did 0 to 160000 kms together , a sad day really .

The car must have know when i washed it last week for sale, so yesterday wrecked its battery.

This morning a fast, pay full price be thankful the one shop round here had one in stock €90  battery later everything was back to normal. So down €90 on deal but still happy.

Now the fun bit .

2 ltr petrol 145 hp. The  cost of italian bureaucracy to change ownership,  bearing in mind i sold 2009 focus for €2500, wait for it cos you will all be shocked.

 

 

€700 !

Seven hundred euros to change ownership of 12 year old car. !

To be agreed between parties but normally the buyer pays this, in my case they did thankfully.

Thoughts ?

This is why italians keep their cars a long time and hate their systems.

Same in Spain the cost to change registration can be expensive.

Autonomous Community (area); Will charge 4% or 6% of the value. This is not the sale but one dreamed up by the state.

The Traffico (registration office and a few other things) charge 54.60€

Then there is the collection of the forms and filling them in.

Recently it was announced we can go to the post office to do the documentation. They have their cut too. However, in my case that would save a hours trip (each way) to Traffico.

 

 

[Fumbler]

41 minutes ago, Remspoor said:

How does it start with just a Gravity feed to the carb? For me the cranking in the video  cranking is not excessive.

It's excessive compared to what it was like on the old carb. It shouldn't take just under a minute to get an engine started in an ambient temperature of 20 degrees C. As for gravity feeding it, it's the same story as with the pump hooked up. It no go.

I managed to address a few vacuum leaks, one at the manifold gasket and one on the emissions control system. I reverted the timing back to where it was (although I'd like to time it properly one day). I cranked it over a few times and it started rather well, but the real test will be tomorrow morning. I drove it around a bit and the torque on these new jets is amazing. Acceleration at 50MPH on an 11% incline hill, so that's a nice improvement.

[Remspoor]

You write new carb. Is that as in brand - brand new or new to the car and second hand?

Are the jets the same between the original carb? is there a small diaphragm inside the carbs.

Is it an auto choke? If so was that changed?

Have you checked the position of the throttle? Doe one sit at the same location as the other?

Why did you change carbs?

 

I really know nothing about these lovely looking cars. So I have to ask what may be silly questions.

 

If you have not got a thread about this maybe star one or this will end up fill up grumpy thread. That may make members grump!

 

[Fumbler]

Just now, Remspoor said:

You write new carb. Is that as in brand - brand new or new to the car and second hand?

Are the jets the same between the original carb? is there a small diaphragm inside the carbs.

Is it an auto choke? If so was that changed?

Have you checked the position of the throttle? Doe one sit at the same location as the other?

Why did you change carbs?

 

I really know nothing about these lovely looking cars. So I have to ask what may be silly questions.

 

If you have not got a thread about this maybe star one or this will end up fill up grumpy thread. That may make members grump!

 

Step this way dear sir:

 

[twosmoke300]

20 hours ago, sheffcortinacentre said:

Sounds like the ones here in Sheffield.

Tip staff are in close running to doctors receptionists and conveyancing solicitors for “ the cull “ 

[Stanky]

5 hours ago, Dr_Slow said:

The air con on my TT 225 failed so I took it to a well known rapid fitting company for a re-gas (free if it all leaks out). That wasn't the problem, so I agreed to let them look into it. The problem was in the fusebox, which also prevented power getting to the cooling fan. They found this out by letting it overheat, crack a cooling pipe and dump its coolant...

I am now waiting for them to fix* it as its immobile and am fearing the impact on the head gasket.

When I do pick it up, what (apart from 'mayo' under the oil filler cap) should I be looking for, especially as I won't be in a position to drive it very much over the next couple of months? Anyone also have ideas as to my rights in this situation?

My suggestion will be twofold. First, check the coolant expansion tank for fine copper bits indicating they've slopped k-seal into it. I'm not sure if other products like Steel-seal have any visible residue indicating they've contaminated the coolant with a quick fix product. Secondly, get one of these:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124375564710?epid=15031188540&hash=item1cf55c81a6:g:Y98AAOSw8fpfW2NC

And use it immediately - before they can get anywhere near it to contaminate the coolant with magic gloop. This will tell you fairly definitively if the head gasket has gone and is leaking combustion gasses to coolant. The blue liquid is reusable by the way, don't chuck it out once you've used some. if it goes yellowy-green then there is combustion gas in the coolant, but sit it on the side for a while, away from the combustion gas and it goes blue again.

I'd be demanding they get they pay for you to have the head gasket done at a trusted 3rd party mechanic, they ought to be insured if they're a proper outfit. Don't let them do it in-house (see point 1 above)

[The Moog]

Can anyone tell me why Motortrend and hotrod magazine are such absolute dick heads?
First off they limit the content on available to europe
Hotrod magazine have blocked content from the EU (all other US websites have the same issues around GDPR but still allow access)
Now motor trend have pulled out the EU so there's no access to some of the good shows the made like RoadKill etc.
I can only presume they'll fuck it all up in some way and all those shows will go down the toilet.

I watch motortrend through Amazon - still on there.



Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

[OM646]

12 hours ago, Sir Chocolate Teapot said:

This is why italians keep their cars a long time and hate their systems.

Is this also why the (secondhand) cars are so cheap? I'm thinking of travelling from Portugal to Italy in a couple of years, to pick up a modern-ish E Class...

[iainrcz]

Why  do I allow myself to get so pissed off at work?

No one else seems to.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

2 hours ago, iainrcz said:

Why  do I allow myself to get so pissed off at work?

No one else seems to.

Probably (and I do this too) because you care about your job in a way that others at work don't.