The Joy of Running an Old Shed (Vol 2)
Discussion
Challo said:
The inherited Jazz threw an engine management light on the way home today. Been stuttering since Thursday when I filled up with Sainsbury petrol , but today it finally got worse. Won’t rev over 3k, and generally is a nightmare to drive.
Looks like I will need to book it in for someone to take a look at the codes.
Contaminated fuel? I'd ask Sainsburys if they've had any other complaints of bad running. Looks like I will need to book it in for someone to take a look at the codes.
SimonTheSailor said:
How about a 2010 Honda Civic 1.4i petrol ? Reliable as it's Japanese ? Cambelt or chain ? What to look for ?
These are chains, they do the older 1.4 dsi engine or the newer (better imo) 1.4 VTEC - pretty robust if a little lethargic in the heavy civic imo but good engines non the less I would say.I have looked at these before, as a shed - think the 1.8 VTEC is a better all rounder as equally as robust.
Edited by 7 5 7 on Sunday 10th March 08:36
Dan Singh said:
Challo said:
The inherited Jazz threw an engine management light on the way home today. Been stuttering since Thursday when I filled up with Sainsbury petrol , but today it finally got worse. Won’t rev over 3k, and generally is a nightmare to drive.
Looks like I will need to book it in for someone to take a look at the codes.
Contaminated fuel? I'd ask Sainsburys if they've had any other complaints of bad running. Looks like I will need to book it in for someone to take a look at the codes.
p4cks said:
Dan Singh said:
Challo said:
The inherited Jazz threw an engine management light on the way home today. Been stuttering since Thursday when I filled up with Sainsbury petrol , but today it finally got worse. Won’t rev over 3k, and generally is a nightmare to drive.
Looks like I will need to book it in for someone to take a look at the codes.
Contaminated fuel? I'd ask Sainsburys if they've had any other complaints of bad running. Looks like I will need to book it in for someone to take a look at the codes.
I suspect I may have had it happen last week - filled up with the dreaded black stuff after a 227 mile drive, in order to check my MPG (39.52, mixed motorwya and country lanes), and the 19 year old X Trail was stuttering (felt like misfiring) for several miles after. I am suspecting crap from the bottom of the tank had taken up residence in one or more of the injectors. Afrer bucking-broncoing my way around the Newark bypass, the problem seemed to clear itself suddenly and has not returned since.
Just the grinding, catching noise from the brakes left to sort out. I have had it checked and pronounced safe, and pads in good nick, so am now suspecting that the disks have warped. All parts are returnable if not used, so I have got the full set af disks and pads ready in the car (we have an excellent independent spares place locally) and am giving it to an expert to look at on Tuesday.
I was looking at my old 75 shed sat on the driveway thinking, "it's leaning a bit". Next day it's leaning a bit more, then I notice one of the tyres looking a bit flat. Given the undulations on the driveway, it's not unusual for some tyres look more squashed than others...
Anyway, I fetch my pressure gauge, squat down behind the wheel and even before locating the dust cap, spot the massive nail in the tyre. That'll be that then. Bit miffed, as it's never had a puncture before in my 100k miles with the car.
However, being a shed, and being a Rover whereby things don't cost alot and thereby are easy to acquire, a perusal of my spares department located nine spare wheels. 20 minutes later a replacement was fitted.
Can't imagine having a selection of spare 20" diamond cut alloys for a brand new PCP'd lifestyle chariot. Just a can of gunk and a compressor, if you're lucky.
Anyway, I fetch my pressure gauge, squat down behind the wheel and even before locating the dust cap, spot the massive nail in the tyre. That'll be that then. Bit miffed, as it's never had a puncture before in my 100k miles with the car.
However, being a shed, and being a Rover whereby things don't cost alot and thereby are easy to acquire, a perusal of my spares department located nine spare wheels. 20 minutes later a replacement was fitted.
Can't imagine having a selection of spare 20" diamond cut alloys for a brand new PCP'd lifestyle chariot. Just a can of gunk and a compressor, if you're lucky.
p4cks said:
Dan Singh said:
Challo said:
The inherited Jazz threw an engine management light on the way home today. Been stuttering since Thursday when I filled up with Sainsbury petrol , but today it finally got worse. Won’t rev over 3k, and generally is a nightmare to drive.
Looks like I will need to book it in for someone to take a look at the codes.
Contaminated fuel? I'd ask Sainsburys if they've had any other complaints of bad running. Looks like I will need to book it in for someone to take a look at the codes.
Pit Pony said:
Wife's astra J (bottom.of the range 1.6 auto) 14 years old.
The one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
I do wonder about the wiring on the J. Mine has the check airbag light on depending on how far back or forward the drivers seat is. Assume it must be the wires below the seat.The one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
In any case stumbled on this thread after rethinking buying and considering just embracing the J and seeing how long I can make it last.
Jungleland said:
Pit Pony said:
Wife's astra J (bottom.of the range 1.6 auto) 14 years old.
The one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
I do wonder about the wiring on the J. Mine has the check airbag light on depending on how far back or forward the drivers seat is. Assume it must be the wires below the seat.The one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
In any case stumbled on this thread after rethinking buying and considering just embracing the J and seeing how long I can make it last.
Jungleland said:
Pit Pony said:
Wife's astra J (bottom.of the range 1.6 auto) 14 years old.
The one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
I do wonder about the wiring on the J. Mine has the check airbag light on depending on how far back or forward the drivers seat is. Assume it must be the wires below the seat.The one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
In any case stumbled on this thread after rethinking buying and considering just embracing the J and seeing how long I can make it last.
Managed to get the Jazz back on the road. Methodically checked each coil pack and worked out number 3 had failed. Switched it out and back running fine. I bought 2 so kept the other one as a spare, as apparently they start to fail around 100k miles
Cleared the code by disconnecting the battery.
£70 out of pocket and a few hours on a Saturday isn’t too bad
Cleared the code by disconnecting the battery.
£70 out of pocket and a few hours on a Saturday isn’t too bad
Challo said:
Managed to get the Jazz back on the road. Methodically checked each coil pack and worked out number 3 had failed. Switched it out and back running fine. I bought 2 so kept the other one as a spare, as apparently they start to fail around 100k miles
Cleared the code by disconnecting the battery.
£70 out of pocket and a few hours on a Saturday isn’t too bad
It might be worth your while getting an ODB2 code reader. The basic ones are less than £20 on Ebay, and apart from giving you code readings, they also allow you to erase the codes. Once you have the code(s), a quick google will tell you the meaning(s). But if your shed is anything like mine, you will soon know the regular top half dozen. Cleared the code by disconnecting the battery.
£70 out of pocket and a few hours on a Saturday isn’t too bad
Another year of cheap motoring beckons as my A6 Avant sailed through its MOT last week with just a couple of advisories…..both rear suspension control arms have surface rust. I’ll take that. Might just treat it to a proper spring clean and get a couple of long overdue jobs done (sticky rear wiper and intermittent rear parking sensors).
My Audi A4 cabrio goes in for an MOT today. 
Managed to clear the plethora of error lights on the dashboard, just after I put up a for sale advert on marketplace - I had really had enough of it !!
The ECU on the ABS pump (Bosch 5.7) breaks down over time (think it's the soldering joints inside) and will give out erroneous error messages. Probably never needed the wheel sensor replaced whose bolt sheared off whilst trying to replace
When I reinstalled the ECU ,(after I had sent it away to be diagnosed and fixed) I had even more lights appear, I sent it back but they said it was fine. Started all over again and many wires were wiggled/disconnected , items were unplugged/replugged, codes were cleared, things were restarted, steering wheel was thumped, and in a very anti climax sort of way - there were no error lights on the dashboard anymore.
To think a car that looks good still and drives well was going to be basically scrapped because of an electrical glitch is mad and such a waste. Must happen a lot !
Even a local VW/Audi independent garage sniggered at me and said 'Its not something we would really like to take on, it's not something I would like to work on so - sorry !'
Managed to clear the plethora of error lights on the dashboard, just after I put up a for sale advert on marketplace - I had really had enough of it !!
The ECU on the ABS pump (Bosch 5.7) breaks down over time (think it's the soldering joints inside) and will give out erroneous error messages. Probably never needed the wheel sensor replaced whose bolt sheared off whilst trying to replace
When I reinstalled the ECU ,(after I had sent it away to be diagnosed and fixed) I had even more lights appear, I sent it back but they said it was fine. Started all over again and many wires were wiggled/disconnected , items were unplugged/replugged, codes were cleared, things were restarted, steering wheel was thumped, and in a very anti climax sort of way - there were no error lights on the dashboard anymore.
To think a car that looks good still and drives well was going to be basically scrapped because of an electrical glitch is mad and such a waste. Must happen a lot !
Even a local VW/Audi independent garage sniggered at me and said 'Its not something we would really like to take on, it's not something I would like to work on so - sorry !'
SimonTheSailor said:
My Audi A4 cabrio goes in for an MOT today.
Managed to clear the plethora of error lights on the dashboard, just after I put up a for sale advert on marketplace - I had really had enough of it !!
The ECU on the ABS pump (Bosch 5.7) breaks down over time (think it's the soldering joints inside) and will give out erroneous error messages. Probably never needed the wheel sensor replaced whose bolt sheared off whilst trying to replace
When I reinstalled the ECU ,(after I had sent it away to be diagnosed and fixed) I had even more lights appear, I sent it back but they said it was fine. Started all over again and many wires were wiggled/disconnected , items were unplugged/replugged, codes were cleared, things were restarted, steering wheel was thumped, and in a very anti climax sort of way - there were no error lights on the dashboard anymore.
To think a car that looks good still and drives well was going to be basically scrapped because of an electrical glitch is mad and such a waste. Must happen a lot !
Even a local VW/Audi independent garage sniggered at me and said 'Its not something we would really like to take on, it's not something I would like to work on so - sorry !'
In the past few years I have had to scrap an Audi A8 (endless electrical problems) and a Volvo XC90 (Volvo computer couldn't see round the Canbus network, so couldn't pair in a replacement rear haldex ECU). The Volvo was an MOT fail as a consequence. A friend of mine similarly had to scrap an XC90.Managed to clear the plethora of error lights on the dashboard, just after I put up a for sale advert on marketplace - I had really had enough of it !!
The ECU on the ABS pump (Bosch 5.7) breaks down over time (think it's the soldering joints inside) and will give out erroneous error messages. Probably never needed the wheel sensor replaced whose bolt sheared off whilst trying to replace
When I reinstalled the ECU ,(after I had sent it away to be diagnosed and fixed) I had even more lights appear, I sent it back but they said it was fine. Started all over again and many wires were wiggled/disconnected , items were unplugged/replugged, codes were cleared, things were restarted, steering wheel was thumped, and in a very anti climax sort of way - there were no error lights on the dashboard anymore.
To think a car that looks good still and drives well was going to be basically scrapped because of an electrical glitch is mad and such a waste. Must happen a lot !
Even a local VW/Audi independent garage sniggered at me and said 'Its not something we would really like to take on, it's not something I would like to work on so - sorry !'
In both cars the electronics didn't stand the test of mileage over 120,000, and were far too complicated to fix when things did go wrong.
My bargepole is now out where luxury cars are concerned.
Including anything made in Germany.
QBee said:
It might be worth your while getting an ODB2 code reader. The basic ones are less than £20 on Ebay, and apart from giving you code readings, they also allow you to erase the codes. Once you have the code(s), a quick google will tell you the meaning(s). But if your shed is anything like mine, you will soon know the regular top half dozen.
My brother inlaw has a cheap one I can borrow if needed. To be honest I was lucky with the coil pack but will defiantly use it in future. The coil pack must have been on the way out for a while, as took the car out for a spin on Sunday and feels much happier to rev under load and in general, plus I never got more than 44mpg, but already on the run to work its upto 46mpg.
Plus after finding out I need to spend some money on the house, I think the shed will be with my for a while yet.
Pit Pony said:
Wife's astra J (bottom.of the range 1.6 auto) 14 years old.
The one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
Okay, I serviced the bThe one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
d on Sunday, New oil, oil and air filters and new spark plugs. We now have a problem in addition to the spanner light, which has no fault codes showing.
The radiator fan, is rapidly turning most of the time. Within 10 seconds of starting. Goes off after about a minute then 10 seconds later comes on again. Then stays going for 2 or 3 minutes , then goes off again. I ran out of time, to diagnose it and instead unplugged it, but that's not a solution.
Ideas ?
Car drives fine.
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