Car faults that were difficult or have never been solved.
Discussion
My MG developed a strange engine problem when I stopped using it every day - it would run fine from cold but then get gradually more hesitant and stuttery at wide throttle openings at low revs until eventually it would stall if you touched the throttle.
Never did get to the bottom of it, the car is languishing in the garage now, probably with a myriad of other things wrong with it, since it hasn't moved in four years.
Never did get to the bottom of it, the car is languishing in the garage now, probably with a myriad of other things wrong with it, since it hasn't moved in four years.
Triumph Dolomite Sprint. Ran well . .. then mis-fired and die. Sometimes it'd clear, sometimes not. Noticed crap in the SU float bowls - cleaned it all out, cleaned the carbs, checked the mounting rubbers for cracks - replaced them. Fitted new filter. Seemed better - but still mis-fired. Seemed to clear if you smacked the back carb as though it was a sticking float or needle - so it got hit over several months with shoes, ladies stilleto, traffic cones, small children etc.
Finally found it - petrol tank is inside the boot - so should be well protected. Which it sort of was - but not from water in the petrol. Flake of rust bouncing around the collection pipe inside the tank - it would bloke the pickup, so starving it of fuel and so the engine would die. After while, ie the time taken to find something to hit the carb with, it would fall off, and the car would re-start and run fine. Removal of tank, fill with nuts and bolts and rattle around, steam clean, rattle, steam clean, flush and refit got rid of it.
Which meant when I came back into Manchester airport a few years ago in the fuel strike crisis thingie, and it had a full tank of fuel, I was the fastest thing on the M6 ;-)
Bri
Finally found it - petrol tank is inside the boot - so should be well protected. Which it sort of was - but not from water in the petrol. Flake of rust bouncing around the collection pipe inside the tank - it would bloke the pickup, so starving it of fuel and so the engine would die. After while, ie the time taken to find something to hit the carb with, it would fall off, and the car would re-start and run fine. Removal of tank, fill with nuts and bolts and rattle around, steam clean, rattle, steam clean, flush and refit got rid of it.
Which meant when I came back into Manchester airport a few years ago in the fuel strike crisis thingie, and it had a full tank of fuel, I was the fastest thing on the M6 ;-)
Bri
Thought of a harder one. While a student with little or no knowledge of cars, bought a 1977 1300 series 1 Lancia Beta coupe in a lovely shade of brown . . . ran well. Parked on parents sloping lawn. Wouldn't re-start. After lots of looking and prodding, removed dizzy and replaced points (one of the last to have points from Lancia), fettled it all over, refitted, re-timed and still wouldn't start. New plugs, new leads, new battery . . . no start.
A week later, a gallon of 2* in the tank - started first turn . . . I believed the fuel guage and low warning light after that! ;-)
Bri
A week later, a gallon of 2* in the tank - started first turn . . . I believed the fuel guage and low warning light after that! ;-)
Bri
kambites said:
My MG developed a strange engine problem when I stopped using it every day - it would run fine from cold but then get gradually more hesitant and stuttery at wide throttle openings at low revs until eventually it would stall if you touched the throttle.
Never did get to the bottom of it, the car is languishing in the garage now, probably with a myriad of other things wrong with it, since it hasn't moved in four years.
Leaking vacuum hose?Never did get to the bottom of it, the car is languishing in the garage now, probably with a myriad of other things wrong with it, since it hasn't moved in four years.
philoldsmobile said:
A particular 'stand up and be couunted' to David Day at Days MK here - he has every bit of diagnostic equipment for a fiat / alfa, but is also a fantastic mechanic who will listen to the car, drive the car, and actually feel what is going on.
That's good to hear, these guys did the cambelt and water pump change on my V6 before I bought it.Excessive urban MPG on EVERY car i have owned in nearly 20 years 
33 mpg Nissan Micra 1.0 (4 of them)
23 mpg -94pug 405td
22mpg -87mg montego turbo
18-22mpg -83toyota camry 1.8auto
18mpg 03 peugeot 307 1.6 auto
17-mpg -91citroen ax gt
17 mpg -80 toyota starlet 1.2
16mpg -85montego 1.6
15mpg -99mondeo 2.0auto - 12 mpg with a/c on
14mpg - 01 rover 75 2.5 auto
33 mpg Nissan Micra 1.0 (4 of them)
23 mpg -94pug 405td
22mpg -87mg montego turbo
18-22mpg -83toyota camry 1.8auto
18mpg 03 peugeot 307 1.6 auto
17-mpg -91citroen ax gt
17 mpg -80 toyota starlet 1.2
16mpg -85montego 1.6
15mpg -99mondeo 2.0auto - 12 mpg with a/c on
14mpg - 01 rover 75 2.5 auto
Edited by tali1 on Friday 31st December 18:37
A couple of Vauxhall-related ones.
My first car, HA Viva. Misfired under light load, but fine at full throttle. Changed points & condenser, checked & cleaned carb, no improvement. I found the fault purely by accident checking the points gap for the third time; there was a ground wire between the plate the points mount on & the distributor body - the wire was broken inside the insulation but making contact when the plate moved to the full advance position.
A mate's Chevette, parked facing up a steep hill, wouldn't start. No smell of petrol, but removing the pipe into the carb showed that there was a supply there. So, in one of those rare moments of logical thought, I suggested that he ran it downhill into a level side street & tried again . . . started first time!
Anybody want to guess why?
My first car, HA Viva. Misfired under light load, but fine at full throttle. Changed points & condenser, checked & cleaned carb, no improvement. I found the fault purely by accident checking the points gap for the third time; there was a ground wire between the plate the points mount on & the distributor body - the wire was broken inside the insulation but making contact when the plate moved to the full advance position.
A mate's Chevette, parked facing up a steep hill, wouldn't start. No smell of petrol, but removing the pipe into the carb showed that there was a supply there. So, in one of those rare moments of logical thought, I suggested that he ran it downhill into a level side street & tried again . . . started first time!
Anybody want to guess why?
Edited by Dave Brand on Friday 31st December 16:34
For my sins I had for a while a Fiat Strada.
engine would randomly cut out....solution was to knock into neutral coast switch off ignition switch ignition back on select appropriate gear for road speed and drop the clutch and away till it happened again could be anything between 10mins or 10 days.
never did find out what it was
The fix was to let the MOT run out and scrap it :-)
engine would randomly cut out....solution was to knock into neutral coast switch off ignition switch ignition back on select appropriate gear for road speed and drop the clutch and away till it happened again could be anything between 10mins or 10 days.
never did find out what it was
The fix was to let the MOT run out and scrap it :-)
The fuel system used to empty (not leak though) on the delica if it'd been left a while and needed priming or bleeding to start, got so bad I was using easy start every day and more than a day or two required mr RAC's help.
RAC men seemed to be quite knowledgeable, but finding a mechanic who didn't burst into tears and run away because it was a slightly different shape than anything he'd worked on before (evan though it was mechanically very similar to a shogun) was a quest I ended up abandoning, and flogging it cheap.
RAC men seemed to be quite knowledgeable, but finding a mechanic who didn't burst into tears and run away because it was a slightly different shape than anything he'd worked on before (evan though it was mechanically very similar to a shogun) was a quest I ended up abandoning, and flogging it cheap.
vit4 said:
1 bulb that won't work in my right headlight socket. Works in every other socket. Every other bulb works in the socket. Just that one bulb; still have it. Go figure
Not got twin or single pins on it has it? Only asking as I came across something similar at work when they were changing a rear bulb on a truck.Bulbs from stock looked exactly the same, but this one had only a small single contact on the side of the base where the others had two (all fitments were the same in terms of fixing them in, it was just the small contact points were either single or double).Is it possible you have a mixture of bulbs and sockets like this? Just guessing of course.As for my own story...My old Omega auto used to randomly cut out.Sometimes it would do it once a month, sometimes four times during one small journey.That ended up being a tiny breather hole which was blocked and we cured it using a paper clip.
Edited by Digby on Friday 31st December 17:18
1977 Alfa Romeo 1.8 Alfetta,1 yr old, owned by MIL. Would never start from cold without some kind of intervention,- plugs out,tow start etc. We never sorted it and she sold it after it's first MOT when the screen had to come out to weld up the holes in the body!
This was despite being garaged,I wonder if there are any left?
This was despite being garaged,I wonder if there are any left?
Welshwonder said:
varsas said:
My diesel land rover gives every symptom of a low battery, but I've now tried about 5 in it...same every time. Sluggish cranking/reluctant or no starting. Fires up fine after being jumped. Checked earthing, batteries, glow plugs, for electrical shorts, alternator (why does everyone say the alternator...surely that doesn't have anything to do with starting the car?)....I am waiting for decent weather to fit a new starter. If that doesn't fix it I will be out of ideas....
Doesn't sound like a big problem but the car is so simple it should be an easy fix...
Has the Landie had this fault ever since you owned it, or has the fault appeared over time?Doesn't sound like a big problem but the car is so simple it should be an easy fix...
I don't really know. I put a new engine in it over the summer, so everything has changed recently anyway. It was fine while the weather was warm but as the nights got colder it got more reluctant to start in the mornings. Could have been coincidence I suppose but it did seem cold related. I have only had the car about 9 months total so don't know if it was the same last winter.
Edited by varsas on Saturday 1st January 16:31
Ah right. Reason I asked is that we sometimes get forklifts into work fitted with incorrect starters. Symptoms were the same as yours. First time I saw it, I was scratching my head. New battery wouldn't even start it, but would go with a jump. Turns out the Kw (Kilowatt) rating was wrong for the particular engine. Starter was perfect, just that it was designed for a different charging system.
Knackered starter or wrong one, I'm sure you'll be OK once a (correct) replacement if fitted.
Knackered starter or wrong one, I'm sure you'll be OK once a (correct) replacement if fitted.
varsas said:
Welshwonder said:
varsas said:
My diesel land rover gives every symptom of a low battery, but I've now tried about 5 in it...same every time. Sluggish cranking/reluctant or no starting. Fires up fine after being jumped. Checked earthing, batteries, glow plugs, for electrical shorts, alternator (why does everyone say the alternator...surely that doesn't have anything to do with starting the car?)....I am waiting for decent weather to fit a new starter. If that doesn't fix it I will be out of ideas....
Doesn't sound like a big problem but the car is so simple it should be an easy fix...
Has the Landie had this fault ever since you owned it, or has the fault appeared over time?Doesn't sound like a big problem but the car is so simple it should be an easy fix...
I don't really know. I put a new engine in it over the summer, so everything has changed recently anyway. It was fine while the weather was warm but as the nights got colder it got more reluctant to start in the mornings. Could have been coincidence I suppose but it did seem cold related. I have only had the car about 9 months total so don't know if it was the same last winter.
Edited by varsas on Saturday 1st January 16:31
Had a great one with the GTV recently. Up to now it's not put a foot wrong, but just before Christmas it started making some really weird and worrying noises. Once the car got up to about 40mph it would start making a strange whistling/thrumming noise, once it got to 60 it turned into a sudden BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG coming it seemed from underneath the car I checked underneath to see if anything was caught under the car or if the plastic undertray had come loose or had broken. Nope. Couldn't see anything wrapped around the drive shafts either. Nothing amiss under the bonnet either.
Thankfully my local Alfa indy said he could look at it on Christmas eve. Took it over, explained the problem, and he put it up on the lift for a good look underneath. Again, nothing looked broken, loose or out of place. Tyres had been on for only a week, so unlikely for them to be de-laminating and slapping against the wheel arches. Took the car out for a run so he could hear the sound - like nothing he'd ever come across before, but at least he agreed with me that it wasn't mechanical but something loose being flapped about by the turbulence once we got up to speed.
Back to the workshop and on the ramp again - still nothing untoward. Back out again with one of the other mechanics. Same banging noise and not a clue what it was, so car booked in for more investigation in the new year.
A couple of days later we get back after visiting family on Boxing Day and I noticed the windscreen seal has come away at the top and is resting on top of the roof! I've now reseated the seal and the noise has gone away. The odd thing about this is that everyone who heard the noise swore it was coming from underneath the car, so we never looked anywhere else
The previous owner had the windscreen replaced at some point and I reckon the seal wasn't fitted perfectly. So, with all the continual freezing and defrosting that it's been through over the past few weeks it probably was enough to let some water in which expanded as it froze, pushing it a bit further out each time until it just came away.
I checked underneath to see if anything was caught under the car or if the plastic undertray had come loose or had broken. Nope. Couldn't see anything wrapped around the drive shafts either. Nothing amiss under the bonnet either.Thankfully my local Alfa indy said he could look at it on Christmas eve. Took it over, explained the problem, and he put it up on the lift for a good look underneath. Again, nothing looked broken, loose or out of place. Tyres had been on for only a week, so unlikely for them to be de-laminating and slapping against the wheel arches. Took the car out for a run so he could hear the sound - like nothing he'd ever come across before, but at least he agreed with me that it wasn't mechanical but something loose being flapped about by the turbulence once we got up to speed.
Back to the workshop and on the ramp again - still nothing untoward. Back out again with one of the other mechanics. Same banging noise and not a clue what it was, so car booked in for more investigation in the new year.
A couple of days later we get back after visiting family on Boxing Day and I noticed the windscreen seal has come away at the top and is resting on top of the roof! I've now reseated the seal and the noise has gone away. The odd thing about this is that everyone who heard the noise swore it was coming from underneath the car, so we never looked anywhere else
The previous owner had the windscreen replaced at some point and I reckon the seal wasn't fitted perfectly. So, with all the continual freezing and defrosting that it's been through over the past few weeks it probably was enough to let some water in which expanded as it froze, pushing it a bit further out each time until it just came away.
Just a few that were "Odd" these occured 20 years ago when I was starting in the business. Nothing like a "fred in a shed" upbringing!
Audi 100 sport, would run then cut out and not start. Suddenly burst into life and ok for a while.
Rear window was leaking, puddle under rear seats, wiring connector for the fuel pumps shorting out...
This wasnt me, but a guy who dabbled in used cars... Old 4x4 with intergalactic mileage.
Oil pressure was fine stone cold but dropped like a stone while warming up. Owner couldnt find the fault (so bent the oil pressure needle!) until the engine stopped. Cause for the oil pressure loss was a hairline crack in the crank....
V8 in a TR8, suddenly lost oil pressure. New pump, filter etc, etc, etc. Finally was decided to strip the motor down expecting main, big end or similar. It was only when the cam was removed it was spotted that one the cam bearings had turned and was gushing the oil out.
VW golf with wipers that juddered violently. Changed the arms, motor - pretty much all but the new blades. You got it. Changed the blades and stopped juddering.
One about 10 years ago was a Viper that miss-fired but only noticeable at idle. Dealers couldnt find it (at that time we were running them in Fia GT). Traced the problem to a rear cylinder, swapped out plugs and leads etc. Still there so removed the inlet manifold, on removal found half the inlet gasket folded over blocking the tract. 1 new gasket fitted and sorted..
Most recent was a friends 911 that had brake judder. Easy we thought, new discs and pads ought to sort it. Nope, judder still there. Bearings were a bit worn so at £16 stuck a new one in. Still juddering.
Decided to check the run-out on the hub - yup hub was bent. Second hand one obtained, bearing fitted and problem solved.
Audi 100 sport, would run then cut out and not start. Suddenly burst into life and ok for a while.
Rear window was leaking, puddle under rear seats, wiring connector for the fuel pumps shorting out...
This wasnt me, but a guy who dabbled in used cars... Old 4x4 with intergalactic mileage.
Oil pressure was fine stone cold but dropped like a stone while warming up. Owner couldnt find the fault (so bent the oil pressure needle!) until the engine stopped. Cause for the oil pressure loss was a hairline crack in the crank....
V8 in a TR8, suddenly lost oil pressure. New pump, filter etc, etc, etc. Finally was decided to strip the motor down expecting main, big end or similar. It was only when the cam was removed it was spotted that one the cam bearings had turned and was gushing the oil out.
VW golf with wipers that juddered violently. Changed the arms, motor - pretty much all but the new blades. You got it. Changed the blades and stopped juddering.
One about 10 years ago was a Viper that miss-fired but only noticeable at idle. Dealers couldnt find it (at that time we were running them in Fia GT). Traced the problem to a rear cylinder, swapped out plugs and leads etc. Still there so removed the inlet manifold, on removal found half the inlet gasket folded over blocking the tract. 1 new gasket fitted and sorted..
Most recent was a friends 911 that had brake judder. Easy we thought, new discs and pads ought to sort it. Nope, judder still there. Bearings were a bit worn so at £16 stuck a new one in. Still juddering.
Decided to check the run-out on the hub - yup hub was bent. Second hand one obtained, bearing fitted and problem solved.
clarkey328is said:
varsas said:
Welshwonder said:
varsas said:
My diesel land rover gives every symptom of a low battery, but I've now tried about 5 in it...same every time. Sluggish cranking/reluctant or no starting. Fires up fine after being jumped. Checked earthing, batteries, glow plugs, for electrical shorts, alternator (why does everyone say the alternator...surely that doesn't have anything to do with starting the car?)....I am waiting for decent weather to fit a new starter. If that doesn't fix it I will be out of ideas....
Doesn't sound like a big problem but the car is so simple it should be an easy fix...
Has the Landie had this fault ever since you owned it, or has the fault appeared over time?Doesn't sound like a big problem but the car is so simple it should be an easy fix...
I don't really know. I put a new engine in it over the summer, so everything has changed recently anyway. It was fine while the weather was warm but as the nights got colder it got more reluctant to start in the mornings. Could have been coincidence I suppose but it did seem cold related. I have only had the car about 9 months total so don't know if it was the same last winter.
Edited by varsas on Saturday 1st January 16:31
varsas said:
clarkey328is said:
varsas said:
Welshwonder said:
varsas said:
My diesel land rover gives every symptom of a low battery, but I've now tried about 5 in it...same every time. Sluggish cranking/reluctant or no starting. Fires up fine after being jumped. Checked earthing, batteries, glow plugs, for electrical shorts, alternator (why does everyone say the alternator...surely that doesn't have anything to do with starting the car?)....I am waiting for decent weather to fit a new starter. If that doesn't fix it I will be out of ideas....
Doesn't sound like a big problem but the car is so simple it should be an easy fix...
Has the Landie had this fault ever since you owned it, or has the fault appeared over time?Doesn't sound like a big problem but the car is so simple it should be an easy fix...
I don't really know. I put a new engine in it over the summer, so everything has changed recently anyway. It was fine while the weather was warm but as the nights got colder it got more reluctant to start in the mornings. Could have been coincidence I suppose but it did seem cold related. I have only had the car about 9 months total so don't know if it was the same last winter.
Edited by varsas on Saturday 1st January 16:31
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