My engine doesn't fire properly! Any helpful suggestions?

Post by **petefarrell360** » 05 Nov 2005 02:44 am

What Foggy is now going to tell ya is they are three blokes or something?

The mischievous scamp!
Pete

Post by **foggyjames** » 05 Nov 2005 02:52 am

I did like the way Hugh assumed...but no, they're all ladies. Well, female anyway

cheers

James

Post by **Apha** » 05 Nov 2005 10:19 pm

Dear James

Thank you for your kind offer of help and your wise words of wisdom, i don't think i shall be going back to Coalville before Xmas and the insurance is up before then but i appriciate the offer.

As far as shifting stuff goes Norman has done me proud, have moved furniture, rabbits and people with no bother. Certainly have been won over by the space and comfort.

However i used to get over 200 miles out of 25 quid going to work and back down nice country roads. Now i am lucky to get half that, really lucky!. It is true that the insurance is cheap and the engine ain't that big -but there lies the problem i think. I assume since you are not an expert on the 1.4 that you have a 1.7, if so maybe there is a lot more power there. Because if my simple grasp of mechanics is correct (Newtonian that is) the small engine has to do significantly more work to get that big old chassis moving due to a lack of torque, low power to weight ratio and all that. And stop-start Leeds traffic just doesn't do Norman any favours. Poor thing gets up to speed just as it's time to stop again!

Hence little car with light body and modern more economical engine, or probably no car at all is more suitable for me and my student budget right now. Sad but true. I'm going to give the old push-bike a dust off and see how i get on for a bit.

oh and i am true to my word if anyone's interested i have got pictures but cant post them as i dont have a webpage to post them on - will e-mail them to anyone who wants!

Apha x

Post by **foggyjames** » 05 Nov 2005 10:51 pm

I can host pics if you want...email link is at the bottom of all of my posts.

I can see where you're going with the efficiency...mine used to get that sort of efficiency on a long run, but then I put two huge carbs on it, and now it does 30mpg if I'm very lucky - usually in the low 20s! It is kinda fast now though. It's a 2.0.

Going back to that point...will he still do that on the right road, or has that figure dropped now? If so, that's almost certainly related to your running problem. If you just mean that you're doing more urban driving now...well yes, no way around that really

Anyhow, take it easy...and...er...keep the car

cheers

James

Post by **cryan** » 20 Nov 2005 12:07 am

I no this is a late reply but it sounds a little bit like an ignition timing fault to me. this would explain the juddery throttle responses.
The corrosion sounds like poor fitting aftermarket components arcing. I have recently had this on my Honda Civic where the halfrds leads didn't quite connect with the plugs properly thus leaving a small air gap which the current arced across. this arcing will cause rapid corrosion due to the ionisation of the surounding air, usually with a white powdery build up as well.