*********Motors Chat - Round 9 *********

Noccy_Mondy

Just noticed this in the focus. Power steering issue. Just whines/noises when turning. If on full lock it hasn't any inclination to move back towards the centre, you could go around and around if you wish. Looked at the fluid and it's down to half way. So I could either have the pump being starved of fluid due to a leak, or the filter in the fluid reservoir being blocked (as it was with the mondeo not long after getting it). Or the pump itself could be goosed. Replaced it with a second hand one about a year ago, but it could be gone again.

CIP4

Seems to have been loads of Christmas songs playing on the radio over the weekend. The older I get the less of an interest I seem to have in Christmas sad really it's early yet I suppose.

In car news I thing the pollen filter in my car is caked up with crap or partially blocked as the air flow seems to be getting worse and worse even with fan on speed 4 it's not that fan I don't think. It's such a huge job to change it too. I don't think any mechanic would touch them.

Toyotafanboi

You'd wonder why they put a serviceable part in such a sh1t place.





Because Renault.

CIP4

CIP4 wrote: »

Seems to have been loads of Christmas songs playing on the radio over the weekend. The older I get the less of an interest I seem to have in Christmas sad really it's early yet I suppose.

In car news I thing the pollen filter in my car is caked up with crap or partially blocked as the air flow seems to be getting worse and worse even with fan on speed 4 it's not that fan I don't think. It's such a huge job to change it too. I don't think any mechanic would touch them.

DIY if you can. I have changed dozens of pollen filters and it never ceases to amaze me what falls out of them. Mini forests.

Toyotafanboi

You have to remove the clutch pedal assembly in the Megane 3 though, right? An unenviable task even to a competent DIY'er :P

GvidoR

Toyotafanboi

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

You'd wonder why they put a serviceable part in such a sh1t place.





Because Renault.

Volvo designed it for people like this. I even mentioned it to the lad who bought it. "I hope you don't have the car long enough for a pollen filter change". :pac: Thankfully he already knew the score.

Edit: Ah now you edited your post! :pac:

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

You have to remove the clutch pedal assembly in the Megane 3 though, right? An unenviable task even to a competent DIY'er :P

Really? Feck that! Some things are just worth paying someone else to do.

Another edit: You didn't edit your post at all TFB. I'm just losing my mind Apologies!

CIP4

Snotaul Goodman wrote: »

DIY if you can. I have changed dozens of pollen filters and it never ceases to amaze me what falls out of them. Mini forests.

Oh I'm well able for basic to medium pollen filter changes. I changed one in my focus mk2 and they are considered very bad to do by many but the Megane would be a good step above that see below.

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

You have to remove the clutch pedal assembly in the Megane 3 though, right? An unenviable task even to a competent DIY'er :P

Ye even with detailed guides it looks like a proper tricky time consuming job mechanics seem to hate doing them. Mk3 meganes are not DIY friendly full stop. Even air filter is somewhat tricky to change as they go. Oil filter is low down at the front of the engine tight but not too bad. You can't even see the fuel filter buried in the drivers wing.

polan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xARXus0q0b4

Reckless street race in Warsaw!

Graham 1324

GvidoR wrote: »

MK1 Focus is a nice car. Not a fan of the interior though.

I am

Alanstrainor

I usually fill my tank up whenever I get to the halfway point. Decided to just top up with 20 there on Saturday, by Sunday evening it was back down approaching the half way mark...at least when I fill it, it usually take a couple of weeks until I need to go back and fill again, but jaysis it was depressing seeing it whore through petrol!

Toyotafanboi

Filling the tank is the key to placebo effect success imo. I think it's to do with filling the filler neck with a litre of two of extra fuel which makes it seem like it lasts much longer.

YbFocus

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I usually fill my tank up whenever I get to the halfway point. Decided to just top up with 20 there on Saturday, by Sunday evening it was back down approaching the half way mark...at least when I fill it, it usually take a couple of weeks until I need to go back and fill again, but jaysis it was depressing seeing it whore through petrol!

You really do feck all driving
I'll empty mine in 4-5 days of commuting and other bits.
Sometimes a full tank at the weekends too!

Toyotafanboi

I empty a tank every two days love it :pac:

YbFocus

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

I empty a tank every two days love it :pac:

You must do lots of mileage or is there a small tank in them?

Mycroft H

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

I empty a tank every two days love it :pac:

Brimmed the tank the last time I filled it. I think it was two weeks ago. Still have some left. Diesels are great

Toyotafanboi

YbFocus wrote: »

You must do lots of mileage or is there a small tank in them?

As Clarkson would say, it's a fuel thimble :P the most i've ever gotten in is around 40 litres.

Could do the guts of 1k miles most weeks though.

YbFocus

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

As Clarkson would say, it's a fuel thimble :P the most i've ever gotten in is around 40 litres.

Could do the guts of 1k miles most weeks though.

Yeah the e36 can take 65 litres
Rarely do that mileage though, 500-600 would be the norm.

joujoujou

Mycroft H wrote: »

Brimmed the tank the last time I filled it. I think it was two weeks ago. Still have some left. Diesels are great

Lend it to me. I'll show you how quickly fuel needle can go down on the dash.

fancy pigeon

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

As Clarkson would say, it's a fuel thimble :P the most i've ever gotten in is around 40 litres.

Could do the guts of 1k miles most weeks though.

Full tank + neck at the start of the week, usually empty by Thursday.... I go through at least 90 litres of diesel a week with roughly an 800 mile per week average

You must have a light foot, mines a tonweight or both!

Toyotafanboi

I'd say it's more a light car than a light foot, I like to keep up in traffic :pac:

You still in the Corolla?

Alanstrainor

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Filling the tank is the key to placebo effect success imo. I think it's to do with filling the filler neck with a litre of two of extra fuel which makes it seem like it lasts much longer.

Yeah, it's all about that placebo effect! I filled it last night to make things good with the world. Also, I read somewhere that it's better to run the e46 well above empty, something to do with the fuel pump residing inside the tank.

YbFocus wrote: »

You really do feck all driving
I'll empty mine in 4-5 days of commuting and other bits.
Sometimes a full tank at the weekends too!

I really do, do feck all driving. It's mad really, not sure I'll cover 3000 miles this year (i know i know, old money blah blah). Makes my costs per mile pretty bad with tax and insurance!

Marty McFly

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I really do, do feck all driving. It's mad really, not sure I'll cover 3000 miles this year (i know i know, old money blah blah). Makes my costs per mile pretty bad with tax and insurance!

I miss my days of low mileage used to do max 5,000. No matter what I do I can't stop that craving for a return to a nice petrol engine. On pistonheads and Carzone.ie daily teasing myself

YbFocus

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Yeah, it's all about that placebo effect! I filled it last night to make things good with the world. Also, I read somewhere that it's better to run the e46 well above empty, something to do with the fuel pump residing inside the tank.



I really do, do feck all driving. It's mad really, not sure I'll cover 3000 miles this year (i know i know, old money blah blah). Makes my costs per mile pretty bad with tax and insurance!

Last day in mondello i was getting fuel surge below half a tank so the pump seems to be a problem. Trying to work dual pumps now to counteract this.

That's crazy low mileage, i have 29k miles on her since this year began
I have done 25% of all its mileage in 1 year on a 99 car

joujoujou

Alanstrainor wrote: »

[...] I read somewhere that it's better to run the e46 well above empty, something to do with the fuel pump residing inside the tank.



[...]

Sort of urban myth saying when tank is near empty, a pump takes fuel from the bottom of the tank, thus more likely to take some muck which is also located on the bottom.

In fact, fuel is ALWAYS taken from the bottom of the tank, regardless of fuel level in it.

Alanstrainor

joujoujou wrote: »

Sort of urban myth saying when tank is near empty, a pump takes fuel from the bottom of the tank, thus more likely to take some muck which is also located on the bottom.

In fact, fuel is ALWAYS taken from the bottom of the tank, regardless of fuel level in it.

It actually wasn't anything about picking up ****e from the bottom of the tank, there was some other reason... can't actually remember what it was mind you. But sure I prefer filling at the half way mark, rather than letting it drop to empty and fill.

All this talk of fuel has me thinking that I should replace me fuel filter. Have had it in my shed for 2 years I'd say now. Must just do it, don't think it's a big deal to change.

Mycroft H

joujoujou wrote: »

Lend it to me. I'll show you how quickly fuel needle can go down on the dash.

I've never seen it drop below 32mpg average. That was a blitz to Galway on thew motorway with a full load. I only slowed to go through Athlone.

But yea, it's decently economical otherwise. Driving through town kills it though.

CIP4

Micksgarage free delivery on everything today. My air con has a terrible odour so picked this up there. half price plus 10% + off free delivery two different cans of stuff so between both of them they will hopefully help.

http://www.micksgarage.com/proddetails.aspx?pid=2984939

fancy pigeon

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

I'd say it's more a light car than a light foot, I like to keep up in traffic :pac:

You still in the Corolla?

Never thought of it like that! Although them engines are normally light on fuel anyway?

Corolla off the road still, hopefully I'll have it right in a few weeks seeing as funds are tight for Christmas! Im in something a little more familiar for now Really can't wait to park my arse in those Celica seats again

joujoujou

Mycroft H wrote: »

I've never seen it drop below 32mpg average. That was a blitz to Galway on thew motorway with a full load. I only slowed to go through Athlone.

But yea, it's decently economical otherwise. Driving through town kills it though.

You're just well experienced in terms of economical driving I guess.

All the fuel discussion above reminded me how did I get on with Ms jou's very economical tdi bus - she drives it just normal (that includes taking foot off the trottle and letting a car to slow down itself) - when I took her car for a ride (mine had yet another gearbox failure), fuel consumption nearly doubled. But my custom is - if i take a foot off the throttle I just do it to hit the brake pedal. The worst fuel consumption was (in my case) always on rural roads full of tight corners, so plenty of accelerating/braking.