F170 Disgraces Itself...

[D87 SMW]

Just cleaned the car, checked it all over for the 2pm MOT and was happy with it.

To start (or not, as the case may be), the battery was dead so I had to put the one from the LHD on. Fired up no problems.

Backed it off the drive and selected 1st, tried feeding the clutch out and it just dropped in revs signifcantly. Thinking maybe it's the new clutch plate needing burning in, I kept feeding it in and out.

After that I tried just dropping it and after a jerk the car proceeded to drive in 1st gear, but had a severe lack of power. Planting it resulted in barely a brisk-walk's pace. It went through the gears, however, but still with very little power.

First question: Why would this be? At idle, it runs well and evenly and with a bit of gas, it revs like a good'en. However, trying to drive, there is NOTHING there.

Once parking beside the LHD at the roadside, there was a hissing and spray of steam coming from the back of the OS of the bonnet, above the expansion tank area. It appears that the overflow from the thermostat to the expansion tank has been hissing away and spraying out steam at the t/t end.

Second question: Why would this be? It's only an overflow...

The car has been limped back onto the driveway now, so I've had to cancel the MOT.

This just isn't going well at all.

[Captain Slow]

Christ Steve, not going well for you at all! :(


Hope you get better luck soon :)

[G Force]

Hi Steve, I'm not too sure what you are describing there. I could be having a particularly dim day so if you could give a bit more info:o

If you mean the engine is reving ok when you are driving but the car does not gain much speed, then I would say it sounds like the clutch is slipping. If it is a new clutch it could be a weak pressure plate or the friction plate could possibly fit the wrong way round.

If you are saying the engine revs won't increase when driving then that is an engine running problem.

If the steam comes from the pipe at the thermostat end then you have a leak, but if steam is coming from the expansion tank just under the filler cap then the engine is overheating. It could be an air lock or just that the cooling fan does not work. What have you done to the engine recently?

Gary:)

[D87 SMW]

If you are saying the engine revs won't increase when driving then that is an engine running problem.

If the steam comes from the pipe at the thermostat end then you have a leak, but if steam is coming from the expansion tank just under the filler cap then the engine is overheating. It could be an air lock or just that the cooling fan does not work. What have you done to the engine recently?

Gary:)

Gary,

No matter how much I planted it when driving in gear, it just did not increase in revs or speed all that much, it was very very restrained. My dad keeps suggesting timing. Not sure which way it would need adjusting, though. At rest, it is very VERY rev-happy at the slighest gas.

The steam I'm not sure about because I didn't open the bonnet right away. I have noticed it bubbling at the expansion tank end when it has been idling on the drive when tuning it. The red temp light on the dash (MK3 4-pack I installed) was flashing when the fan was on, if that's correct? The fan does work and the radiator is (what appears to be) a good one.

Looking at the tube afterwards, it was split at the thermostat end and the expansion tank end was still attached - it isn't a brilliant fitting, though.

Vaccuum pipes etc. all appear OK...

[G Force]

Gary,

No matter how much I planted it when driving in gear, it just did not increase in revs or speed all that much, it was very very restrained. My dad keeps suggesting timing. Not sure which way it would need adjusting, though. At rest, it is very VERY rev-happy at the slighest gas.

I agree with your dad there, I remember now saying that on the other post you did. It sounds retarded so you would need to move the distributor clockwise to advance the timing. That would involve moving the vacuum unit away from the oil fiter, assuming the drive gear is correctly fit.


Looking at the tube afterwards, it was split at the thermostat end and the expansion tank end was still attached - it isn't a brilliant fitting, though.

Vaccuum pipes etc. all appear OK...

Fix the leak both ends and it should be ok

[D87 SMW]

Fix the leak both ends and it should be ok

Thanks. :)

I didn't know that tube was under so much pressure, though?

[G Force]

Thanks. :)

I didn't know that tube was under so much pressure, though?

It is under system pressure, i.e. under the same pressure as all the other coolant hoses:)

[D87 SMW]

Gary,

Once again you have been spot on. I've just taken it around the block and it's safe to say, for a 1.3, it goes like the clappers! :eek:

My dad has sourced some 5" thick (I exaggerate) washing machine tubing and clamps to use on the thermostat>expansion tank, so hopefully that'll hold ok.

Cheers!

[G Force]

Thats good news:) Having excessively retarded ignition timing would contribute to the overheating problem as the exhaust valves / cylinders /cylinder head run hotter as the gasses are still burning on the exhaust stroke.

Cheers Gary:)