Sluggish Maestro

[jimjnr]

Hi, I hope you don't mind me asking a question about my Austin Maestro. I bought it last week and it has been sitting in a garage for about a year. It has only done 13000 miles and looks nearly brand new and my problem is that it is really sluggish. I did change the spark plugs but it was still pulling quite badly. I looked at the vacuum pipes and they were very badly cracked. I taped them up but they desperately need replacing. Where can I buy this vaccum pipe, it looks like a long very small tube approximately 3ft long. One end goes into the control unit which is situated on the right hand side and on the other end is a rubber "T" junction and four inches from that is a rubber "L" juntion. Sorry for the primitive description. If anybody could help me purchase this item and any ideas what I would need to do next if after replacing that it still pulls. Please help. kind Regards Jim

[Austin-Rover]

I moved your post to its own thread to make it and its replies easier for you to find.

It's very important that the vacuum system is in top condition or your car just won't run right at all. Have you got any local scrapyards? You may get lucky and find the piece you need from a scrapper. You can have some limited success at motorfactors with vacuum tubing parts. Many places I find can't help with these bits.

[E_T_V]

Which engine size is it?

[Dave]

Where abouts are you in the country? Someone may be able to offer 'local knowledge' for sourcing the pipe... Else just buy a lenght of silicone vacuum hose from ebay (make sure you get the correct size!).

Dave

[D87 SMW]

Given it has a 'control unit on the right hand side' I'd go for a 1.6. Would have to be a very early one to be an R series, though.

[Austin-Rover]

It is an S series. Have read the description of the vacuum tubing a little more closely and it all fits being an S.