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| Thread ID: 140343 | 2015-09-27 09:15:00 | Tips for buying a used car | Nick G (16709) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1409024 | 2015-10-09 18:48:00 | Normally in deep s**** though if you see water when the spark plugs are out. Yep, sons previous car.....it was rather depressingly spectacular..... He replaced the head, alas, the block was cracked too and it went to it's final resting place at the wreckers. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 1409025 | 2015-10-10 10:24:00 | Oh well nothing ventured nothing gained. My wife has a 1999 Holden (Vauxhall/Opel) Astra. 230,000kms. It acts as though it is sick. The engine and gearbox are fine, in fact it runs well except the ECU runs an alarm signal on the dashboard. I've cleaned the Mass Air Sensor and sprayed the throttle body which appeared to work for 250k but its back to its old tricks. Won't run. Or if it does, won't accelerate. Got me stumped. No blue smoke from the engine - it runs really powerfully. When I first fixed it the car pulled 100km up a steep hill with no lack of power. The Holden agents say it needs a new ECU at $1800 but that is more than the car is worth. Any thoughts? |
Winston001 (3612) | ||
| 1409026 | 2015-10-10 11:19:00 | Have you changed the air filter recently? | zqwerty (97) | ||
| 1409027 | 2015-10-10 12:25:00 | Oh well nothing ventured nothing gained. My wife has a 1999 Holden (Vauxhall/Opel) Astra. 230,000kms. It acts as though it is sick. The engine and gearbox are fine, in fact it runs well except the ECU runs an alarm signal on the dashboard. I've cleaned the Mass Air Sensor and sprayed the throttle body which appeared to work for 250k but its back to its old tricks. Won't run. Or if it does, won't accelerate. Got me stumped. No blue smoke from the engine - it runs really powerfully. When I first fixed it the car pulled 100km up a steep hill with no lack of power. The Holden agents say it needs a new ECU at $1800 but that is more than the car is worth. Any thoughts? Try pull DTC's (diagnostic Trouble Codes) from the CEL (check engine light). Easy either with a code scanner, or App (e.g. Torque Pro what I use - needs bluetooth ELM 27 adapter for the diagnostic port (16 pin). Plus can reset, and do ECU freeze/frames, log data, etc from ECU Though I think can be done manually, either by bridging 2 pins (or earthing one of them) in the diagnostic port. I use to do this for my Nissan 92, and count the CEL flashes, and get their codes from the net. Make sure you get the pins/earth point correct. Research the net to find out for your make/model. Or it seems a simple brake and pedal test - as seen here (www.youtube.com) (YT video). Engine codes here. (www.astraownersclub.com)Sometimes can retrieve more than one DTC, as one fault can create another (e.g. power loss, or hesitation). I cleaned the MAF with carb cleaner. Also read/compare the command/voltage signal with multi meter before/after cleaning and also rev to observe readings. I think 5V is the reference, also signal output (varies during revs but needs be in spec), and earth reading. You can also similarly test the TPS (throttle sensor) and MAP sensor (if present). |
kahawai chaser (3545) | ||
| 1409028 | 2015-10-10 21:15:00 | Oh well nothing ventured nothing gained. My wife has a 1999 Holden (Vauxhall/Opel) Astra. 230,000kms. It acts as though it is sick. The engine and gearbox are fine, in fact it runs well except the ECU runs an alarm signal on the dashboard. I've cleaned the Mass Air Sensor and sprayed the throttle body which appeared to work for 250k but its back to its old tricks. Won't run. Or if it does, won't accelerate. Got me stumped. No blue smoke from the engine - it runs really powerfully. When I first fixed it the car pulled 100km up a steep hill with no lack of power. The Holden agents say it needs a new ECU at $1800 but that is more than the car is worth. Any thoughts? -Simple principal, get a Jap car next time. |
Cicero (40) | ||
| 1409029 | 2015-10-16 07:13:00 | Try pull DTC's (diagnostic Trouble Codes) from the CEL (check engine light) . Easy either with a code scanner, or App (e . g . Torque Pro what I use - needs bluetooth ELM 27 adapter for the diagnostic port (16 pin) . Plus can reset, and do ECU freeze/frames, log data, etc from ECU Though I think can be done manually, either by bridging 2 pins (or earthing one of them) in the diagnostic port . I use to do this for my Nissan 92, and count the CEL flashes, and get their codes from the net . Make sure you get the pins/earth point correct . Research the net to find out for your make/model . Or it seems a simple brake and pedal test - as seen here ( . youtube . com/watch?v=zyCanc7BheU" target="_blank">www . youtube . com) (YT video) . Engine codes here . ( . astraownersclub . com/vb/showthread . php/571072-List-of-Fault-codes-and-how-to-check-for-them" target="_blank">www . astraownersclub . com)Sometimes can retrieve more than one DTC, as one fault can create another (e . g . power loss, or hesitation) . I cleaned the MAF with carb cleaner . Also read/compare the command/voltage signal with multi meter before/after cleaning and also rev to observe readings . I think 5V is the reference, also signal output (varies during revs but needs be in spec), and earth reading . You can also similarly test the TPS (throttle sensor) and MAP sensor (if present) . Thank you Kahawai, very much appreciated . Today I once again gently cleaned the mass air sensor with carburetor cleaner and a cotton bud . The car ran well for 100m then devolved to choking and jumping . Sprayer cleaner in the throttle body then drove 1k with excellent response . But . . . nope . Limped back to my garage . Haven't found how to get ECU readings yet but seems like using a paperclip to short out the connections to the dashboard is required . The peddle method only works with electronic throttles - this car is mechanical . But if the Holden dealer is correct then the ECU is faulty itself in which case . . . dunno . :D |
Winston001 (3612) | ||
| 1409030 | 2015-11-06 05:54:00 | I hate, hate, hate boring cars with a passion. But for a first car, on a low budget, a Corolla or Civic would be my picks. You want something that generally just works, and is easy and cheap to fix if it does go wrong. | ruellesmith (17277) | ||
| 1409031 | 2015-11-06 06:07:00 | A car is just a metal box to keep me dry when it rains or the journey is longer than 30km, or I need to carry a heavy load. They are all boring. | gary67 (56) | ||
| 1409032 | 2015-11-06 06:36:00 | A car is just a metal box to keep me dry when it rains or the journey is longer than 30km, or I need to carry a heavy load. They are all boring. Until you get to a hill in a manual, then there's the joy of shifting down and slamming your foot down ;) |
pcuser42 (130) | ||
| 1409033 | 2015-11-06 07:38:00 | Until you get to a hill in a manual, then there's the joy of shifting down and slamming your foot down ;) And coming down the other side, the joy of shifting down, using the engine as a brake and the torque up for a speedy exit :thumbs: |
WalOne (4202) | ||
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