...A new turbocharger but boost is still weak A recent call to the Autobiz Helpline, was about a Renault Traffic 1.6 dCi, fitted with an R9M turbocharged engine. The original issue was a failed turbocharger, which was replaced with an OE unit, but the issue of low boost persisted. Nothing...
...Steve Rothwell Tales from the workshop When an early MINI (R50) comes in for a steering problem, it can often be connected to a failing electric steering motor, these can (and do) often overheat and fail. On this 2007 MINI Cooper, I was asked to check that the cooling fan for the steering...
...Focus - Glow plug issue Steve Rothwell Tales from the workshop This 2009 Ford Focus 1.8 diesel, had been starting without issue all through the coldest weather. When the mornings were becoming a little milder, things were taking a downturn. The engine needed cranking a lot more than it u...
...PEUGEOT 207 - Clutch clearance trouble Steve Rothwell Tales from the workshop This 2006 Peugeot 207 1.4 16, belonged to the daughter of a good friend. The problem started with a difficulty in selecting gear, and suspecting that perhaps the clutch had sucked air into the hydraulics, he as...
...Tim Stock Autobiz Helpline Tales Common Causes of EVAP System Failures When OBD II was introduced to control the emissions from the tailpipe, it also introduced a system to control and monitor the hydrocarbon emissions from the fuel supply system itself. Any leak in the fuel supply or...
...Toyota Avensis rusty rear brake discs The owner opted to replace the handbrake shoes as well as the discs and pads Like many vehicles during Covid, this 2002 Toyota Avensis 1.8 petrol had been left standing for a longer than normal, allowing the rear brakes to become a little corrode...
...Ford Mondeo flywheel replacement The friction plate had ripped away from the centre spline, allowing it to spin freely I have often been asked about replacing the Dual Mass Flywheel, with a standard flywheel and clutch set up. Up to now, even though I have heard horror stories after...
...Qashqai flat battery The fan relay is hidden under the left hand front headlamp and cannot be seen from above The owner went out to his 2014 Nissan Qashqai for the second day, to find that he needed a jump start, and now he wanted to know what was draining his battery. This job didn...
...Accurate pressure diagnostics is key to success Vacuum testing has been a major diagnostic tool, ever since the internal combustion engine was developed. Many vehicle systems rely on pressure and vacuum to operate correctly. With modern engine technology, the data received from pressure...
...Skoda Octavia - Clutch failure The owner of this 2012 Skoda Octavia II 2.0 TDi, was not too concerned, because the clutch was working, but it did feel different. That was until on a local drive when attempting to change gear, there was a crunching and grating sound, which indicated to t...