The Automotive (& other mechanized vehicles) thread

[lordgalvar]

Actually, as a side note, if it's a Fiat/chrysler, smart, or modern mini: go for the new car. The repairs will likely be too expensive.

(I like Fiat, but the modern Fiats are having problems and they sold their parts division recently. I assume they'll be driving prices up shortly. Some old Fiats are sweet)

[lordgalvar]

Side story mustang: none. Haven't done anything.

I'm going to get the freaking rear end in this weekend though. I'm going to do it. I'm sick of looking at it. Maybe I'll get the fenders back on but I doubt it

IMG_20190326_173235.jpg (129.31 KiB) Viewed 4588 times

I'm the neighborhood redneck now.

Look at those pretty Ford blue leaf springs I painted though.

[Chankgeez]

Oh, Mustang! Gonna look real good when it's all done.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT6U57QkUe8[/youtube]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT6U57QkUe8

[lordgalvar]

That's a good one!

Sorry about this:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziHIc1ctEJg[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziHIc1ctEJg

I don't really get it. I can't sit through it to see what beating and kidnapping a woman has to do with a car?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9eBhMDD-vc[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9eBhMDD-vc

RIP Dick Dale

[Chankgeez]

Yeah, RIP, Dick Dale. Lots of great So. Cal. car songs though.

Also, check this out:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5de2duhIlw[/youtube]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5de2duhIlw



… and, also, read this: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/23/opin ... -cars.html

[lordgalvar]

Thunderbird minivan! Ha!

That article: I totally agree. I remember that being an argument against automatics as a kid...you'll just fiddle with the radio.

My wife got in an accident with her crv. A guy hit three cars, including her, while they were stopped at a light. Totally his fault. We rented a new Nissan last night with all the automatic and sensor stuff. It was actually no help backing up...no beeps or anything. But it would regulate speed and warn me if I was here or there. It didn't understand there are reasons on my busy street (with tiny streets) why I had to do things.

When I drive her automatic I do find my mind and eyes wandering. I could see, if totally buying into these systems, becoming even less aware.

When I drove the Nissan today, it was slowing down at a different rate than a car should. The computer was controlling slow down. It was weird.

I did find a menu to turn all that off, but I didn't bother. She's driving it. She doesn't really know what to think either. We kind of agree it doesn't feel like driving anymore. When I had my manual, it really felt like I was watching and could down shift when I knew the car needed it or I needed to do something that a computer couldn't really comprehend.

Yeah, I'm not into it. And I've seen more and more stupid wrecks lately with these newer cars. Plus these sensor bumpers can cost 15k to replace because of labor in claibration and junk.

Nah, not for me. Probably why I'm sticking to old cars. But it was a stark difference in the things I did between like the mustang and that nissan.


Good article!

[Dowi]

1. What kind of car? Newer computer stuff? Older mechanical stuff? (I'm talking suspension, engine, etc)
2. Make model year I guess? Probably better than the first question.
3. What kind of car do you want or need? Like really need? Just something to get you around? Does your car meet all your needs outside of being somewhat of a lemon? What is your price range?

110000 miles isn't that much really. Modern cars should go far beyond that without a rebuild. Even old cars can hit 300k if lucky.

If you are paying 1200 euro every year or so, I think there is a larger problem not being addressed, the shops are screwing around, or you just got a lemon. 200 just to make it work vs 1200 for a proper fix seems odd. Some repairs aren't all that bad if you do it yourself. Rebuilding a modern transmission...maybe not, but replacing sensors or computers is possible (unless they need a special extra programmer or something).

What is the actual problems and what were the earlier problems?

I don't know the laws in Italy for car modifications/emissions...could this be a component of the fix (meaning it has to be checked out by authorities like some repairs in Germany)? Do you have weather that wears out cars (snow, flooding)?

Need more details.

Luckily weather in my area is normal so that's not a problem.
The car is a Citroen Berlingo, year 2009, with additional LPG system.

The problem I could solve (or better, I m already doing it because otherwise I can't go to work, gonna grab the car today) with 200€ is a leaking thermostat (firstly I thought it was the radiator) . I have to change the entire thing because it wasn't just the seal that was old and almost entirely reduced in pieces. I don't have enough knowledge, space, or time to do it by myself.

The additional 1000€ or slightly less, is for two reasons:

1) I have to change all of the four LPG injectors, which would be the second time I have to do it in 5 years. I have been using LPG for years in different cars without any problem but with this one I have different issues every year. Right now I ve been using only petrol for the last couple of months because every time I turn on the LPG the engine has problems and I have to stop the car, turn off the LPG, and re-start a couple of times. I could go on with just petrol without any problems, except the fact that it basically is like throwing away money because of the high petrol prices and the low efficiency of the car (10km per liter ca.)

2) if I decide to fully repair the car I have to fix a broken window in the right backseat, right now i've temporarily solved this using scotch tape, some fantasy, and absolutely no sense of aestetichs.

For what it's worth the car is perfect for my needs: it's big, It's comfortable, and I have room for my daughter, bicycles, gear (actually we toured around Europe 3 times with this very car.. Even got to Ireland ).

Money i could invest in a new one? Not much, we've just bought a new house in which we ll be moving at the beginning of next year, so the less the better.

[lordgalvar]

The injectors are a $20 part here or about 25gbp with VAT (just a quick search).

I did some quick reading and it seems like a lot of "injector problems" are actually wiring problems. It doesn't make sense to me that injectors would go bad that quickly unless they were a combined unit with like some kind of sensor or something (and looking at the part, it's just a simple injector). It could be the wiring for the air/fuel or something isn't reporting the mixture correctly to the computer and not adjusting the mix when using LPG. Or the wiring is shorting or throwing an arc when hot and burning the injector's valve (probably this). Some people suggest that there are burnt wires on the harness leading to the injectors. Might be worth just looking yourself.

10km per l ain't bad by American standards haha. Gasoline is cheap here though. We don't do too much CNG/lpg (LPG here generally refers to propane) and most of that is focused on government fleets and mass transportation. We don't have dual fuel systems here outside of hybrid electrics and flexfuel (which can take ethanol).

Find a junk yard and salvage the parts for the back window.

It looks like all this stuff isn't too difficult and could be done yourself. If you're not willing to do all that, another suggestion is to see if any friends can help and you buy the parts, beer, dinner and get to learn too.

Thermostats do go bad. They have running water going through them which can cause dielectric corrosion. Using good antifreeze will extend the life (instead of tap water...don't know what was put in, just a tip. And don't trust places that do service. Most are fine, but some lie...they blew my friends engine but forgetting to put 2 of 5 quarts of oil in it)

With electrical issues, it may be better to chase them diy. If you really don't want to deal with it, I'd try to sell it and just look for a good used car. To me, it sounds like you're done with it. But, I would probably fight that car to the bitter end haha. I guess the other question would be if it has any sentimental value? Maybe find a cheap reliable compact to get by for a years until you aren't as house-poor (as we call it)? At least get a second opinion if you haven't already.

In American prices, that thermostat would have been around 100-150 to fix probably (depending on parts). A full engine replacement in a lot of cars would be $2000 ish with a rebuilt one. 1200 euro for injectors just seems high. And I think the wiring is probably the reason they are burning...so I'd find somebody else and see what they think.

This dual gas thing just sounds like a terrible idea. Beyond the computer having to change timing/advance, injector pulses, several fuel pumps, etc the gasses have different flash points and would require different dynamic compressions ratios (and even make power at different rpms). It's a strange setup from reliability and performace perspectives. I'm sure it's convenient though.

[lordgalvar]

Another quick and cheap thing you can do is "read" the spark plugs. You put in a fresh set and the pull them after some time to see what the engine is running (lean, rich, throwing oil, stuff like that). If it's running lean, it could also damage the injector if it's direct injection...I guess. Oil could gunk them up. If it's an aluminum head, be sure to use anti-seize and never over tighten (aluminum will strip).

I would sign up for a forum or do some digging on forums for that engine/make. They'll have much more specific information and give better advice (we just don't have that kind of stuff here in bulk).

[Dowi]

That’s a lot of useful information you gave me, thanks dude.

The thermostat was really in bad shape, saw it yesterday, but it worked for 10 years without any problem because I always loaded it in first person with proper antifreeze, so I guess that’s usual maintenance work.

Tonight I’m definitely checking the cost of the injectors: maybe my memory is unreliable, but I’m sure the last time I did the substitution I paid like 70 or 80€ each, plus the work of the man. At this point, probably I have been tricked at the time.

Honestly I didn’t even think the problem could be caused by the wiring, I’ll go and see if I can check it by myself this weekend, anyway I was already planning to hear a second opinion before deciding what to do.

The option to find a smaller and cheaper temporary substitute is not that bad, I was just hoping to have the Berlingo next year when I have to move in the new house because it has plenty of space and I already managed to transport some big stuff with it just removing the back seats, avoiding bigger van rentals. The car has a sentimental value just because I’ve seen half Europe with it, but I really don’t care about sentiments in this case: is more the sentiment of extreme anger that causes me periodically than the good ol’ memories haha.

LPG has been a constant in my family in the last 10 years or more, we had it at least on 4 different cars without any problem ever, so I guess it’s either bad luck or that the different engines (different power, sizes etc) react in different ways to the double gas thing. And yes, it’s really convenient - when it works.

I know US standards are quite different regarding prices and fuel consumption, but prices here float around 1,5-1,6€/lt, plus I really would like to fuck the planet the less I can. I know this is something that unfortunately a lot of people don’t care about when choosing a car (or simly can’t consider because of cost reasons, I totally get it). I mean, I’m not getting a Tesla (who has that money anyway), but I would be more than happy to reduce my pollution rate, and to find a more efficient car in my price range is the least I can do.

[Chankgeez]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5f87xjg-m4[/youtube]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5f87xjg-m4

[Chankgeez]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9ziI1pa19U[/youtube]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9ziI1pa19U

[lordgalvar]

How's it going with the car, Dowi?

I kind of have a dilemma:

I can't get that head for the mustang. I do have a later head with improved flow but it still has the cast-in non-removable intake. I have a few solutions to fix this but none are ideal or what I wanted to do:
- supercharge the engine and enlarge the 1 barrel carb to a two barrel fitech fuel injection. This includes adding a computer of some kind.
- supercharge the engine and try to find two carbs that will take boost. Seal off the old carb hole and maybe the middle of the log intake.
- use two two barrel webers and adapt them to the ends of the log and put a windage separator between them in the old carb hole. This would include modifying the head and essential make it trash if I ever went back to stock.

These would potentially raise the wheel HP from the current 65 to around anywhere from 85-150. The reason I want to do this is for reliability (not running different cylinders lean and rich) and modern expectations of a car's performance (like merging on the freeway, passing, or reaction time). Nissan 4 cylinder econmy cars are probably putting 100 at least to the wheels...65 doesn't cut it on the freeway.

My wife (it's her car at the end of the day) that she wouldn't mind a V8 now. She just wants me to buy a crate engine. I've got the suspension and rearend setup to be able to take v8 power. This would take the car to anywhere from 175-325 HP at the wheels (probably) with potential to get into the 500 hp range. I would have to brace the unibody and get a new transmission (which sucks that I have to keep it automatic for my wife...but I get it, manual in LA isn't always the best choice for traffic and she's never driven manual). The v8 would add like 5k minimum to the project.

Keeping it with the 6 cyl will probably take longer to finish but keep the mpg in the 25-30 range. The v8 will likely go down to the 10-17 mpg range.

I'm only missing the head or machine work for the six. I would be starting over with the v8. If I invest the machine work into the six and then magically get the cylinder head, is it a waste? If I could find a Australian version of the head that would solve the problem too. The v8 has a large following and a ton of parts available, plus more information. The six has maybe two production style heads and it's very hard to find parts for (and only one book!).

What do you all think?

[Chankgeez]

I like V8s.

If it's not gonna be a daily driver (or you're only gonna put a few miles a day on it), mpg shouldn't matter much.

[lordgalvar]

I like V8s too.

I think I just wanted to do something different and more inspired by traditional hotrodding instead of restomods.

It's going to be near a daily driver. I don't drive far though.

Ehhh, I'm going to do it. Now I gotta figure which SBF to pick. 302? 306? 302 stroked to 347? 351w?

http://www.mustangandfords.com/how-to/e ... ock-engine

Same price. 306 might be better drive quality because of a milder cam. 347 has more power throughout but may be a little choppy. Both engines come fully dressed and nearly ready to party.