Anyone know a good car advice forum?

[silvergrandee]

I've been looking but hopefully someone here will already have found a good one & could give me a lead to it.

Just in case anyone has an idea of what's the matter with the car, (1) the driver's side airbag warning light has been flashing - the handbook recommends seeing the main dealer about it; not too clever when that's 100 miles away, and (2) the rev counter needle went like a drunken windscreen wiper blade from 0 to 7K, back & forth for a good hour, changing direction & sticking whenever it felt like it. It's usually happy around 1.5K to 2.5K during normal use. The engine was fine, normal noise. After stopping en route for a break it went back to normal. Weird or what!

Dee

[splat]

hi

you could try my ezboard sorry about the pop ups!!! the link is http://pub21.ezboard.com/bautoadvice

[silvergrandee]

Originally posted by splat
hi

you could try my ezboard sorry about the pop ups!!! the link is http://pub21.ezboard.com/bautoadvice

Thank you, Splat - that was very quick! Have done as you suggested & will check back there often.

Cheers!

Dee

[Nig]

It sounds to me like the voltage regulator for the instrument panel is knakked .

Nig:)

[silvergrandee]

Thanks, Nig - sounds expensive......Hoping it's OK tomorrow.

Dee

[hawkwinddotcom]

try http://www.thewebmechanic.ukf.net/

regards

windy one

[silvergrandee]

Thanks, O Wise Windy One, will try there too.

Cheers!

Dee

[Richy]

sounds like your car has developed silicon senility :( what make and model car? the rev counter could be anything from an innocent connection somewhere to the emu (engine management unit) having problems. as for the driverside airbag most likely a loose connection. i wouldnt worry to much about using it as the engine sounds fine. 1.5-2.5k in normal use, sounds a little low to me, although this depends how kind you are to your engine. a diesel should be happy from 1.5 to 4k and a petrol up to 6\7k although this depends greatly on the engine size and tuning etc. is it an automatic?

[silvergrandee]

Originally posted by Richyboy
...what make and model car? .... 1.5-2.5k in normal use, sounds a little low to me, although this depends how kind you are to your engine ..... is it an automatic?

Well, you *did* ask :)

It's a Ford Scorpio Ultima Cosworth 3L 24V, i.e. boring purple Ford estate, a.k.a. Mobile Kennel. It does 70mph at less than 2.5K on the flat. It's practically impossible to be unkind to this beast - it's an automatic/petrol version; put it into reverse while going forwards & it doesn't complain. (Don't know if this is normal for automatics & no, never actually tried it.)

Thanks to all for advice posted here!

Dee

[Andrew Hamilton]

Same chap does the motoring column in the Daily Telegraph. Look at the FAQ section then go to the Back Room. Try the Search facility first.

It worked for my car problems!

[Techtips]

Coulld be the ECU as well :-

----------------------
What's Bad
Hideous facelift in 1995 and hatchback dropped from range. Dropped entirely from Ford line-up in April 1998. Autobox problems common from 60,000 miles. ECU problems common, leading to catalytic converter problems. Fuseboxes vulnerable and contacts rust. Standard ABS costs a fortune to fix. Timing chain of 24v only lasts 60,000 miles. Cracked heads and oil leaks on two litre twin-cams.

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[onomatopoeia]

6-7K on a petrol engined car? that's a bit naff :(. The engine in my Davrian (Imp engine) does 9500 :):):) even standard Imp engines are good (and reliable) to 8000, and that's a 40 year old design.

[silvergrandee]

@ Ian:

....but it's got extremely good points as well. How else can you get 2 people, 2 large dogs plus a month's supply of groceries filling the rear passenger seats up to the legal height going almost 200 miles in speedy comfort along nasty little (but very scenic) mountain roads without loosing your cool or going over the edge?

We had one cat renewed last year, the tyres ain't cheap but so far - fingers crossed for the things you quoted.

@ Mark:

Re what you said about 6-7K - was that for me to reply to? Sorry for butting in if not.

Dee

[onomatopoeia]

Sorry Dee, it was for Richyboy. Just an observation that not all engines are the same. The one in my Davrian is only happy over 5K :)

[Richy]

yes and i said it varied greatly depending on engine size and tuning.
and 6\7k seems about right for an average 1.6l 5-10 yr old car.

if cosworth has breathed on it i can believe anything. i had a little think and then engine is prolly designed for max torque and therefore can have very large gear ratio's so you get good performance etc.

good luck on fixing it :)

[silvergrandee]

Originally posted by Richyboy
good luck on fixing it :)

Thanks, Ritchyboy! Got to say that after us both having sporty cards 'forever' (e.g. 1.6 Sunny hatch, Sylvia, Celica etc.) this one has to be the best by far. Pity they stopped making it - we'd poss get another (but not at the same time).

Dee