Virtual Mechanic

Ryu
Waikerie, South Australia

Type of Vehicle Ford
Model EA Falcon
Month/Year 6/1989
Kms 235,000
Problem Hard starts when cold, when starts idles nicely and drive well until warm. Even when warm it idles well. When warm and driving it starts to misfire and loose power, ultimately becomes unresponsive to accelerator pedal. Mechanic suggested changing of timing chain, but surely if it was the timing chain it would not idle well when stationary? help

Ryu

This sounds like a potential manifold issue, now I will paraphrase it back to you.
When running at normal operating temperature it starts to misfire
Can you perform something for me please
With the car parked in neutral running at Normal operating temperature can you wait for the misfire then raise the idle speed and tell me if this goes away
 
Let me know

Friday, March 05, 2010 3:15 PM
Darren

Hi Darren,

Wish you answered last week!

Since I posted the question the car died. I took it in for a tune and it got worse, thats when I posted the query. I took it back and they said that the timing guide was cracked, which was strange as it wasnt running so bad when I initially took it in. The mechanic told me i could drive on it but it would be noisey. I decided it was too noisy to drive and when driving it in to get fixed it threw the chain, missed a cog and died, when they opened her up they discovered she and dropped a cylinder, …not worth fixing. Now I am without a car and have I have lost alot of trust in mechanics! Think I will stick with Honda! Thanks anyway mate.

Gutted

Ryu

Ryu,
 
I’m really sorry to hear of your experience but was not aware of a noisy timing chain with your first e-mail.
Hope you get back on the horse soon….
 
Darren

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THE EFFECT
The cooling system will maintain normal operating temperature under all driveable conditions. 

THINGS TO LOOK FOR
It’s always a good idea to look at the thermostatic fan to understand how it operates.  Because thermostatic fans are thermostatically controlled and they should switch on and off.  A good thermostatic fan in a very good cooling system will switch on for somewhere between 20-40 seconds.  If the fan switches on for longer than 60 seconds this might be a cooling system that is unable to cool down with the thermostatic fan.  Another problem might be associated with the cooling system.  If the fan stays on for 5 seconds, this is an excellent cooling system as it never requires a lot of effort from the thermo fan.

Noise – Ring gear slipping
 THE EFFECT
The whole neighborhood gets to hear it! It’s a high pitched metallic noise that when cranking the pinion gear from the starter motor is trying to turn the ring gear that has no teeth left.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR

Basically what you will find is that with every second crank, every fifth, fifteenth or hundredth crank, you will hear this noise.. If the noises become more common, eg. every second or third or tenth crank, it’s time to get the ring gear fixed and also the starter motor pinion will have to be examined to see if it’s worn. It may be causing the ring gear to wear.

COST

Cost of a ring gear or fly wheel and the starter motor pinion may cost around $600.00 for the complete job. A temporary repair is, with a set of gloves, to try to move the harmonic balancer. That way you are moving the location of those sets of teeth and of the ring gear, and the car might start if you are stranded in a remote location.
 Note this noise is on the CD Rom

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Noise – Loose Timing Belt 

 THE EFFECT
A loose timing belt will rub up against the plastic housing surrounding the belt. It also can cause a distributor drive to chatter at idle. A loose fan belt may slip causing the timing to go out which can give poor performance or cause a potential misfire.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR

If you feel you have a suspect timing belt you may have to remove some of the housing to get to it to feel the belt to see if it is loose. Otherwise take the belt to your local mechanic to rectify.

COST

The cost to adjust a loose timing belt is around $30.00 but remember, this timing belt lasts somewhere between 60,000-80,000Kms. If it is around about that time, it might be a good idea to get the timing belt replaced as a timing belt replaced before it snaps is by far the cheapest repair or service on any fan belt.
 More information On Basic Car Maintenance CD Rom

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The Noise – Loose Fan Belt
 THE EFFECT
A loose fan belt is a fan belt screaming out for help. Also a loose fan belt may perish or deteriorate rapidly depending on whether it’s a polyrib belt or a ‘V’ belt. A loose fan belt will also affect the charge rate and the cooling system if the water pump pulley is connected to that fan belt. Any fan belt that is loose will affect what it’s driving.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR

Check the belts for tension. If they feel loose, tighten them up.

COST
Nothing; if you do it yourself! When you check the fan belt make sure there is no oil around the fan belt and it isn’t cracked. An oily or cracked fan belt is a fan belt that is no longer useable. With an oily fan belt you will have to get the oil leak fixed ASAP as it will affect the belt until it is repaired. Also the oil leaks onto the road and that can become a safety hazard. Fan belts cost between $5.00-$65.00 depending on the make and model. Some fan belts are difficult to changeover, so it might be a good idea to get your mechanic to fit a new fan belt. When checking one belt, check all of them, as they all seem to go at the same time. 
 More information On Basic Car Maintenance CD Rom

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