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Had some fun and games with the frost this morning. I couldn’t get the key into the lock on the driver’s door, and was only able to get in through the passenger door.
I then was able to open the driver’s door with some difficulty from the inside, but not able to close the door as the mechanism froze.
So I started the car and went to get some warm water to de-ice the windows.
Unaware the door mechanism was frozen and thinking it was broken I proceeded to strip the door trim off to have a look. While doing this I switched the engine off as it was chugging away blowing out loads of fumes.
On discovering that the door was not broken I used a screw driver to lever the mechanism back into the correct position so I could close the door. Feeling quite pleased with myself for solving the problem I went to start the engine again.
The engine wouldn’t start. Despite turning over it wouldn’t fire. This was the first time since 1992 it hasn’t started. On that occasional I had called the AA out and the mechanic showed me a little trick where he unscrewed the dashpot plunger on the carb, and by pushing it in and out while turning the engine over was able to get it to fire. Lucklily this technique worked this morning.
The mechanic said whenever Maestros or Montegos don’t start it was always this problem and this same solution.
The problem for my car however, seems to be as follows:
Despite hearing the stepper motor working, I couldn’t see the rod moving. Now the idle has been very rough when cold for a while and uneven when warmed up and fuel consumption has shot up. Sometimes the car ‘kangaroos’ on light throttle when cold. The two rubber O rings were replaced with viton O rings 80,000 miles ago. I fairly sure the vacuum hoses and connectors are in good shape. The orfco valve was disconnected a few years ago. Where else should I investigate?
One thing is for certain, I was late for work, and if the car is to continue as the primary source of transport (i.e. kept out the scrapyard), this cannot happen again!
I then was able to open the driver’s door with some difficulty from the inside, but not able to close the door as the mechanism froze.
So I started the car and went to get some warm water to de-ice the windows.
Unaware the door mechanism was frozen and thinking it was broken I proceeded to strip the door trim off to have a look. While doing this I switched the engine off as it was chugging away blowing out loads of fumes.
On discovering that the door was not broken I used a screw driver to lever the mechanism back into the correct position so I could close the door. Feeling quite pleased with myself for solving the problem I went to start the engine again.
The engine wouldn’t start. Despite turning over it wouldn’t fire. This was the first time since 1992 it hasn’t started. On that occasional I had called the AA out and the mechanic showed me a little trick where he unscrewed the dashpot plunger on the carb, and by pushing it in and out while turning the engine over was able to get it to fire. Lucklily this technique worked this morning.
The mechanic said whenever Maestros or Montegos don’t start it was always this problem and this same solution.
The problem for my car however, seems to be as follows:
Despite hearing the stepper motor working, I couldn’t see the rod moving. Now the idle has been very rough when cold for a while and uneven when warmed up and fuel consumption has shot up. Sometimes the car ‘kangaroos’ on light throttle when cold. The two rubber O rings were replaced with viton O rings 80,000 miles ago. I fairly sure the vacuum hoses and connectors are in good shape. The orfco valve was disconnected a few years ago. Where else should I investigate?
One thing is for certain, I was late for work, and if the car is to continue as the primary source of transport (i.e. kept out the scrapyard), this cannot happen again!
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