maestro starting fault and auto carb fault.

[mikestill]

Hi Folks I am in West Yorkshire, This is way beyond my DIY capabilities so looking for a recommendation for a specialist mechanic . My 1983 1.6 Maestro. had 2 faults that need sorting. 1 Starts great when cold and when hot. But if it has been left anything between 15 min and 2 hours dependant on temperatures etc. can be a real pig to restart. This used to be a\ very intermittent and rare problem. But over the last 2 years is getting far more common. Occasionally lately have been unable to restart. The second and unrelated problem is a small exhaust blow between the Inlet and Exhaust manifold where the heat exchanger is located. I know the thread is knackered here so it will need the manifold stripped off and rethreading plus no doubt other studs will snap in the removal. Any recommendations for a garage/ mechanic that could undertake this work. .

[Jeff Turbo]

Hi Folks I am in West Yorkshire, This is way beyond my DIY capabilities so looking for a recommendation for a specialist mechanic . My 1983 1.6 Maestro. had 2 faults that need sorting. 1 Starts great when cold and when hot. But if it has been left anything between 15 min and 2 hours dependant on temperatures etc. can be a real pig to restart. This used to be a\ very intermittent and rare problem. But over the last 2 years is getting far more common. Occasionally lately have been unable to restart. The second and unrelated problem is a small exhaust blow between the Inlet and Exhaust manifold where the heat exchanger is located. I know the thread is knackered here so it will need the manifold stripped off and rethreading plus no doubt other studs will snap in the removal. Any recommendations for a garage/ mechanic that could undertake this work. .

Chris Flanagan at Retro Sports cars is in Bridnorth if that's near you and knows about these cars and many others and is reasonably priced

[Doctordiesel77]

I've just done the same job on mine (see ELD thread in member's cars section) & can confirm that you are probably doing the right thing getting someone else to do it You may know this already, but the only source of the gasket for heat exchanger is XJ Rover on ebay, mine needed the mating surfaces flattening as they'd corroded, but if you have a competent mechanic doing it this shouldn't be a problem. The ambient air temperature sensor (just looks like a male to male spade connector joint) which is in the wiring just below the driver's side headlamp is prone to corrosion, I'm not sure how much of an effect this would have on starting, but no harm in cleaning it up & protecting it with either vaseline or waxoyl.