cobweb

After my clutch worries a week or so ago I changed the fuel filter and the symptoms seemed to fade away and all was a well as my 1.9 cube van ever is. Yesterday I had to drive 300 miles (return trip) to Warwickshire. On the way I put £40 in the tank, which was low, and carried on. Very soon the symptoms returned...power loss and the feel of a clutch not quite transfering the power. It was worrying to be so far away from home and think that the van was about to fail. But I carried on and arrived at my destination. On the way home I stopped to top up and it was a Shell garage and it was their optimax fuel. Back in the van, a few miles on there was a surge almost and the van responded and drove as normal. No more sluggishness. I remembered then that the £40 top-up had been bio fuel and began to wonder. Could it be bio diesel that causes the problem?

The "yellow" one, if it has the funky slide top and all the trim Etc. (as opposed to a pickup which has simply been sprayed yellow!) is the Fun, and they were limited in number so are not too common. The pickup is a felicia-derived vehicle which was available as a pickup, or as the Cube Van when it had the top fitted and two rear doors rather than a tailgate. Your insurance broker will find it eventually, mine struggled when I first insured it. They need to look at felicia first and take it from there. The 1.9D isn't a turbo engine, just a straight diesel. The 1.3 petrol hasn't got much guts if you put anything in the tub, I can't answer for the 1.6 having never driven one. buy the fun and have some fun! Andy

Front suspension struts with rusted cups which can fail and give you a bit of a turn when the spring drops! And if it's had the dreaded cold start problem, then an overworked starter can sound awful and be due for a change. Good luck with it.

I've only had the van for nearly a couple of years now, I haven't changed it myself. From the look of it it's original. I've ordered one now and will change as soon as it arrives. many thanks again Andy

Many thanks for the response. I did miss the word "increase". Sorry! I think you're right about the linkage. It annoyed me this morning so I di just what you suggested and it is a little loose and does stop when supported. The really weird thing is the other problem seems to have gone! The power loss seems to have cured itself. I'm now wondering if I could have had a fuel blockage? I think I might need to replace the fuel filter which I assume has been on the van since new (10 years). Maybe letting the tank get low and the cold weather has dragged up some gunk? I'll see how it goes for today and order a new filter tomorrow. Many thanks for your answer. Andy

Hello all, I think I may have a clutch problem on my 1.9D cube van. Here's what's happening... I can engage all gears okay with no obvious grinding or whinning, but there seems to be a loss of power at times, especially uphill, and, oddly, when turning corners. There's a sense that the power is not getting there and the engine revs without the associated increase in speed. If I accelerate very slowly it picks up (eventually) and all seems well. The clutch pedal feels stiffer than is usual, and although I might be imagining it, I keep thinking I'm having to press it further down. Today I noticed a definite metalic rattle when stationary with the gearbox in neutral. If I push the gear lever over to either side the rattle goes away. It doens't rattle when moving or changing gears...or maybe I can't hear it over the engine noise! If it is the clutch, will it be a plate only job,or a full kit? And is this a job that can be done on ramps on the floor? Any advice will be gratefully received as ever...It's my own fault for fixing the heater blower last week....damn thing's getting back it me for thinking all is well!

Hello folks, I haven't posted in a while, being a question asker rather than advice giver in the main. But after getting around to sorting my duff heater blower and having a look on here for posts about the heater I found a quicker fix and thought I'd post it here for others with the same problem. Vehicle: 1.9D cube van History: Blower stopped working last spring. As I didn't really need it, and I thought it might be a complicated repair I ignored it and did without the blower until now. I read the posts on here about the blower and set to work. It took all of ten minutes to repair doing it this way. Looking towards the back of the engine bay in the center you can see the air intake for the heater. Remove the rubber surround. Gently prise the upper plastic cowl off. Lift out the filter grille. The blower motor is now exposed in the middle of the two outer plastic fan cowls. You can slacken off the right-hand side cowl by removing the spring clip with long nosed pliers if needed. The upper carbon brush is visible as marked on the next picture: Note the very fine spring that holds the carbon brush in and forces it onto the commutator to ensure good contact. This spring will fall back into the recess if you are not carefull. So gently pull it back and hook it onto a suitable spot when you remove the carbon brush. Carefully withdraw the carbon brush by prising it upwards. Examine the brush for damage or severe wear. If worn out you'll need to replace the brushes. If, like mine, there is plenty of life left in it carry on as detailed here. Place the CB to one side. You can now see the commutator (just about) at the bottom of the carbon brush housing. If you have a comm stick use this to clean the commutator. If not a slim piece of stiff abrasive will do. Slip it down the recess until it is touching the commutator and then rotate the fan blade by hand...this is only possible if you have slackend off the fan cowl. The abrasive will clean up the commutator, which in my case was black with carbon and dirt. Spray with electrical cleaner. Push back the carbon brush. Put the spring back on top of it. Turn ignition key to position 1 and try heater blower control...and bingo! Re-assemble cowls and filter grille Etc. This method means you can do the repair very quickly and without the need to remove the motor unit from the vehicle. As I say, 10 minutes in total. And now I have powered heat! No more shivering and straining to see through misted windscreen. Many thanks to those who posted the original fixes because without them I'd have carried on simply wiping the widscreen and carrying a heavy coat.

Sorry, I should have been clearer. The actual cat hadn't failed...the rear pipe which joins the mid-section of exhaust has rotted and come away. You can use filler AFTER the cat, but (apparently) not before it. I had bodged a fix involving a tensioner to pull the pipe into the rear of the cat, but it was a bit frankenstien and would have given the next MOT guy a laugh. So a new one was called for...

The cat went on my 1.9 cube last week, so I bodged it while I looked for a new one. What a price range! Local dealer £170 for a pattern copy...dealer £270 for I hope was a gen version...and then found these people at cats2you.co.uk...trading on eBay as the following: eBay My World - g.t.products delivered in 24 hours, includes a free fitting kit, and great service all round...£93.55!! Thought you'd all like to know incase you need a cat...they supply cats for lots of other makes of vehicle to. Maybe worth a look. Hope this helps someone... Now I'm off to see if I can shift the manifold studs on the old one!

I saw this and thought someone here might be interested... 1996 P SKODA FELICIA 1.3 5 DOOR LTD EDN LEATHER! LAURIN on eBay, also, Skoda, Cars, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 09-Dec-08 20:15:00 GMT)

Thanks for the replies and the ideas. I haven't replaced the starter yet, just in case it is another fault, so your ideas give me somewhere to start now. First I'll check the earthing point and lead and try the test you suggest for it. And then work through the rest I suppose. The starter cranks VERY slowly in the morning and with a dip of the accelerator will start. For most of the day afterwards it's okay(ish). If it sits around a long time it's back the morning scenario. It's annoying more than anything, because once it's going it runs like a dream. Anyway, thanks again to all of you.

Hello Rigsby, thanks for the reply. Yes, the glow plugs are all working, and are actually brand new, although still checked as my old Landy taught me that new parts are as prone to faults as old ones! She (the cube, that is - must be a she to give me so much worry and concern!) is starting every time now with the brand new 096 battery, but the starter still sounds weak and unwilling to do its job. All I actually want to do is change it, but would like to know if there are any other starters that will fit rather than fitting another OEM "lazy" starter.

Just read all 17 pages and I'm staggered at both knowledge and determination...there should be an X Factor for car genious...flabbergasted!!!

How much is pink spray paint? I might spray mine if he sells it!

Hello Tom, thanks for the reply. The whole fuel system has been checked from tank to injectors, and all's well. It really does sound as if the starter motor is just weak; hence my wondering if another SM can be fitted, or if there's a "better" SM, bosch Etc. But oddly, today I was asked if I'd consider swapping it for a Fun! Now I wonder...