Another_Felicia

Btw, I missed a sentence. Not that it has done me any good this time round

Could well be. I'm putting this one down to experience. If it takes as long to happen again, as between the first time I changed plugs and this week, I'll be 15 years into paying for my T.V. licence.

I like that very much. What is the other dial Warp Core dilithium flow?

I was wondering that. Removing the Ignition coil I wasn't expecting a plug to move so I just couldn't catch it in time before gravity took hold. bouncing off the engine under skirt then the floor.

Yes, I could not believe how tidy the remains of the electrodes looked. According to the Odometer - none . That's another story. About 8k miles. Bosch Super 4 FR78. it will be Champion RC89PYC next time.......

Ooo, sound like a new topic starting here . I usually start with my hand and don't use any greases. I was under the impression that using things like cooper ease could leads to over tightening as the plug can get turned further in?

2017 Staindrop:

2009 in Leek. I remembered seeing this specimen, then the former Skoda dealership wanted £1295. Using the time warp function (probably has a proper name), it was there!

Hi e-Roottoot and RicardoM, When I look at the topic Ricardo's answer to e-Rootoot appears before the question Anyhow. As to the question about the topic: Just a bit of fun. In short, If anyone spotted a Classic Skoda on Google StreetView, a snap shot could be posted. No arguments please , it was supposed to be light-hearted topic. RicardoM was only asking for clarification and e-Roottoot pointed out the topics don't need to be 'questions'. E.g "Felicia 1.3 on carburetor - owners round the world" is not a question. The photo I posted of me following the Google Street View car, last one I posted, can be found here, by the way, I wasn't going to post links a some people might not want their location to be broadcast. In this instance I'm not bothered: "www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.0814609,-2.2617752,3a,75y,147.68h,59.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQ5zYWN1EtQj3otySQOOfyg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en"

Thanks for the reply. The old one: 443 115 141 310 New: 443 115 142 350 As I've got two 'old' ones now. I had a previous one fail when the solenoid broke. So I intend to make one good one out of the two The 'new' one starts the car without much effort, so for the moment I'll keep using it

Me further up the thread: "What caused it? I guess I'll have to assume the plug was either over or under tightened, by me - user error. " I'm pointing the finger at me, myself and I I've done 3 or 4 plus changes on this car, so until the last change it was fine. Interesting you mention the previous owner, I don't think he/she touched much at all

Hi again, This is a spin off topic from : When I was showing the Mother-in-Law where I had parked, having broken down on the way visit her. I used Google Street View and to my amazement there was a Felicia parked facing the other way, even the same colour, in the same spot. I then showed my eldest daughter and for a couple of minutes she though it was a picture of our car. She said 'has Google just taken a photo' As it happened the Street View was from 8 years earlier. That then got me to thinking. Perhaps if we happen to spot a 'Classic' on Street View we could post it up. It would be fairly infrequent, as to happen to spot one would be slim. Also some of the cars might be a bit far off so would be 'low-res', (see the next couple). So to get us started, mine at home: I have found one of a car I bough a few years ago, (I knew where it was): Two Felicias in my local area, (not there now). and And doing this reminded me we had followed the Google Street View car along the A34 for a couple of miles last year, and I found it: What do you think?

How right you are. I'm glad you got the right car for yourself back then

Not a helicoil. They said a copper insert like 'Timecert'. Said would be good for the remaining life of the engine. It's certainly done the job. It is my first step experience of a popped plug.

Very, very nice. Alloys. Is it one with a sun roof? Also mine is six months younger! Unfortunately mine was sixth hand and somebody had not been very careful. For example, the coolant when I changed it, (after getting it home) I split a bit on the drive and it stained the concrete. It was the same colour as the canal water round here: But now is part of the family. I intend to keep this as long as possible. I will certainly follow your tips, some I have already. I hope your Felicia keeps you on the road for many more years.

Yes you are right, sometimes things are more hungry than they should be. 'Allegedly' the thing is rated between 0.05-0.15mA. I've not checked it as my digital multimeter has gone on the blink. My backup meter is an old fashioned flappy needle thing as is not accurate enough. When I get my replace meter I'll get a reading. Luckily the car is out regularly so no appreciable drop. Cheers

J.R. I like the sound of that. A Christmas upgrade for me :)

I some time wonder if just VAG was the retrograde step Seriously, nothing as high tech in my basic L Felicia

Thanks for the replies. Got plug, is this clear enough. No major deposits just 4 missing electrodes, Bosch Super 4, (I've noticed threads in the past about using these or not - perhaps not).

Third and final topic for today. After the car's lay-up and start to Covid19 lockdown the starter motor was a bit unpredictable. The car would start fine for several days, then it might not work for a couple of goes. Occasionally it just would not start at all and it would be a bump start. Luckily it is a really easy car to bump. For example, less than a two car parking spaces roll at Asda's Car Park would be enough. I've not found an issue on the car so have decided it is the starter motor itself. What was the clincher to getting a new motor was the fact that the times the car would not start seemed to increase when there was less space to roll the car. Like the time I came back to the car after dropping the daughter off at her dance lesson. A car either side with about 18" clearance each side - the car would not start, just not interest at all. As it happened the other cars were also people dropping off their kids so it wasn't long before there was a gap again. Guess what, once there was space the car started!!!! But seriously, it is not good to have a car that 'might' not start, one time you need it it could actually be a big problem. Stalled at a junction for example. So I did the usual and had a browse for a new starter. I didn't want to pay £170+ for a Lucas starter for instance, (Eurocarparts). I found a Delco Remy one to fit on eBay for 'a bit' less. When it arrived it was huge compared the original styled Magneton, Czech Republic. For example the one I took off weighed 6.2lbs (2.8Kg) 1.0 Kw. The new one 12.6lbs (5.7Kg), 0.8Kw The new one was more awkward to fit as the case was wider, plus the terminal post was wider so the contacts had to be modified to get them on. Having said that it works so I'm not complaining. it just seems odd. Is this something anyone else has seen? Cheers --------------------------------------------------------- I have to say I have not seen another Felicia for about six months now. Are the numbers dwindling a bit quickly?

Just a minor mod that I did due to the wonderful alternator or /and start motor issues that seem to crop up every so often. Or and the battery that just failed one day going from a bit iffy one morning to dead that night. A "Le Mans" battery it came with the car, (I've not come across them before). My guess is a generic cheap battery badged up for a corner motor factors somewhere, I apologise if they are a reputable brand. I decided I needed to know what the voltage was so when I just happened to see this tiny little LED unit on an eBay store. As I was already ordering something else, it ended up being a bargain for a couple of quid. As there was a live supply near the cabin light, it was straight forward to connect there. It might not be amazingly accurate but it is a help. The draw on the battery is miniscule so I was not worried about leaving it permanently on. Usually the battery sits at 12.6v, it just happens that I took the photo after a short trip and the battery was 'settling down'. I am sure other people would have other locations to put a gauge. Some would even have the skill to make it live when the ignition becomes live Am I mad?

Some one doesn't post anything for ages then three come along at once :) On Sunday the family and I were in the car. We were tootling down a road when all of a sudden there was a weird sound, a sort of pop and bang combined. Straight after that the engine started making a sort of ticking which increased with acceleration and slight smell of petrol. As we were less than half a mile to our destination I tried to carry on but once we got on to a hill and more power was needed the noise increased so I decided to park up and investigate. My initial thoughts while driving was, has the manifold half dropped off?! To keep a long story short. I removed the Ignition coil unit off the plugs and one dropped on the floor. The spark plus had no side electrodes, (not sure when those went either down the cylinder or hitting the road). Most of the the thread in the cylinder block was missing :( After a few phone calls, I found a place that could fix it by putting an Insert in. Anyway the good news is the Insert worked perfectly. The car is home and I am just waiting for a dry spell so I can do a flush and oil change. It was due at half-term but bringing it forward to get any extra 'bits' out. Of course any extra 'bits; might be in the Catalytic converter! What caused it? I guess I'll have to assume the plug was either over or under tightened, by me - user error. Any other suggestions? :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There has not been much to say on car front, until recently, two more post shortly. Still going, after a lay up for a few months prior to and during part of lockdown. The holiday we booked last year for this July in Scotland looked unlikely, but the place reopened 3 days prior to our booking date . So, this car has now done a Scottish trip at about 1,600 miles each time there, back and touring about for three years.