Technical Marea gargling with sticky clutch and headlights just gone...bugger please help

[wildfire]

Hi all,

I have been hapily been driving around in a Y reg Marea Weekend 1.6 petrol for the last year. The car had done 36000 mile when I brought it now it has done 68000 miles and I am ashamed to say I have never had it serviced. Well now it is starting to fight back, and I need some help to lavish some TLC on it (get it through a bloody MOT would be a start So here it is:

1) Ever since I have owned the car when I take my foot off the fuel the car gargles, sounds crossed between Dot Cotton and Mutley (the dog) - any ideas?? Also does the same thing when excelerating in 4th and 5th at lower revs.

2) The Clutch has resently stated to be tempermental and will sometime be sticky and will fell as though it is catching on something, so far I have always been able to push it down and it returns eventually, but does worry me a little for the future.

3) most important MOT failed on the fact that my two front headlights and the reg plate light have just stopped working - not fuse or bulbs checked all of that. So am bemused as to how to solve the problem. Side lights and high beam work fine, just normal full beam not working.

4) recently also seam to be loosing power and using more fuel.

Please help with some advise, I can't afford to get a garrage to do it so will have to try and do it myself (not anywhere near being a mechanic but quick to learn) - The only thing that I have done to the car in a tampering way is to fit a Parrot 3000 bluetooth handsfree and GPS devise, but was super careful to follow the instructions to the letter, (took 4hours to install).

Any help at all much appreciated. Cheers Dan

 

[polecat]

Hi and welcome to our forum

1. Can't really say much about this until i've heard it. It could just be the shape of your particular air path. Anyone else with a 1.6 comment on this?

2. Check the cylinders there may be a leak. If by sticky you mean the clutch pedal is actually hitting something you just have to get down and have a look.

3. If both headlights have gone then it is likely to be a problem with the stalk switch as everything else either affects all lights or just one side of the car.

4. Not having a service would cause that. Go through a service and if you are still having problems get back to us.

 

[wildfire]

Thank you for your reply.

The headlights wiedly went one after the other, the left went about a month before the right... so really not sure what is going on.

The clutch, mmmm... sometimes feels like it is hitting something, but other times feels like it spongy...

Would be great to hear anyones thoughts.

Cheers
d

 

[sumplug]

If you have done 32000 miles, and god knows when it was serviced before you bought it, then that engine will be almost knackered. Why have you not serviced it ? Its using more fuel and losing power due to Air Filter clogged allowing hardly any air into the engine. Plugs will be past there best. fuel filter will be partly clogged no doubt. No air will kill the catalyst. Oil will be like sludge and bearings will be scored. Cam shafts will also be scored no doubt. Crank and big ends and little ends on rods will have started to wear.It will soon begin to rattle and knock for sure. Oil changes on the 1600 16v should be 6000 miles to be kind to the engine. Thats five oil changes you have missed!!! And what about your coolant? Bet thats brown. If so, engine will be internally rusting. This will kill the engine and most certainly wear the water pump quickly.Very costly mistake
I hate people who dont look after their cars. Shame on you.

Andy:shakehead :nono:

 

[wildfire]

Well that was a beautifully eliquent and delightfully reasuring reply! I have not had it serviced because I did not realise (untill now!) the gravity of not doing so. I have changed the air filter but that is about as far as it has gone. The miles covered were 150 miles a day motorway miles if that makes any diference. When I brought it it was from a main dealer and had been serviced before I took reciept of it. I can't afford to get anything done through a garage so am going to attempt to do it all myself. Except for the face that my engin is going to in therory explode any time now, do you have any advise re the lighting situation?? Thanks in advance. P.s I feel that restraint with your smilies would not go amis

 

[polecat]

I would still check the stalk switch first for your lights.
Check the brake fluid levels for the clutch first. The clutch uses the same fluid reservoir. If thats ok you need to check the cylinders.

 

[johnson550]

for your headlights I would try and smack the glass with the flat of your hand and say naughty headlights on the other hand you dont need say that I have had two mareas and a tempra and the three of them the light came back on with a slap and stayed on till the next time I switched them on poor connection to the light was the problem on two of them the marea I have now was the bulb the filament was broken but would touch with a slap needless to say new bulb for that one I would try connecting a new earth wire for yours.

Bill

 

[wildfire]

Thanks guys,

Will check the fluid levels and look at the earth on the lights. Would the stalk effect the rear reg plate light which has also gone? Also for someone who knows absolutly nothing about cars, but is quite handy and quick to learn... How dificult is it ti replace the front break pads, and to change the cam belt?

NEWS FLASH *** One of the lights was just anoyingly blown. So it is just the left had side light and the reg plate lights which don't work... weird!

Thanks again...