Technical TwinAir Engine sounds

[murdo316]

The low rating on the suspension. I managed to ruin both trailng arm indespension units. They were very low rating. Then persistent rusting and the builds is just very light. For a light camping trailer it would be OK but not for carrying things like sand sand cement!

If you fit bigger wheels you may well need stronger wheel bearings. The force on cornering would be greater. Its not much of a job to change bearings and hubs even at an engineers.

My last two trailers have been simple metal frame plywood floors and timber sides. I changed for a larger one. View attachment 489431

That looks really smart, I like the red accents with the 'Ferrari' badge on the quarter-panel

All good to know though, I'm impressed with the capabilities of the little TwinAir engine.

We've already got a tow-bar with a 7-pin socket fitted. I still need to run a Fluke across all the connections to make sure they work but that aside we should be cooking on gas by next summer

It does sound somewhat like you're paying for the badge with those Erde trailers then as they always seem to fetch a premium for what they are...

 

[The Panda Nut]

That looks really smart, I like the red accents with the 'Ferrari' badge on the quarter-panel

All good to know though, I'm impressed with the capabilities of the little TwinAir engine.

We've already got a tow-bar with a 7-pin socket fitted. I still need to run a Fluke across all the connections to make sure they work but that aside we should be cooking on gas by next summer

It does sound somewhat like you're paying for the badge with those Erde trailers then as they always seem to fetch a premium for what they are...

Thanks. It needs a bit of a spruce up again now as its parked outside. I am now convinced about the EU style 13 pin sockets. Over the years Ive lost cound of how many 7 pin ones failed. The 13 pin sockets lock the plug into the socket and are water proof. This one was new in 2017 a record! They can have a lock-in waterproof dock on the trailer too for when unplugged. Better than 7 pin types, you bet they are. The last pearl of wisdom is trailer lights, Never ever buy UK type ones. Again, I used to have to change bulbs and lights every year or more. Rarely did the lights work right after the trailer was unused for a month or two. I eventually paid just a little more for australian LED trailer lights. So far these have been going faultlessly since 2014 and not played up once. I would never use standard bulbs again. These aussie things were guaranteed water and dust proof, and so they are. What a refreshing change. Ive had so much trailer socket grief over the years I bought a prper socket tester to check teh car wiring is sound. Only a few £ and well worth the cost. I can iso;ate any issues to car or trailer this way in an instant. As I say above no issues now in 9 years all wors every time. Touch wood!

 

[Motorcyclist Colin]

A baby boy, we've one of each now!

I will reach out in regard to the trailer, one way or the other, just in case you do still have it available when we come to buy.
It looks like a great wee trailer.

Thanks again though, much appreciated.

I look forward to hearing from you

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

A baby boy, we've one of each now!

I will reach out in regard to the trailer, one way or the other, just in case you do still have it available when we come to buy.
It looks like a great wee trailer.

Thanks again though, much appreciated.

I'm just catching up here as we've been away for a wee holiday and not had much time for following stuff on the forum. Congratulations on the addition to the family. We have 3 , a boy then a girl then another boy. A friend said that once "they" outnumber you then all is lost, and there's a certain degree of truth in that. Wouldn't be without any of them though. All grown up with children of their own now which is lovely but tiring for Mrs J and I as we spend a lot of time with them. Probably what's keeping us going in our old age though?

Regarding trailers. I see someone posting earlier not to make the mistake of buying a trailer rated at too low a weight. I agree. I've seen far too many with bent suspensions etc. I built my own many years ago, one of the most useful things I've ever made - it's a single axle design running old mini hubs and 12" Mini road wheels. I still have it. I'd been meaning to build one for some time but never found something really robust to make the bed out of. Then I found a discarded sheet of Dural about 3/8 inch thick measuring 5ft by just a "tad" under 3ft It had obviously been part of something else as it had a couple of small holes in it. Extensive enquiries failed to find anyone claiming ownership so the boss told me to just take it. So my trailer has, to all intents and purposes, a 5ft by 3ft load bed which is so strong I've never carried anything in it which even looks like it might bend it. The chassis is a "T" shape made from heavy duty square section steel tube and the Dural bed sits on angle iron which was once "bed iron" - My local scrap yard used to keep old beds specifically for folk building trailers as its just like angle iron but stronger (or so he told me, and I think he was probably right because its never bent. All welded together with my "trusty" SIP 140 stick welder (the first welder I ever bought and still use to this day.) I used German manufactured bonded rubber 1 ton suspension units supplied by my local trailer centre which, being bonded units, are much stronger then the more usual type with rubber inserts. I've transported entire engine and gearbox units, building stuff, motor cycles, Horticultural machinery and more and it's stood up well. When loaded it tows very well. The only down side is that when unloaded the suspension really doesn't deflect so it bounces around on the tyres like a rubber ball! A few years ago I stripped it completely, Very carefully examined all the structural welds for cracking - there were none - repainted the chassis and overhauled all the running gear. No new parts were needed. I painted it red to match the Ibiza estate I owned at the time, they matched well. However, the Scala is blue so that rather ruined the colour scheme! I've always used my more powerful cars for towing so have never fitted any of my Pandas with a tow bar. Somewhere on the forum there are several posts in which I've included pictures of it, but, damn it, I can't find find them in my files right now. If I come across them soon I'll post here.

Oh yes! found the pictures. So here's one to give you an idea what it's like:

The sides are plywood and it has a detachable drop tailgate. By the way, the sleeving on the brush cutter and trailer top rail is a piece of pipe insulation to stop it rattling against the trailer. The lawn mower is held from moving by a quickly released wooden form locking it to the bed. You can't see the leaf blower, hedge cutter and other hand tools which are held down by a net. I was advised to do this by the police after a roadside stop and never subsequently had any problems with them. Even loaded like this it still bounces around quite a lot as the load isn't really heavy enough to exercise the suspension. Somewhere there's a waterproof tonneau cover, probably in the shed, for wet weather. You can see the hold down hooks welded onto the side uprights. It's actually the biggest welding project I've so far undertaken at home with DIY welding gear and I have to say, I'm very pleased with it.

EDIT. I fitted the trailer out like this so I could take the gardening gear to my boy's houses out to the south of the city to help with their gardens. My youngest boy has an old miners house (coal miner) with a very reasonable size of garden and he works so hard at often "weird" hours being self employed. So being able to help with the garden is a big help, which I enjoy anyway, so it's no hardship. Just over a 30 mile round trip each time though and much on main "A" roads and dual carriageway (A1 and City bypass) so the stuff needs to be well secured.

 

[Motorcyclist Colin]

I'm just catching up here as we've been away for a wee holiday and not had much time for following stuff on the forum. Congratulations on the addition to the family. We have 3 , a boy then a girl then another boy. A friend said that once "they" outnumber you then all is lost, and there's a certain degree of truth in that. Wouldn't be without any of them though. All grown up with children of their own now which is lovely but tiring for Mrs J and I as we spend a lot of time with them. Probably what's keeping us going in our old age though?

Regarding trailers. I see someone posting earlier not to make the mistake of buying a trailer rated at too low a weight. I agree. I've seen far too many with bent suspensions etc. I built my own many years ago, one of the most useful things I've ever made - it's a single axle design running old mini hubs and 12" Mini road wheels. I still have it. I'd been meaning to build one for some time but never found something really robust to make the bed out of. Then I found a discarded sheet of Dural about 3/8 inch thick measuring 5ft by just a "tad" under 3ft It had obviously been part of something else as it had a couple of small holes in it. Extensive enquiries failed to find anyone claiming ownership so the boss told me to just take it. So my trailer has, to all intents and purposes, a 5ft by 3ft load bed which is so strong I've never carried anything in it which even looks like it might bend it. The chassis is a "T" shape made from heavy duty square section steel tube and the Dural bed sits on angle iron which was once "bed iron" - My local scrap yard used to keep old beds specifically for folk building trailers as its just like angle iron but stronger (or so he told me, and I think he was probably right because its never bent. All welded together with my "trusty" SIP 140 stick welder (the first welder I ever bought and still use to this day.) I used German manufactured bonded rubber 1 ton suspension units supplied by my local trailer centre which, being bonded units, are much stronger then the more usual type with rubber inserts. I've transported entire engine and gearbox units, building stuff, motor cycles, Horticultural machinery and more and it's stood up well. When loaded it tows very well. The only down side is that when unloaded the suspension really doesn't deflect so it bounces around on the tyres like a rubber ball! A few years ago I stripped it completely, Very carefully examined all the structural welds for cracking - there were none - repainted the chassis and overhauled all the running gear. No new parts were needed. I painted it red to match the Ibiza estate I owned at the time, they matched well. However, the Scala is blue so that rather ruined the colour scheme! I've always used my more powerful cars for towing so have never fitted any of my Pandas with a tow bar. Somewhere on the forum there are several posts in which I've included pictures of it, but, damn it, I can't find find them in my files right now. If I come across them soon I'll post here.

Oh yes! found the pictures. So here's one to give you an idea what it's like:

View attachment 489757

The sides are plywood and it has a detachable drop tailgate. By the way, the sleeving on the brush cutter and trailer top rail is a piece of pipe insulation to stop it rattling against the trailer. The lawn mower is held from moving by a quickly released wooden form locking it to the bed. You can't see the leaf blower, hedge cutter and other hand tools which are held down by a net. I was advised to do this by the police after a roadside stop and never subsequently had any problems with them. Even loaded like this it still bounces around quite a lot as the load isn't really heavy enough to exercise the suspension. Somewhere there's a waterproof tonneau cover, probably in the shed, for wet weather. You can see the hold down hooks welded onto the side uprights. It's actually the biggest welding project I've so far undertaken at home with DIY welding gear and I have to say, I'm very pleased with it.

Good job all round Jock. Not only the trailer but the children too by the sound of it!!

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Good job all round Jock. Not only the trailer but the children too by the sound of it!!

Thanks Colin. Yes, I feel quite lucky in that the family has turned out quite well. I suppose, as with most things involving people, there have been bumpy bits in the road, but Mrs J has been the rock holding it all together and now with five grand children ranging from an early 20 year old to a 5 year old we're able to sit back a bit and enjoy spoiling the youngsters before handing them back to the parents!

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

It'll likely be in the next couple of months that I visit so I will indeed let you know how it goes with them.

I've spoken to them on the phone for advice once before and the chap I spoke to very much knew his stuff, so all being well, they'll be a useful garage to have within a sensible distance of home.

As for the firefly engine, is that the 1L engine found in the hybrid 500s nowadays? One of those parked beside us at Crammond this morning and I actually looked up what engine was in it out of curiosity - it was indeed the 1L with a hybrid system.

I saw on another post yesterday that they (perhaps in only a few instances) can be a horror show of software issues and seemingly unexplainable misfires if you get a Friday afternoon firefly engine. Here's hoping these are isolated instances rather than a sign of more widespread issues to come with them.

Edit: The Suzuki Ignis for sale at Peter Howard Johnston's looks very nice indeed. Me and my Fiancee have talked about possibly buying one of these in the future as well, should she ever learn to drive.
There are plenty of reviews on youtube about them that mention good reliability and, arguably more importantly, their simplicity and repairability.

Back from holiday now and drove past Peter's garage yesterday on way to youngest boy's house. Ignis no longer on the forecourt. So took a look at his website and can't find it. Guess it's been sold. Not surprised, I've looked closely at it a couple of times as I was walking down to the library and it did look to be in excellent condition. If only it hadn't been 4 wheel drive I might have convinced Mrs J to think seriously about it? I'm coming round to the idea that an Ignis just may be a better solution than a later model 1.2 Panda. Really must nip out to Wallyford Suzuki and try to blag a test drive in one.

 

[Motorcyclist Colin]

Thanks Colin. Yes, I feel quite lucky in that the family has turned out quite well. I suppose, as with most things involving people, there have been bumpy bits in the road, but Mrs J has been the rock holding it all together and now with five grand children ranging from an early 20 year old to a 5 year old we're able to sit back a bit and enjoy spoiling the youngsters before handing them back to the parents!

Jock.
You know what grandchildren are don't you?





God's gift for not killing your own kids!!!

 

[jrkitching]

I'm coming round to the idea that an Ignis just may be a better solution than a later model 1.2 Panda

Personally I'd go for a Swift over an Ignis. Same 1.2 engine, basically the same platform.

It pains me to say it, but possibly a better choice than a late 1.2 Panda, and almost certainly a better choice than the 1.0 3 cyl Panda.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Personally I'd go for a Swift over an Ignis. Same 1.2 engine, basically the same platform.

It pains me to say it, but possibly a better choice than a late 1.2 Panda, and almost certainly a better choice than the 1.0 3 cyl Panda.

Aye. I was, kind of, thinking that too. Visually the ignis looks narrower and higher though which is a factor for Mrs J getting in and out of it with her bad back but also, in her view, the thinner the better for supermarket parking. The overall small dimensions of the 169 make it ideal for this as well as being able to get into almost any likely parking place parallel to the kerb. The 2012 on Panda is quite a bit bigger in this respect when you see them parked side by side which is a factor worth us considering.

Quite by chance a rather unexpected "wild card" popped up yesterday. A couple of days ago I noticed, as Mrs J drove away to go shopping, that the O/S/R tyre looked possibly a little underinflated. By the time she came back home I'd forgotten but yesterday, as I was checking the coolant level, it was immediately apparent that it was well down on pressure. As she wanted to go shopping again I fitted the space saver spare and put the flat tyre to one side to look at after she'd left. As I was moving it into the garage a small white car stopped at the kerbside just overhanging our drop kerb by a couple of feet. The woman driver got out and asked if it was all right to leave it there for maybe ten minutes while she dropped into one of the neighbours. I knew I could get round it with a bit of left lock so told her that was fine. Then I reversed the Panda into the road ready for Mrs J to drive off in. Then I mixed up some washing up liquid and water to do a bubble test on the flat tyre - there was nothing visible, like a nail or screw to indicate why it had gone flat. blew the tyre up to 40psi and started painting the solution on. Immediately bubbles started appearing in one of the tread grooves. Now I deserve a slap on the wrist for being a stupid naughty boy. I've been aware of cracks in the tread grooves of this "cheap and nasty" budget tyre, sidewall code showing it was made in 2019, so not that old. Still has about 5mm tread and no signs of sidewall cracks. I hadn't realised the cracking was quite so deep. It's just rubbish compound which has dried out and cracked. Both front tyres, which are 2 years older and the N/S/R tyre which is one year younger are absolutely fine. I know, oh yes I know, I should know better, especially as I profess to know a bit about tyres. Don't buy "cheap" tyres. The old stories about the cobblers wife come to mind eh? Anyway, having quite quickly established a new tyre is needed I bundled it back into the garage. Mrs J is unlikely to do more than a quick trip or two to the supermarket over the next week or so, maybe 10 miles max, so I'll not bother Steven, my mobile tyre man, until Monday. Actually I may take the opportunity to have the wheel grit blasted and repainted in a mid to dark grey which is what I want to do with them all eventually. Then I'll buy a trim pack of nut covers and centres and run exposed wheels with no hub caps - been wanting to do that for a while too. So, Mrs J has departed for the supermarket and the wheel is safely in the garage and I'm standing there trying to work up enough enthusiasm to get the mower out when it starts just very lightly spitting drops of rain. Ah well, that gives me an excuse not to get the mower out! As I'm checking that nothing is lying around and moving my trolley jack back into the garage I realise the car at the kerbside is a Suzuki Celerio. I'm aware of the Celerio but have been so interested in the Ignis I've not given it really more than passing interest. So I had a good look around it. It's much nearer to the 169 Panda in size than the Ignis or slightly larger still, Swift. Inside looked very similar roomwise to the 169. This one was the SZ2 I think, with steel wheels and plastic hub caps and the tyre sidewall sticks out very slightly compared to the hub cap so protects, to some degree, the hub caps from kerbing damage - one of Mrs J's weak points. A look under the back reveals a very simple torsion beam - that'll do me and I know the engine is a N/A 3 cylinder which Suzuki have been making in several guises for many years and has an excellent reputation for reliability. This is not an exciting car but would be pretty much a direct replacement in terms of size, performance, maneuverability, ease of maintenance, etc for Becky. I think they made them up to 2019 but I wouldn't be looking for one younger than that anyway. So food for thought I think. I'll now try to track down a few for sale and try to get some idea of how badly they corrode as I suspect they may be not as good as the Panda on that front.

Oh, there you go, there's one just over the Forth up in Fife right here: https://www.brenwood.co.uk/used/suz...-manual-euro-6-68-ps-in-kirkcaldy-fife/105503 In fact more than one! https://www.brenwood.co.uk/used/suz...-manual-euro-6-68-ps-in-kirkcaldy-fife/113979

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Aye. I was, kind of, thinking that too. Visually the ignis looks narrower and higher though which is a factor for Mrs J getting in and out of it with her bad back but also, in her view, the thinner the better for supermarket parking. The overall small dimensions of the 169 make it ideal for this as well as being able to get into almost any likely parking place parallel to the kerb. The 2012 on Panda is quite a bit bigger in this respect when you see them parked side by side which is a factor worth us considering.

Quite by chance a rather unexpected "wild card" popped up yesterday. A couple of days ago I noticed, as Mrs J drove away to go shopping, that the O/S/R tyre looked possibly a little underinflated. By the time she came back home I'd forgotten but yesterday, as I was checking the coolant level, it was immediately apparent that it was well down on pressure. As she wanted to go shopping again I fitted the space saver spare and put the flat tyre to one side to look at after she'd left. As I was moving it into the garage a small white car stopped at the kerbside just overhanging our drop kerb by a couple of feet. The woman driver got out and asked if it was all right to leave it there for maybe ten minutes while she dropped into one of the neighbours. I knew I could get round it with a bit of left lock so told her that was fine. Then I reversed the Panda into the road ready for Mrs J to drive off in. Then I mixed up some washing up liquid and water to do a bubble test on the flat tyre - there was nothing visible, like a nail or screw to indicate why it had gone flat. blew the tyre up to 40psi and started painting the solution on. Immediately bubbles started appearing in one of the tread grooves. Now I deserve a slap on the wrist for being a stupid naughty boy. I've been aware of cracks in the tread grooves of this "cheap and nasty" budget tyre, sidewall code showing it was made in 2019, so not that old. Still has about 5mm tread and no signs of sidewall cracks. I hadn't realised the cracking was quite so deep. It's just rubbish compound which has dried out and cracked. Both front tyres, which are 2 years older and the N/S/R tyre which is one year younger are absolutely fine. I know, oh yes I know, I should know better, especially as I profess to know a bit about tyres. Don't buy "cheap" tyres. The old stories about the cobblers wife come to mind eh? Anyway, having quite quickly established a new tyre is needed I bundled it back into the garage. Mrs J is unlikely to do more than a quick trip or two to the supermarket over the next week or so, maybe 10 miles max, so I'll not bother Steven, my mobile tyre man, until Monday. Actually I may take the opportunity to have the wheel grit blasted and repainted in a mid to dark grey which is what I want to do with them all eventually. Then I'll buy a trim pack of nut covers and centres and run exposed wheels with no hub caps - been wanting to do that for a while too. So, Mrs J has departed for the supermarket and the wheel is safely in the garage and I'm standing there trying to work up enough enthusiasm to get the mower out when it starts just very lightly spitting drops of rain. Ah well, that gives me an excuse not to get the mower out! As I'm checking that nothing is lying around and moving my trolley jack back into the garage I realise the car at the kerbside is a Suzuki Celerio. I'm aware of the Celerio but have been so interested in the Ignis I've not given it really more than passing interest. So I had a good look around it. It's much nearer to the 169 Panda in size than the Ignis or slightly larger still, Swift. Inside looked very similar roomwise to the 169. This one was the SZ2 I think, with steel wheels and plastic hub caps and the tyre sidewall sticks out very slightly compared to the hub cap so protects, to some degree, the hub caps from kerbing damage - one of Mrs J's weak points. A look under the back reveals a very simple torsion beam - that'll do me and I know the engine is a N/A 3 cylinder which Suzuki have been making in several guises for many years and has an excellent reputation for reliability. This is not an exciting car but would be pretty much a direct replacement in terms of size, performance, maneuverability, ease of maintenance, etc for Becky. I think they made them up to 2019 but I wouldn't be looking for one younger than that anyway. So food for thought I think. I'll now try to track down a few for sale and try to get some idea of how badly they corrode as I suspect they may be not as good as the Panda on that front.

Oh, there you go, there's one just over the Forth up in Fife right here: https://www.brenwood.co.uk/used/suz...-manual-euro-6-68-ps-in-kirkcaldy-fife/105503 In fact more than one! https://www.brenwood.co.uk/used/suz...-manual-euro-6-68-ps-in-kirkcaldy-fife/113979

Hmm. Don't think it has a coolant temp gauge? just a warning light. The Jazz was like that and I never really liked it although never had a problem. Not too sure whether it has a D/M flywheel either. I don't think the earlier ones did? but more research needed. Plenty of time as the plan is to make Becky last until she's "beyond economic repair". I wouldn't be thinking of doing the wheels otherwise.