Cry for help!

[t2chris]

Hi guys and gals, this is my cry for help, I am in a tricky situation with my Terrano - its never seemed quite right since I got it, and now its causing problems between me and the better half since I swapped a perfectly decent car for it :doh

Issues are exhaust blow - have part need help fitting,

Misfire/rev drop on idle producing blue smoke every now and then,

Much lower Mpg than I expected - possibly down to exhaust?

Coolant leak from plastic thermostat housing top again!

I am at my wits end with this and need someone really to have a good go over it and see what they think as its causing problems! I have even looked at swapping for an astra but being as the terrano has just had 4 new tyres on it my better half is not best pleased.

:doh:doh:doh:doh

 

[jims-terrano]

What MPG are you getting and is it manual or auto? For a manual expect to get mid to late 20s around town. Scrape above to low 30s on a run.

Get yourself a metal thermostat housing from someone breaking a truck on here such as cncfabs.

Get a local garage to replace the exhaust section, probably not be too much.

Get the easy ones done first and then investigate the running issue.

 

[terrano bob]

What MPG are you getting and is it manual or auto? For a manual expect to get mid to late 20s around town. Scrape above to low 30s on a run.

Get yourself a metal thermostat housing from someone breaking a truck on here such as cncfabs.

Get a local garage to replace the exhaust section, probably not be too much.

Get the easy ones done first and then investigate the running issue.

spot on there :thumbs

 

[clivvy]

as above, all easy fixes.

which section of exhaust is it?

Blue smoke is burning oil, so somehow oil is getting into the combustion chamber but that's probably the grade of oil so consider an oil / filter change. If you are burning oil, it will certainly "misfire" and revs will not be quite right but without seeing the vehicle its hard to say so lets see how you progress on this one

Get a metal thermostat and new gasket - while you are at it make sure you don't have leaks anywhere else round that area.

as said, MPG TOPS 30, andi mean TOPS, around town expect low 20s to be realistic, exhaust wont affect MPG by much BUT a combination of that and poor oil etc etc will affect it, also consider ensuring the glow plugs are all ok, does it start first time nice and quick?

try not to spend too much money initially, I understand where you are coming from, but what you list are easy enough to fix...

 

[perelaar]

26 mpg here, on a 1997 2.7 tdi SWB.
Oil + filter change wouldn't harm I think, and if you have a Hitachi maf you could try and clean it. Worked a charm for me.

I have the same issues defending my T2 at home. My argument has always been: "contact a dealer, and see what he charges for checking and fixing the car". Not to mention the price of an equivalent and equally capable new truck!

 

[briggie]

you are in kent ....... take a drive over to ricks :thumb2

 

[t2chris]

Cheers for the replies guys, I love the vehicle, it's just the hassle I'm getting lol, and I just worked out its getting 22 to the gallon on a run :-o

And forgot to say it had oil and filter, air, fuel and new Hitachi maf less than 3 k ago by me

 

[makeitfit]

How did you calculate your MPG ? Unless you were towing I'd expect more than that even on a LWB.
Maybe some underlying issue .
Tick over missfire and rev drop could be EGR . was the MAF a genuine one or fleabay ?

 

[rustic]

When I first got my Mav, in 1995, I was driving urban roads 15 miles each way, from south Staffs to West Brom, and I kept a record of every drop of diesel I was putting in.
It was returning, on average, between 29.5 and 30 mpg.
Mine is a 2.7td, LWB Manual.
If you want to do 70 on the motorway, then expect the mpg to drop, and if you are say..... on the german Autobahn, and do 90 mph, make sure you know where the fuel stations are, as you will need loads of them.

If you are using 5w 30 oil, fully synthetic, or even mineral, expect high oil consumption. I have used 10w40 or 15w40 Castrol GLX part synthetic, was recently on offer at ASDA £13 for 4 litres. ( need 6.5 litres).
Over filling with oil can cause issues too.

Re exhaust, unless it's the front piece, the middle and rear section of the exhaust can be changed without jacking up the vehicle.
New nuts and bolts, a couple of gaskets, and a smear of exhaust paste, sorted.
Although the odd exhaust rubber mount might be a challenge, but some WD40 on that a few days before...
As others have said, Rick is your man.

Don't give up on your truck, tell your missus, there is one guy on the forum who has had his car from new... for nearly 20 years, and it still runs great.
This is why we joined this forum.
Rustic

 

[makeitfit]

there is one guy on the forum who has had his car from new... for nearly 20 years, and it still runs great.
This is why we joined this forum.
Rustic

Surely not The same car , for 20years This must be a scam Look away children there's a masked maverick about to tell us tall stories :lol

Pray tell Rustic, who is this masked owner ? :lamer:

 

[rustic]

Surely not The same car , for 20years This must be a scam Look away children there's a masked maverick about to tell us tall stories :lol

Pray tell Rustic, who is this masked owner ? :lamer:

You do realise that I try different ways of saying the same thing, it gets to be quite a challenge to think of something new... and still I get caught out lol...
:lol:lol

Reminds me of Uncle Albert... " During the war..." when Del boy says if you say "During the war", one more time...
Unc replies " I wasn't going to say "during the war"... During the 1939 -1945 conflict with Germany....
:lol:lol:lol
Still my Mav is the best car I have ever had...:thumb2

 

[swaggy]

Don't let the "better half" come between you and your truck (she's only jealous)

I've had my T2 now for 3 years and in 50 years of driving and owning lots of cars, I love this one the best. My other half complains its thirsty, noisy, too hot/cold, too high, uncomfortable etc etc etc. But it falls on deaf ears.

Every problem I have had, I have found the solution / fixing instructions on here so you are in the right place for information. The Terrano is a great truck, it has its faults but most, if not all, have been discussed here at some point. You'll regret it if you swap it.

 

[jims-terrano]

Have to say my Mrs is a good egg, she loves the old Terrano to bits. We were discussing which one to sell and she would much rather keep the old one. Why can't all ladies be so easy to please.

 

[Blocky10]

My missus is the same. She loves driving it and wants one of her own but I can't afford to run 2 of em. Although she currently drives an old xsara Picasso so anything else is a pleasure to drive. [emoji11]

 

[firebobby]

You do realise that I try different ways of saying the same thing, it gets to be quite a challenge to think of something new... and still I get caught out lol...
:lol:lol

Reminds me of Uncle Albert... " During the war..." when Del boy says if you say "During the war", one more time...
Unc replies " I wasn't going to say "during the war"... During the 1939 -1945 conflict with Germany....
:lol:lol:lol
Still my Mav is the best car I have ever had...:thumb2

In 80 years, Rustic will have owned his truck for 100 Years!!!
at the moment he's only had for a mere 20 :augie

 

[rustic]

In 80 years, Rustic will have owned his truck for 100 Years!!!
at the moment he's only had for a mere 20 :augie

I'm glad someone has confidence in my health lol...:doh
Well from another thread, I said I needed a new upper nearside ball joint.
Well it has been confirmed, I am now on the waiting list for a new left shoulder joint. In fact, the operation is now done in an hour and a half, go in, in the morning, out by lunchtime. Three weeks in a sling, so I might spend even more time on this forum lol...:doh
Hour and a half, I can barely do a Mav upper ball joint quicker than that lol.
They thought it was a frozen shoulder but the MRI scan showed acute arthritis.
The joys of getting old lol. Still better than the alternative.

When I do go, it'll be a viking burial, just as long as the Mav isn't the cause lol...
:bow

 

[firebobby]

I'm glad someone has confidence in my health lol...:doh
Well from another thread, I said I needed a new upper nearside ball joint.
Well it has been confirmed, I am now on the waiting list for a new left shoulder joint. In fact, the operation is now done in an hour and a half, go in, in the morning, out by lunchtime. Three weeks in a sling, so I might spend even more time on this forum lol...:doh
Hour and a half, I can barely do a Mav upper ball joint quicker than that lol.
They thought it was a frozen shoulder but the MRI scan showed acute arthritis.
The joys of getting old lol. Still better than the alternative.

When I do go, it'll be a viking burial, just as long as the Mav isn't the cause lol...
:bow

Good luck with that new joint then mate.

 

[supergnome]

Briggies idea sounds good. PM Solarman, he's a good egg. David

 

[rustic]

Good luck with that new joint then mate.

Thanks, all routine for them, other than a couple of wisdom teeth out, this will be my first op. I used to be worried about my Mavs MOT, this will focus me on to the more important things in life lol.

 

[davenclaire]

where ?

which part of kent ? im kent/se london borders if im closer than rick im happy to have a look