First post! - newbie tech questions

[ourkid]

I've just picked up my first 4x4,after nipping to the local shop for a loaf of bread,i returned home with a 96 Terrano lwb (Mistral).It was (i hope) a bargain at 800 quid as it has 12m tax and test,new exhaust and alternator and is spotless inside and out.It's been lovingly cared for and is a very nice teal/blue.

I'm assuming the Mistral is an import?.It would be nice to know any differences between mine and a UK spec vehicle.

It's the non TDI motor and although it pulls well through the auto box and is nippy around town,it tops out at 70mph and i can't seem to feel the turbo kicking in at all.Could this be because it's an auto?(also a first for me),or is there any other common reason for lack of power?.It does not smoke at all and sounds really nice,starts well and has a good tickover,maybe i'm expecting too much?

Anyone any experience of towing a caravan with the 2.7 TD?

I'd be interested in what mpg i should be expecting,and also power output figures (my handbook is Japanese)

One other thing,when going over large bumps it's fine but smaller road undulations/potholes i get a wierd noise a can only describe as metallic jangling from underneath at the front.Any clues please?

sorry for all the questions and thanks for having me on board.

Ade.

 

[lacroupade]

I've just picked up my first 4x4,after nipping to the local shop for a loaf of bread,i returned home with a 96 Terrano lwb (Mistral).It was (i hope) a bargain at 800 quid as it has 12m tax and test,new exhaust and alternator and is spotless inside and out.It's been lovingly cared for and is a very nice teal/blue.

I'm assuming the Mistral is an import?.It would be nice to know any differences between mine and a UK spec vehicle POST APIC BUT SHOULD BE SAME AS MK1 TERRANO.

It's the non TDI motor and although it pulls well through the auto box and is nippy around town,it tops out at 70mph and i can't seem to feel the turbo kicking in at all ITS NOT THAT MEATY TO BE HONEST, ONLY HAS 100BHP COMPARED TO 125BHPWITH AN INTERCOOLER BUT THERE ARE THINGSTO CHECK LIKE MINI-FILTERS, MAF ETC...LOTS OF READING HERE.Could this be because it's an auto?(also a first for me),or is there any other common reason for lack of power?.It does not smoke at all and sounds really nice,starts well and has a good tickover,maybe i'm expecting too much?

Anyone any experience of towing a caravan with the 2.7 TD? SMALLISH AS THE AUTO BOX HAS A MUCH LOWER TOWING CAPACITY - ITS ONLY 1750KG ON THE tdI SO EVEN LESS ON YOURS I SUSPECT

I'd be interested in what mpg i should be expecting,and also power output figures (my handbook is Japanese)

One other thing,when going over large bumps it's fine but smaller road undulations/potholes i get a wierd noise a can only describe as metallic jangling from underneath at the front.Any clues please? ALMOST CERTAINLY ANTI ROLL BAR BUSHES OR SIMILAR - ARBs ARE EASY TO REPLACE AND CHEAP TO BUY FROM MILNERS OFFROAD

sorry for all the questions and thanks for having me on board. WELCOME TO THE LOONEYBIN!!!!!

Ade.

....

 

[clivvy]

lol, hi and welcome.
I dont know much about the MIstral but I dont think ther eis much if anything different mechanically.

ok, lack of power. You have the TD, whihc I think is approx 90 odd BHP, so its not much for the weight of vehicle, what you have there, is a pulling machine, so dont expect this sudden flurry of speed when you floor it! You need to pull the codes for a start, see the downloads section its easy. I suspect that the MAF will need attention, the codes will tell you this probably, but you can unplug it and go for a drive, see if its any different.

Can you rev over 3k rpm? check the air filter, I cant believe how much of a difference they make to these cars.

as for the jangling when going over slight bumps, as Lacroupade says, check those links, basically check anything that moves when the car goes over a bump, but also check any sump guards you have, and the tow bar chain also, sounds can be misleading. I would also check the brake too, the fronts i believe are discs, so its likely you will have anti rattle clips, these may be absent, or worn.

Towing, well, I have the SWb TDi, and I towed my 750Kg van back home to Huddersfield from Manchester, and I really couldnt tell it was there apart from the big thing in the rear view mirror. Very good with low speeds around town and manouvering, its what they were built for.

MPG, well, its an auto, and old, so, I dunno, 26MPG on average?? thats round town, maybe 30+ long journeys, they arent exconomcal lets put ti that way, they were designed and built in a time when fuel was less than half the cost it is today, and less of a consideration! But still, for the weight of vehicle, they are pretty darn good mate when it comes to MPG.

welcome to the club, and I hope you enjoy you truck!

 

[ourkid]

Thanks for that!,

My van is only 1000kg so i should be ok,

Can anything be done to up the power a bit?,can an intercooler be retro-fitted?

I've heard about the MAF issue but can't see one on mine?

 

[briggie]

im a bit curious , mine is a 1995 mistral and has a turbo

 

[DEE]

HOW DO all the best :thumbs

 

[briggie]

oops sorry just read your post properly :doh

 

[ourkid]

im a bit curious , mine is a 1995 mistral and has a turbo

Yeah,mine is a TD not a tdi so is not electronically controlled,but does have a turbo.I can report something back though.I've just checked the air filter (mine is a large round can and the element lifts out of the top).I have a few bits lying around from different projects and i had a large conical k@n filter with a swept elbow in the garage.I've just fitted that as it was a perfect diameter for the rubber intake hose and it sits really nice pointing down roughly where the original cold air intake is.I've had a quick spin and it seems to have really woken up and revs a lot easier.(the old cliche,it's like a new vehicle).The thing is,i'm not really a fan of the open type k@n's,can this cause any harm/running issues long term?

 

[briggie]

if ya dont want the k+n ,.........:augie

 

[ourkid]

I'm curious about intercoolers now,are they a direct fit from a tdi?

 

[lacroupade]

Yeah,mine is a TD not a tdi so is not electronically controlled,but does have a turbo.I can report something back though.I've just checked the air filter (mine is a large round can and the element lifts out of the top).I have a few bits lying around from different projects and i had a large conical k@n filter with a swept elbow in the garage.I've just fitted that as it was a perfect diameter for the rubber intake hose and it sits really nice pointing down roughly where the original cold air intake is.I've had a quick spin and it seems to have really woken up and revs a lot easier.(the old cliche,it's like a new vehicle).The thing is,i'm not really a fan of the open type k@n's,can this cause any harm/running issues long term?

i've used them on three of these trucks - on and off road over 300,000 miles - no problems ever, plus good for a few hp and a 2-3 mpg improvement!

 

[Freebird]

Welcome to the site ourkid :thumb2

 

[paulp]

welcome

Hi our kid

I thought my mistral was gutless, but when i started to drive it like a diesel and not a 3.9v8 petrol it keeps up with all my mates and some.

not a racing car but sits all day long at 80mph fully loaded and 5 people up.

No MAF on TD and alot less electrickery to go wrong

no timing belt or chain

happy days

enjoy your motor and the club

paulp

 

[zippy656]

welcome to the site ourkid.. loads of help and info here. not from me though.. im just here!

 

[ourkid]

Thanks for the nice welcome guys,i'll get some pics sorted soon!

 

[zippy656]

pic... i like pics....

 

[clivvy]

welcome to the site ourkid.. loads of help and info here. not from me though.. im just here!

like a rash....:augie

 

[zippy656]

like a rash....:augie

ah right, pic on zippy night then is it?

 

[jims-terrano]

Welcome aboard and enjoy the simplicity of the non TDi. 26MPG sounds reasonable for around town. Original owner of this site (Shark1e) had same model as yours, he got an after market intercooler but not sure if it made any better or not. He also fitted Hiclones too but again not sure if it made any better or not. Only thing I think about with the K&N's is water getting sucked in easier? Once drove a Misty Auto and I liked it which is unusual as I hate Auto's.

Jim

 

[DaveAMac]

Welcome to the club, ourkid! :thumb2