Car Mechanics

Martyn Knowles, Editor Email martyn.knowles@kelsey.c o.uk Follow us on Facebook @ Car Mechanics I still remember the day in 2016 when our Toyota Prius Mk2 project arrived from auction. Hybrids were new to me and I had the key in the ignition with the engine running, except it wasn’t running, it was silent – apart for a few whirring noises from beneath the bonnet. I didn’t know if these totally different sounds were normal or there was something amiss. Then the engine fired into life all on its own. The Prius handbook was quickly pulled from the glovebox. As it turned out, all this is normal for a hybrid. I mention this for two reasons – one in the next issue we have an EV and hybrid special with extra…

After a three-year gap, Peter returns to Pride of Longbridge event, and spots a change or two... Last Saturday I, along with my Rover 827 Coupe, went to the Pride of Longbridge event at, er, Longbridge. For most people, POL was back after a two-year gap due to we-allknow-what, but I also missed it in 2019 due to the 827’s distributor seizing up en route, so I was away for three years. POL is much more than a gathering of like-minded enthusiasts. It always happens on the Saturday closest to April 15, the day when, back in 2005, production at Longbridge stopped. The Crofton Park location is almost directly opposite the former Q Gate which was generally considered to be the main entrance to the former factory. Thus, POL Is…

DRIVING TECHNIQUES 1 GENTLY DOES IT? Most people know that, as a general rule, the easier you are on your car, the better it is – not simply for fuel economy but also long-term reliability. While modern cars aren’t generally as responsive to economical driving techniques as the carburettor-fuelled cars of yesteryear, driving at a gentler pace still generally uses less fuel. It also causes less stress on car and driver, and rarely adds significantly to journey times. 2 YET, GIVE IT SOME STICK There again, an occasional blast can be beneficial to clear out the cobwebs of a car that spends most of its life pottering around town and rarely reaches full operating temperature. Additionally, the Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) fitted to some Euro 4 and all Euro 5-on…

Exhaust gas temperature sensors explained Thanks to ever-increasing legislation on vehicle emissions, exhaust gas temperature sensors (EGTS) are becoming more popular. Never heard of them before? Their job is to relay data back to the ECU in order for vehicle systems to take appropriate action in protecting key engine components. However, they’re a high-failure part due to exposure to temperatures of over 900°C, and they’re in increasing demand for repair. John Wass, engineering director at SMP Europe has highlighted some key need-to-know details on what an EGTS is, how it works, and how to overcome the common concerns. There are two types of EGTS: with Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) and Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) sensing elements. Commonly in Petrol engines, the sensors protect key components from higher temperatures common in…

With less than a month to go until the inaugural event, exhibitors are giving a glimpse of what visitors can expect to see at the show, taking place from June 8th-9th at Birmingham’s NEC. “The tools we want to equip our visitors with go beyond the technician’s toolbox, and includes the knowledge, technology and equipment in the backoffice function that help bodyshops and garages to run their businesses more efficiently and profitably,” says Kristian Johnstone, Project Director at Messe Frankfurt UK, organisers of the exhibition. The event will feature dedicated Workshop and Bodyshop Training Hubs, highlighting challenges across MOT, service and repair, on-demand services, workshop management systems and increasing digitalisation. Training partner Dayco will present its latest aftermarket offerings, discussing its unique products and the real opportunities that these present…

TOYOTA YARIS Hub horror The old adage a stitch in time saves nine, could have easily applied to this 2003 Toyota Yaris T2 if the rear bearing had been a separate unit, but thankfully for the owner of this 998cc VVTi Yaris, the rear wheel bearing comes complete with the hub. The owner had been aware of the humming noise for a good number or months, and when the hum turned into a slightly more severe groan, she still made no attempt to get the problem fixed. It was only when she thought that the brake pedal felt a little strange that the motor was brought in to the workshop for me to have a look. By this stage the play in the bearing was quite bad, and it was…