A good computer diagnosis will help solve your car starting problem
Unlike in the past when some mechanics relied on try and error methods, today many are using computer diagnosis systems that detect car faults quickly for effective solutions. PHOTO BY PAUL KAGANZI
I recently acquired a Toyota Vista Ardeo model 1999. Its current mileage is at 55,459km with a VVT-i engine. However, it has of recent started shaking for close to a minute when I start the engine in the morning. The vehicle doesn’t respond to acceleration commands however hard I press the pedal until say after a minute. I changed the spark plugs but the problem persisted! Could the problem be with the fuel pump or filter?
Asuman Muhumuza
There are several causes of poor engine performance, the fuel filter and pump being two of them. From your report it seems the poor engine response to throttle happens in the morning. If the engine performance becomes normal when it warms up after a few minutes then replacement of the fuel pump and filter might not help (a long life fuel filter replacement at 55,000km seems premature unless your mileage is tampered with).
You need to use a computer diagnosis to assess the performance of your intake air temperature sensor and engine coolant temperature sensors. These two sensors help the engine control module determine the fuel injection and ignition timing especially for cold start enrichment. A computer diagnosis will also help rule out fuel pump performance deterioration.
A failure of the coolant temperature sensor and the intake air temperature sensor will prevent the engine control module from carrying out suitable variable valve timing and ignition timing which will cause poor engine response to throttle.
Does the car fuel device that reduces fuel consumption affect other systems in the car?
Lawrence Mutebi.
Car owners like you are always looking for simple and inexpensive means to lower the cost of running cars. The market and business community offer a whole range of devices which claim to improve fuel economy and/or reduce emissions. Installation instructions for some of these devices require adjustments to fit on your engine either along the fuel or vacuum lines or the electrical systems.
These devices heat, magnetise, ionise, irradiate, or add metals or vinyl coating to your vehicle’s fuel lines and purport to increase your vehicle’s fuel economy and reduce exhaust emissions.
These gadgets sometimes retard timing or adjust the air-fuel ratio and as such may be considered as tampering with the manufacturer’s design. At best it only voids the warranty (which your used car may not have) but in the worst case scenario may create operational, safety and environmental hazards if the retrofitted gadget fails.
Giving the benefit of doubt to the various products presented to you should be with caution. You ought to find out if the product you are offered meets the approval of the manufacturer of your car or has been submitted to any retrofit device evaluation by any standards agency globally or in Uganda (UNBS - Uganda National Bureau of standards).
Also ensure that there is sufficient after sales support and some form of warranty provided by the vendor of the fuel-saving device. There are steps you can take to improve your fuel economy such as avoiding unnecessary engine idling in traffic jams, sensible and non-aggressive driving, journey planning, regular car engine and tyre maintenance as well as choosing a car with a suitable engine size commensurate to the purpose of transport.
Recently, I imported a Mercedes Benz C 200 from Japan. However, whilst my mechanic was driving it from Mombasa he realised that the engine was heating up because the fans were not operating normally as they should. He then decided to connect the fan directly. Kindly advise me on what the problem could be and the solution to rectify the situation.
Alfred Madada
You have not told us the year of your Mercedes C200. The pre-2001 W202 and post 2001 W203 have different engine blower (fan) regulator systems. In case it is the W202 Mercedes Benz C200, ask a qualified Mercedes technician to check for continuity in the circuit of the blower fan regulator located under the left front wing panel.
With the W203, the regulating module is attached to the blower fan shroud. Inspection with the Star diagnostic computer would allow the technician to carry out a diagnosis of the blower motor circuit (confirm performance of coolant sensors and switches) and the blower regulators.
