fiestaturbo.com

[Sams Si]

Hey eyeryone. This is my first post at FT.com so hello to all you fiesta lovers.

Here's my prob... i bought a 1.6 Si about 1 month ago. I've had all four tyres changed and had the tracking done too. But, the car still seems to pull to the left if you take your hands off the wheel.

Any ideas what else it could be and the associated costs?

Also, when i put my put down, sometimes the car jerks a lot, almost like its going to stall. Its just been serviced and all spark plugs were changed. Could this be the spark plug leads that cause it?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[chumkila]

re: the steering have u had ur brakes checked out?

in regard to the jerking, could be the HT leads or possibly a sensor issue i.e. TPS (Throttle Position Sensor).

[Sams Si]

ummm... i havent had the footbrake checked out (although ive had a look at the pads which have a fair bit of life yet). i know the handbrake is totally gone because you have to pull it up so much for it to stop the car and even then, the car still moves around for example when u jack the car up even the slightest bit.

Ill have to get the TPS checked by a pro cuz im not to sure where it is and how to check it.

Thanks chumkila for the reply.

[Ghia Boyo]

I had the problem with the handbrake not engaging properly. Had it adjusted a couple of times, and kept slipping. Turned out a garage had previosuly put the wrong rear brake shoes on, they were too small (not sure exactly). Changed those to the right ones for the car and has been fine ever since.

[Sams Si]

hmmm... i think i should get the handbrake checked by the pro's aswell then.

[Ghia Boyo]

yeh i would do. Was just spending money for no reason getting it adjusted... reminds me of the same problem with the clutch cable!! Had to get a "modified arm".... previous to that it was quite rough, you noticed that at all?? Be careful, it aint so fun when they snap!! (happened twice )

[Sams Si]

actually, the person i bought the car off of told me that he just had a new clutch cable fitted (probably cuz it snapped) but the clutch now still seems very hard. Maybe that the ratchet packing in, dunno.
Damn, cant imagine driving and then all of a sudden, you got no clutch or gears to use.

this is my first car so all the experiences that you are sharing with me is very valuable.

Thanks for all your help! nice 1.

(i can jus feel a big garage bill coming up, lol)

[Snyx]

Just a little question, did the place you got your wheels aligned give you a printout of the angles of Camber and Toe-in?

Had a bit of a problem on my CRX with the camber on the front left wheels being too negative hence the car pulled to the left all the time when you let go of the wheel. I'm not sure about Fiestas, but the camber is not adjustable on my CRX without a camber kit so possibly the garage may not have been able to adjust it?

Just an idea

[Ghia Boyo]

First time it snapped was in a traffic jam, so just pushed it down a side road. Second time (only a couple of months later BEWARE!!) was driving at about 30mph... stuck in 4th... chugged to a parking space and stalled it into it...

Didnt cost me too much IIRC, but was much smoother once it was all sorted. Hasnt snapped since (year on), so modified arm(??) was the fix.

Hope things get sorted out !

[Sams Si]

Synx: about the print out - nope, they never gave me any print out whatsoever. thats something ill learn to get in the future. i might go back and ask em to sort it out or re-align it because its only been like 2 weeks and the guy at the garage knows me well.

Ghia Boyo: i hope this doesnt happen to me. my mate has also got an Si and his clutch is also very stiff, so at first, i thought it was the norm. but now that im hearing about cables snapping, im consdiering getting that arm modified.

all you help very much appreciated! thanks alot!

[dave_si]

mine snapped aswell, luckily it was right outside my house

but this was after 3 hours of cleaning

hope u get everything sorted Sam

[Sams Si]

lol

cheers mate!

[E$cobar]

Is your car lowered ?
I had tracking problems since i had the car and they've only just been sorted. Upgraded bushes mite be an idea .

[Sams Si]

Hey E$cober, nope, the car is fully standard (..for now that is! )

damn this bloody steering problem. i think the car is cursed, lol!

[nosworth]

could be worn bushes on the lower arms or the UJ in the steering could be worn..Is there any play in the steering wheel at all?