January-February 2013 Part Info newsletter, bringing you the latest on what is new at www.partinfo.co.uk.

Citroën Saxo Running Rich

One of the latest queries we have had was regarding a Citroën Saxo 1.1 Desire with the engine running too rich – our site member asked for some help to be pointed in the right direction, to which we gave the following advice:

  1. The first thing we would recommend is to run a diagnostic scan – this will identify any issues with the Lambda sensors, which monitor the air-to-fuel ratio.
  2. The air filter and ducting should also be checked – if it looks like they may be blocked, damaged and in need of replacement, they may be restricting the amount of air entering into the engine.
  3. The condition of the spark plugs should also be checked – if they are black this indicates a rich mixture, if white it indicates a lean mixture and if olive/tan it indicates a normal mixture. If the spark plugs are black they should be replaced as this indicates a carbon build up which will impair performance.

The final solution was an issue with the ducting into the engine as suspected – the damaged duct pipe was replaced accordingly, solving the issue.

Star Contributor – Discovery Window Issue
Our latest Star Contributor is Lee Bartlett from Southern Motor Factors who highlighted a common issue on the Land Rover Discovery 1996, where the rear electric windows have intermittent functionality. Lee went on to explain that this is often due to the rear window ECU (located behind the glove box) having loose, cracked or burnt out solder joints – if this is the case, the solder joint(s) just need reinforcing with more solder to re-establish the connections. Lee concludes by advising that the battery should be disconnected before refitting the ECU to avoid the risk of blowing a fuse.

Lee receives a £10 Amazon voucher for sharing his expertise.

Latest News
Gates Technical Support
Gates has launched a new technical support hotline for factors and garages, enhancing their ability to resolve any technical issues. The hotline will be available Monday to Thursday, from 8.30am to 5pm, and Friday from 8.30am to 4pm - the number is 0844 980 0062 (3p per minute from landlines). You can also e-mail the Gates technical support team at [email protected]

Common Rail Diesel
Over the past couple of months we have published a number of articles around the area of Common Rail Diesel systems – with the number of diesel vehicles on the UK’s roads set to increase to around 14.5m this year, there are significant opportunities for factors and garages that have the knowledge and skills to supply diesel components. Click here for more information...

Tool Connection Videos
The following tool demo videos have recently been added to Part Info:

- Spark Plug Thread Restorer
- Coolant Filling Kit
- Magnetic Sump Key and Socket Set
Click on the links above to view the videos.

Don’t forget to continue submitting your own technical hints and tips in User Contributions - we want to hear from you and each month there is a £10 Amazon voucher up for grabs for the Star Contributor! Click here for more information...