The Boring And Long Winded Story Of a Man And His 405s

[Junkman]

Yes. That and wiggling the connector at what I believe is a stepper motor for the idle did the trick - for now.
But I don't think it'll last long, so I want this sorted properly. The car must be woman proof.

[bub2006]

I guess the entire TB should have a good clean. The car is predominantly used in and around town and this has never been done.

That's a good idea. Along with drums post,I've found a good blast up the bypass can help. Wife's old avensis used to only really go to work and back which was 6 mile each way at the time. I used to take the car for a run up the length of the a38 from alfreton to little Eaton and back,around 25 mile or up bypass to M1 and down to next junction at least once a week.

[Junkman]

The problem I have with all cars used for commuting purposes nowadays is that they sit in traffic for hours on end. This can't be good for the admission and exhaust systems. It's getting worse. Whereas there was rush hour for two hours twice a day just a few years back, we are now living in a constant congestion you can't really work around.

[CLINT]

Sochaux, we have a problem.

The mean green MoT machine has another hissy fit.
It won't idle. All other systems are okay, CEL is not on.
I just had a stab in the dark (literally) at the MAP sensor connections, pneumatic and electrical, whatever that is, since that was the culprit on two other examples displaying this fault. But obviously all is fine. So I had a wiggle at a connector plug stuck on a cylindrical whatchamacallit opposite the TPS on the TB, which I assume is a stepper motor regulating the idle depending on demand (cold, hot, in/out of gear, aircon on/off etc). Apparently this has cured it - for now. Does it make sense to take these out and clean them, or shall I click away on eBay immediately and make November another Month of hardship?

Poxy moderns. You should get something old and simple. I've no idea what most of the above post means. Have you checked the points and condensor yet?

[Junkman]

I hear you and I'd be seriously interested in doing just that, if it weren't for said Ye Olde thus Bettere™ cars being held hostage by some rich old farts living in the delusion that hoarding them unused in sheds imported from Albania in the 1990s to accelerate their deterioration process makes them valuable.
As for points and condensers, this newfangled tosh unfortunately lacks this most reliable source of a spark known to man and beast, sporting something resembling an Eighties Japanese pocket calculator the kind of which you were given as a freebie by your local bank branch instead. They call it "Progress", whatever that nonsense is all about.

[CLINT]

I wasn't serious about the points although the rest of my reply was. As an aside, what was the last car sold in the UK with points and a carburettor? Probably a Lada I suppose.

[bub2006]

Anything reliant 3 wheeler had carb and points till early 200s. Ledbury maestro's I think had an electric carb of some description up to late 90s due to being classed as a kit car. Single point injection on fiats of the 90s was basically a jazzed up carb too. Not alot has had points since the 80s except for aforementioned reliant a

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

A simple engine management system made from quality* parts is fine.

The trouble with points and condensers for me is that there will be a dwindling supply of properly made stuff. When I ran Minis and stuff, there was a never ending supply of Unipart, Lucas*, Intermotor parts that were so cheap you'd buy three of each and keep them in the car.

[Junkman]

Points (and magnetos) are used in Top Fuel racing right to this day because they are indeed the most reliable source for a spark. One single spark lost would make the engine go ka-boom in an instant.

For my pointed drivers, I use NOS points, currently a genuine Renault one even, which was made by Ducellier, because of the indifferent quality of anything manufactured nowadays. The latter applies to every single part of life, not only points for motorcars.

[Junkman]

In further news, the 405 displayed the same defect this morning, so it was gas-braked to its first destination. After having been shut off there for a few minutes, it started right up and ran as if nothing were wrong. So we are talking about an intermittent fault now. Fucking grrrrr.