Cheap Tune Up?

[Mike Walker 0]

I've messed with my AFM mixture settings as well as the timing and i'm not convinced by what i've done so want to get someone to have a look at it.

 

I want to be able to put normal unleaded in it as my g/f is now using it to commute to work and won't put super in due to the cost so it needs to be somewhere that understands that I want the ignition retarded a bit for this purpose.

 

Can I just take it to any garage and ask for a 'tune up' or do I need to go to a rolling road somewhere?

 

I remember taking my old 205 GT to have a Crypton Tune are these still around?

 

Also what price should I pay?

[hengti 2]

if it were mine, i'd want it RR tuned. These mobile tuners can be OK, but they can only measure and adjust things at idle - if the AFM settings have been disturbed, you'll have no way of knowing what the fuelling is doing anywhere else in the rev range

 

there used to be a really good Pug specialist in Coalpit Heath, who had a RR and was very cheap - but he's moved on unfortunately

 

can't think who to recommend otherwise (can tell you who to avoid though!) - haven't ever tried them, but you could ask Circuit Motors up at Castle Coombe

 

you're likely looking at £100-200 though; plus cost of anything that needs replacing

[Mike Walker 0]

if it were mine, i'd want it RR tuned. These mobile tuners can be OK, but they can only measure and adjust things at idle - if the AFM settings have been disturbed, you'll have no way of knowing what the fuelling is doing anywhere else in the rev range

 

there used to be a really good Pug specialist in Coalpit Heath, who had a RR and was very cheap - but he's moved on unfortunately

 

can't think who to recommend otherwise (can tell you who to avoid though!) - haven't ever tried them, but you could ask Circuit Motors up at Castle Coombe

 

you're likely looking at £100-200 though; plus cost of anything that needs replacing

 

Blimey I was hoping for more like £40 just to adjust the mixture and set the timing!

 

Cheers for the advice I might call Interpro in Thornbury and see what they can offer?

 

Edit: You don't happen to have a gearstick left from your car do you?

Edited June 20, 2007 by Mike Walker

[hengti 2]

mate - sorry, the gearstick went with the car to Yate breakers. there wasn't much left on it either, so they may well have crushed it by now

 

have you tried Flowers Hill or the Warmley yards?

 

Interpro are expensive btw - although they're (apparently) much better than they used to be

[jim21070 2]

I want to be able to put normal unleaded in it as my g/f is now using it to commute to work and won't put super in due to the cost

 

Mike, this could be false economy. Both my GTi and Activa (very thirsty ) are more economical when running super unleaded.

 

If you g/f is not the type to thrash it, it is really not hard to get the AFM and timing more-or-less back on par.

 

Set the dizzy roughly to the middle of its travel, set the AFM mixture screw half-way and then adjust the AFM spring for the sweetest, smoothest idle at around 1000 rpm. Adjust the timing to get the sweetest idle and then tweak both very gently so that you have the smallest possible change in idle rpm between headlights off and on.

 

It won't be far out doing it like this but it is not recommended if the car is going to be caned at all as there is a risk of full rpm lean-out. There really is no substitute for an RR session to get it spot-on if the car is going to be driven enthusiastically.

 

Before doing my method, ensure the dizzy vacuum advance capsule is good and in working order.

[hengti 2]

^sounds like a plan

[Mike Walker 0]

It won't be far out doing it like this but it is not recommended if the car is going to be caned at all as there is a risk of full rpm lean-out. There really is no substitute for an RR session to get it spot-on if the car is going to be driven enthusiastically.

 

The car gets the balls wrung out of it every time I drive it without fail, this is why i'm worried

 

Bit of a s*itter but I guess it needs to be done properly to safeguard the engine.

[Ahl 4]

I agree with everything Jim said! Try it yourself.

 

Also agree about the fuel economy. It cost me more to run normal unleaded without it pinking, than to run super (or V-power). That was just doing a long motorway commute too, no thrashing.

[gti-si 0]

Yeah, it's definatly faulse economy driving on 95. I used 95 in mine when I first got it, it wasn't pinking but I didn't really push too hard in low gears, and it's hard to hear I think with the car being so noisy. But I got much better mileage when using V-power. I actually found a Tesco with SUL 99 Ron today, 15 minutes away though . My local Tesco, which is a much biggger store, only does 97. I end up using the more expensive V-Power

[Mike Walker 0]

I'll set the mixture and timing the bodgetastic way as a short term measure until I can get it properly tuned up and will only drive to a maximum RPM of 6250 in the mean-time