Vacuum leak

[iMacThere4iAm]

There is a very high-pitched whine coming from Felicia's engine when cold that goes away when the throttle is opened. I suspect it's a vacuum leak but I can't find the location. Any tips on tracing it?

 

[alewis]

A bit of hosepipe can help, hold one end to your ear and move the other around to try and find the source.

Another way is to spray something flammable like easy start or carb cleaner on where the leak might be and if the engine speeds up you know where the leak is.

 

[politeperson]

Leak

Inlet manifold gasket?

 

[Steve Hennessey]

A bit of hosepipe can help, hold one end to your ear and move the other around to try and find the source.

Another way is to spray something flammable like easy start or carb cleaner on where the leak might be and if the engine speeds up you know where the leak is.

Something flammable :eek:???? Hope there is 3rd party fire and theft on the car.

I used to use WD40 and spray it around any gasket on the inlet side. Also useful for tracing other odd noises too!

 

[iMacThere4iAm]

Thanks for the tips, I'll try tomorrow.
I spent all day today washing the car (very overdue!) and replacing a rear shock absorber. The shock was a bugger because as I was jacking up the hub to fit it in, the car kept lifting off the axle stands before the gap got big enough. I ended up having to call a stout friend to sit in the boot and hold it down! Next one goes in tomorrow, should be a lot quicker now I know what to expect.
The old shock was completely useless, offering almost no resistance to being squeezed. I'm very much looking forward to getting back on the road with the new ones!

 

[iMacThere4iAm]

It is the inlet manifold gasket.

There are some gasket sets on ebay, some very cheap. Is the quality likely to be good, or should I stick to dealers like der Franzose?

 

[Steve Hennessey]

If it's just the manifold gasket you want then see if your local Renault dealer has one first or can get you one quickly.

 

[iMacThere4iAm]

I changed the manifold gasket today - it was literally falling to pieces, as you can see.

It's a fairly straightforward job, although the Haynes manual failed to mention I'd have to unbolt the steering column to get the manifold out.
With the new gasket Felicia's idle is perfectly smooth for the first time ever, and I can adjust the revs down far lower than before without stalling! It's amazing to hear how she purrs!

There was a whole stack of gaskets and spacers below the carburettor, but I only had two spares. What is the normal arrangement of these gaskets?

I do still have some problems with hesitation on the throttle, ever since I cleaned the inside of the carburettor. Any ideas on this one?

 

[angel]

There was a whole stack of gaskets and spacers below the carburettor, but I only had two spares. What is the normal arrangement of these gaskets?
[/IMG]

From down upwards: Manifold -> gasket -> sheet metal bridge piece -> gasket -> phenolic spacer -> gasket -> carburettor.


Sorry to hear about what happened to Felicia...

 

[iMacThere4iAm]

Cheers. She'll be okay, once I can get the throttle response sorted out.
I don't have any sheet metal bridge piece, is it crucial?

 

[angel]

Ah yes, it's a GTL. So it's the above order minus this and the gasket below.