21 replies to this topic

[IWOOT]

I was driving to work this morning in my Fiesta ST shed and broke a supsension spring (which was surprisingly loud), apparently it's pretty common - annoying, but common. Managed to limp into my local garage and left the car there. They were very kind and gave me a lift home so that I could pick up the VX and carry on my way to work (which, of course, is extremely busy at the moment and now I'm late). I get the VX out of the garage and start again. Not 15 minutes later and the VX dies on me - EML comes on and no power. I pulled over and did the following (in this order): switched off the engine, banged my head on the steering wheel, peered into the engine compartment, peered into the bonnet, banged head on steering wheel again, restarted engine. The EML light went out and the car was fine - a cheap fix! Anyway, I'm now £300 lighter but the ST is fixed (I know I paid well over the odds, but I need the shed!) and I have code p1271 to deal with. What a crappy day.

[smiley]

1271 Good chance on corroded or poor contact on connections on throttle loom. Clean with contact spray

[IWOOT]

Thanks I did a search (like a good newbie) and happily that does seem to be the consensus - I'll go hunting this weekend and see what I can find. All pictues of what I'm supposed to be looking for gratefully received though! So far I have this: http://www.vx220.org...em/page__st__20

[IWOOT]

and these: http://www.vx220.org...y-wire-problem/ http://www.vx220.org...tic-code-p1271/ which probably gives me all I need.

[techieboy]

Search for "loom of doom" as well.

[IWOOT]

Thanks Techie - will do. Although, with the number of issues attributable to the LoD, I might just wait until I'm feeling a little less dramatic!

Edited by IWOOT, 27 February 2013 - 11:29 PM.

[D3YMO]

You should have posted on here and waitied...i have a full set of shocks and springs from my old fiesta in the garage which are virtually brand new as i fitted coilovers Glad you have it all sorted though Fingers crossed you have no more problems with the loom of doom

[Rickwoo118]

By the sounds of it you are about 30 stone in weight and about 3 ft high if you broke a spring and banged your head twice on the steering wheel. Hope you get it fixed with not too much bother.

[rob999]

The lady shall slap thee

[vocky]

if it turns out not to be the 'loom of doom', but it most likely is, I have a spare z22se throttle body you can have for free

[moospeed]

You did well - I wouldn't even know what the EML light looks like, I only ever look at the fuel bargraph and the change-up light

[Mangham54]

Seriously, given it cleared up and ran fine then so quickly I strongly suspect the LoD behind the coolant tank. I suspect you probably had just gone over a bump or something similar, as that was pretty much always the trip on mine. To clean them is no more than a 10-20min job and you would really struggle to do anything wrong. Just make sure that you give the contacts enough time to dry properly before reconnecting them.

[IWOOT]

You should have posted on here and waitied...i have a full set of shocks and springs from my old fiesta in the garage which are virtually brand new as i fitted coilovers

Glad you have it all sorted though

Fingers crossed you have no more problems with the loom of doom

I needed to pick the kids up after work and although they'd have fitted in the VX boot, the authorities would likely take a dim view of such activity. If I'd had more time, I'd have put a set of Eibach's on there but too late now! Thanks though.

By the sounds of it you are about 30 stone in weight and about 3 ft high if you broke a spring and banged your head twice on the steering wheel.

Have we met?!

The lady shall slap thee

There's nothing quite like a slap from a rotund dwarf. Don't knock it til you've tried it!

if it turns out not to be the 'loom of doom', but it most likely is, I have a spare z22se throttle body you can have for free

Thank you I'll see what I find.

Seriously, given it cleared up and ran fine then so quickly I strongly suspect the LoD behind the coolant tank. I suspect you probably had just gone over a bump or something similar, as that was pretty much always the trip on mine.

To clean them is no more than a 10-20min job and you would really struggle to do anything wrong. Just make sure that you give the contacts enough time to dry properly before reconnecting them.

Will do - I'll buy some contact cleaner and (after I've used it) will display it proudly next to my tube of Tiger Seal. True badges of VX ownership!

Thanks everyone.

[D3YMO]

i think the shocks i have have 35mm eibachs on them

[IWOOT]

i think the shocks i have have 35mm eibachs on them

Don't tell me that

Perhaps when I break one of the rear springs I'll drop you a PM!

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

when you coming to a meet again? not seen you since.... July?

I'll buy some contact cleaner

at last! people have started not to use WD40!!!

[IWOOT]

when you coming to a meet again? not seen you since.... July?

Hi Stuwy. The VX didn't move that much over the winter because it was just too cold, I now have a hardtop and a Fezz heater, so I think I'm sorted on that score. If the March meet turns into a run, then I could be tempted out - be good to see your SC

Glad to see you're coming to Helmingham Hall in August - back to your Suffolk roots!

Edited by IWOOT, 02 March 2013 - 08:25 PM.

[Darcini]

There's nothing quite like a slap from a rotund dwarf. Don't knock it til you've tried it!

I would like to nominate this for post of the month.

[IWOOT]

So, having done some research I went to the garage armed with contact cleaner. After spending some time working out how to remove the TB plug , I managed to get that one apart. It looked clean enough, so I don't think that's the problem. I know the previous owner had the potentiometer changed in 2011, so I don't think that's the problem either. What I didn't realise was how difficult the Loom of Doom would be to get to. I moved the header tank out of the way, and although I could see the blue plug, there was no way I could get to it. I know it's probabaly easier to go in via the wheel arch, but I'm not confident enough to jack up the car (and don't own a jack!). Can I remove the bracket that the two plugs are attached to and get to them that way?

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

Get Harry round with his jack, I'm sure he can help. His car in more bits then a thing in lots of bits. Looking forward to getting back. And it's on my my birthday too! Give a day