GENERAL
Caravan towing vehicle
Q Just back from our latest caravan trip to Whitby and my thoughts are turning to a potential tow car upgrade and would like to ask your advice.
My current tow car is an Astra K diesel which manages fine but gets a bit bouncy at times on uneven roads but nothing too unsettling. However, I also fancy something higher up with more loading and luggage space for trips away.
I like the Honda CR-V (think you have owned one?), Hyundai Tucson, but seen a few VW Tiguans on the campsite and rather liked the look of them.
I don’t really need diesel now as my mileage is not high and would like automatic but would consider manual. VW do the 1.5 TSI engine and DSG transmission but don’t know how that combination would fair with towing a smallish caravan?
Ian Browning
A I have owned and do still own a Honda CR-V 2.0 petrol automatic and would certainly recommend this for your purpose.
I would not recommend the 1.5 TSI DSG for towing as this has a lower torque output, the 2.0 TSI DSG unit would be far better suited for towing, if this was the vehicle you wanted.
The Hyundai Tuscan is another good vehicle and as all of these vehicles are a good reliable choice, then the final decision should be made after a test drive of all three. The outside looks of the vehicle are important, but what it feels like and drives like in your own estimations is the most important consideration when making the purchase.
You may already be aware of it, but there is a good website at www.towingcapacity. co.uk where you can check the towing capacity of any vehicle which gives a good indication of the vehicles capabilities and can ensure that it will happily accommodate your caravan weight.
GENERAL
Impact wrench
Q I would welcome your advice please on when not to use an impact wrench to undo stubborn fasteners. A couple of years ago, with my 70th birthday approaching and getting more weak and feeble, I purchased an 18-volt DeWalt impact wrench as I look after four aging cars in my family. The wrench is brilliant. It takes the effort out of much of the work, but I worry about when not to use it.
Many online mechanics use wrenches all the time but others advise against, eg. they use breaker bars on bolts securing subframes to the body – is that because of the risk of the shock loosening captive nuts? Also many say don’t use impact wrenches on wheel hubs because the shock could damage ABS sensors and don’t use them on nuts that are fastened to studs bonded into rubber etc. (eg. suspension top mounts), for fear of shearing the bond.
I look forward to your advice.
Keith Gibson
A The use of an impact wrench is discretionary, but I would say that in most cases the impact wrench can be used to remove any fixing.
There may be problems with captive nuts as you mention, and in these cases then a slow application of pressure using a breaker bar is the best option.
Undoing wheel nuts should not pose any difficulty for the impact wrench, and I would note that if it does, then a problem would still be present if a breaker bar were used.
The golden rule is not to tighten fixings up using an impact wrench, as this would be where problems and damage could occur.
One other point to mention is that ordinary sockets are incompatible with impact wrenches, and only dedicated impact wrench sockets should be used to ensure that the cyclic hammering loads are within the sockets capabilities. Under these conditions ordinary sockets may fracture and splinter.
FORD FOCUS
Spark plug problem
Q I would like your advice regarding a spark plug problem on our 2001 Ford Focus 1.6LX which has covered 17,000 miles. During the last 12 months or so, there has been an occasional misfire and on checking out the usual suspects, I found that one spark plug had been tracking with the usual tell-tale black marks on the insulator. The plugs were Bosch HR8MC+ fitted January 2018. Sometimes I would find two of the plugs with tracking marks.
The ignition coil was replaced September 2016 following a misfire on cylinder 2. I replaced the Bosch plugs with Motorcraft in January 2020 but the problem has returned. Tracking now on cylinder 4 plug.
I removed the HT leads which seem fine. Connections both ends are clean and bright and a tight fit on both plug and coil.
I metered each lead with readings ranging from 2.8K ohms to 3.8 and 4.8 (2.8 being plug No. 4 – shortest). The parts guys at Ford is quoting approx. £30+ per
