FTO Drivers Club, Western Australia

[conalex]

Hey all, newbie here in need of some advice.

I own a 1995 FTO GR Tiptronic and have a couple questions if that's Ok.

First a foremost - tappets!!! How on earth can I get these sorted? I think I have about 3 noisy ones and they drive me mad - my car sounds like a diesel first thing in the morning. I tried an oil/filter change and that helped slightly but didn't cure it completely. After the engine is totally warmed up and the oil has circulated, then the engine is a lot quieter. Any ideas? I get the impression from what I have read on other sites that it's a common problem. I'm a little low on funds at the moment (Insurance here in the UK is astronomical) so was hoping there was a fairly cheap way to correct it. Obviously replacing the tappets altogether is a very expensive job

Secondly I have a minor problem with a rear disc/breaks. When I first start my car there isn't a problem but after about 30 minutes of driving I get a constant high pitched screeching noise from the rear wheel. It's as though something is heating up and expanding, Any ideas? I recently changed my pads but this noise didn't occur straight away - only the past week or so.

Last but not least, my Tiptronic box. I don't know if this is the same for other Tiptronic owners but mine seems to 'stick' in 3rd gear. It only does it when I'm slowing down to turn a corner or something and it doesn't step down a gear to 2nd. This then obviously means the car pulls out of the corner in too higher gear and it's a little sluggish.

Sorry for the essay but let's hope someone can help!

Cheers

[conalex]

Sorry - posted the message twice.

Best keep replies to this one!

Cheers

[RichardH]

Hiya.

> tappets!!!

The GR has hydraulic lifters, so replacement sounds like the go. But not a cheap option. However, if it quietens down a lot once the engine has warmed up, and you're low on funds, then I would just leave it well alone. Why spend a packet for just a few minutes' peace?

There is an article in the UK FTO Owners Club newsletter on exactly this job - lifter replacement in a GR. Two-page spread, pics of each step, etc. Why not join up and get that edition sent to you? It's cheap membership...


> constant high pitched screeching noise from the rear wheel

Get an FTO-aware garage to check the rear wheel bearings. Also check to ensure a new rear pad hasn't had the material split away, leaving bare metal. It happened to me once - bad batch of pads or something.


> doesn't step down a gear to 2nd

Probably the brain in the transmission realising you're a very, very relaxed driver - probably due to squealy rear wheel noise, hehe - and adjusting itself accordingly!

Apparently with a tip box it'll benefit from an ECU reset. Unhook the battery for a while. That will clear its learning mode back to standard shift patterns.


Good luck with all that!!

- Rich

[Zan]

Hi there. I've got a tip box myself and that's how it's supposed
to operate.
Driving around sedately or even semi-spiritly (is that even a word ) and the box will stay in 3rd when taking corners. This is prob so that you get a nice smooth exit out of corners.
But driving it hard and the cpu adapts after while, and it will shift down into 2nd.
Easy solution... use the tip mode. That's what it's for.

-zan.

[conalex]

Cheers lads,

Advice much appreciated.

As suggested I might just leave the tappett situation alone. I'll get the ECU reset and double check my brakes as advised...

Thanks again - Conrad