Important! : 02 Saxo desire various problems

1. adamspencer Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 173 52 Saxo Desire 1.1

   #1 6th February 2012, 21:52

   I have an 02 saxo desire on a 52 plate and i seem to be getting more and more problems with it as time goes on
   
   Firstly, i dont know if its just me but the gear stick feels like its in neutral whilst in gear, it doesnt slip into gear easily (it doesnt need forcing, its just not as easy as i imagined). I can easily move the lever side to side a good inch either way whilst in gear. Is this just a feature of saxos or a developing problem? (gear linkage?)
   
   Secondly, as i posted on several other threads, i get a weird knocking noise when either accelerating suddenly/going over bumps/changing gear whilst pulling out the clutch. I can't decide where its coming from, it sounds like the mid section. Was thinking of exhaust rattling but nothing seems loose? CV joints have been looked at and seem fine?
   
   Thirdly, whilst idling, the rev counter seems to jump around a little, + or - 100rpm. It was very cold at the time so is this expected with the automatic choke fiddling to keep a roughly constant idle/temperature?
   
   Thanks
   Adam
2. Jauo Newbie Joined: Jan 2012 Wickford Posts: 15 2001 Saxo Desire 1.1

   #2 6th February 2012, 22:12

   My gear box in my 01 desire is the same with the movement whilst in gear and the resistance when putting it in gear. I had a garage take a look over it and they found no problems so I've just got used to it really.
   
   As for the knocking sound - something is obviously loose somewhere. Its either probably best to jack the car up and run it in neutral to locate the problem or have a local garage do a full service for extra safety if you're worried.

   1 user thanked this post: adamspencer
3. Jauo Newbie Joined: Jan 2012 Wickford Posts: 15 2001 Saxo Desire 1.1

   #3 6th February 2012, 22:13

   As for the rev meter - assuming you have a 1.1 - the engine is small so loads of things affect the performance a tiny bit. Turning on your lights, the air con, using the electric windows all momentarily affect the revs.

   1 user thanked this post: adamspencer
4. adamspencer Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 173 52 Saxo Desire 1.1

   #4 6th February 2012, 22:24

   yeah 1.1, might have been i had radio and blowers on at the time. im suspecting gearbox mount after reading a few forums, seems to be more obvious at gear changes so i'll get it up on the ramps tomorrow and have a fiddle, see if the gearbox rattles around. Does the gearbox need to come out to replace a mount do you know?
5. Jauo Newbie Joined: Jan 2012 Wickford Posts: 15 2001 Saxo Desire 1.1

   #5 6th February 2012, 22:32

   I had my blowers on full to de-mist my windows in the morning and it always makes the rev needle dip for a second or two. As for replaceing the gear box mount, I really dont know - but as with any car I expect you need to remove a million components before you ever reach the gear box - and if your replacing the mount the whole thing probably needs to come out unfortunately
   
   But im not an expert so dont take my word for it
6. adamspencer Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 173 52 Saxo Desire 1.1

   #6 6th February 2012, 22:35

   thanks anyway
   
   damn i hope its not expensive, only had it a month and a bit. 34k miles but im sure its been ragged for those miles
   
   already spent a shedload on electrical shiyte after ecu/immobiliser screwed up. and its a rip off going to garages so i much prefer to do stuff myself
7. Jauo Newbie Joined: Jan 2012 Wickford Posts: 15 2001 Saxo Desire 1.1

   #7 6th February 2012, 22:42

   Mmm I know what you mean. Ive had mine since the end of October and I had to get most of my exhaust pipe replaced, wing mirrors replaced and now my drivers side door lock has frozen solid in this bloody weather and I think I might have snapped the connection to the locking bolt trying to open it... Fun fun fun!
8. adamspencer Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 173 52 Saxo Desire 1.1

   #8 6th February 2012, 22:46

   never buying a french car ever again. the only reason i tolerate it is because its my first real car to drive (only 17 y'see ) so its either a shiyte car or no car, wouldn't get enough by selling it to get a half decent car so i'll tolerate shoddy french mechanics/electrics until i can afford it im glad theres a website where fellow saxo'ers can share the pain of owning a "great, reliable car"
9. user_53433 Infrequent Poster Joined: Jun 2011 Gloucester Posts: 119 1.6 VTS MK1 1997 L3

   #9 6th February 2012, 23:33

   If the idle is crappy there are a few things to check out yourself. Idle control valve (icv) throttle position sensor (tps) map sensor. Crank sensor.
   
   I would post a Link to my thread where I did all this stuff but im on my phone. I just put another post in so its near the top. I sprayed some antioxidant onto the ecu pins and plug and it seems to be working well so far.
10. user_51160 Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2011 Norwich Posts: 538 Saxos (sold), Civic

    #10 7th February 2012, 00:34

    Wobbly gearstick will probably be this:
    
    http://www.saxperience.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=339820
    
    If not, change linkages as necessary if they have play, or take it to a garage.
    
    Erratic idling, as already mentioned, could be the ICV or a number of other things, but I'd start with cleaning the ICV.
    
    Knocking could again be one of many things, but have a poke round under the car near the exhaust and all mountings, could well be knocking the underside of the car if it's loose.