2001 1.8 LX 406.

[406Iain]

Hi chaps,Im Iain,and new here.
Ive got a couple of questions to ask.Ive got a 1749cc 406 saloon,china blue for the record!
Whenever I accelerate it makes a random ticking noise.
I took it back to pug they diagnosed it.said it was pinking and changed the lamda sensor.
A year down the line its still doing it,although its never got any worse.
To me it sounds like its coming from the back of the engine,Ive had the bonnet up and the mrs gave it a rev.
Ive had a chat to a pug mechanic and he says the manifolds go on them,but he didnt say which.Inlet or outlet (exhaust)
It doesnt seem to be anything major as Im getting decent economy out of it.Atleast 600 miles to a tank,and as high as 630 once.
Also never having driven another one what sort of performance can I expect?
Its not a patch on my 140bhp Rover 420 saloon I had (obviously) and seems quite peppy but maybe alittle boggy.
Also the clutch.Whats a good biting point? Mine bites quite high up,maybe about 3-4" off the floor,This normal? It changes fine although you cant rush it.If you down change and lift it up too quick the car does a little gentle kangaroo impression (especially in 4th)
Hope to stick around and maybe get some pics up as Im also a Detailing World regular and like to keep the old bird looking good.
Thanks for looking,Iain.

[mjb]

Also never having driven another one what sort of performance can I expect?

The 406 is a bloody heavy car and the 1.8, uhm, struggles a bit to shift it. Try taking the seats out, cut a hole in the back, drain most of the petrol, and replace the sump with a tesco carrier bag... might perk it up a bit... maybe

The pinking I can't help with sorry

[406Iain]

Also never having driven another one what sort of performance can I expect?

The 406 is a bloody heavy car and the 1.8, uhm, struggles a bit to shift it. Try taking the seats out, cut a hole in the back, drain most of the petrol, and replace the sump with a tesco carrier bag... might perk it up a bit... maybe

The pinking I can't help with sorry

Lol,thanks mate.As much as Id like to try that,I doubt the mrs would be too impressed.

[Welly]

The ticking, if it's just when you accelerate, will most likely be a blowing exhaust manifold! either as hairline crack in the cast iron manifold or a blown gasket where it meets the block or even a snapped manifold bolt has fallen off and is allowing gases to escape (this happens on 1.8 Vauxhall Ecotecs I've found out - I'm getting a new T-Shirt soon for this one ).

And yes - most on here report the 1.8 to be a little underpowered but a very reliable unit.

Welly.

[406Iain]

The ticking, if it's just when you accelerate, will most likely be a blowing exhaust manifold! either as hairline crack in the cast iron manifold or a blown gasket where it meets the block or even a snapped manifold bolt has fallen off and is allowing gases to escape (this happens on 1.8 Vauxhall Ecotecs I've found out - I'm getting a new T-Shirt soon for this one ).

And yes - most on here report the 1.8 to be a little underpowered but a very reliable unit.

Welly.

Thanks mate,Ill get it checked out and hopefully sorted.Finally!