The engine on my 2004 Daihatsu Sirion M100 has started faulting after 180,000km. What could it be?

If the engine mounts are indeed in good condition (and it can be hard to tell just by looking) then you might be looking at a problem with the idle speed settings. Engines typically idle more slowly when they’re cold and in gear and there’s usually a compensation for this. In an electronically controlled engine like the Sirion’s, this idle-up function will be a job for the onboard computer. But if the computer has lost the plot or isn’t getting the right signal from, say, a temperature sensor, then it can’t bump the idle up a fraction when it needs to. And then, once warmed up, the engine seems normal. A cold engine that spits a little water out the tailpipe is completely normal. Water is one of the by-products of the combustion process. It’s black because it mixes with soot in the exhaust system. But we only see it when the engine is cold, as once warmed up, the exhaust system turns the water to steam and we don’t see it. A black exhaust in a modern car that runs on ULP is completely normal also.

Where is the oil filter in the transmission of a 2004 Daihatsu Sirion?

Unlike fuel and oil filters which are often located in easily accessible places and are able to be removed and replaced easily, most automatic transmission filters are located inside the actual transmission. Usually, this means removing the transmission's pan which is also usually the way to access the transmission's valve body and other parts that are part of a transmission service. The best way to access this area is to have the car on a hoist and work from underneath.

How to check if my 2000 Daihatsu Sirion's timing is right

Assuming you mean the Daihatsu's ignition timing, the on-board computer should control the timing. If this is out of whack, you'll find the car could be difficult to start, will idle poorly, use more fuel than it should, be down on power and may even overheat. Or all of those things. For reference, the correct timing for this engine is five degrees before top dead centre (+ or – two degrees) at idle. It can be checked by a workshop to verify whether it's correct or not. If you're referring to the engine's valve timing, that's a different thing altogether. You need to reset the valve timing whenever you change the rubber toothed timing belt to avoid catastrophic damage to the engine. The valve timing of the car should not change between belt-change intervals, but if it has, then the damage has probably already been done. Again, for reference, the two camshafts need to be lined up with their respective timing marks, along with the crankshaft in its correct position before the new belt is fitted. This is not a simple job for a Saturday morning in the driveway.

I have a Daihatsu Sirion GTvi with an ABS warning light that continually lights up.

If the ABS and overall braking system is working properly, then the warning light you’re seeing is probably being caused by a sensor or part of the electrical circuit involved in controlling the ABS. An electronic scan of the car’s on-board computer should give you an insight into what’s wrong and you can work forward from there. Simply replacing bits and pieces in the hope that they fix the problem is often a very time and money consuming way to go about this. Most workshops will be able to scan the car and interpret the fault codes.

What happened to temperature gauges?

I think you can safely assume that it's cost cutting, but it's probably a reflection of today's drivers who rarely look at their gauges anyway and wouldn't know what a temperature is trying to tell them. I too prefer a gauge as you see what's happening before it gets to the point of serious damage to the engine, but the red light if observed and acted upon should provide sufficient warning of trouble. Like you I also believe a tachometer is a not needed in most cars.

Best second hand 5-door car for $8000?

You could look at all small models from the mainstream carmakers, like Mazda, and you won’t go wrong. The Mazda2 is a good choice, but you could also look at the Toyota Yaris, Hyundai i20 and Kia Rio.

Daihatsu Sirion clutch wear?

It’s not possible to say with any certainty when your clutch might we worn out, but you’re already doing well having clocked up 105,000 km. You can normally tell how far the clutch has worn by the height of the clutch pedal at take-up. If it’s close to the floor there’s plenty left in it, if it’s at the top of the pedal travel it’s probably getting close to worn out.

Ask Smithy Xtra noisy Daihatsu Sirion

What the mechanic told you is rubbish, there has clearly been a change in the way the engine is running, and that suggests there’s a problem. Changing the spark plugs, they’re located in the cylinder head, and the spark leads is a good idea. If you’re not sure take the car to an auto store and they will show you the plugs and leads and supply you with replacements.

Daihatsu Sirion 2003 Problems

No car is perfect, but we've gathered everything relating to the Daihatsu Sirion 2003 reliability here to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Used Daihatsu Sirion review: 1998-2005

27 Jun 2016 · by Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 1998, 2002 and 2004 Daihatsu Sirion as a used buy.

Used Daihatsu Sirion review: 1998-2005

19 Apr 2013 · by Ewan Kennedy

Daihatsu Sirion is a well-built Japanese car with an excellent reputation for reliability and low running costs. It wasn’t as successful as big brother Daihatsu Charade.So there are some bargains in ...

Back to the Mechanic

Answered by CarsGuide 15 Jan 2010

IT COULD be the plug leads, or the ignition coil, even a sensor. Have your mechanic check it again.

Engine

Hyundai or Diahatsu best for re-sale?

Answered by CarsGuide 25 Sep 2003

The Hyundai would be my bet. They are popular with young drivers and dealers like to have them in their yards for that reason. The fact that it has a bigger engine will also give it more appeal when you come to sell it. The Daihatsu's 1.0-litre engine is a little small and that will hold it back. If, however, you were planning to keep the car longer, I would be tempted to go for the Daihatsu as they have greater reliability than the Hyundai. The Daihatsu seems to be the favoured final transport of older folk who want a reliable run in their last years.

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Daihatsu Sirion 2003 Problems

Used Daihatsu Sirion review: 1998-2005

Used Daihatsu Sirion review: 1998-2005

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Hyundai or Diahatsu best for re-sale?

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