Hi all,
I recently bought my Daughter a 2003 Ka to learn on (is that a Ka2?). Great fun little buggy. I've taken to nicking it myself when popping down to the shops. Probably the closest thing I've driven to the old Mini only a damned sight more solid. I was after little Fiat originally but a quick look at the used lots and there's no comparison.

The daughter is a fashionista and won't be getting her hands dirty so it seems I'm now tasked with maintaining it. Should have had sons!
I was a dab hand on the Mk3 Escort in my younger days but I've been away from Fords for a good few years now so back to learning again. (Though if you want to know anything about E cl{Bad Word: Moderated} Mercs I'm your man!)

Anyway, I've sorted the scraping noise on the steering wheel, replaced the alternator and even managed to change the headlight bulb (the most challenging job of the 3!) but I'm left with 3 further niggling issues I could do with some advice on.
1) At idle there is a rattle from the front end. It sounds more mechanical than a loose shield. I'm wondering about the pulleys under the alternator - do they do this?
2) Also idle - it's just not as smooth as it should be - the vibration is almost diesel like. Once off idle it's smooth and lively enough, doesn't stall unless badly provoked (even in the hands of a learner) - it's had a new coil pack and no faults showing. It's a duratec and I've no experience of this engine - is the idle normally juddery or should it be sweet? If the latter - whats the next port of call?
3) Simple one this - the handbrake doesn't go all the way down on it's own so the light stays on - just cable adjustment or is there some common fault I need to check?

cheers all.
JB

hi start of with hand brake if u look down on it u probly see its catching on carpet just cut bit away at idle should be smooth its quiet common for leads to break down so set of plugs n leads shud fix that for yr noise may just b heat shield rattlin hard to say with out hearing it hope this helps

Thanks Darell,
I'll check the carpet - sounds a promising contender.
I really should check the heat shields - to be honest, I haven't been that thorough on tracking the rattle down yet. I'll have a proper dig at the weekend.
On the idle,
I should have said, it had new plugs and leads at the same time the coil pack was changed.
Digging around, some have mentioned the idle control valve - is this a possibility?

it is but not that common tho try looking at vac hoses they some times crush that crush and split are the revs low or just running lumpy at idle