September 2001
I had a 93K Sunny GTi 2.0ie from new which I kept for 5 years and 100k+ miles with no problems. A great car which was What Car Hot Hatch for 2 consecutive years.
My son wants to buy one but the majority advertised seem to be grey imports, as well as loads of GTi-Rs which are out of his price bracket to buy and insure.
Does anyone know if there are problems with servicing the non UK spec cars? and what is a reasonable price for a 92-94 UK spec model?
Thanks Read more
When starting my 1991 480 Turbo in the morning the ABS warning lamp stays on for sometime before 'going out', when restarting the car after a short period the lamp 'goes out' straight away.
How do I stand with an MOT, at what point does this become a failure, should I ensure they MOT my car after a run so the light 'goes out' quickly?
Is this a problem developing with the ABS pump ie it takes a while to build up pressure in the morning?
Does anyone have much experiance with ABS
Thanks in advance!!
Andy
PS - the ABS lamp never re-lights while driving (so no fault indicated) Read more
Had the same issue when my wife had a 480. The check light on a Volvo stays on until you use the brakes BUT.... the sensor on the front wheel gets covered in cack and the light can stay on. Take the wheels off and hose down, check the connectors and spray the electrical bits with WD40 - mind the discs and calipers - the problem went away.
As from now, the name Chris Watson won't be accepted for posting to The Back Room.
I've tried hard to get him to see reason, but to little avail. And I've tried to give him the benefit of the doubt. But now he has contacted another Back Room contributor via the forum and used offensive and abusive language. I can't let that go.
Sorry, CW, you had your chance.
Martyn Read more
This is getting dull and totally off the point.
It's no wonder the *serious* contributors such as DW, DL and Tune-Up (amongst others) seem to have switched off. I know b*gger all but try my best and even I'm getting turned off by CW and the like.
Let's get back to it. Use it or lose it boys.
I have a 99T Peugeot 306 meridian which has done a little over 31K. For the last thousand miles or so, when driving the car on a slight bend (under 1/8 steering wheel turn to the left) I am getting a whistling sound from what appears to be the brakes.
The whistling stops when,
a) I gently touch the brake pedal
b) the car straightens up
There is also squealing from the brakes on normal braking. On a previous service I had asked for this to be checked but was told this is usual for the non-asbestos pad compound and some anti-squeal paste was applied.
I have had a brief look at the front pads (without removing wheels) and there doesn't appear to be any excessive pad wear.
If it is brake pad related, can I get the pads changed to a non-squeal compound?
If it is the discs, will they need replacing?
I'd be grateful for any advice on these problems.
Cheers,
Rob. Read more
Sticking slides on the caliper which causes a pipe to push the pads onto the disc when under a slight twisting load? BXs do the same thing when the (front wheel) handbrake is incorrectly adjusted.
Help!
We have a 98,000miles Land Rover Disco with the slow 2.0 16valve MPi engine (I think this is the same as an 820i Rover) - the other day it refused to rev at all - but would idle ok. A local dealer suggested valve stick may be the cause so having tried the rover delaers 'trick' of feeding neat injector cleaner through a small vacume pipe we now have an engine thats better - but still not right! It will now idle fine and rev if the throttle is opened very slowly, but any stabs on the throttle cause the engine to splutter and misfire severely. It is running so badly it wont pull the vehicle at all. We have fitted new plugs correctly gapped, and are at a loss what to do next... any suggestions (short of scrapping it!) Read more
To anyone who may be interested or is experiencing similar problems - we have now got the old disco running - the problem was the fuel pump (located in the fuel tank) which although pumping was not producing anything like the pressure required.
Amazingly, against all the odds (its an mpi!) the thing now goes rather well, with more pull from very low revs than the 300tdi (no turbo lagggg) and doesnt seem to thirsty.
Its still rubbish though.
My Puma has developed a strange fault.
When the engine revs are decreasing to tickover and your foot is on the clutch the revs stay at about 1500 RPM and the engine revs erratically. It's not a misfire. It is as if something is increasing the engine speed intermittently.
This symptom lasts for about 5 to 10 seconds and then everything settles down to normal.
The car runs perfectly if the clutch pedal is not depressed. Weird!!
Any clues as to whats up with it anyone?? Read more
Piers
I've discovered there's a switch linked to the ECU at the top of the clutch pedal. Maybe thats on the blink??
Many thanks for your suggestions anyway.
Charles
Hi,
Does anyone have any idea why my '98 V6 Omega is a pain to start on occasion when hot. Not every time by any means, but for example stopping for petrol on a long run can cause it. It will always start in the end, but not first time every time which it does when cold.
In anticipation ..........
Robert Read more
Robert,
You asked this question on 2nd September, and having been through it myself, I suggested you visit your local Vauxhall dealer and get them to plug in their diagnostics kit.
Why not give it a go?
Vin
i will be spending christmas in scotland, so i was needing some snowchains (as i am taking the rear wheel drive lada, which is frightning to drive in the snow), so i bought a set, but the next door neighbour has given me his set, so if any body wants the ones that he gave me please let me know. these are FREE, but you will have to pay postage. Read more
Chris,
Re; your proposed trip across the Baring straits I was wondering if you needed a partner/assistant. Someone who can improvise,technically proficient, and keep your spirits up with inane chatter.
No.....I wasn't volunteering myself but know just the man you need.
Alvin
Wonder if anyone could help:
I've got 4 kids and I need a hatch/estate for the missus with 3 proper lap and diag rear seat belts, cost under £2000. preferably diesel for the short journeys.
Can anyone recommend something suitable ??
thanks
Martin Read more
There's a FAQ answer listing all the cars I know of with three three-point rear belts on this site. One of the first was the 1995MY Laguna, which is under £2,000 these days, but I don't recommend on of them.
HJ
Did anyone see the (ITV 7.30pm tonight) programme on car home servicing?
Felt a bit sorry for the guys being filmed but they were very poor. That Kwite Fast job at £120 was a lot of money for very little, at least as it was presented.
Did you notice the use of an oil vacuum extractor as discussed a while ago?
I hate trying to work at the customers house/office, you really need all the facilities round you for a proper job.
Amazed they didn't appear to use a schedule just apparently walking round at random in a diy fashion.
And unlike the usual expose they seemed to want to get away with the minimum rather than advising lots of extra work.
Having said that I know TV editing can be very deceptive.
David Read more
I used to work (as a student in the late 70's) for Heron Service Stations, who used to sell oil with a 'free oil change' by vacuum scavange via the dip stick tube. The b******s docked my pay of the value of 5 litres of their dodgy (smelled like oranges!) oil when a customer complained about dirty oil after the so-called oil change. Common sense really - they never worked out how to change the oil filter by vaccum...
I have a Sunny GTi (not a grey import) which has been in the family since new. For that reason I don't know what the value is. Parker's guide is less than £2000 (L reg. 93) but you might have trouble persuading an owner to part with one for this price even if you could find one. Golfs are twice the price. I have been using main dealers for servicing and even they can have problems getting stuff like exhausts.
I'm trying to find an independent specialist garage to do the servicing and repairs - somewhere in the Surrey area if anyone knows of one.