January 2003
Ok, I can see that being unable to tax a car without a V5 or the appropriate renewal notice is going to irritate dealers.
But it is surely a good thing ? I remember when cars had log books (the green, cardboard fold up things) and you couldn't do anything with the car without that. Certainly selling it was tough, if not impossible.
Surely it will cut down on the number of unidentified cars around ? Read more
My toyota corolla (1997 1.3) sounds like it has a sewing machine under the bonnet. This additional noise goes up and down with revs, and has been increasing for the last few years. It started after driving in heavy rain, and the dealer said at the time that it is a noisey alternator bearing and not to worry. Now it is quite loud, It is reduced by wd-40 around the pulleys of the fan belt but only for a few minutes.
Can anyone advise me if it is likely to fail completely causing a breakdown, and is there anything I can do such as get some grease into the bearing without taking the belt off, or is time to part with some of the hard-earned lucre at the dealer? Any thoughts appreciated. Read more
Hi,
There is an easy test you can do to see if the problem is the belt being noisy. With the engine on tickover, pour some water on the belt (yes, you may get a bit splashed)- if the noise disappears ofr a short time, then its the belt. If the noise is still there, then its the alternator. You are wasting your time trying to lubricate the bearings as they are probably worn. You don't need to go to a main dealer for an exchange alternator- try your local Partco (find it in the phone book/yellow pages). Partco is owned by Unipart (where I work) and their prices are considerably lower than a main dealer and the chances are the unit you get from the main dealer will have been refurbished by the same company Partco use.
I recently purchased a new Mercedes E320 CDi partly on Honest John's advice. I am very pleased with the car but noticed a funny ticking noise when the engine has warmed up. This was looked at by my dealer and I have been onto Mercedes technical assistance about this and they have said it is a noise coming from the crankshaft that resonates through cylinder No.1 and nothing can be done about it.
My fathers car is almost identical and his engine doesn't make this noise. Mercedes say that this is a common problem with this engine and about 30% of them make this noise.
Has anybody heard of this before or are Mercedes fobbing me off.
Do you think I should return the car or just put up with it.
Read more
Unfortunately the garage is now owned by Woking motors and they appear to be a load of Idiots, so much so that most of the staff are leaving.
I know the staff very well and they have been very helpful but without the authorisation from M.B. they cannot do a lot.
Several people have mentioned the injectors and fuel pump may be the cause because they work under such great pressure so any minor fault/design fault will be amplified.
Should I take the car to an independant garage and see what they say?
Marcos
I am buying a used car soon (£8,000) and wonder when should I haggle/discuss the price of the car.
Do I do a test drive first and then discuss the price or should I do it the other way round? I don't want to waist time test driving something that latter I wont agree on the a price, should I then agree on the price subject to a satisfactory test drive & inspection?
Thanks all
Old Bill Read more
Old Bill,
Worth starting as you mean to go on. Ask if they are willing to move on price. If they rely definitely not, you know whether you;re wasting your time if their price looks too high.
I sold a bike years and years ago. I desperately needed a quick sale, so I put it in at a very attractive price (£1,100 where I could reasnably easily have got £1,400), absolutely no offers. I told all the callers (and there were dozens) that the price was non negotiable. Bloke turned up, test rode, etc, etc. Told me he'd offer me £900. I told him to get lost, firmly. Ok, £1,000, he tried. I turned my back, walked into my house. He knocked on the door, told me he'd pay £1,100.
By now I was so hacked off that I told him he'd only get it if he paid £1,200, as there was a queue of people coming to see it. He left in high dudgeon, turned up at the door again 20 mins later and paid the £1,200.
V
I had my honda boot insurance repaired in October. The repairer gave me a guarantee on the work. I took the car home and the next day after rains I noticed a leak. I've taken it back four times since to no avail. They keep telling me it's fixed when it's not. It's still leaking and they're telling me I cant have a replacement car till February and its raining everyday and my trunk is beginning to rust. What can I do? Who can I speak to? What are my rights? Read more
"Have you told your insurance company that the repair is unsatisfactory?"
I'd have though that this would be a good starting point as, surely, the insurance company is the garage's customer.
Brian
Still learning (I hope)
Has anyone had any experiences using www.cashandcarrycars.co.uk?
They seem to offer good deals with a warranty and free delivery anywhere in the UK. I'm a little worried that this might be too good to be true.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Read more
Steve G
I don't trust "professional" car inspections at all, but they have to be better than no inspection whatsoever!
Consumer programme tests have shown there to be many independent inspectors who do a much better job than AA/RAC.
Much discussion about noisy diesels but can someone please explain what makes a diesel noisier than a petrol engine.
They are both combustion engines and I understand that the diesel fires under high compression whereas the petrol is fired via ignition assisted by a much lower compression. Please educate me further.
Mal. Read more
At present there aren't any PD engines in the Octavia range. PDs only available in Fabia and Superb. Octavias run the VW TDI engine that has been knocking (no pun intended) about for some time. They're still perfectly good though. Whatever infomration you do manage to turn up would be interesting.
Matthew Kelly
No, not that one.
(Astra 1.7 16v DOHC Isuzu (Y17DT)engine May 2000)
Here's a tip for new Astra drivers
Got the car at 41K covered 3k without a hitch until i braked suddenly the other night. As i pulled off from stationary, the management light came on and stayed on.(had been driving for around 20 minutes at the time)
Pulled over, turned the ignition off waited about 5 minutes then started it again and light was off. great
As i pulled away the management light came on again (drove approx 3 metres)
Into Vauxhall for diagnose check. glowplugs or brakelight it said
sure enough. 76p spent on TWO brake light bulbs, and all is well.
now i know that the brake lights are on the same fault check circuit that the glowplugs are, i will of course check the bulbs first if this happens again.
I assume that if i had changed the bulbs first, the fault code would reset and clear automatically.
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Thanks Dave, that's not bad really.
I must admit I failed to add that price charged was 18 months ago, so you'll need to add a few squid due to inflation, etc.
Am I right in thinking that the mastercare part of Vauxhall
cater for older Vauxhalls at lower rates or does this just
apply for servicing rates.
Yes, AFAIA the lower rate only applies to servicing, and providing the car is older than 3yrs.
As noted in one of yesterdays papers, the car advertised to the song of Space Oditty sung by D Bowie just falls short of the line 'Sitting in a tin can'. Hmmmmm... Read more
[1] Ass really, but didn't know if swear filter would get it.
Hmm, it didn't. Just as well you don't laugh your S0dium off :o)
My 1999 ZX 1.9D has 3 temperature sensors mounted on the thermastat housing just beneath the fuel filter. 2 infront and one at the back.
Can anyone tell me the exact function of each sensor.
My cooling fans[dual] was modified by the previous onwner and runs continuosly [1 speed] irrespective of coolant temperature. i need to rectify this.
Does the XUD engine cooling fans run on two speeds and how can i rewired it.
Many thanks in anticipation Read more
Sadly as your car has aircon it means the fans are controlled by the same electronics as your aircon system.
This would be why you have no rad sensor, one of the ones on the t.stat housing inputs to the aircon controller and this then turns the fans on and off.
I think you need checks by someone who can look at the car and is experienced in this system...it is pretty complicated to deal with over a forum.
MM
Browse
Mr moderator: slap on the wrist! Maybe this thread should be joined up with HJ's V5 thread?