February 2003
I'm considering buying a new car from LLoydsTSB - MotorDirect (recently renamed to CarSelect).
Anyone have any experience of buying from them?
Read more
I went to see a 'new' car described as 'one owner, fsh, lovely condition' recently.
OK it was 10yo, but that's still 4 yrs younger than the one I currently drive.
When I arrived, I immediately spotted a severely cracked bumper and a fair-sized gouge in the bonnet. Before starting the (suspiciously, on a dealers forecourt) warm engine, I checked the oil - just about collected a drop on the end of the dipstick!
I noticed a leak around the rocker cover and thought ... well maybe that, but when I started and revved engine to only about 3k, a lovely plume of blue smoke appeared - must have been that final drop off the dipstick!
It took me about ten minutes to walk away from that one, but I bet there's someone here who's done it quicker? Read more
When I bought my car, it was the first 19 I'd seen. I took to it because it was obviously well cared for, although there were some minor problems - but it had an excellent spec and looked good, and was less than I'd been expecting to pay.
However, before that, in summer 2001, I went to look at a 92K reg Pug 405 1.6 GL. It was only £600, and I'd have expected to pay double that. There was no history, the paint was faded (except for the newly resprayed bonnet, which had obviously been white in the manner of local taxis), and it ran like a dog with no legs. (Smoke out the back, occasional misfire, and a man with a pneumatic drill attempting to escape from the engine compartment I'm sure).
Yet the dealer insisted that the 34k mileage showing was genuine (unlikely to have been 1,034,000 but quite easily 300k+), the seats were all suspiciously immaculate (vinyl covers) but the pedal rubbers were the size and texture of hobnobs and the steering wheel doubled up as a vanity mirror. Despite this, I played naïve and the guy swore blind that it was never a taxi and the owner had been a private person who only used it to take to the car wash (more or less anyway).
Oh and the central locking didn't work. In fairness to it though, it didn't look like it had been crashed.
As you must be aware we had a backroom fault today.
To the three people who e-mailed me to apologise, then as I said, don't worry it wasn't your fault.
Unfortunately whilst the fault removed your ability to get to the backroom for a while, it removed the username checking for a while also allowing all manner of little oiks to slither through the door.
I think we have everything working well enough now though.
And again..
Sorry about that. Read more
Maz: I missed it all. Must not go to sleep at the back.....
Hi All,
At last a tech forum that has people who reply and seem to know what they are talking about!
Right, as short as possible here goes.....
My car is running absolutely fine on idle, round town BUT after a few miles on the motorway develops what I can only describe as a lurch, a bit like when you are about to run out of fuel.
Cut an even longer story short....have done full service, ignition system all fine, plugs and leads, filters all done.
Then I discover the Airflow Meter. The way this thing operates makes a lot of sense in the problem I have, air being cut off or too much but only when the throttle is constantly open and after a while?
Does this sound like an Airflow Meter problem to anyone out there? IF so, and I replace it, does the Haynes Book of Lies get it right when they say you have to get the dealer to reset the ecu or will the ecu set itself by it's learning facility.
£160 seems a lot to spend to find that it isn't the problem!
By the way, this started after my MOT when I had the emissions twiddled with so can you just adjust the meter?
Hope this isn't too much, hope someone can help!
Thanks
Dan Read more
Hi All
Just wanted to let you know (if you're in any way interested ;) ) that I have fixed the problem!!!!!
It was the airflow meter where the MOT guy had changed the settings and made everything too lean. Therefore after a while of cruising the flaps within the airbox would flap shut and open because the meter spring couldn't withstand the constant pressure from the airflow into the car.
Opened up the meter, adjusted potentiometer (think that's how you spell it!) adjusted cog and spring and now all fine. Whole car is running much better fr that matter.
If anyone wants anymore info there is a site I found showing adjustment and how to etc.
Feel free to email me.
Thanks again for all your ideas.
Dan
My '93 A80 2.0 backfires between the gears (usually 1st-2nd). It's more of a loud f*** than a proper backfire but it's annoying. Car has just had new cat and lambda sensor (it did it before I changed 'em) and sailed through an MOT test today. Plugs are whitish grey which used to mean a lean mixture (not sure if it's still relevant on this closed-loop nonsense).
TIA
Brian Read more
use a small bore plastic pipe and listen round the madafold gaskets and injectors for a leak sucking in air, this could be the sourse of your F***. Check the ECU fault codes just in case but I suspect induction of O2. Regards Peter
Just received a mail from a contact who asks if I've head about this...
"a Citroen recall 'to replace certain components of the valve timing mechanism. The operation is considered essential and the vehicle will be required for a maximum of two days"
I hadn't, any ideas?
C3 16V Diesel.
MM Read more
24hr test drives are like gold dust IMO
MG-Rover Problems? forums.mg-rover.org
This week, Capital FM are sending a reporter to try various different
methods of getting into London each day and seeing how long it takes.
The five methods they plan to use are car, bicycle, PTW, running and
horse & cart!
Our intrepid traveller leaves a car park near Wandsworth Bridge
roundabout and heads for the radio studio at Leicester Square.
So far the results are:
Monday: Car - 44 minutes
Tuesday: Bicycle - 30 minutes
Wednesday: Scooter: 31 minutes.
When asked today why it took longer on the scooter than the bike, the
reporter replied "Well you have to stop for red traffic lights on a
scooter".
It was also reported that TfL are
in trouble with the ASA for publishing an advert suggesting that the
majority of the income from the charge will go on improving public
transport. In fact, it goes on administration.
--
These are my own opinions, and not necessarily those of all Toads. Read more
The penalty letter said the "contravention is supported by a number
of evidential images."
Well if Ken has got evidence I don't see the problem. They should pay up. If you can't do the time don't do the crime.
The alarm system on my Vectra is informing me of a fault by flashing the dash-mounted LED after the doors have been shut and the keyfob pressed to lock the doors. The manual says that this means that a door, bonnet or boot has been left open, or that there is a fault with the alarm. I have checked all the switches and they appear to be okay. Curiously, this only seems to have happened since I took the battery off to charge (See the thread on the Philips CCR600).
Then after the battery was put back in, the car started the first time but the next morning it refused to start.
Questions:
Is the alarm linked to the immobiliser? I don't think that it is.
Does anybody have any ideas about the fault light? Can I reset the system.
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Total shot in the dark; the Vectra Alarm has a separate battery back up. Is the flashing light telling you the battery has failed?
Is the alarm linked to the immobiliser? I don't think that it is.
I think it actually is. I once got in my Vectra and she refused to start, but turned over sweet as a nut. No flashing light on the dash to warn the ignition didn't recognise the key chip. I armed and disarmed the alarm and she started straight away.
OK, help needed as I am unable to make a decision.
What should I buy?
I want to spend max. £4,000 plus the value of my 205XLD (£500??).
It must have at least four doors.
I want reliability and good mpg.
Also, I want cheap insurance and good handling and performance.
Currently I'm thinking Mondeo 1.8 petrol (as Ford don't know anything abour diesels) or Xantia diesel (as PSA know everything about diesels!).
Any ideas? Read more
You are bang on price range for an ex-fleet/finance mid range car 3-4 years old 70-80k miles... the auctions are full of these if you can find a knowledgeable friend to take to your local BCA. You'll save £1k+ on dealer prices for the same car.
PB.
In the last 2 to 3 weeks i have encountered smokey exhaust problems which seem to be getting worse and worse. Start up is extremely smokey, and often runs quite lumpy.
The smoke is at its worst when at the lights, or when decelerating. It doesnt seem to be bad if i am accelerating (even very hard). The smoke is a white/grey colour
There doesnt seem to be any loss in power or consumption, however i have only had the car for a couple of months. It seems to be using a little bit of oil, but not excessive amounts. It isnt using any water.
The thermostat does seem to need attention, as it does take a long time to get to temperature, and also fluctuates slightly when it is at 'temperature', but i dont think this is the major problem.
Ok so it has done 140,000 miles, but it should be good for another 90ks right :-). I thought it may be injectors, valve stem seals, loss of compression, or air or water getting into the fuel lines? Can anyone help me?
Troubled Tom
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I forgot, smoke plumes when decelerating too and more jerky driving.
I suppose there are many things that can cause these symptoms but please get it checked sooner rather than later. The gasket is a common fault as i emphasised above!
Browse
There are ok if you haven't got a car to trade in I reckon. I could have saved £3k off the price of my new Volvo last year, however they only offered me £12k for my v70 2.4T, I got £18.5k from the Volvo dealer!
VD5D.