February 2003
Dull I know, but this is an MOT failure.
The fuse to my hazard lights keeps blowing when replaced. The fuse itself is for the hazards only so nothing else is affected when it flips out.
Any advice on what to check would be appreciated.
This week's 60k service, cambelt, front and rear disks costing over £1100 makes me loathe to take it to a garage!
Thanks,
Stu. Read more
Hello, I'm new.
Just had a look at the Nissan X-Trail following many good reviews (including HJ's). Seems to be well put together and a thoroughly practical vehicle (in 2.2. tdi version).
I was looking at Golf tdi estates but the lack of interest from VW dealers and exorbitant prices put me off - plus the suspected downgrading of the Golf quality as mentioned in this forum.
I currently have a '98 Passat Tdi (115bhp I think) which is fine but getting long in the tooth. Comparing the Nissan I can discerne absolutely no build quality differences - if anything the Nissan seems better built.
Having never owned a Nissan before, and being used to utter reliability (6 x Subaru's and 1 x VW - a good one), my question is :
Will the X-Trail handle 60-70,000 miles easily and does any body want to offer their opinion on reliability with Nissans (or the X-Trail specifically....)
I want my next purchase to last 5 years at least
Look forward to any comments
JD Read more
Thanks Neil
"It's a bit new to have a track record one way or the other ..."
I realise this and the other problem is tracking down any used or nearly new models.
"Some of the reports I've read suggest that the Toyota RAV4 is a better drive on the road but the X-Trail has the edge off road if you need it"
I don't think the RAV 4 would handle the tough life my cars get. With dog, kids, outdoor gear, fell runs etc. my Passat is looking thoroughly knackered. The X-Trail looks as though it would stand this sort of punishment, particulary the Sport model with washable seat covers, hard-lined boot etc.
My last Subaru Forester S-Turbo was good in this regard but a nightmare to run in terms of costs.
JD
Can anyone (DVD?) tell me if police vehicles are modified (chipped) and in particular their diesel vehicles? Read more
A colleague of mine used to buy ex plod regularly. Don't know which force, but he has had a senator Manual. Fast wouldn't adequately describe it and recently an Omega which nothing and I mean nothing could touch, (except perhaps the £100,000. exotica), to 110 MPH. They were both ex armed response vehicles. How did we know. Believe it or not, they came with gun racks still fitted.
Regards.
I am currently building my own interface to connect to the 1z (AHU) tdi engine (Year 1994). Does anyone have the diesel injection timing data for VAG COM software? Read more
Andrew
when you've done it, will you let us know how you got on with building your interface.
I've looked at the vag-com site and don't think i'd have any difficulty with the software, but i'm one of those people who although quite happy with a set of spanners and a screwdriver, is reduced to a moron by any form of electronics, and the instructions i've seen on the net for building the interface could be written in martian for all the sense i can make of them - but I'm one of those people who no matter how often i wire a plug, I always have to double check against some reference that i've done it right.
ta
I have to grow old - but I don't have to grow up
Should the wheel alignment be checked after installing new front strut inserts? (...struts taken off to install I think?)
Many thanks Read more
Some cars camber is set by the strut top and must be reset but in general I would always check/adjust camber, castoer and tracking and a month later I would revisit the tracking as it does settle. Peter
Generally speaking, where do the cars come from which end up for sale by the Ford Direct scheme?
My assumption is that they can be anything from ex lease to Ford
dealer ex hire cars? Or am I mistaken?
Thanks
Tony Read more
Certainly when I worked for Ford the above list of vehicle sources would be correct. Many of my ex-company cars ended up on the Direct reconditioning line (new car every 2 months? That'll be the Ford employee with a company car).
Ford certainly did have a recon and refurb plant and were VERY picky about the cars they took. Mileage, history and condition had to be pretty much spot-on for the cars to go through the plant, at which stage they were brought back to near as possible new condition.
I have to assume that this is still the case. Try giving Ford at Brentwood a ring and asking for details.
Hi
This is the problem that i have with my car and i did post something similar a few weeks back about this. I did receive a reply saying that it was normal behaviour, but i'm not sure that it is. Anyway, this is what is happening. When the car is idling it starts to rev itself and the rev counter starts bouncing around very erratically between about 1,200 and just under 1,000 revs.
Even when driving the car i've noticed it. Say i approach a junction and i'm about to stop (the car is in neutral) the car has to have stopped completely before the revs drop from 1,500 to just under 1,000. It feels like the throttle is being held open longer than it needs to be.
I've not long bought the car & straight away had a new cambelt & service & i did mention the problem to the mechanic who reckoned that he'd seen this sort of thing before but not as bad, and that it was probably something to do with the Engine Management?
Has anybody got any idea why this is happening & if it is normal behaviour what causes it? If it isn't normal what can be done to fix it? Does anyone own an escort with the same engine as mine & if so does it do the same thing? I've owned Vauxhall Astra SRI's & Calibra's in the past and none of them have had this type of problem. Anyway, if you anyone can be of any help i'd very much appreciate it, thanks in Advance. Read more
It could be the idle control valve that is sticking due to being carboned up. Remove it and clean it up or get some "10K boost" engine cleaner (£25 a tin) and spray it into the air intake. This stuff will clean the sytem out and restore any lost power through the engine being clogged up.
Tracing faults on abs brakes isn't always easy. A Honda mechanic with an alb (anti lock brakes)tester couldn't find the fault on my honda prelude. He thought that there might be a faulty sensor. The problem: warning light comes on after driving a short distance down the road. Initially, I should explain, the warning light comes on with the ignition and goes out when the brakes are first applied. It still does this, but it comes on again only when the car is driven a short distance. I seem to remember a while ago, testing the resistances on the sensor couplings and found them all to be normal. I have'nt recently heard the alb pump working, which I remember it periodically used to. Although the car is 1986 vintage it is in good condition and it would be nice to have the alb system working properly. Any clues? Read more
Light coming on in the winter? When this happened to my wife's Honda Legend intermittently I puzzled under the bonnet for a day or two and then one frosty morning realised the fluid had gone slightly cloudy. The water finding its way into the fluid through hygroscopic action was freezing slightly and seemed to trigger the ABS light only on the coldest days. Fluid hadn't been changed in the two years since we had the car and who knows when before that. Could be worth a try with a fluid change.
Please see my message in Announcements
Martyn [Back Room moderator]
====================
mailto:webmaster@honestjohn.co.uk Read more
Cor that was painless! Now then, six munce ago I coultent evn spel cmpewter prowgramma, now I are wun!
Hello
For info...
A VW 1.4 frequently stalled when slowing at road junctions etc.
This was due to a THROTLE HOUSING defect.
The throttle housing was changed out for a reconditioned one and all was OK.
After being setup by a VW mechanic (not at VW garage), the engine was allowed to 'settle down' for about a week. During this week the engine tends to run at higher idling speeds than should be. A few days after the repair, the engine settled to correct idling speed. Read more
Hello
Will get hold of exact details and get back to you.
Alex
Browse
Nah, all his cars are modified, they won't notice