March 2003
Am i just alone or is there other people who get annoyed when they arrive at a petrol station only to have to queue up to use a pump, when people in the queue are waiting to use a pump just because the petrol cap is on that side when others are free?
Do they not realise that the petrol pump reaches both sides of a car?
I was at the garage last night and had to queue up on the road outside just because people had blocked the entrance when there were pumps free but people weren\'t using then just because of the side of the car in which there caps are.
Does this annoy anyone else i was wondering?
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My wife has a 1.25 zetec Fiesta 1998 R Reg which has done 42000 miles. It has developed an intermittent fault whereby it misfires and will then throw blue smoke. Diagnosed as overfuelling by garage with limited equipment but by the time it was taken for a complete diagnosis evrything was giving a perfect readout. Sainsburys fuel was being used with some short trips and four 30 mile motorway blasts per week. She has switched the fuel to Shell (hopefully more detergent)and I've put through a bottle of "Greased Lightening" fuel system treatment. Everything was fine for 250 miles but now it has started again. After misfire the left hand plug (looking from the front) is black and smells of petrol (not oil). When the vehicle misfires the cat smells (it's called Spooky). I'm obviously concerned about the cat being destroyed (so is Spooky). Also the car uses noticeably more fuel when it's misbehaving. I am aware of the zetec valve problem - does my diagnosis of sticking inlet valve accord with the Backroom experts and is there a quick solution which avoids head off and Ford main dealers? A compression test indicated all was ok. When it is behaving the car flies. Servicing has been every 6000 miles and I have ensured that the vehicle now has 5-30 Ford oil. All suggestions welcome
Pedro (Gone fishin') Read more
Sounds as if you have a sticking valve problem,more likely to be an exhaust valve.Ask your garage to try some Forte Gas Treatment used as directed on the bottle.You could also have an oil service done using 5w-30 oil,try driving the car more vigourously and Shell Optimax fuel may help too.
David Davies (Tune-Up Raglan)
Unfortunately Dave had to remove that thread last night.
Despite my warnings and despite Dave\'s deletions the night before, various people still felt it was really cool and fun to get all abusive and insulting, clearly being incapable of reasoned debate.
We have better things to do with our time then to pull apart a thread one by one trying to separate the idiots from the sensible people.
Therefore the thread is gone.
To those of you taking the correct and thoughful approach to the thread, I apologise - especially as there was some good comment and information in there. To the rest of you without benefit of an education - please find somewhere else to be; you might even be welcome there.
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If my old nail of a Mitsubishi dies I was going to get a 405 Diesel estate (seem to make reasonable workhorses) and then a friend in the trade says -
"don't touch one they crack heads for a pastime"
Anyone comment ?
I have searched the site and not a single reference to 405s so couldn't verify any other way.
jools Read more
Anybody want a free K-reg 405 GLDT saloon? Good engine, rear lights, bootlid with spoiler, doors, interior, basically everything except front nearside corner of car. I tried this in the Classified section a few weeks back with no joy. Email for more info!
Dave.
www.highmileage.co.uk has lots of high mileage cars.
I know that they\'re a good buy, if they\'ve been well maintained, as they\'ve usually had bottomless maintenance budgets and an easy life in fifth gear, at full temperature, on the nation\'s motorways, but...
£7k for a 2 year old Mondeo LX with 128k?!
or £5k for a 99V Focus estate with 115k?
Some of the prices aren\'t nearly as silly but still... how much do you reckon they paid at auction for them? It\'s an interesting concept though, being so upfront about the high miles - I guess they must be going for people who know how to look for a good car, rather than those who simply want one in a pretty colour.
You forgot to put the space before the http:// bit. Corrected - DD. Read more
Would depend very much of who the one owner was. Hire car company? Leasing company? Car pool car? Or individual driver? Still no guarantee that it hasn't been thrashed.
my vectra 98 2.0di has recently started to make a funny noise when the ignition is turned to the first stage. it sounds like somebody knocking once on the bonnet. the fault is obviously engine related (pre start) but the weird thing is that it can only be heard from inside the car. open the bonnet and turn the ignition and you can barely hear it in the engine bay. but the noise is definetely in the engine compartment.
anybody experienced similar or any idea's what to check.
i think it is related to the preheat system purely because with the ignition on the first stage preheat is the only thing becomes active.
cheers Read more
Hi,
I've got a '98 Scenic 1.9dTi with air-con. The heater fan only seems to have one speed, like it's stuck on full blast. All six settings are the same speed. Off works fine!
Any idea what could cause this?
Thanks! Read more
Did this get sorted? - I have exactly the same fault - What was the fix? how much did it cost? thanks
I have a pug 406 LSX 1.8 petrol, it has done 33,000miles and is 1998 S-Reg. It has a bad oil consumption problem. In 2000miles it has used 2.5 litres of oil. There is no apparent loss of thru leakage nor from any smoke via the exhuast. What could be the problem?
Appreciate any help
Andy Read more
I need to get the tracking adjusted on my 93 L astra however I am told that it is seized.
I've soaked the two nuts which are visible through the top of the engine bay with penetrating oil. Is there anything else I need to do. What if this is not successful? Thanks Read more
Providing the bolts haven't been rounded off and are still hexagonal shaped, then a good tight fitting socket should be able to free them. Depending on how siezed they are, some heat might need to be applied. Another trick is to try tightening the bolts slighty to crack the seized joint. Worse case senario is to replace the whole arm from the track rod ball joint end to the centre of the steering rack. Spare parts readily available from most scrap yards I would have thought.
I've seen a 94 (mk3) golf estate, petrol 2.0, 73k for £3k. I've never had a VW before and so looked up HJ's comments. He says 'many replacement parts will be needed over 10 yr life'. Does that mean more than it should or more considering VW's cleverly crafted image?
Are these decent cars? Is the Tdi better than the petrol? Any thoughts? Read more
I've had a Mk III VR6 Highline since new in December 1996. I have replaced the door mirror glasses (about £35 each, if I recall rightly), both having stopped defrosting after about 5 years; I've just had the steering-column sheer bolt (£0.88), rear-suspension bump stops (£32.40) and a boot light bulb (£0.40) replaced. That's it. Wonderful car, which I'm never going to sell.
Browse
I think the people who use the back pump have done so because someone was on the front and has then driven away, although it would be good practise to wait a short while for said person to drive away, and then one can use the front pump.
I too, have always used the pump from any side. I just love the looks on peoples faces when I do it.