March 2003
Some time ago I seem to remember reading where car owners can hire a session on a professional car hoist for their own DIY purposes - inspection, maintenance, whatever. Anyone know if this still exists?
Oz (as was) Read more
Anyone considered getting their car's ECU re-mapped by places such as 'super chips' to give better performance/fuel economy etc? Are the benefits really as good as the companies would have us believe?
For my 2.4 Audi I can expect a boost of 12bhp for approx £300 - quite keen but any feedback from people who have had this done would be much appreciated. Any info regarding possibility of higher insurance premiums also of interest.
Thanks. Read more
You'll probably find that your insurance company would probably increase your premium by the same amount....
Andy
I have a 1992 Cavalier which has a vibration relating to engine speed.
The floor pan buzzes and is particular noisy around 3500-4000 RPM.You can actually feel/hear the vibration when driving.
Any ideas on possible causes ? Read more
>>Right, now we've established that, does the noise change at all when you keep your hand on the gearstick?
Sorry Dave but it makes no difference...
I did about 150 miles in it today, mainly motorway and its really getting on my nerves !
At about 3400 RPM the noise is quite loud (low in tone) and the whole car has a mild vibration (steering/pedals/floor pan).
When the revs are below or above 3400rpm the noise/vibration diminishes considerably.
My '95 Omega V6 2.5CD's MID displays "Headlight Tail Light" message after I installed a set of Philips' xenon headlight last week. As soon as I turn the headligh on, it displays that error message. at the mean time, the level control no longer works...
Anybody has the same experience? I wonder if the hight voltage of the HID interferes the circuit of MID. Hope somebody can help me. thanks. Read more
Dave
It would need a circuit carrying about 5 amps in parallel with the relay operating coil, so it's another relay, plus a resistor (which will run hot).
Bob - have you asked the Vx dealer if the computer can be reprogrammed to either accept as correct the low current your system is now taking, or alteratively to disable the 'headlight failed' function?
Regards
John S
Does anyone know if there is likely to be a major overhaul of the Focus in the near future. I understand a minor facelift is on its way later this year.
Was looking for a Golf GTtdi for the second car but just driven the Focus TDCI and was seriously impressed. Threads here seem pretty enthusiastic about it - any downsides I should know about? Read more
The new Focus is an all new platform, I think replacing the TDci engine with a 2.0 jointly developed with Peugeot and around 130 bhp. It will look, and probably drive, similar to the old car, but slightly more modern, although as I understand it, it will be all new.
Probably the weakest area of the current car is the interior design, and I expect this to be more or less lifted from the CMax that has just been announced on the same platform. There'll probably also be a bit more space, a few more airbags, the usual sort of thing, but probably nothing earth shattering - nor should there be. The old Focus was a massive leap forward when it first came out, and the competition has barely caught up with it 4.5 years on.
Haven't driven either yet, or got down to any substantive discussions about price, but next weekend we hope to drive both in a quest to choose our second car.
Like the Citroen's price, looks, impressive reports on the diesel engine (16v one) and interior space. We even thought that the interior trim was OK despite some reports of it being flimsy. Any C3 owners care to comment ?
Like the Ibiza's looks too, the one we've seen is £9,995 and the engine's meant to be good too.
Anyone driven / owned either of them ?
Matthew Kelly
No, not that one. Read more
Both of my neighbours have got Seat Ibizas; both diesel Tdi's. Both are W-reg, both have around 20,000 miles, both are out of warranty, and both have developed a peculiar engine rattling and turbo whine.
I have a Seat Arosa 1.7 diesel; all three of us use the same Seat main dealer and we all agree that the service is simply pants and extremely expensive for what you get (including £260 for a cambelt change that takes 1.5 hours).
I need to wire in a GPS receiver. The device manufacturer recomends placing it in the rear window. The GPS device itself is in the dashboard area.
What's the easiest route to take the cable? I can't see any easily removable trim.
Thanks guys Read more
Just been out looking at it (it's getting dark now!), is it on snap connectors? Would it be as easy to go along the transmission hump?
I also have to run a cable from the front of the engine compartment into the back of the dash, I guess I can just choose the easiest access hole through the bulkhead (or is there an easier way for that too?)
What is this gunk under my filler cap? Read more
Assuming it's not losing water and not overheating this has to be condensation due to cold starts.
It does seem a little odd that this should still happen despite longish journeys but I've seen a fiesta with mayo under the filler after 120 miles and 2 hours driving.
Relax. At this age it's just not going to be a problem.
Underlines the importance of regular oil changes though.
Hi
My wife's 97 Fiesta has developed a water leak and both front footwells are now very wet.
Its been difficult in the recent weather to dry the car out and carry out a proper examination. Our local Ford dealer (who has serviced it for us from new), said that these cars are a nightmare, and after spending a couple of days trying to fix one won't try anymore. I know these are prone to leaks, but this has only just started so we thought it was a good one.
During a recent storm SWMBO seems to think she's saw water coming in from the bottom of the door near the front wheel arch, but I can't corroborate. Door seals look ok to me. Could anybody give me a 'Janet and John goes leak hunting' on what to do, because I'm not mechanically minded.
Thanks in advance.
Simon
Read more
Yes we have spent a bomb with the Ford dealer here in Wigan, cant fix it, he said there are so many cars in the service garage with this problem and not just Fiesta, its been a horrible expensive car, and we are hoping to get a Japanese one next time.
Dear all,
95 M Suzuki Swift 1.0GC 5 dr
The boot in my Suzuki would seem to be leaking: a damp patch has appeared on the passenger side corner just below the light cluster. Any ideas?
Many thanks
Rob E Read more
The light cluster seal may be worth checking, a known problem with some mondeo,s
Browse
.jpg)
Ian
north trafford college in manchester did the same sort of thing - great fun, fix the car in the warm and dry, get to use all sorts of professional equipment, but when i was last there in about 1994 it looked to be at risk from cuts. A great shame.
I have to grow old - but I don't have to grow up