April 2003
I drive an L reg 306 1.4XR, its done about 90k miles. 2 days ago i noticed a kind of knocking/vibration noise, seeming to come from the left hand front side of the car. the noise increases in time with the speed of the wheels and is most noticable under engine braking; yet it continues to make the noise when freewheeling with the engine off and out of gear. The noise seems to dissapear under acceleration.
I'd rather not have to take it to a garage as being a student means my finances are limited.
Any ideas??
thanks in advance
ben Read more
This poll arises from the discussion in the thread "HJ's auction reports". Several contributors suggested we charge a fee for registered membership of The Back Room; others have disagreed.
Rather than ask how much people would be prepared to pay, I've decided first to see what proportion of visitors to the BR would be in favour and what proportion against -- in principle.
As I note at the head of the poll thread, there are no plans at the moment to bring in membership fees. This is just a theoretical exercise to follow up on the discussion.
Martyn [Back Room moderator]
====================
mailto:webmaster@honestjohn.co.uk Read more
This poll arises from the discussion in the thread \"HJ\'s auction reports\". Several contributors suggested we charge a fee for registered membership of The Back Room; others have disagreed.
Rather than ask how much people would be prepared to pay, I\'ve decided first to see what proportion of visitors to the BR would be in favour and what proportion against -- in principle.
As I\'ve put at the head of the poll thread, there are no plans at the moment to bring in membership fees. This is just a theoretical exercise to follow up on the discussion.
Martyn [Back Room moderator]
====================
mailto:webmaster@honestjohn.co.uk Read more
Why is it that when i'm sitting at the traffic lights, a motor bike appears from the back of the queue, and squeezes in front of everyone. The same thing happens when waiting for ferries or railway crossings. They don't get away any faster than a car, because there are usually 2 of them talking. What gives them the right to do this, it's so irritating.
Read more
Alright, the author is correct with his/her conclusion. Only thing that I don't understand is how many of the other drivers will stop, get out of their cars, check out what has happened, wait for the police, speak to the officers, etc? I suppose 99% of the drivers having seen you will just drive-away...
Vagelis.
My 1996 A6 2.8 auto has just just started making a very noticeable sound when I press the brake pedal before selecting a gear. It's not a clunk, a bit sharper/more metal on metal than that and comes from right under the shift.
It may be unassociated, but I also seem to hear a quiet tapping at about 4/5 times per second when idling which doesn't speed up as I add a few revs, but suddenly doubles in frequency, then drops back - definitely not the fuel pump, but it's that kind of sound, but continuous.
Had the car serviced a week or so ago and done about 200 miles since then. Car drives fine Read more
It may well be, I don't know, but it wasn't doing it Friday and is now, it's very noticeable, I suppose about as loud as someone clicking their fingers. I dropped it ito the garage which serviced it last week and they were puzzled. It's there when I have the selector in neutral and press the brake pedal as well.
If I understand correctly driving instructors are rated 1-6 according to their ability. Does it depend on their test scores they obtain on becoming an instructor or overall experience/pass rate %?
I'm a loser, baby....so why don't you kill me?! Read more
Tom, we must have been typing at the same time - your response is much better than mine!
There\'s a garage in North Wales selling a yellow P-Reg Fiat Barchetta (sp?) for £5,995.
Its says on the ad on the windscreen that it has done 90,000 miles.
A glance at the speedo shows a mileage of ..... 90,000 (exactly!).
Is such an exact mileage suspicious? And is it a good car for the price? It\'s LHD by the way!
clariman
Read more
Dragging slightly off topic but..
In my first car, about a month after passing my test I was dazzled by low sun. A motorcyclist appeared out of the blue in a narrow piece of road. I braked and he swerved, so he only clipped my mirror but carried on. The mileage reading was 66666.6 - that taught me to take great care when I can't see.
James
supermini test drive
Hello again, as you would have guessed,I really want a BRAND NEW car.
Some people never listen, do they? ;0)
Well, I\'m pushing 30 and the thought of a new kitchen doesn\'t excite me as much. Excuse excuse...
After agonizing between Renault and Nissan, I decided to go for the Nissan, but the dealer wouldn?t bring down the price to the internet price(difference of £200).
Now I feel guilty to buy off the net as salesman did all the work, just to lose the customer to an internet shop ( in my case AUTOBYTEL). Is there any reason for me to spend £200 more and buy through a local dealer in terms of after care etc, or anything else? Are there any reason I should feel guilty about?
Having test driven a few super-minis, I\'d like to review the cars I\'ve tried, hoping it might help someone who?s seeking small hatchbacks.
I tried Ford fiesta zetec, Nissan Micra SV, Renault Expression, Skoda Fabia classic. (all 1.4litre automatic)
I\'ve ruled out Vauxhall Corsa ( very dull to drive), Daewoo Matiz ( just didn\'t like the look),
Hyunadai Getz ( intereror and overall feel is too tinny).
I?m 5?3?? female and my bf is 6?2??, and we agreed on most of its contents. lol
1. Ford Fiesta zetec
Ride: quite comfy but seats are a bit hard 3 2/1
Drive: ok, nothing special 3
interor: cabin looks cheap and basic 3
I was very disappointed with this. In and out, every thing looks dated, and it doesn?t feel as though any effort has been put into it.
Drive was not special either.
2. Nissan Micra
1. ride: very smooth and comfortable 4
2. Drive: Very easy to drive, precise handling, break and acceleration responsive. very impressed 5
3. interior: upmarket feel,very well designed superb sound system too(blaupunkt cd player) 5
Great stuff. I think I\'m in love. Although the look can be too much for some.
3. Renault Expression
1.ride: most comfortable of 4. generous space and comfy seat. 5
2.Drive: pretty good. break was the sharpest of all but power steering wasn\'t as good as Micra, and handling is a bit on the dull side. but still very good 4
3. interior: very well designed and thought of, decent stereo 4
It was spacious and comfortable, with lots of extras for the price. close seond. Would have matched the Nissan, if not for the drivability.
4. Skoda Fabia
1.ride: very smooth and solid 4 2/1
2. Drive: easy to drive, great handling, all good 4
3. interior: well made but felt a bit empty and basic 3
It was a very solid. quality car, but missing a bit of character. I can\'t pinpoint what.
Read more
>\'out of state\' licence plates, it did stop one friend of
mine ordering from a broker
Why? what possible difference could it make?
It can make a difference in some instances.
My son purchased a Skoda Octavia in London. Not long afterwards he was worried by a strange noise from under the bonnet so telephoned local dealer where he lives in South Yorkshire to book it in for investigation. "No problem Sir" was the initial response. He was then asked for the registration number. As soon as he quoted it the receptionist's tone changed. "Well Sir, we are snowed under with work at present so couldn't book you in for several weeks"! Fortunately, another dealer took a much more welcoming attitude. I suppose it is a chance one takes.
I have read the car wash thread which didn't go into much detail about my problem.
Saturday was the first really sunny day I've had with my car since buying (used). I was really disappointed when I noticed very heavy swirls on the bonnet and around the wheel arches particularly. Some areas look as though they have been rubbed down with sandpaper and the paintwork has lost it's shine. In normal light it looks great. It's obviously been in a car wash every week for 3.5 years since new.
Question is, how do I clear the swirls? Is a good old T-Cut and wax the best method? Or is there a particular product I could use? The car is black and non-metallic.
Thanks in advance. Read more
Use AG extra gloss protection on it after you have polished it. Or TW gloss guard. The finish should last then.
I'm having a problem with my 1998 2.5V6 manual Omega which is driving me crazy. The car has eaten 3 EGR valves in the last month or so and my local Vauxhall dealer isn't proving to be particularly useful. I've owned the car from new, it's only done 35000 miles and it's in mint condition, I still adore the car and I would cry my eyes out to have get rid of it due to sudden poor reliability - I've just been towed home 40 miles along the M6! Clearly there's something causing these valves to fail and I'd like to get it sorted out - any ideas? or is there a good Vauxhall specialist that I can entrust the car to in the Stockport area?
Read more
Thanks for the advice on this one. Asked the dealer to look at it and the DIS "seems fine". New ECU fitted and car working fine again. Hopefully its sorted.
Thanks everyone for the helpful comments on this issue.
Browse
I also have a 1994 306 XR 1.4 (72k) and my car makes similar noises. Mine is more of a rubbing noise which affects the speed of the engine and it also seems to come from the left side of the car, but it also makes knocking noises when driving it hard or round corners but when the car is at speed the noises also disappear.
I was informed by a local garage that is was a 'differential' or possibly a main gearbox problem. It sounds like there is not enough oil, although I have monitored my oil level and it is fine so that kind of rules out the main gearbox as it draws its oil from the main reserve.
When revving the engine with the clutch fully depressed and then releasing the clutch fully the car has a small delay and then the car jerks forward into action which points towards the gearbox again.
I also found information on the CV Joint and gearbox on the web (c a r s u r v e y . o r g):-
"NSF CV joint failing as it squeals when I go round corners. It has stopped right now, but have been quoted near £200 to get it fixed as you need a complete drive shaft. "
"I have gone though 2 gear box's the first. was the teeth from 3rd gear going though the side off the gear box and the second was the diff went on the recon box that I put in it. "