May 2003
My pug 306 1.4 S reg, won't start without throttle and stalls every two minutes when idleing.
It had a recent 60,000 main dealer service
It has had a new stepper motor and stills idles badly and stalls.
The dealer say "the ignition coil has failed, resulting in the failure of the ECU" and qouted £850 to repair it
Can a coil result in the damage of the ECU?
Is £850 reasonable or can it be done DIY?
Am I entitled for money back £140 for the replaced stepper motor as it has not solved the problem?
Thanks for any help in advance!
Read more
I've noticed a few people on here recommend using Superunleaded both for better performance and for higher fuel economy. However, it seems to be very rare around here - I can't think of any garage I use regularly that sells it. Is it worth keeping an eye out for the odd tank-full, or am I as well off using normal UL and adding Redex or similar now and again?
If it makes any difference, the car is a 2000W Yaris 1.0. I've got no real performance or economy worries, just wondering what all the fuss is about! Read more
smokie - I've just mentioned it in the other concurrent thread
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=4&t=12...0
I am an excited new owner of the above (2001. 15,000 miles and FSH)the acquisition process of which which was the product of much research. It continues to delight and entertain but my thoughts are straying as to whether it possesses a timing chain or a dreaded belt.
Has anyone in backroomland any knowlege of these cars and able to advise whether I need to take any special measures other than normal, routine (perhaps obsessive) servicing/ maintainance.
Thank you in anticipation !
Read more
A host of belated thanks to Sib and old oiler for your responses
Regards
I own a 1993 Nissan Micra 1.0 with 66,000 miles on the clock which has recently started faltering slightly when accelerating (particularly in 2nd and 3rd gear). The engine has also begun idling unevenly.
All hoses etc. seem okay but I have checked the HT leads and found that one of them has some oil at the end along with a small quantity of oil around the top of the spark plug at the base of the hole. The rest of the leads appear clean.
The HT lead seems the most likely problem but does anyone have any idea what may be causing this? Read more
Nice one. Thanks for the advice.
My daughter, soon to be 17 and champing at the bit regarding driving, rang me at work to say that a number of friends have declared the learner age is to be raised to 18. I told her it was most definitely a wind up and I checked the DVLA website and it confirms that there has been no change.
Although I have to say the information was not that easy to find nor that clear.
It begs the question, considering the Government (anti) car policy, would they and could they get away with? Read more
Well I've just experienced a 50% reduction for the past year due to being an IT contractor and the rates are appalling now :-(
Anyone had any experience with those battery boost things that give you a jump start. I think you charge them up from the mains and then use them if you have a flat battery.
Which is the best to buy?
Where is the best place to buy them from?
Read more
Just for the record, my pack is about the size (and weight) of six housebricks and has a small light, test button and meter on the front panel.
It is mainly used to give a laid-up Transit a regular monthly run, and does so admirably.
Whilst I think of it, anyone want to buy an ice-cream van?
Dear Martyn et al,
Can you please update us all on the Poll? Has it been decided to run them for 3 weeks? Or is someone behind with the admin?
;-)
Thanks
Andy Read more
>>How do you post on...
You wait for Mark to see through his somewhat Gin coloured spectacles and get his act together !!
Done now.
I am currently renewing my car insurance (currently with Admiral) and telephoning around for new quotes. I was thinking about contacting Esure, Churchill and Norwich Union Direct. Has anyone any specific recommendations? I also have just been hit with my first speeding charge in 23 years of driving (73mph in a 50mph zone - very stupid - my fault entirely - lost track of my speed), so advice on an insurer that would take a reasonably lenient view of this lapse once the points and fine appear (does anyone know what I should expect?) would be appreciated.
As a side issue, one factor that always appears to put my insurance up is that I had optional alloy wheels, off the maufacturer's options list, factory fitted to my car when I bought it two years ago. Insurers appear to view this as a "modification". Can anyone explain the logic of this as it appears to add approx 20% to my insurance and as the standard model has alloys anyway, it appears a bit OTT.
Thanks for your help Read more
I\'m a bit confused as Norwich Union and Norwich Union Direct
seem to behave as different companies. But you may be able
to get houshold insurance will cheaper if you go with them
too.
They are two different children of the same parent - last renewal i queried Norwich Union Direct\'s quote with Norwich Union, pointing out it was £100 cheaper - did they offer to match it - No, they said NUD is a different company and you\'ll have to deal with them !! Needless to say, I dont deal with either of them
I have to grow old - but I don\'t have to grow up
My 2000 2.0 Accord is a pleasant car - refined and reliable, with a well-judged ride/handling balance and positive controls. It was bought second-hand as a cheap commuting car that would be able to handle regular long journeys. As tool for getting from A-B comfortably and safely, it does the job utterly without pretension.
Unfortunately, this doesn't compensate for the torque-light pinking engine, ponderous acceleration, unpardonable seat fabrics and a steering wheel that looks like it was nicked from a Korean supermini - a feel-good machine this ain't. In fact, the only prestige-car vibes come from the eye-watering service bills.
SO...I'm looking to replace it, for somewhere between £15-£20k. The ideal candidate will be new, slightly smaller than the Accord, but still reasonable practical - no smaller than Golf/Focus. It must be decently refined and torquey, which rules out something as uncompromised as a Civic Type-R. It must respond eagerly to my right foot in any gear, and have the braking and cornering to match; performance is more important than luxury spec. Image is not a major concern.
At the moment, I'm finding it hard to look beyond the basic new-shape Impreza WRX from one of the supermarkets for about £17k, which can later be upgraded via the £1600 Prodrive Performance Pack to near-STI levels of performance without the tacky stickers, wing spoilers and air-scoops. Yes, it's still not exactly an automotive Nicole Kidman, and the fascia looks like the front-panel of an Alba mini-system, but at least you get a nice Momo wheel to hold, and good seats.
In terms of price/performance ratio, this option might well be unbeatable, but can anyone think of any obvious alternatives to try? Read more
Burnout2,
I hear what you are saying but it does seem that you have had the misfortune to have landed a "Friday afternoon" specimen.
I have plenty of low down pull (I drive in South London a lot) and above 4,500 mine is very revvy and rapid upto 7,000 rpm.
My employer runs a fleet of 1,500+ cars, until recently very mainstream, 5 door hatch/saloon (they now buy German/Swedish to enjoy the residuals) and the fact is that the Honda Accords, Nissan Primeras, Toyota Avensis and Mazda 626s prove totally reliable, the Mondeos and Vectras relatively reliable and the Renault Lagunas, Peugot 406s and Citroen Xantia/C5s troublesome.
Occasionally on or just after starting my car (Xantia 1995, 1.9TD LX) there is an intermittent buzzing noise a bit like electrical shorting or creaking. The duration varies from seconds to minutes. Flippin\' annoying sound as well.
I have now traced the sound to the black relay behind a plastic tab in the interior fuse box. The left hand side of the fuse box is the fuses, the right hand side goes broken black relay, some kind of socket thing, then a green relay.
Everything electrical seems to work on the car, I have no idea what this relay controls (or doesn\'t). Can anyone confirm its use?
More info:
There is a blue and white wire going into the black relay. The relay has the following markings:
4DM 005 698-01
2 1(6)x21W-12V
A71433
Cheers
Mike
(Also posted on citroen boards, no joy yet) Read more
I think it may well have the indicator timing/flashing circuitry in it. Once removed the indicators/hazards do not work.
However when in place and an indicator is switched on, the relay can be heard and felt clicking.
I think it is probably woken up when I disarm the alarm as that manically clicks something which I'd guess is indicator related.
cheers
Mike
.jpg)
Is it running on all four cylinders, could simply be a plug or ignition lead. Some modern "diags" that just check the computer readings may not spot this simple old-fashioned fault. Was a faulty plug fitted at the service?