August 2003
Hi folks, please help, I am really puzzled.
About 4 weeks ago my 2.0DI Vectra started running hot, gradually it got worse, until it eventually was undriveable. I checked for mixing of fluids etc but seamed ok, I replaced the stat, but no joy. But any hint of a hill or acceleration it would get really hot.
I changed the head gasket, and checked for visual signs of cracks on the head and block, and also for warping with a dial mic, and everything seamed fine. Put the head back on, with new bolts, tightened down correctly etc, but it still ran hot.
I have had the rad out and flushed it, and everything was fine, took the matrix out and that was fine. I have tried using a flushing agent but no joy. There still doesnt seam to be any mixing of fluids etc, but when the engine is say running at 100c, sometimes the air from the blowers is scortching, and sometimes is cool.
Any comments and suggestions would be great on this folks as I have now had enough!! Read more
Does anyone know where I can get Nokian tyres in the UK? Read more
Thanks David, I tried all the UK outlets listed on their website but none could supply the size I need (195/65/15). I just wondered if anyone knew of another source.
UPDATE >> found a firm in ROI who have the tyres, so now just a question of whether they will ship over here..
My Mrs wants a new(ish) motor. Quite attacted by the RX4 on the basis of practicality, turbo diesel, distinctiveness in that format and the body panels (she's a liability in the car park.) New Scenic range doesn't have an RX4 though and £15k for a newish second hand seems a bit rich for a low prestige marque in what is about to be an old shape.
Wants a bit of class, quite attracted by A3 but put off buying a recent 2nd hander by arrival of new model and no 5 door option in the new car, if she was going to go for new.
Looked at and been impressed by Focus but new one around the corner, ditto Golf except they're expensive for what you get.
What's Freelander reliability like these days?
Over to you BR people Read more
Although I love the style, practicality, driving position etc I would not recommend the Scenic RX4 or possibly any Scenic for reliabilty. After a string of problems on my MK1 scenic which I bought 3 years old I put it down to bad luck & opted for an 18 month old 18K miles RX4. I have no problem with the drive, comfort etc - the car is ideal for my purposes but it has been very unreliable - leaking sunroof, leaking rear window, rear diff seal, brake fade, some engine gas sensor I can't remember the name of, horns & thats just in 18 months/30K. Many of the faults have taken the dealer a few times to get to the bottom off. If it wasn't for the warranty & the excellent customer support staff at the dealer I would be even less pleased.
Outside of the rep cars - Mondeo, 406 & Vectra I can't give an opinion. I may take my fathers advice & go for a Nissan X-Trail next time around - it gets good reviews on this site.
Freelander - yes, I've heard mixed reviews on reliabilty but another concern was safety. At 30mph crash test the Freelander fared worse than a Fiesta with major structural damage to the body shell!
I have a problem with a non-functioning heater blower. I have read all the relevant threads admitedly after I spent many long hours investigating the problem.
The Story.
The blower was working perfectly but didn't work after returning from the supermarket.
I looked at the fuses all ok, then looked at the resistor seemed ok but tried a new one anyway no luck. Then took out the motor and powered it directly works fine. Then stripped down to the switch seems ok but no power there. Then discovered no power across the fuse. Should have done this first but was sort of working backwards.
What now???? should there be power across the fuse at all times? why is there no power at switch if fuse ok. Getting fed up and have too big a collection of spare screws!!!!!!
Please Help.
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Lucky it was simple, I know when people mention Citroens and electrics people tend to go cross eyed.
Which is a shame as they are good cars - when people put down the ZX I like to point out that under the skin it's a 306.
Happy Driving ... Maud-Dib
peugeot 406 1.9dt i have got abit of white smoke coming out the exhaust from cold starting and a knocking sound coming from the engine, the revs on idle are also reving up and down and are not steady, could this be caused by the timing belt slipping a tooth? any ideas? Read more
It does sound like the timing has gone out, but I can't see how the belt on one of these would jump a tooth - it would be more likely just to fall off. Checking it means you really need to take the engine mount off to get enough room to get the covers off and the bolts in. If that reveals nothing then you need to look for evidence that the injection pump has moved - checking this needs specialist tools, so best entrusted to a diesel specialist.
Another possiblity is that you've got an injector sticking. I understand these can make all sorts of racket and running problems, but don't know how you'd diagnose.
RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
Just read HJ CBC Breakdown on this model and, in theory, seems quite a good bet as a used 3 year old buy.
The 4WD and low range would be useful for occasional towing plus estate car practicality.
Do any of the BR community own one, or know of one, and if so what has their experience been.
I'm mainly interested in fuel economy, handling, reliability and any horror story catastrophic failures of major components.
Thanks in advance
Charles Read more
Just a quick note, from Car magazine August 03 issue, the new Legacy has a brief review and some piccies.
Available November 2003, and more interestingly they are finally considering importing the 2.0 Turbo Legacy a year or so after the initial launch.
Ian L.
I've got an ex met police riot bus LDV LWB twin rear 400, twin carb, no cat, 22k miles c/w 3.5 V8, a sweet runner returing 17-20mpg, which compares favourably with plenty of R/rovers. However, she's an obvious LPG/dualfuel candidate.
I've been told that being carb she has to have an induction type
system which, unless fitted by someone with a lot of experience,
could mean I sacrifice a lot of good things for a lot of hassle.
Any pitfalls, stuff to watch out for - please let me know.
Also, any potential installers out there with plenty of experience on this engine, get in touch.......ta. LOOTA
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Try asking the same question on the lpg newsgroup:
groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&group=...g
You could also try this one: www.lpgforum.co.uk/ but you probably won't get much response. It's good for information though and they have a dedicated section for V8s as I remember.
Ben
No, I don't mean the mythical variety!
I live near a fairly main road with a large traffic light controlled junction upon it. In one direction is the A20, in the other the M25 so as you can imagine there are a fair amount of emergency service vehicles blatting up and down with their blues and twos all day.
Thing is, they often have the sirens wailing at night (and I mean three in the morning). Not just to warn vehicles at junctions, but all the way down the road.
As us humble motorists are forbidden from sounding our horns between the hours of 11.30pm and 7.30am, surely the same should apply to emergency service vehicles?
(I actually know of a bus driver who was successfully - if that's the right word - prosecuted for using his reversing alarm at 6.30am)
I understand the need to clear the way and encourage safe progress for the emergency vehicle, but surely it is taking the michael to have the siren switched on all the way down the road?
Cheers
Rob Read more
Alas, you are likely to be hit by the fleeing villain long before you hear the sirens; but I suppose that would apply during daylight as well.
Has anybody (Dave N?)ever heard of r416a as a direct replacement for R12? A bloke recharged my previously non-working and pretty empty -judging by the pressure released from the Schroder (sp?) valve- this time last year. It worked great but after a few months the air got not quite as cold as before, but it didn\'t get any worse at all, so I took it back and had the guy regas it recently.
He told me it definitely had a leak somewhere (I queried whether he\'d put in enough gas) but didn\'t bother looking for it properly even though he\'d put leak tracer dye in it last time. He did say that he thought the condensor was leaking as there where oily stains round it.
I had a good look at this myself, and I mean good look, because the front bumper had to come off for a bit of work on the electrics round there and where were the oily stains? Nowhere as far as I could see. In fact I could see no corrosion at all. A few squashed flies and road grime which lifted off with a soft brush, revealing nicely painted black radiator underneath.
I know its an old car (1986 Volvo 360) and not worth spending much money on, but is the r416a gas any good? or is it worth getting the car converted to run on r134a?
Also, did he put enough gas in it this time? Because the sight glass on the receiver/dryer is bubbling when the system is on. Is this correct?
So many questions, sorry for the long post.
Any opinions welcome.
Andy Read more
If Dye has been put in the system, get a garage with uv lamp to have a look. Leaks stand out like a sore thumb!!
Can anyone please recommend a good radar detector. Cost is not the main issue, but it must be 100% reliable. I recently got my new car (BMW 320) and with already having some points I really need a bit of help dodging the cameras! Read more
RF, there is a Gatso on the A420 Oxford to Swindon road (the one just after The plough Pub, nr Longcot) that didn't have the calibration marks on the road for ages after it first appeared. Rumour has it that the calib marks were in the grass verge in the form of small wooden posts. Very sneaky, which is why I suspect the marks are now on the road.
Browse
Waterpump?
Could be an air lock also, that might account for sometimes hot/sometimes cold on the heater.
Is it really overheating, or is it just the gauge telling you it is?
Have you checked for a hose that has collapsed internally, or is getting flattened on the suction to the pump (rad bottom hose)?
RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....