September 2003
Hi - just as a follow up for all who participated when I was looking at cars to choose the other month....the new Yaris was delivered today, and I have made my first trip out accompanying the lucky learner driver, who thinks it's fantastic. It's Dad's turn to do his fatherly duty later (while I have a long lie down in a darkened room) LOL - only joking.
I took the car into town and collected her straight from her lesson, and she drove home. Did very well, and loved the car, especially by comparison with the four vehicles she's driven up to now (Colt, Punto, Fiesta and Corsa)
Car in question is
Toyota Yaris T3, 1 litre, manual, petrol, with alloy wheels.
Many thanks to all who helped us arrive at the decision. Read more
Just wondered what others thought of the following and whether I have cause for complaint.....
My partner's Suzuki started to overheat on the M23 motorway the other day or at least the temperature gauge started to heat rapidly towards the red. So, she stopped and called the AA as there were no obvious signs of a leak etc. The AA thought it might just be a faulty thermostat as they could not find anything either. So, car was booked into the main dealer who also services the car and they checked and agreed it was a faulty thermostat. Next day, on the M4 back from Bristol the same thing happens again. So the car was returned to the garage which this time diagnosed a blocked radiator. Radiator was sent away to be recored (is that the correct term?) and thus far no further problems.
Aside from the fact that she received fairly poor customer service from the garage i.e. no curtsey car, phone calls not returned, told the radiator furs (sp?) like the inside of a kettle and this was the cause of the problem, it seems to me as a layman that checking the radiator would have been an obvious thing to do even if thermostat was faulty, although I can't help thinking that the thermostat was not faulty and it was replaced because thats what the AA thought. Obviously I've got no proof but I can't help but feel cheated, particularly as we've had to pay for two lots of coolant! Am I right to go in all guns blazing and try and seek some money back (afterall we aren't likely to be using them again!) or is it just one of those things?
SG Read more
Thinking about it - if you wanted to, you could ask them why they didn't refil the cooling system with the drained fluid if they had replaced it only a day or two before.
In the same area, you could ask about the 'furred' up radiator. If they had done all the servicing, they should have used deionised or distilled water with antifreeze and this should not clog up the radiator. I'd expect a much longer life than two years though.
I have a Rover 214 cabriolet 1992. Of recent I have had problems starting car in that it turns and fires and immediately cuts out. Initally when engine was warm it was fine, but it cuts out all the time - dry or wet conditions. The garage has tried lots of things, it is fine for a couple of weeks then plays up again. Even called AA who suggested a stopper pedal was broken, but garage says there is only a stopper motor and so far this has not been replaced. Tried new distributor cap, leads and various other cheap solutions. Tried bypassing CMU with theirs and same problem happened so said it could not be this. CMU now been sent off for resetting as garage says it is giving lots of ????? to tests they have tried and would need to be fixed for next service in any event. Do not think this will solve problem. Has anyone come across this problem before or got any worthwhile suggestions? Car is in very good nick apart from this annoying problem. Read more
I have an N reg with the same problem. I found it to be the Immobiliser. If yours has remote central locking, ie, use a remote control to lock and unlock, I found if you go through the motions, ie, car wont start or does then stops, stay in car shut ignition off, press remote control locking button. Give it around ten seconds then press unlock button. This sometimes takes several goes but works for me. What happens is the immobiliser will not operate the fuel pump so when you try to start and immobiliser is still operable, ie, not turned off, no fuel will reach the engine. If it gets severe, ie, will not work, try shutting off engine & getting out of car. With the keys close door, then remotelly lock & then unlock. Get back into car & try again. I found this to work. It is a problem with ecu on car, but is an expensive thing to replace.
Apart from that I have no problem with my 414
I have just received a letter from the DVLA enforcement dept that my last tax disc expired (end April 2003) and they cannot find any record of a new licence or a SWORN form being filled in. I in fact retaxed my car 9 days late (9 May 2003).
There is a form on the back of the letter to fill in any new licence or SORN details which I have completed.
They are saying that if I committed an offence of not having any tax after the end of April that I must pay a fine of £25-00 if I did not fill in a SORN.
Are they trying to fine me for the nine days it was untaxed (despite starting my present licence to cover that period) or is this just a blip on their part, i.e not having received details from the PO I renewed my tax at?
Anybody know of this? Read more
IIRC, isn't the position as follows;
Not taxing the vehicle is not actually an offence under the RTA. Not properly displaying a valid disc *is* an offence. Therefore, back dating it gets you out of some offences, such as no tax, but doesn't relieve you of failing to display.
Its the conflict between the two offences that causes issues.
As I say, IIRC, and I may not.
I had a \'diagnostic flash\' on my 306 recently. After a gentle front-end shunt on a roundabout which did little more than crack the no-plate, the STOP light on the dash flashed if the air-con was running. The air-con seemed to work OK, but after proper investigation I found that the bump had bent one of the radiator fans, causing it to jam. I presume that triggered the STOP lamp. Anyone know if this is a deliberate function? [fan now sorted, also the lamp] Read more
Its perfectly feasible that it could be working as designed. Most motors are available with a tacho pulse signal, and it could be used to warn of out of spec speed range. They could also measure the current drain (stalled or slowed motor would draw more current)
Hi all, have been lurking for a while but now actually have problem!
I have M reg renault 5 on 80K
recently there has been a vibrating noise coming from the n/s front. The frequency of the vibration increases as the speed increases. I have not noticed any differences in handling at different speeds (between 30 and 60 mph).
The wheels appear to be fine (no abnormal tyre wear, have been balanced recently and no weights have fallen off).
The car hasn't been kerbed or taken off road.
I have taken it to one garage who initially diagnosed it as a bent driveshaft, however they now think it's suspension related.
I'm no expert but wouldn't expect something it to be the suspension as the frequency of the noise is directly related to speed and not road surface. If it is the suspension then is it possible that the suspension fault is a symptom and not the cause?
I would appreciate any ideas??
Cheers
bga Read more
Hi Sean, I only said I'd suggest it as the garage have got it currently and are frankly being a bit useless (It's not even that I have high expectations!). I am going to see them tonight and will do as you suggested.
Cheers bga.
I am wanting to purchase a circa £9-10K car that has 4 doors, sporty to look at and drive although shouldn't "look" like a boy racer mobile (imprezza, type R etc), has some badge kudos and wont depreciate too badly.
Not fussed about going diesel, as mileage doesn't really justify the extra cost.
High mileage (under 100k though) for the right vehicle not a great issue, although wouldn't want anything older than 4 years.
I would like leather seats, air con and traction control.
The 3 series saloon is my current favourite, ideally a 328 (or is the 323 a better bet) round about a 99V.
Passats are out, as friend in same position has just bought one.
Mondeos are out, albeit they are fine cars, they just don’t give me the feel good factor to look at.
Saabs, Volvos Toyota and are off the list, wife thinks I am not ready for pipe and slippers yet (history would suggest an unchangeable attitude)
Any suggetsions anyone, thanks
Read more
Did I hear "S40" and "Decent" in the same sentence?????
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If I don't reply it's nowt personal, I'm just working!
Well, today sees new sections in the Driving Test, requiring the candidate to show or tell the examiner where or how they would perform safety/mechanical checks on the vehicle.
you can find details at
www.dsa.gov.uk/driving/changes_to_practical_test.h...m
You can find an interactive quiz version on the BBC News site at
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3197645.stm
but it's so poor I was driven to complain to the Beeb about it.
Read more
It may remove stories such as:
'I bought a new car and after 6,000 miles, 18 months before it's first two year service, the oil warning light came on and a mile later the engine blew up. The garage refuse to accept responsibility as I failed to check the oil, this is unjust and I intend to sue them for all they've got.'!
I have a 2000X Mondeo Ghia estate, one of the last old shape cars.
Over the last year a virtually constant creaking has been coming from the dashboard, seemingly from behind the instrument cluster. It seems to happen mostly when the weather is cool, or if the air con is on, which must cool and create shrinkage in the depths of the dashboard. It does not matter if you are going over a smooth or bumpy surface, if anything it is worst over a smooth road. It is now a constant annoyance, and at times can be heard over the radio - even if it is on loud to attempt to drown it out.
I have taken it into two different Ford dealers on 5 occasions who, despite being told how to ensure the creaking occurs (keep in shade and put air con on full for 10 minutes before taking it out on the road), have not managed to fix it. I personally doubt that they have tried very hard. On one occasion the dealer indicated that the wiring would be very tight and loosening it should solve it, but then did nothing with the car.
I am on the verge of having to get rid of an otherwise good car because we can't cope with the noise. Is there anybody who has had a similar problem, and how was it solved? Read more
Thanks Aprilia.
Decided against tackling this myself as I am certain that the problem eminates from either the wiring/ventilation ducts rubbing against the instruments/main dash moulding and would be pushing my abilities to solve this. It looks that I would have to remove big chunks of the dash to get to the problem to apply the spray. Would the spray have an effect on the electrics?
Due to ford failing to resolve the problem (maybe through lack of interest?), is anybody aware of a garage preferably in the south east that would be more willing to look at this problem. I know that my local mechanic that looks after my trouble free 14 year old Polo would not be that interested in this job.
thanks again
I have an electrical diag test bought from Halfords to test for a misfire I have on my Audi 80 1990/1991, can anyone tell me where the plug in points are please, the leaflet with the kit reckons in the drivers footwell area.
Cheers Read more
There's a shelf under the steering wheel. If you remove this you will find all manner of electrical gubbins.
Can't be any more specific unfortunately, but my guess is that its in there somewhere.
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Thank you HF :)
Needless to say she is over the moon - even talking about cleaning it LOL Mind you the real test for her enthusiasm will be when she gets her first wages from her new job, let's see if she can find the petrol cap! LOL
Joking apart, as soon as we got home yesterday, I got her to lift the bonnet and ran through a few things with her (in the light of the new aspects of the driving test) I hope to set her off the way she should carry on.
Am picking her up from her first training day at 4.30, so she'll drive home in the heavier traffic today. Making sure she has plenty of experience before taking her test and going it alone.