September 2003
What will my car do to let me know it needs servicing? Read more
Greetings to all. Am seeking some advice soonest on the following.
need to purchase a small car (VW Polo size) ASAP to replace a second but now defunct car.
Need guidence on type, spec and price dealer and private.
Budget for second hand car £4000.
Requirments, reliablity and low running costs!!!, central locking and electric windows esp front, 4/5 doors. AC would be nice. Petrol or diesel.
OR/and
New car similar size but budget £8000 max.
Look forward to the comments, Honest John ?
Thanks everybody
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As always, I would recommend buying recent-used rather than new, despite the tempting offers around. There will always be instant depreciation buying new, and unless you want to specify exactly the kit on your (smelly) new car, shop round to find the right one and save £££. They all lose money with time, but there's no point throwing it away unless it burns a hole in your pocket or you HAVE to have a 53 plate.
I have recently bought a 306. Until today everything has been fine. I went to lock the car with the remote control on the key this morning, and nothing happened. The battery is fine. When I try and lock the doors manually with the key the central locking doesn’t work either. What is more puzzling is that when I enter the car the interior courtesy lights flash! The car starts but I have no idea how to stop the flashing lights and engage the central locking again. I would be grateful of any advice.
-Mos- Read more
Try a search, it has been documented at length here quite recently.
In a nutshell, it'll probably be broken wire(s) between the pillar and the door, usually on the driver's door.
I am looking to get a Network Q Y Reg old shape Vectra (1.8 or 2.2) with air con, ABS a CD player, and 2 front air bags and less than 30k on the clock for a budget of 6k.
I've only started looking this weekend, and prices on these kind of cars seem to be about 1k adrift.
Could dealers be knocked back this kind of amount or am I expecting too much?
Cheers,
TT. Read more
The MK2 Mondeo was always considered way ahead of the Vectra when it was current, or at least thats what I read in all the magazines. How can that suddenly have changed now? It's still the same car it was against the same previous Vectra ;)
Should get a 2001X Mondeo Ghia X for way under the £6k you've got.
Has anyone fitted these?
Apart from reducing brake dust - is there a noticeable improvement in grip?
Matt35. Read more
Steve,
I don't think you can do it online, but phone 01354-741181 and ask for Daniel - very helpful guy and prices are good.
In case you are wondering, I have no connection with the company and talked to him yesterday for the first time.
Matt35
Does anyone know how to reset the service indicator on an Audi A4 without a reset tool.
Or if a tool is required where can I get one at a reasonable price.
Thanks Read more
Your best bet is VagCom:
Audi A4, A6, A8, TT - Resetting Service Reminders
Posted 11 Jun. 2003
Audi has included a Service Interval Reminder that includes oil mileage interval, the service mileage interval, and the service time interval. To reset the Service Reminders using VAG-COM:
Select Control Module > [Select]
[17 - Instruments]
[Adaptation - 10]
1995-1997 (and maybe part of 98):
Channel 05 should be the distance until the next Oil Service.
It is in thousands of kilometers. Let's say you want the Oil
Service light to come on in 5000 miles. That would be 8000 km.
Put the value 8 into channel 05. The "standard value" used by the US
dealers would be 12 (7500 miles).
Channel 06 should be the distance until the next In-1 Service.
Same units as above. Standard value would be 24 (15,000 miles).
Channel 07 should be the time until the next In-1. In-1 lights
up based on time or distance, whichever comes first. This is in
10's of days. Standard value would be 36 for 360 days.
Channel 08 would be time until the next In-2. In-2 is based
strictly on time. Standard value is 72 for 720 days (about
two years).
1998 and Newer:
Channel 02 - set to 0 to reset
Failing this, Stan at German Swedish and French, or Eurocarparts do service resetting tools.
Or borrow one. Good luck.
Several references to this on various posts here, but unable to find an explanation. Can anyone tell me what this refers to please? Read more
Sigh!! Are you telling me that you still haven\'t found either the \"Site Search\", or the new \"Forum Search\" (in operation from the 8th Aug \'03) although you\'ve been a subscriber since Wed 20 Nov 2002??
It is really quite easy to use; all you do is enter the word, or words you want to search for and off you go.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=12524&...f
My dad has been a driving instructor for about 15 years and has always had Fiesta diesels. His last one has been more of a problem than the others (X reg Flight - old shape), so he is looking at alternatives.
Requirements:
Diesel
Less than £10k to buy brand new
a/c
Dark interior
Reasonable servicing and spare parts cost
Height adjustable drivers seat
He\'s looked at Yaris, but must buy a T3 spirit (?) to get what he wants therefore expensive.
He had a Corsa as a replacement for a week and says he never wants to sit on one again!
What would you suggest as the Fiesta Zetec is coming out favourite at the mo.
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Quick update. After a further scout round it looks like it will be another Fiesta. As well as the purchase price the other consideration was waiting times for spares, things do need replacing and people do run in to you! His mechanic can get any spares for a Ford on sameday/next day service, but he can have problems getting spares for Japanese cars (even ones made in the UK).
Morning!
My insurance is up for renewal on the 28th Sept. Last year it was £750 fully comp. I've had three accidents, first was my fault and fixed on my insurance, second wasn't and went entirely through the other bloke's insurance and the third wasn't my fault but is being sorted by my insurance company because there was some doubt intially about whether the other party had the right insurance.
Questions are:
1. As the third accident is still being sorted and it's unlikely that the claim will be resolved by the 28th, can I actually change insurers or do I have to stay with them?
2. As the last two accidents weren't my fault, why do they make my policy increase by up to £500? Should I just not declare them when asking for quotes, as they were non-fault?
Thank you!
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PoloGirl,
I\'m sorry that you felt pressured to say sorry!
Insurance when you are young is an absolute devil, you do tend to get in scrapes (at fault or not) and it does cost.
Just be grateful it does get much better* as time passes, even if that seems a way off now. For now you have to be open, get the best quote for the right cover, grit your teeth and pay up!
*Old git status gives me one single vehicle policy at under £80 and a five vehicle group policy not much over £500!
M.M
A friend of a friend drives a 52 plate Golf. I'm not sure about the version but I think it's a 2.0 petrol GTi.
Unfortunately she is a new driver and helpfully told me that it's black and has a CD player. She's not sure herself and she didn't have the car with her to check when I spoke to her - so more information as and when.
Over the past couple of days the 'exhaust' warning light has come on and the car has started to shudder at low revs - apparently in all gears up to fourth.
My reaction is that there is a blockage in the exhaust system or a problem with the cat. When I suggested this she asked if someone could have put something up the tailpipe; I suppose it's easy enough to check for so it's worth a look but this morning I am now thinking that someone could have (maybe) put something in the petrol tank and she is doing all kinds of unspeakable things to her injectors by driving it.
Any thoughts? Read more
Possibly this car is suffering from the very common air mass meter failure.Very deceptive fault because the AMM can test perfectly and the symptoms whilst driving feel like some sort of plug misfire.Also misfire fault codes will be recorded in the computer memory:I'd suggest you have this read before doing anything.
David Davies (Tune-Up Raglan)
But the 2000 mile warning is to enable you to give the dealer enough notice (usually 2 months or so) to supply you with a courtesy car when you take it in for a service.
I do 500 miles a week so when my last light comes on (in a BMW) I know to get the earliest possible date booked at the specialist.