December 2003
Surprisingly few problems with my motor at the moment ('95 1.9TD LX Xantia).
However, did notice that after about 2 or 3 minutes after setting off from a cold start, the heater fan speed picks up noticably.
My questions are:
Is this normal, or is it a sign that the battery is struggling to produce enough juice (I'm assuming its when the glow plugs switch off)?
How long should a battery be relied on for?
The car always splutters for a few seconds, despite catching immediately when cold starting. Could this be that the battery is low and not giving the glow plugs enough juice to heat up to optimum temperature?
Mike Read more
I'm thinking of buying a used Audi TT. Trouble is, their online reliability index is dreadful. Obviously this is a bit worrying as I am thinking of buying one with about 50K on the clock. I'd be interested to hear any views on the reliability of the TT (good or bad) from any source, particularly current/past owners. Is it an unreliable car? Am I unwise to buy one with fairly high miles?
All information gratefully received.
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The latest VW/Audi reliability figures are down to the coil pack problem. The TT is worst simply because of the fact that they all (at the time of the survey) had the 1.8t engine; this is shown by the way that the most/least reliable models in the VW group range is almost entirely related to the percentage of models with that engine and thus the coil packs.
Look for one where the coil packs are either outside the affected dates, or have been changed, and you should have no particular reliability issues.
Of course, the TT is an overpriced, not especially exciting, obvious choice that is the ubiquitous transport of estate agents from Clapham unless they have a company MINI, but none of that makes it unreliable.
Last September, a nail entered the rear tyre on my Polo, which I had removed and repaired. Due to a slight vibration through the steering wheel, I swapped the rears and fronts around, and cured the problem.
My question is though - is the repaired tyre, which is now on the front, safe to use for an extended drive? I am due to drive through France next week, covering about 1500 motorway miles in 3 days - (return journey!)
The tread on the tyres are fine, but I was just wondering whether other BRs would get new fronts fitted before this drive.
Thanks in advance
Ben
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Thanks for the replies. It was done at (shhh) kwikfit - I was in Derby for work - didn't know the area - first place I came too!! Still they did the job in quickly which is all I expect!(When I got back to Brighton I did notice that they had balanced the wheel and put the weights on the outside of the alloys grrr!)
I think I may change the tyres anyway - they seem to be cheap ones that lack grip when I'm accelerating - or is that still me getting used having power after moving from a non-turbo diesel!! ;-)
Ben
My much-loved 1998 micra failed its MOT on the emissions test.
The garage say that it might be a sensor (can't remember the name but it started with L and had something to do with air!) or, in the worst case, it might be the cat converter.
I just wondered if anyone has had a similar experience and the liklihood of it being the converter. If it is the converter, am I going to need a second mortgage? It goes in for investigation tomorrow :( Read more
I thought I'd let you know that I got the car back yesterday and the problem turned out to be just a loose connection to the sensor - hooray! My faith in garages is now fully restored (well, THIS one anyway!) so thanks again to everyone for the good advice :)
The vehicle is a J Reg Fiesta XR2i with the 1596cc EFi CVH engine. The car is running on good quality oil and no expense has been spared with the maintenance. When it pulls up at junctions for example the revs drop to below 500rpm the car vibrates and then the revs sometimes go up to the correct idle speed.
Other times the car will cut out when the revs drop. It is getting a bit dangerous having the car cut out at busy junctions. I have checked the throttle body for any old deposits but it is fine, I even spayed carb cleaner around the throttle body but this made no change to the situation.
I know earlier XR2i?s had high idle problems but this is the latter design type with the modified idle speed control valve. Many people I speak to are not aware of what the problem could be?
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It was a faulty idle speed control valve, it was the later Hitachi type. The vehicle now operates fine and the idle is spot on.
Rant mode on:
I say this because this morning, over an eight mile stretch of dual carriageway, I saw no less than five individual accidents, with police attending three of them. All but one involved a single vehicle - people had skidded off the road into the ditch, the fence, the other corner of the road they were turning into, the corner of another car, etc. Fortunately they all seemed like minor prangs, nobody hurt. But I just don't understand why so many in such a short stretch. I know it was icy last night but for God's sake! It was about 5 degrees below zero where I live and I was able to get about without any problems on the narrow, hilly and untreated first 6 miles. I know it isn't that hard to do, as SWMO can do it too ... My 15 mile journey just took an extra 5 minutes, with the pleasant side effect of a 67.5 mpg readout and a longer amount of time to bask in the hot air from the system, which I cranked up to 27.
Rant mode off:
Look after yourselves everybody, stay safe.
andymc Read more
Apologies for going almost totally off topic, but......
If we took the cost of applying the requirements of the Kyoto protocol to the developed world and diverted it to other uses we could ensure that the entire population of the world had;
clean water
sanitation
education
health care
access to contraception
and more.....
need I go on?
And yet the private car is vilified as the cause of all evil?
rant over.
Just want to say I have a 328i coupe auto spent a lot of money on it, lights,exhaust etc and it sucks i hate the \"drive \" cant wait to get rid. Will never buy another again Read more
epaul,
having had an e36 with no problems (and have no worries with my current e39) I am surprised that the e46 should be so bad. is the car in good mechanical order?
did you test drive the car before buying it or was the lure of the badge too much?
i was gona change the cam belt and water pump this week but its too cold,i got no access to hard road or drives,problem is water pump is leaking like a sieve,now wot i was gona do was just change the water pump , lock the engine , relax the belt then quickly change water pump for new one sealed n gasketed,then tension the belt belt,is this the correct method for a bodge job until the winter passes and i can use my yard.another problem i got is power steering is sluggish when turning in low revs i.e parking.engine has done 195,000 is it worth changing the engine as car is in great nick and could last me another 3 to 5 years bodywork wise. Read more
Devon.....
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn/problems.msnw?Page=1 - Pictures say a thousand words.....
I am amazed the differences in the quotes that i have had for this car, the worst was from Footman James a Quote of £1503 and the quote i took up £298.30p ! both these are for a limited mileage policy of 5000miles, obviously both have the exact info . Read more
Do a search on Risk Profile, I've explained this before.
Its all to do with the risk profile of the chosen portfolio and the desired market as well as the control and balance of policy churn.
I apologise if this is a very simple question.
This morning (v.v. cold) couldn't get my 1998 mondeo 1.8lx started. Took 20-30 mins and lots of random spraying of WD40 before she finally got going. Starter motor was turning fine engine just wouldn't start.
Question is, is this to be expected and thought of as "normal" in cold weather or can I do anything to prevent it happening in future. I'm no mechanic but recently have started doing my own services and just wonder whether there is anything simple I can do to increase my chances of getting to work on time. (p.s plugs, oil, all filters etc changed about 3000 miles ago)
Grateful for any replies,
Andy.
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Spark Plugs and HT leads are known failings on the Zetec 16v engine - change these and I think you'll find you will have first-time starts during the cold winter.
The reason it becomes apparent now is that the engine requires more 'juice' to turn over in the very cold weather - meaning there is less juice for the HT side of things - hey presto! No go...
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
Browse
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If your batteries a few years onld and with the slightest doubt over it, I think it's worth changing before it lets you down completely at the least convenient moment - you wouldn't puposefully leave any other part on you car until it leaves you stranded before replacing it.
A diesel will be much happier with a new battery, as cranking speed is a major factor in starting performance.
For info,, the BOSCH batteries are made by Varta - excellent batteries - original fit on many expensive German cars. The Silver ones claim to give an extra 30% cold cranking amps - this will give much less voltage drop when cranking with the glowplugs on etc....