August 2004
We all have ideas about what is a good car and what a bad car but is it purely the car we should consider or should it be that we look harder at the manufacturer and dealer network. I have heard horror stories about BMW, Ford and Volkswagon dealers but that doesn't mean the cars are that bad. Likewise the 'customer support' from manufacturers, is it all good? I personally have had an argument with Ford for nearly five months over a broken fuel pipe on my Fiesta 1.4TDCI which took them ten weeks to repair. I don't blame the car, things do go wrong, it's the dealers and the manufacturer that are crap. Has anybody else had a long term problem with repairs? Should we have a table of 'bad' dealers/manufacturers?
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my v6 omega seems to have a problem.. when i go to pull off from traffic lights/standing still it seems to be only fireing on only 3 or 4 pots but after about 3 or 4 seconds she pulls on all 6 pots. this only seems to happen once the engine is warmed up. this does not happen every time i go to pull off but i would say it is 50% of the time... please help me if you can. Read more
I forgot about that, I left an email question because the part was not described properly, I got an answer about 3 months later.
Another time I had no relpy atall.
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was kev_is_here
hi ive bought an n plate escort 1800 ghia
It has an intermittent problem it loses power and threatens to cut out at any speed under 40 mph reving makes it worse.
When stationary and ticking over the revs jump between 0 and 1500 revs on its own
The garage i bought it from cant find the problem they have changed the fusebox but it still does it
any ideas?
Thanks becky Read more
Hello
Once the power has been disconnected the car will run rough for about 10-20 minutes as it re learns (ecu)
I would not assume it was a blocked cat unless you got it professionaly tested as its very complicated lets stick to the basics.
When was the car last serviced ?
Does the car do long runs or short shopping runs ?
If there is a fault in the ecu/sensors there may be a fault code would it be worth your while to take it to ford and have them check for any fault codes
Hope this helps
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(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters
The last time I hired a car it was a Ford Zodiac, so I'm yonks out of date on these things.
We spend a chunk of each year touring France, but it's a 250-mile flog each way just to drive to the ferry, and Lady Stripey and I are starting to feel the strain a bit. Consequently, I'm now thinking of combining Ryanair (we're 10 minutes from Ryanair's Blackpool base) with a hire car at the other end. However, I've heard frightening tales of hirers being landed with a four-figure bill because of some damage to the car for which they were not to blame. Or even if he was to blame.
Now I've tried reading all the terms and conditions relating to Collison Damage Waiver (whatever that is)etc., but like Omar Khayyam I came out by that same door where in I went.
Could one of the many knowledgeable people on this site please simplify for me, in terms suitable for my senile decay, the hazards of car hire in Europe and how to avoid them? Any tips, advice or recommendations would be most welcome, please.
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Thanks, Paul. The Civic is in fact also on the shortlist, in the event that the Jazz should prove (which now seems less likely) too buzzy a box.
I need some serious help ,My engine has blown up ,bigends have shot straight thru the side of the engine,im having terrible trouble trying to find someone who will put a engine in for me,also sourcing it is getting hard ..any advice would be great ....im in croydon ,the engine is a 3ct with mech fuel pump ,2.2turbo diesel 4wd.......need this as the kids are off school ,cant afford to go away this year ,so i was going to take them camping and stuff......always the way init....... Read more
I have no idea what your car is or how much
it's worth.
Autotrader link shows prices from £3-10K plus one at £14K within 40 miles of London.
As the insurers seem to expect the end of the world:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=24379&...e
... I wondered what motoring moment we would think of as the highlight of our time, whilst the sky blackened, the volcanoes started, and our life flashed before our eyes?
For me, it would probably be the free afternoon's tuition at Silverstone, spent variously in a 911, a 355, and a Viper.
Any other suggestions? (subject to moderating policy, of course!) Read more
The first time I ever rode a motorcycle. Only about a mile on my way home from the dealers, nervous as hell, tears streaming down my face because I had no goggles but I can still remember the feeling of excitment and freedom like it was yesterday.
Just got my bike insurance renewal notice from Bennetts and shock horror the amount quoted IS the best deal I can obtain!
This has never happened before... Read more
Saga have been chasing me for a number of years, and this year they beat the AA by £70.00. You know what they say Lager - Aga - Saga - Gaga
My alfa 156 suddenly developed a really bad misfire like it was running on 2 cylinders, on opening the bonnet there was a horendous knocking coming from the top of the engine, I removed the engine cover to find it had blown one of the small sark plugs out of the head stripping the thread on the bottom 4 pitches of the plug. I brought this car 2nd hand in march 2003, the car is a 2000 year 156 1.8TS the car has done 40000miles and had yearly service since new, it uses very little oil and has run like a dream no problems.
However I could not insert a new plug in the head as the thread has been damaged, looks like it might be ok if cleaned up with a tap or it might require a heli-coil insert. More worringly the electrode is missing from the bottom of the plug hopefully this went out the exhaust. Not really sure what other damage has been done. I have booked it into a main dealer as dont fancy doing the work myself.
Anyway, has anyone encountered this problem before, know of causes. Would the manufacturer be liable for producing faulty goods.
Also why do alfa not check plugs until the 60000 mile service, I found that several of the other plugs were loose they obviously havnt been touched since leaving the factory. I suggest you all check your spark plugs are done up to the correct torque. Read more
Don't run the engine. Get someone to look into the cylinder (with a scope) to check if there are any bits of plug left in there.
If plugs are not done up properly the heat cannot dissipate into the head casting the the plug will overhead - result: preignition and plug falls apart.
I may be called an old sexist for starting this thread.
Its just that I was very surprised yesterday when waiting at the lights by Kwik Fit yesterday that one of the fitters with oily hands and grimy overalls was a good looking young lady of late teens early twenties.
I don't think I have ever seen a female mechanic or fitter in any garage that I have ever been in anywhere in 40 years of motoring.
Does anybody know what percentage of females are in the repair business these days. Read more
But at least they won't have run over the children.
Do they mind the furniture as well?
Mapmaker, I think that an answer to this would require an explanation of the logic of the male mind ... and such a pradoxical phenomenon is far beyond my research capabilities ;-)
However, I'd hazard a guess that they could mind the furniture if it had alloy wheels and lots of horses ...
Anyone know just how big a job it is to change the timing belt on a 1996 1.3L Hyundai Accent? Any idea of a fair price?
many thanks,
~J Read more
many thanks for your replies - my sister has just bought one and wondered how much it'd cost to get done :-)
Browse
I would always choose the dealer first and the make of car second. Cars are pretty much of a muchness now, with few real dodgy models about.
But having enjoyed the services of a really excellent Peugeot dealership for six years, who gave me priority as a business user and diagnosed faults correctly and repaired them properly at the first attempt they were worth their weight in gold.
Unfortunately, I did not really appreciate them and when offered a slightly better cost-to-change at a trade in I foolishly transferred my custom to a nearby Citroen agent who was the exact opposite. Mis-diagnosed faults that kept me off the road for days on end, inability to repair anything without a second visit and wasted trips to pick up a car which had not been finished on time cost me a fortune
I still have the ring spanner one of their "Mechanics" left under the bonnet after a service. Didn't get round to returning it as they have gone out of business now.