October 2004
Hi,
Engine of the above car (CVH) is leaking a very small amount of oil. Cant totally see where its coming from as it is very small, but there is oil on the underside of the engine, and a few drops on the drive way.
Im currently using 5W30, but its due for a change now.
Would changing the grade to 10W40 have any effect on the leak, as its a thicker oil?
Im not worried about it, just wondering as the oil is going to be changed anyway.
Cheers,
Dave
Read more
It sounds like what I'm after (small MPV, cheap, reliable, safe-ish), but I've been watching out for a week or so and I've not seen one. In fact, the only Mazda was an old MX5! Are Mazda's just thatrare? How come, when they are so reliable. Is there a downside to buying something so unusual? Read more
I've seen as many Premacys as I've seen Mazda 3s, and that's not very many. I've probably seen more Signums that those (but that's probably because I drive past the Vauxhall plant at Ellesmere Port twice a day).
Andy
A friend of mine owns a W-reg focus that gives her little trouble. However, this morning she recons that despite running the engine for approx 20mins, the heater only blew out cold air. I asked if there wwas any signs of water leakage, suspecting that there was a hole in the heater matrix, but there isnt any sign of a leak.
Does anyone think that it will be the thermostat packing in?
Any idea's most welcome..
Ta
JH Read more
I'm not sure about the temp on the guage, i asked her and she didnt know.. same goes for the coolant level..
looks like im gonna have to check it out for myself.. i'll run it to normal temp and then check for leaks etc after work
JH
How's that done then ?
Surely, if you up the power, the engine uses up more fuel. Looking at BR posts, especially with diesels, most people who have had their engine 'chipped' find the car uses LESS fuel.
Any ideas ? Read more
A little real example for you all....
My Saab 9-5 has been 'chipped' from 170bhp to a claimed 250bhp and from 220lb/ft of torque to 300.
The fuel consumption (on the trip computer) has dropped from an average of 29.5mpg to 28.0mpg. The car is considerably faster than when standard and I accelerate at full whack out of the several roundabouts on my route to work (NSL dual carriageway) and the car will spin its front wheels at 70mph if one is brutal with the throttle. It has also done 125,000 miles in total with the last 20k done with the increased boost. The original turbo has recently blown, whether the increased boost contributed to its demise is open to discussion, but people with standard cars have replaced turbos at half this mileage.
I'm certain in absolute terms a modified engine will last fewer miles than a similarly treated standard engine but, to my mind, the engine will outlast my ownership of the vehicle which is all I care about (for good or ill).
Has anyone heard of a mk 3 granada being converted to a pick up,or know of any sites,ive seen the mk2 on the top gear site,but am interested in converting a mk3.thanks
Read more
Following on from my Volvo S60 thread, I would appreciate some advice on buying 2nd hand from a main Volvo dealer.
I have a Toyota Corolla to trade in. So if I do this through the Volvo dealer, what sort of movement will the dealer be willing to give on a 2 year old S60 (say about £13-£14K)?
I doubt he will sell the Corolla himself, so I'll be at the mercy of what the Toyota dealer will give him (would I be better asking the Toyota dealer to buy off me for cash and cut out the Volvo-Toyota deal?).
If the Volvo dealer doesn't have the S60 I want he said he can source from within the Volvo used network-how would he be open to haggling on a motor he has just brought in from 150 miles away, and from another dealership.
Ah, the joys of car buying-I'm sure houses are easier....... Read more
The problem I'm having is that you switch the ignition on and all the lights come on but when the yellow light goes out and you turn the key again to start the car its dead, the engine doesn't even turn over there's just a click. the radio, lights etc still work and the battery isn't flat. Sometimes after several attempts it will start, other times it needs to be kick started and sometimes it will start after 30 minutes to an hour (admittedly sometimes its been days later).
When the engine does turn over the car starts first time you don't have to turn the engine over for any lenght of time before it fires. Its had a new starter motor (needed according to the AA), battery (the autoelectrian's advice)and alternator (garage's advice)and I've still got the same problem.
The above people are saying its a faulty new starter motor, faulty new battery (I haven't bothered taking back to the garage).
Anyone who knows what's wrong with it please share the information with me - its a mystery I'm now getting bored with. Being stranded in car parks isn't my favourite pastime.
Thanks for reading. Pam
Read more
I would go along with DL. Ignition switch/wiring prob. all other possibles seem to have been looked at
--
Steve
Any clues to where I can find any download or pdf files on how to carryout Paintless Dent Repairs Read more
I've seen those Those "melt and pull" things in Halfords, but not used one. I tried a hot glue gun, but it didn't stick enough. You really have to get all signs of wax/polish off before trying. This was before I drilled a hole and pulled the ding out with a self-tapper.
Paint sticks really well (original paint anyway) - see how much effort it takes when rubbing it down to bare metal.
Martin
I saw someone changing an offside wheel on the hard shoulder of the M25 - are you allowed to do this? Visibility was very poor due to low sun, they were lucky not to have been clipped by a passing vehicle. Read more
one can usually limp or roll to the next lay-by, like
people try to pull up by an emegency phone.
>>I would bet that the average bod would have no idea about immediately dipping the clutch when the engine dies so that some momentum was maintained. It would still need an average of 200yds to roll to the next lay-by. A tall order even on the flat?
Dear all,
I would like some advice on further action regarding something that happened today.
3 weeks ago I took my car into a local fast fit (will not name names) to have a new tyres fitted and tracking down onto the car as the 2 front tyres was worn out due to the tracking.
All went well, car tracking okay and tyres no problems.
Today, went back for a recheck as part of the service for the original job (free recheck after 2 weeks etc..) The lad who was doing the job said that the tracking was out - so went ahead and to do the 'adjustments'. Now the equipment used was a light beam onto a mirror to a guide.
So he did it, said it was all okay, I got the form signed to say it was adjusted.
As soon as I got back into the car I felt something wasn't quite right (before I even turned the engine on - sixth sense?) Proceed to take the car out onto the road and onto local dual road and gaining speed (NSL). The steering on the car wasn't right and the car seems to pull to the left all of the time. Not happy with this and the car steering becomes more a danger as I continued on. Stopped car and phoned the garage up straight away and complained that something wasn't right.
Manager at the time wasn't sure what to do - so I said I will be taking it to Kwik-Fit to see what they can find.
Now on Fiat Seicento the tracking should be -1mm. Kwik-fit told and showed me that Passenger side was -4mm and drivers side was -7mm. No wonder it was pulling to the left!
Now Kwik-fit corrected the problem at cost and I told the garage at fault the problem, that toe out was in total -11mm wrong. And I am not happy and that my safety and other road users safety was put at risk due to this issue. Manager said why I didn?t bring the car back to them to sort out. I said "why shouldn't I", as there is a fault with your staff training on the equipment. They admitted they were wrong.
Now the help - were do I go from here? Do I report them to head office and reclaim the costs back, or do I get legal advice.
Read more
kennybase,
It is good that you are now happy with your car and its handling.
But, you have changed 2 things at once - tyres and tracking - therefore, you cannot be sure that the tracking has made all of the difference.
number_cruncher
Browse
.jpg)
I'm using a 10-40 in son's 1.1 fiesta with no problems (after new rocker cover gasket stopped leaks yesterday!)
madf