October 2004
i have a astra 1.7 td 96. when i go to brake the pedel very nearley goe\'s to the floor before the brakes work. the brakes still work ok but should it travel so far before working. i have just got the car. all the other motors i have had the brakes have been as sharp as swearword deleted!!. Read more
There has been a history of problems with regard to oil consuption and cyclinder linings with this engine. I am currently considering a Vectra 2.0 DTI as my next car, albeit a December 2003 model.
Have all of the problems with this engine been resolved, and would it be a sensible used buy?
Many thanks in anticipation.... Read more
I had this query earlier this year when we were looking to buy a 2.0DTI Zafira. Bought the car in the end, and we have had it 3 months now.With 2500 miles under its belt can happily say that the oil level has not dropped from new. The car was run in iaw HJ recommendations. We had to wait for the car as it was a special Energy edition and it took VX 4 weeks to get it made ( comination of interior blue trim and exterior Energy blue colour) so the engine might be pretty new and had not sat long in a crate ( if they still do?)
Will this start to use oil i don't think so will a December 2003 model be ok can't say, depends on the price is it. I tend to believ problems with oil usage are related to (1)How the car was driven when new ( run in) and (2) how the car is driven when cold ( ragged)
Have had difficulty starting my Mondeo today. On cranking there is a loud clicking noise which seems to come from glovebox area when sitting in the car.
Eventually car starts and then runs well. Serviced only recently and new plugs/leads. Weird thing however is that as car is trying to start the the windscreen wipers move across the screen (even though not turned on) and the central locking seems to be activating.
I've been out tonight and the lights are dimming on cranking the engine, but would a failing battery account for the wipers and central locking activating on their own?? As far as I'm aware the car has the original battery (car now 6 years old).
All help appreciated.
Read more
All this talk of earthing points reminds me that I would like to check the ECU earth point on my 1.8 Mondeo (P reg Mk 1). I know it is on the offside inner wing but it is obscured by the PAS reservoir which I can't shift. Is there a secret catch/latch that I'm missing?
What I'm trying to rectify is a hesitancy at low throttle openings (ie 30 in fourth on flat road) which occurs after approx 1/2 mile from cold start up and disappears after a further 1/2 to 3/4 mile as engine warms up. Performance ok after this initial problem.
Any clues please?
Hello,
The following questions relate to a 1995 Passat 1.9 Estate.
Fitstly, is the correct name for the tailgate struts, "tailgate gas struts"?
Secondly, can anyone give me a ballpark figure for a new tailgate gas strut? (I've had a quote of around £25 for 2nd hand, and I wondered how that might compare to new)
Kind regards,
Cyrill666
www.inglebybarwick.com, www.yarm..net, www.just-billingham.com Read more
Thanks everyone - lifesaving replies as always.
www.inglebybarwick.com, www.yarm..net, www.just-billingham.com
I have a mk3 fiesta. No leccy windows, power steering, central locking or immobiliser. Today my key decides that it's too worn to work anymore, so I use the red one instead for now. Now as the old key is more or less redundant, I thought I'd take it apart. I found a little glass tube with a little copper coil and what looked like a couple of diodes in it. The car still starts without this little contraption in the key, so what is it supposed to do ? Read more
Hi chaps,
I beleive that Ford stopped supplying a red master key approx 1996, instead supplying 2 black keys, both chipped. Both of these keys being needed to program another spare. Obviously its worth getting a third key cut for everyday use and keeping the other two safe.
Pastyman...
I was thinking that we sometimes hear about peoples' bad experiences of a garage. So what about turning it on its head and let's hear about exemplary service you have received, beyond the normal call of duty.
I'll start the ball rolling - had to think hard about this one but in the end a Renault garage has to be my choice. We once had a new Renault and quite soon after taking delivery something odd happened to the brakes. We phoned the garage on a Saturday and explaining that we needed the car on the Monday, they sent a mechanic around on the SUNDAY! Apparently it was a common problem but nonetheless, we were very impressed. Sadly the garage in question is no longer around, they were merged into a larger group. Read more
So what about turning it on its head and let's hear about
exemplary service you have received, beyond the
normal call of duty.
Thought this one had cropped up before.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=9664
This'll get merged with the other one at some point later. DD.
CCA (cold crank amp)
Reserve capacity (minutes)
Ampere Hour (Ah) capacity
The vehicle manufacturer state the battery to be used is a 600CCA / 115mins - Volvo V70 Diesel
The motor factors all list this particular cars replacement to be 096/4 where 096 is the UK battery code and 4 is the number of years of service guaranteed.
A typical 096/4 has a rating 650CCA, 130 mins, 75Ah. I'm not sure if all 096/4's have these same figures but I got these figures from a published table.
Vauxhall "go" batteries are guaranteed 3 years and are offered in Ah, 72Ah and 80Ah being the closest in the range.
Will the Go 72Ah be good enough? I don't know the CCA/min rating for the 72Ah or the 80Ah. Perhaps someone with a password to the Tradeclub website can go and see if the information is available in the "online book". If not I will phone Vaux on Mon morning and ask them for the CCA figures, and will post them here.
Why do I want a "go" battery???? Because I have a friend who can get me a discount. Here are some prices I found so far:
Motorfactors
096 Hi-output - 55.50 inc Vat
LSUK (Lucas)
096/4 about - 78 inc VAT (discount given on retail 89+VAT)
Halfords
096 3 year? - 65 Inc VAT
Vauxhall GO
72Ah - 40 inc VAT (includes discount)
Read more
Hi, I'm thinking of getting a mk3 Golf TDi, and I was just wondering if they are available in 110 bhp guise, as I think that would be ideal. I'd like as new as possible (say an 'R' reg)Also, are there any weak areas to look out for? Cheers Read more
Thanks a lot for your advice, you're right about the Vento, very rare, especially the diesel version! Quite a few golfs on ebay however, cheers.
Well, after being in our service for a good few years, the Clio looks to have blown its head gasket again (boiling, mayo on oil cap).
We don't see the point in fixing it (last time was >£300) so have decided to get rid.
Don't really care too much where it goes so long as it's not our problem anymore.
Any ideas? It runs, everything works on it (save gasket) - leccy windows, power steering, remote locking, etc
We're not too worried about how much we get either, just want rid. Would break my heart to pay someone to take it away and scrap it as it's only one repair away from being useful to someone.
Any advice much appreciated.
--
Lee
MINI adventure in progress Read more
Er, I'm not suggesting that I'd sell myself it without letting the purchaser know that I think it's knackered.
If it's in auction, then I think there's an element of let the buyer beware - although I'm not sure of the legal position of this.
--
Lee
MINI adventure in progress
Just been reading Autocar magazine dated 28th Sept and the interesting article on the Renault Logan. It made mw wonder how they can produce this car for so little - about £3500 although closer to £5000 apparently for Western European markets.
The write-up is positive about the car, this is not something lashed up from dated technology but utilises some of Renault's current engineering such as engines and chassis.
Admittedly the styling is a bit restrained compared to other Renaults but how do they do it for so little money? I would have thought the cost of the raw materials would be close to the selling price!
Maybe we really are entering the age of the disposable car. Assuming it comes with a 3 year warranty (and most cars do), it's difficult to see how one could lose out on this. Read more
I met a proud Logan owner in Bucharest this week. Apparantly they are selling 50% faster than Dacia can build them. When you consider that the Dacia 1310 (Renualt 12) has only just gone out of production in Romania it gives you a sense of perspective and makes you realise why these things are going to succeed in the developing economies. When the staple vehicle has been based on 1960s technology then even a low spec car based on new technology is a huge advance.
The knock on is that the road systems are even worse than the UK (!!) and traffic congestion is appalling.
Browse
You can tell if the mod has been done by the fitment of a Banjo shaped plastic blanking plug in the bonnet pressing immediately above the brake fluid reservoir. If it hasnt been done contact the local dealer. Make sure that when they do the mod they replace the fluid as well as fitting the bung, they didnt do EITHER on my neighbours car when they did his!
Andrew
--
Simplicate and add lightness!!