November 2004
During the recent cold snap I noticed an excess of mist on the inside of the car. Today I discovered the drivers side rear footwell absolutley soaking wet. I dried it out the best I could and then played a hosepipe down the rear door to try to see if that was the place it came from. However I couldnt see any ingress occouring. Any Ideas where it could be coming from anyone?.The car is a 1997 model by the way. Read more
Anyone know what the offence might be if someone were to drive with faulty/broken windscreen wipers? Not me but someone I know is dragging their feet getting their car fixed.
Thanks, Rob Read more
>>It was called the V wiper and fitted over the index
finger of your glove.
I got one from the Bike Show in about 1978. It
was rubbish.
And it fell off after about two miles!
Could anyone advise about how much it would cost to have the anti-freeze replaced in a 1l Micra, year 2000? Read more
Too right mapmaker. Even quite clued up people seem to fall into this trap.
Manufacturers should not really be allowed to do it.
I have recently purchased a Nissan Primera, and shortly after buying it started to notice a smell of rotten eggs. Basically the cause of this was the Alternator overcharging the battery, which started to dry it up and emit this smell.
I got the alternator changed, and replaced the battery with one from another working car. The smell dissappered immediately.
2 weeks on, I popped open the bonnet and noticed that the tray holding up the battery, and the rod holding in place the battery, seems to be covered in what looks like dried up battery fluid (white,greyish in colour and flaky)
Any ideas of what the cause of this could be, it's baffled me.
Thanks
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Some very interesting ideas, & I guess there are some things that I can try, like cleaning the area, which is not going to break the bank.
I have a 2002 Volkswagen Passat 130 TDI Sport which I bought new as an import (Warranty expired) The problem I have started at the end of August when I had to make an emergency stop. The ABS cut in and the car stopped when I went to move off the car would not move and stayed like that for about 1 to 2 minutes after a click sound that appeared to come from the front of the car I found that I could move the car. I carried on my journey and found when I got to work that the rear offside caliper was binding. I managed to ease the binding but I have found that the fuel consumption on the car has dropped by about 25% and that from time to time the brakes appear to be binding, the rear offside caliper has been replaced and as a precaution the handbrake cable to this caliper was also been replaced. The fault still remains. The front calipers have been cleaned and cooper grease applied to the bearing surfaces. The car has had a thorough brake test by a local brake centre including an ABS diagnostic check and no faults were found. This is obviously an intermitent fault. I have been told that the ABS Modulator may be at fault and this would not have been apparent on the diagnostic check. I would appreciate any comments please help! Read more
My wife's got a passat 2001 130 sport with what sounds exactly the same problem you car had. The initial problem (last week) was the brakes sticking on as per your problem. Recently though the brakes aren't as responsive as they were and the acceleration is sluggish and the brakes bind. I've changed discs, pads and fluid today as it needed doing but this hasn't helped. Can you let me know if changing the master cylinder / servo fixed the problem. A response would be greatly appreciated as i'm booked in with VW but would prefer to do it myself. Regards Mark
Hi
Purchased a new Corolla in August. T3 1.6litre has done about 1,600 miles.
Ever since I bought it the idle speed seems to be rather low normally about 700, but ocassionally dropping to 600 with accompanying slight vibration. Pick-up is fine and the revs adjust normally for the automatic choke and when the air-con is switched on.
I took it back to the dealership and they plugged it into the diagnostics computer and they said everything is O.K. and that Corollas tend to run with a low idle. Seemed strange to mention this afterwards or is that me being cynical.
I'm very happy with the Corolla, but just has the above minor irritation. Is this anything to be concerned about and do any other Corolla owners have the same experience?
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initial 2000rpm for a sec or two after turning the ignition then sits at around 1600rpm slowly dropping the warmer it gets. Is this type of cold operation familiar with your vehicles or is that high also?
2000 is high - usual warm-up is no more than 1200 initially, soon (within a minute or so) dropping to 1000, in my experience.
Any body out there that can give me an idea of whether I am barking up the wrong tree, with what I perceive to be low MPG for my Mondeo?
Considering the SCi engine with a 6 speed box is supposed to be more fuel efficient, I a bit miffed to find I am getting less MPG than the 2001 Zetec it replaced. I am averaging between 27.5 - 29.5 per gallon, where as the previous Zetec gave me between 31-35.
My local dealer has reset the Engine Management, there words not mine and it has made no difference. It has been back in again and all they have said is that there is a new software upgrade in February that may resolve it! My nephew works for another dealer and when I got this car he said that there were a number of this model in and out of the workshop for the same reason.
The type of mileage is mainly motorway driving to a max of 80mph. I work 13 miles from home and start work at 05:00, so I very rarely need to change gear once I am on the move. More or less the same for the home journey, although I do get a bit of stationary traffic once I am almost home. Outside work use is the usual visits here and there and so on but it is never used for short hops to shops. I don't thrash it so I am not wasting fuel there.
Are my expectations too high?
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You dont need to continually reset the trip computer.
The mpg figure is an 'average' of the cars fuel consumption
The computer will give more accurate results, if you just reset it once, then leave it.
If you keep resetting it, the mpg figure goes back to zero, until the computer can recalculate your average mpg, which will constantly change anyway, depending on the type of journey, and how much throttle you give the car when accelerating.
My previous car was a 2001 Ford Focus 2.0i ghia, it returned '33 mpg' based on the trip computer readings. I never reset the computer.
The Mondeo is a heavy car, so from a 1.8 petrol, the mpg figures you have quoted would seem about right.
If you are after fuel economy go for a TDCi diesel, they are quicker off the mark and cheaper to tax.
My head is trying to make the best of an argument that my heart has already won;
I've been hankering after a Landcruiser* (Colorado/Prado) for some time now and finally maybe about to give in to temptation. It will satisfy an almost child-like desire to own/drive one of these that I've had for several years - no rationality here I'm afraid. By the same token, it may not live up to my expectations and I might change after 6-12 months but I have to know......
I will probably only do about 6-8K per year and it will be used as family transport for longer journeys and some very occasional commuting. Probably the only off road excursions will be across a muddy/snowy field or track on our frequent trips/holidays to the Highlands.
I'm looking at 6-7 year old cars; main question is do I go for the 3.0 TD or the 3.4 V6 petrol?
The diesel is invariably dearer due to, I presume, higher demand and therefore will probably hold it's value better (and probably be easier to sell on if necessary). However, a similar age/mileage 3.4 V6 is not only usually much cheaper but also comes only in top-of-the-range "VX auto" spec. The premium for a diesel can be around 30% !
Given my relatively small annual mileage the extra fuel cost for the 3.4 V6 may not be that great, it's lower initial price and luxury spec are very tempting.....
Any first hand experiences and general comments would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Chad.
P.S. Before you ask, no, I do not need a 4X4 nor do I need 8 seats etc. - I just WANT a Landcruiser (and Discos, Shoguns etc. just dont do it for me).
P.P.S All warnings on how they drive and handle differently to "normal" cars have been received loud and clear. ;-)
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Agree with you Guys - Landcruisers are the excellent. I am at present drilling a well in Yemen, all Oil Companies and service companies use them here and I guess it's the same throughout the middle east. These machines get hammered on desert tracks and just keep going. The local village blocked our access road 4 days ago so the deal is we have to rent local Landcruisers so I've just inspected 2 tonight and 3 more tomorrow. We requre full roll cage fitted and vehicle to be roadworthy the two tonight were 5 yrs old and everything was in order, which is testement to their build quality. All expats have to have one other "extra" - a guard with an AK 47. First time I came to location I was nervous enough with a guard and gun, then my driver got out and retrieved his AK 47 which had been jammed between his seat and transmission tunnel, adds a whole new dimension to the auto or manual transmission option!!
As an aside we were running low on diesel so my driver just flagged down a fuel truck and filled up.....try that in the UK
Cheers
Jim
Just visited by local Pug agent to get a set of rear wheel bearings (drum brake) for my 1999 406 diesel estate . I was told that you can't change the bearings but you have to replace the complete hub at circa £130 + vat. Is this right?? As a Technician I fail to see why these bearings can't be changed. Anyone had any experience of these and can the bearings be changed?? I suspect that Peugeot are trying it on.
Your divine assistance and advice is appreciated.
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These are the views of Robin the Technician with 35 years in the trade. I fix, therefore I am... Read more
Robin
No, Peugeot are not trying it on!
Yes indeed Motaquip do these hubs. Need to know how many ABS Teeth there are either 29 or 48 teeth if you have ABS on your vehicle.
The last two occasions I needed a suspected rear wheel bearing it turned out to be noisy faulty tyres. (Thanks to Avon)
HTH
Charles
It seems to me that speed cameras are regarded by some as a total panacea towards speeding control.
Personally I felt there was nothing wrong with the friendly chat with the copper in the good old days that used to warn of an offence having been comitted but not necessarily follow up with a booking.
Now here we have someone who is now a terrified driver, which cannot make the roads any safer.
I say that whilst speed cameras are potentially a good enforcement tool, better use of the results they pick up are required.
IMO each case should be looked upon on its merits. A higher degree of flexability should be allowed. In the case of the lady in the letter this may have meant that the first incident at a few mph above would have resulted in a letter being sent to warn her of no intention to prosecute, but that future lapses mey result in prosecution. The second may have triggered a FPN and the third .... poss the same.
On the other hand, if she has collected that many FPNs in a short space of time, what is she thinking of when she is driving? Speed cameras are usually well sighted and visable, as are speed limits. The vast majority of people, whilst they may not be considered great drivers, are capable of adhering to speeds in built up areas, especially with bightly labelled cameras.
Or am I missing something?
Hugo Read more
They are all different and you cannot depend on
any external clues as to what it does (other than very
large letters spelling it out !)
>>
Thanks for that info on no standard vans.
In my area the ANPR vans deploy an A frame sign spelling out that it is not a speed camera etc. Often the sign is quite a few yards from the van.
I think using said signs is an excellent PR approach.
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There is also a fix to remove pollen filter box (quite easy job) and reseal around it with any good sealant - I used bathroom sealant . This stops water getting into the air intake below the pollen filter. Takes about 20 mins in total and easy. Only needs a 10mm socket etc.
The windscreen surrounds are not meant to stop all water as they are not a tight seal....