December 2004
On my 1999 Rover 400 sometimes when I go to put the seat belt on, I find that not enough seat belt comes out i.e it locks and I can just about buckle up.
I think the problem may be that the seat belt has become tangled up in the B post. How easy is this to fix at home bearing in mind my car has SRS system.
Thanks Read more
Can anyone out there help, I have a r reg polo diesel with a lucas pump on which will not start or even fire, The A.A kindly dumped it on us apparently it ran out of diesel, some diesel was put in and bled in the normal way but still would not start. I know this car was well over due a timing, belt so set about stripping it to check in case it had jumped, it all aligned up, so continued to install a new belt, but still had the problem of not starting. I fitted a new fuel filter to eliminate that and now have made a small fuel tank to bypass the tank, filter and pipework and gone stright to pump, still will not fire. I don't seem to have much pressure at the injector pipes/injectors.
I spoke to our local Lucas branch who were amazed it had a lucas pump on this car, he suggested getting a code reader to connect to the pump. any more suggestions/remidies as i think it is the pump at fault.
cheers Read more
My local dealers insisted on doing a full engine flush (at extra cost)on my 2.2 diesel Saab's first service.
I must admit I am sceptical about this especially on a virtually brand new engine.
What is the general consensus of everyone on this, ie is engine flushing good or bad, can the flushing fluid dilute the new oil if not meticulously drained afterwards ? Read more
I would say that this is completely unecessary on a new engine. A well-service engine should never require a flush - it is something you only do when you have to. Modern oils contain detergents that keep the engine clean (so long as the oil is changed regularly).
I suspect that this is just a nice little 'earner' for the dealer.
Just having to replace my engine !
What had happened was the oil seal had gone in the turbocharger......The other week the car starts throwing out a LOT of whiteish smoke, the revs go sky high, I pull over, turn off the ignition, pull out the key get out thinking it's gonna catch fire and it's still revving to extreme !!
The more I talk to people about what happened, the MORE I hear about people they know who have had the same experiences on other Vauxhalls, Astras and Vectras... exactly the same thing happening, ie...oil seal gone in the turbocharger and then it starts to suck oil from the engine and burn it throwing the revs off the scale (even with the key out!) until it knackers the engine.
Do you think it could be cheap seals Vaux are using in the turbos?! Anyone else heard/seen this ???
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Hmm, I was very well aware of the oil consumption on this particular engine and had queried with Vauxhall, the amounts of oil it was using but was reassured it was normal.
After the engine had done this and subsequently died, Vauxhall had it for a week (plus consultation with Vauxhall technical) before admitting they "didn't know what had caused it".
I find it a little 'worrying' that they didn't know what had caused it?! And since speaking to a few other people / garages now it is apparent that this is not so uncommon among turbo diesels.
I can't seem to find that many road tests of this vehicle. HJ are you planning on doing a road test at some point? Anyone with any experience of one? Read more
i think the only similar car that is uglier is the Hyundai Santa Fe which looks verey plasticy
Can someone tell me if there is an industry or legal definition of what is acceptable as delivery mileage on a new vehicle? Read more
It depends on how far it has been driven to deliver it.
I used to drive cars around the country for a Vauxhall Dealership in Leicester. 300 miles was not uncommon for it to be swapped between dealers then delivered to the customer.
The real question is IMO, is it REALLY delivery mileage or, has the dealer had it out as a demonstrater on the sly?
A 100 mile car that has been tried by 4 different people is perhaps not delivery mileage, whereas a 100 mile car that has been driven from Exeter to Truro specifically for a buying customer perhaps is.
Hugo
A recurring theme in the Backroom is that there are not enough Police and in particular not enough Traffic Police to enforce the offences of which we all complain.
Well it is easy to look up numbers of Police and, as it is a 'plus' for this Government, politicians are not shy in crowing about the record numbers.
There are now the highest number of serving police since records began in 1921 and also the highest number of civilian police staff - recruited to assist serving officers to carry out their duties.
Local Government Traffic Wardens and those things that give off a blue flash and take a photograph, also reduce the workload formerly undertaken by the police.
There have been anecdotal stories of savage cuts in Traffic police numbers with the manpower diverted to more pressing crime. However I cannot find any evidence to confirm or deny these claims.
Whilst appreciating that various Police Authorities may have different policies, is there any definitive evidence that Traffic Police numbers have declined? Or is it another 'Urban Myth'?
The primary duty of Traffic Police is enforcement of motoring law to enhance safety on our roads. Given that our casualty rates are, in general terms, at an all time low and better than nearly every other country in the world, perhaps it is appropriate that less emphasis should be placed on(manual) traffic policing.
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Judging by the length of the list of capital offences, a guillotine or firing squad might be more efficient!
As the new owner of a car with more driving potential than the four door family saloons which have served me well for the past 30 years I think I would benefit from some training. I want to (re)learn how to drive fast and safely, in my own car. Can anyone recommend where this training might be obtained, preferably in the Midlands. There are companies offering rally experiences on gravel, off road experiences in 4X4s, or a Porche/other supercar experience on the track. But none of these are really what I need. Read more
I'd rather be seen as competent and smug than incompetent and indifferent.
IAM are very good. :-) www.iam.org.uk
Father-in-law managed to put a tank full of unleaded into his 98(s) mondeo 1.8td, car spluttered to a halt.Car went into garage and unleaded drained,fuel filter changed and off he went.However,car now failing to start regularly,only starts after priming fuel pump,seems as if there is air in the system somehow.Could anybody shed any light on what's happening please? Read more
When petrol goes through the fuel system of a diesel, it washes any seals it comes into contact with and unless you're very lucky it ruins them. I'm afraid it looks like a new fuel pump is required.:-(
Haven't seen the car... but apparently it is inclined to lose revs somewhat alarmingly whilst driving. This is an intermittent fault.
That's as much as I know - oh it's a petrol engine (really helpful, I know) - anybody have any suggestions?
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Silly q perhaps, but when was its last service?
H
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Any seatbelt needs to be pulled out slowly..If you dont it locks..I doubt it has tangled.B- post. Safety restraint system is airbag system..They do suffer as any other motor.if car at a severe angle on possibly driveway/road..Not seen one so far tangled unless extreme force put on it to return..bear in mind you need to push it..
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Steve