December 2004

Question Omega suspension braking problem

allandm on 29 December 2004

I am at my wits end here. My 95 Omega V6 estate has an odd problem in that it slowly wanders to the right when braking gently, holding the wheel still. If you do it not holding the wheel the wheel steers slightly left and the car pulls up straight. Even stranger when you brake really hard the problem disappears! Have stripped down and checked the calipers and changed pads, replaced both front wishbones 6 months ago. Checked tyre pressures etc and had tracking done in September when I replaced a track rod end. Only things left, could it be a rear brakes problem? Any ideas? Read more

Schnitzel on 29 December 2004

Maybe an MOT test would be best to eliminate the brakes, does anyone know if these machines will test imbalance between both sides of an 'axle'?

Forum VW servicing

terry on 29 December 2004

have a T reg Polo up to now I have had it serviced in VW garages so have a full VW service history, but at a price!! is it worth keeping this up or should I get it serviced somewhere cheaper?

Angie Read more

Stuartli on 29 December 2004

I've a five-year-old Bora and, since I got it nearly two years ago, the basic work such as MOT tests and oil and filter changes have been entrusted to National with complete success; even more importantly, the cost is a fraction of the local VW service centre with MOTs, for instance, at half-price.

www.national.co.uk/

Original Equipment parts are readily available and, again, at greatly reduced costs from G(erman), S(wedish) and F(rench) Car Parts:

www.gsfcarparts.com/

You can order online or visit one of its outlets - a catalogue can be ordered online and you can find out for yourself just how reasonable its prices are for various marques.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by

Question Laguna Vibration

Manners on 29 December 2004

I have recently bought a 52 Laguna 1.9, It has just had it's 36,000 service. When the engine hits just over 1000rpm there is a very loud, and worrying, vibration this vibration subsides as soon as it passes this point. This vibration is at its worst in slow moving traffic when the engine is constantly at about this speed.

Is this normal or is there some underlying problem?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Read more

stagman on 1 January 2005

I've a 1.9DCI with 96k, had a similar buzzing vibration and traced to the front section of the exhaust. The front pipe has a convoluted flexible section which is covered with a supporting mesh, the joint seems to sag and cause a vibration. Not wanting to replace the front pipe just yet, I wrapped the flex joint with a stainless repair sleeve from Halfords which gentle grips the outer mesh to the convoluted section. Noise now stopped, and its been fitted for approx. 6months & 10k with no problems. Its worth checking. An easy check is to get someone to hold the engine speed at approx.1000 -1200rpm, (until noise develops) and grip/apply side pressure on the rear silencer on its flex mountings, on my car the noise would disappear, this action tensions the afore mentioned front flex joint.

Question VW POLO door locks

terry on 29 December 2004

My wife has a T reg Polo when there's a frost the lock freezes and can't open doors or boot is this normal for polo's? any suggestions to stop this?

terry Read more

Dynamic Dave on 29 December 2004

Careful spraying too much oil into the locks. You'll end up diluting and washing out the grease that's been put there during assembly of the car.

This thread should help you. Pay particular attention to Cyd's comments.

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=8483

Also read this thread:-

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=19068

Forum Half Price Vauxhall Sale 28th December

dylan on 29 December 2004

Here's the list of prices:

62.232.35.97/pls/thurlby/site.view_specials

See if you can find the car that's half price ... Read more

PatrickO on 8 January 2005

The ride seems fine, although I haven't thrown it around yet. It does have lowered suspension and 17" rims.

Question 100k vectra - what's lurking?

Mr Fish on 29 December 2004

Just bought a 51 reg vectra estate with 100,000 miles on the click and I'm wondering what I should keep an eye out for?

It's the 2.0 DTI engine and it's been serviced at the 20k interval by a main dealer. Everything seems to work ok (yet to test the ABS) but as I'm new to these cars, after a few years of xantia ownership, I'm keen to know if there are any problem areas I should keep an eye out for. Read more

Question No heating in rover 216

korky on 29 December 2004

hi,
ive got a problem with my heater in my 216 sli (n reg)
had the car about a month now and it was running perfectly,
but just over a week ago it went on its 1st motorway trip,
after about an hour i noticed i couldn't get any heat from the blowers,
i got off the motorway for 30 mins then it started working again,
however over the last week, i very rarely get heat out of the car,
the temperature guage is showing normal and the car runs fine,
is it just a new thermostat needed or could it be more serious?

thanks, korky Read more

korky on 2 January 2005

"Do you mean. it cools down while driving.When you sit in traffic/idle its warm?"

no,it will work occasionally when driving, not sat in traffic, but then it shuts off, as far as im aware, im sure the guage is fine too,
the water level is fine too, ive proberly checked it half a dozen times in the past week or so, as i say, i'll flush the system out and ive just ordered a new thermostat for it too

Question Starting problem with Fiesta '93

MattG on 29 December 2004

I have a problem with starting my '93 reg Fiesta in that the engine will turn over but will not actually start. Started fine one morning, problem occured the next. Could this be the starting motor?
Read more

mfarrow on 5 January 2005

Hi Matt

Thanks for coming back with your outcome. I guess my first question should have been "is fuel getting to the plugs" and "are they sparking"!

Question Fiesta 94 LX Common Earth problem?

linzi_mac on 29 December 2004

Hi
Got a really strange problem I need help with.
Whilst driving along my airbag/seatbelt light comes on and then all of a sudden my dash lights and external lights dim, i have no brake lights or hazards and the car slowly comes to a halt. I got it going again just by pumping the throttle? the car kangaroo hopped for about a min then all of sudden everything came on full blast, lights an all and was back to normal.
This has happened to me twice now. The first time was on a cold morning, I had heaters and everything on in the car full blast whilst I was scraping the ice of the outside. As soon as I got into the car and stuck it in reverse it died. I had to jump start the battery to get it going again that time.
Seems like an earth problem but no idea where to start looking! Read more

linzi_mac on 30 December 2004

think have solved the problem. We had checked all of the cables between alternator and battery etc and all were clean and looked ok. Tested alternator and it was charging battery ok too.
I read on another site about a similar problem. Guy checked a cable between the alternator and the starter motor. The cable inside the insulation had snapped, so he had not noticed it at first.
Checked this cable on my car and was very very loose. Took 3 good turns on a spanner to get it tight.
Fingers crossed thats all it was!

Thanks

Question brava dash light and advice

bigc90210 on 29 December 2004

hi all, i currently own a R reg fiat brava sx 1.4, and would like some advice

i was driving today and one of the lights next to the oil one came on, and i referred to my haynes manual but it doesnt say what it is, and i was wondering wether anyone else does.

its not the oil (oil can logo)
its not the indicators (obviously)
its not the battery (battery icon)
its not the key code one (lil yellow key icon
its not the handbrake one ( steering wheel icon)

its kinda a pipe thing with a spray of liquid, though i dont know wether its trying to indicate water or oil, and what about it.

also, its done 86,000 miles, and i want to get it serviced, iv only been driving it the last 1,000 miles, and the people i bought it from are pretty much cowboys. It needs to be able to drive long distances, so does anyone have any tips on main hardware that will need to be replaced/inspected?

iv also had a problem (since i got it) with it leaking oil, and my windows steaming. i took it back where i got it and they "sorted" the steaming window problem, though the oil is still there (i hate these cowboy people). all i want is a car that works!

many thanks in advance for any help you may have Read more