December 2004
just purchased a golf GTI 1995 2.0 16v from an auction.
bought bilnd and it has its share of problems= could anyone make suggestions before i book in for work or put it back through auction....
Gearbox- at first driving seemed ok but 15 mins into drive home found i couldn't find 5th and then all of the gears seemed to be out of place, it was as if the whole box had shifted 3inches to the right ?? left it in drive for a day and it seemed back to normal but there is obviously something not right- could it be mounting or linkage or is it likely to be internally screwed?
ABS- light is on- that is all i know for now- seems to brake ok but light is continually on.
I know its vague but if you know these have common problems then maybe it will make me keep the car?
Cheers- Simeon Read more
I have used these tyres for the last few years without any problems. JUst recently I have had to replace two separately. The first was a front nearside tyre that had developed a bulge in the outer wall - clearly not repairable. The tyre was about 1/2 worn and I put it down to having been kerbed at some point. Then 2 weeks ago I had to replace a rear nearside tyre that had a tiny hole in the outer wall - it was only 2 months and 1500 miles old - there was no sign of any other damage. Am I just unlucky or have there been a number of problems? Read more
Hmm,
Thought as much. Of course I was fobbed off with "must have hit the kerb sir". I thought it was odd that there was no apparent damage to the sidewall. If it happens again I will be more inquisitive and keep the old tyre as well (which of course to add insult to injury) I had to pay £1 to dispose of!
If this has been covered before, apologies.
Tonight Mrs H, her 2 sisters and 2 brothers are at a school reunion, that's 5 people in case your maths is my standard or below. Youngest sister elects to drive, but she has a Ford Ka with only 4 seats and 4 seat belts. I make myself unpopular by saying that 4 seats and 5 people are a bad mix, especially if she has an accident; the insurance will only pay out for 4 personal injury cases, if they pay at all. And, it's possibly illegal. Sis-in-law says she has checked it's OK; you only have to wear a seat belt if one is provided but I didn't and don't think that's quite in the spirit of things. It's only a 1.5 mile journey but the sleet is coming horizontal and one of the brothers can't walk the journey; he's an opera singer ...
By this time a lot of unrelated family stuff was being discussed at full volume and clouding the issue somewhat so I gathered up my 6 passengers and left.
Your valued opinions please.
Hawkeye
-----------------------------
Stranger in a strange land Read more
Cars built after a certain date (mid 80s?) have to have rear seat belts fitted and it is now compulsory for all passengers to where seatbelts in cars fitted with them.
As the Ford Ka has only been built since the mid 1990s and is fitted with four belts this is the maximum number of passengers it is designed to carry.
My Audi is similar in only having two back seats and two seatbelts therefore only two passengers allowed. If I want to carry three I have to buy a new rear seat which comes with an extra seat belt. The smart forfour is exactly the same.
I have a 98 Saxo VTR which has developed a dry grinding noise on the overrun. It seems to come from the front offside and occurs after the car has travelled about a mile at normal speeds. It never occurs when the car is under power. Is it the shaft or is it the bearing? Can anyone out there shed some light on my problem.
Bob McC. Read more
Jesse - car trying to go faster than engine; foot off accelerator; engine braking. Call it what you want.
i have recently took delivery of a x-trail, which i am very happy with, however when i reverse in selection 4 wheel lock the transmission appears to feel like its winding up and feels stange,sometimes making noses, this happens off road on loose gravel or on tarmac , is this normal, i would ask the suppling dealer, but they are quite useless. thanks in anticipation. Read more
Yeah I know 'been done before' but hey nearly new year so new ideas and views.
How does everyone deal with really sharp frosts? The last 2 nights around my way the frost was as sharp as any I can remember. My screens on my cars have heated screens but they struggle to cope as only half the elements work. I find a good way of defrosting quickly is slightly open a window then put heater on recycling mode as air must be warmer inside the car than outside.
Any other tips/views? Read more
In France during the record bad winter of 1962/3 ("verglas" is the last word I will forget in French) I used to heat up the door key of the Vovlo P1800 with a silver Dunhill cigarette lighter before inserting it in the frozen door lock. Worked every time.
Having looked on Google and other search engines,I can't find anything related to the above tyres.
I believe they are no longer available,but can someone point me in the right direction for some piccies of said items?
Cheers.
Ken. Read more
My brother has a 51 Reg Fiat Brava and recently has developed a problem where it stalls when slowing down or stopping, it then be restarted straight away without any problem. The Engine Management/emission warning light also comes on and stays on for a while but eventually goes out. This problem repeats itself continually but without any pattern. The car has been checked twice by a FIAT dealer but to be honest they are a waste of time and only seem interested in the money. Has anyone come across this with other Fiat Bravas? any suggestions of where the problem could be? Read more
had something similar with a skoda few years ago. was speed sensor. If it was cutting out when driving then needing 15ish mins turned off before restarting would say was fuel pump. Agree with comment re fiat garages. When had Uno which needed new fuel pump was told needed thorough clean of carburettor at one garage (cost over £100) and told needed alternator somewhere else!
Hi all,
Could anyone explain how easy and roughly how you fit wheel bearings (front and back) to a ford fiesta 1991 1.6 XR2i. Is it within the scope of a competent DIYer and do I need any specialist tools. As I can't find the procedure in the Haynes Manual.
Many Thanks
Steveo Read more
I would think if Haynes has no mention.They are of compression type bearing into hub.. fronts will be.In which case specialist tools are needed..Unless you know what you are doing. best left to the experts..IIRC rears are taper bearings. Though may be wrong on the 91.
--
Steve
The cambelt failed recently on my 1996 1.8 Fiesta Diesel Encore (35k miles only). 7 bent valves. It was caused by the the alternator drives belt disintergrating, and pieces getting into the cambelt area and causing it to snap.
A local garage refurbished the head and refitted (££££), however it is now very difficult to start, especially when cold.
The glow plugs have been changed, and I have fitted a new battery.
The garage tested the compression, and told me it was 'ok, but not brilliant'. 'Each cylinder should be over 400, but yours is 350 - 400'' whatever that means.
Apart from the general question of what can I do with the car? what does the 'Cold start' cable do? because mine does not move at all, even when starting from cold.
When I do get it started, if i hold the revs at say 2500, it sometimes just stops running. Is this indicative of an air leak?
Regards
Read more
Browse
.jpg)
Thanks to both of you for the advice- was thinking of running back through auction but seems might not be as bad as i thought.
Thanks again.