March 2005
Some manufacturers (BMW for one) are now talking 60k intervals for air filter changes, which to me seems grossly excessive if the engine is to run at maximum efficiency.
I personally feel that 20k intervals would ensure the engine is running close to it`s designed optimum and wondered what policy B.R`s adopt.???? Read more
My 1995 MK3 diesel Fiesta has been a bad starter from cold, so I invested in 4 new NGK glowplugs a couple of weeks ago and it is still just as bad. It turns over fine and will go after about 15-20 secs emmitting a cloud of smoke when it fires up. The car runs fine when warm, no smoke, burns no oil, no noisier than it should be and still returns correct MPG.
The new glowplugs have'nt really made any difference. The old old ones did'nt look that bad at all. For reference so far this year the car has had oil and filter change, new air and fuel filter and has 87000 miles on the clock.
I have checked all the fuses under the steering wheel and they are all fine. I suspect maybe the glowplug relay is falty. Any idea where the relay is located and how to test for this?
Thanks in advance for your replies. Read more
Don't know if you've solved this one yet. I have an identical vehicle, and ended up replacing the battery and glow plugs before finally nailing the problem. (The battery was a bit old, but the plugs were pretty good. I went for NGK ones though.)
I found that the fuel lines were leaking air when the engine was stopped. After about 8 hours (time it took for the engine to go properly cold) the fuel had drained back down to the tank. When I came to start it, it took 15-20 seconds of churning (and these ford diesels do seem to turn over slowly) before it caught in a cloud of smoke. The pushfit connectors on the fuel filter were to blame- if you stop the engine with the bonnet open you might be able to hear it, although don't be confused by the servo brakes leaking back up to atmosphere.
I replaced all the pipes from the flow and return on the firewall (under the servo) to the pump (via filter) and back. This cured the problem, and it now starts promptly.
This morning's Cape Times (Broadsheet) has a half-page advert "Open letter to Landrover South Africa" from a disgruntled owner of a rangey...
14 point type, red ink.
It turns out this blokes 2003 Rangerover with 40 000 ks on the clock packed up about 3 weeks back, and has been stuck in the dealer since.
He lists every call he has made, and all the clowns he has spoken to, all the lies he has been told ("the parts are on order" becomes, "the parts have to be ordered" becomes "we still have to work out what parts to order") , and points out that NOT ONE of them have phoned him back as promised. Not even the Customer Care department.
He writes that he has no alternative BUT to print the advert, as continued calls to LRSA have yielded nothing but untruths, failure to return calls, and general slapdash attitude.
I foresee LRSA taking a bit of a kicking on this one!
Read more
From the Cape Times...
Land Rover South Africa on Thursday admitted it deserved having a poor after-sales reputation, after the disgruntled owner of a Range Rover accused the company of poor service in an open letter published in the Cape Times on Thursday.
"We admit we have had some serious problems with our customer care department and after-sales services," Land Rover SA head of customer services Mike Dawson said on Thursday.
He blamed the company's poor service on the fact that it has "changed hands too many times in the last few years", but said efficiency has been improving since BMW sold the company to Ford in 2000.
Since 1988 Land Rover has been owned by British Aerospace/Honda, BMW and Ford.
The response came after retired founder of Gray Security, Andy Gray, publishing a damning half-page letter to Land Rover's management, after receiving a piffling response from Land Rover's customer care to various serious complaints about his vehicle.
The last straw was the breakdown of Gray's two-year-old "unreliable and very expensive vehicle" outside Victoria West.
The vehicle, which was under full warranty, was first sent to Beaufort West, then to George, where-after it was kept at Land Rover Oudtshoorn for more than a week without being repaired.
During this time Gray contacted Land Rover Oudtshoorn and Land Rover SA's customer care repeatedly to find out if and how his car would be fixed, but got no response.
Eventually Gray notified customer care that he would go to the extreme measure of publishing a complaint in the media unless his demands were met within a few days.
When he received no response, he proceeded to publish.
In his letter Gray wrote: "Whenever the vehicle has a problem I am amazed anew by the disinclination of Land Rover South Africa to communicate with me in any way. No one seems to take responsibility.
"No one seems to really know what they are doing. No one keeps you informed. No one follows up. No one EVER phones you back."
In response, Dawson acknowledged on Thursday that "nothing in Gray's letter is untrue, unfortunately".
"Unfortunately this is what happened. The future of the Oudtshoorn dealership is under review," he said.
Dawson confirmed receiving Gray's warning to publish "well in advance", but said the company neglected to respond within a reasonable time.
"Mr Gray did warn us and we should have responded. We regret to say we have been wrong. This should not have happened to him or to anyone else," he said.
Meanwhile, the vehicle was transported to Gray's original dealer, Land Rover Stellenbosch.
Dawson said he had personally organised the transportation of the vehicle, but this statement was met by disbelief by Gray's personal assistant, who said Gray had made all the arrangements himself.
"It's strange that he should take credit for it," she said.
According to Dawson, Land Rover SA paid for the transport.
Dawson said all the parts needed to repair Gray's Range Rover had been couriered to Stellenbosch. He added that the manager of Land Rover Stellenbosch, Herman Marks, would have Gray's vehicle ready later on Friday.
"We got a list of problems from Oudtshoorn and then ordered the right parts.
"I sent Mr Gray an SMS to notify him."
Dawson added that he would give "Gray or anyone else who requests it, a written response" and said his company hoped to maintain a good relationship with Gray.
Gray was on a flight to India on Thursday and could not be reached for comment.
Ok, so just bought a car from a salvage dealer recently but they don't have the V5 so I have to apply to the DVLA for it; fine.
But, why does the V5 end up there (DVLA) in the first place ?
This must be a 'trade thing' but I'm not a trader and so am missing a few links in the chain.
If someone could explain to me how/why the V5 does not follow the car through the trade for this sort of 'transaction' then I'd be most appreciative.
Thanks in anticipation,
Stu Read more
Anybody re-taxing the vehicle have to have it inspected by VOSA.
Only certain classes of writeoff though.
When is a check needed?
From 7 April 2003 all accident damaged (this applies to category C salvage) and / or substantially repaired cars notified to DVLA (usually by the insurance company) must pass a VIC before they can be legally returned to the road. If the vehicle has not passed a VIC, then DVLA will not issue the keeper with a registration document (V5).
What if you buy a car that needs a VIC?
You will need to take it to a VOSA test station so it can undergo a VIC. Before taking your car to be checked, you will need to pay a fee (currently £26.50). On receipt of the fee VOSA will book an appointment for you and tell you where and when you should take your car to be checked. You will also need to give certain information about your car to VOSA before the check takes place. This will allow them to confirm that the information you have given matches with their records.
Buying a vehicle that has passed a VIC
When a vehicle has passed the VIC, the result will be stored on computer by the DVLA. The person who took the vehicle for the VIC will be given a certificate to show that the vehicle has been through the identity check and has passed. A vehicle can be sold with a VIC pass certificate (the authenticity can be checked with VOSA on 0870 6060 440). The certificate is proof that the vehicle has passed, although should be checked before purchase.
I have noticed that the wifes car as above which is a 16v petrol model now needs to be cranked over for about 5 secs before it fires.
The battery is ok and the engine is spinning ok. Ive replaced the spark plugs and done the usual visual checks. Having checked the Haynes manual there are several electrical connectors to the airflow meter including some sort of heater for cold weather.
Before I start throwing possible replacement parts or get my leg lifted for a dealer electronic diagnosis has anyone any knowledge of this problem or resolved something similar?
Fullchat Read more
To me they are like someone once said 'they are like elephants, i like looking at them but wouldn't want to own one'
Well it seems lots of people do want to!
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/4327599.s...m
Would you? Read more
Ahhhh Clive.... The Bedford RL. Driven them for many a mile myself and I have a soft spot for them too. Maybe we just look back on them fondly 'cos the likes of us are obviously old git's by now though. It was also particularly useful to know how to start them without the keys by using a bit of silver paper from a fag packet between a couple of convenient fuses. I was walking past a barracks in London a couple of years ago when a Firemans strike was looming and a young squadie was having a hell of a job to start a Green Goddess. I was almost ready to shin the fence and show him the ropes. I doubt if many young uns know how to use a choke properly or how easy it is to flood an engine if you don't have the knack with them. I did once drive an RL whith a totally knackered choke though and the trick to a cold start with that was to open the engine cover and pour a compo tin of petrol directly into the top of the carburettor! ECU's? who needs them!
I'm very dissatisfied with the fuel consumption of my Accord diesel and I'm inclined to write to Honda saying this. Would other Accord diesel owners do the same thing, so that if Honda were to receive a shoal of such missives they may be inclined to take action?
Any comments? Read more
Froth, what brand of diesel are you using?
I have been quoted £290 for my Clio cam belt change by renault, what kind of price would i be looking at from an independent garage?
Any idea how much am i looking at for a clutch change?I have a feeling it will soon need replacing,
The cars currently done 63k on an X plate year 2000, 1.6 16v Rsi
Any other items that are prone to need replacing at this kind of mileage? (please dont say the whole car)!
Ed
Read more
Mmmmm, replaced a shock absorber.... oldest trick in the book. Don't suppose you asked to see the one that they removed? Of course, they could just find any old grotty shock absorber to show you.
36k miles would be a pretty poor shock absorber.
Tried to change my brake pads front today on a new shape Vauxhall Vectra . I need to remove two star drive headed bolts , but don't have the correct socket to use. Does anyone know what size it is please ? Its a 1.8 new shape Vectra .
SLT'd and filed into drop down catagories on behalf of poster. Bit like having a dog and barking youself Read more
I had was that the warning display on the dashboard did not go
out when I had finished. But the pads were worn so may be I now
need a new sensor.
Correct - you need to replace as the sensor is separate to the pad.
Question?
If I purchase a 12 month old Merc 320 Avantgarde with 10k on the clock in Canterbury (Kent) for £32,000 from a main dealer what would the same car cost further North?
Can I expect a lower start price due to the North / South cost diferentials ?? If so how much cheaper, should I get on my bike and head north to find the perfect bargain??? How far North and will I need a passport
Yours a soft southerner Read more
The real test of it's value is at auction. Generally they are a tad lower up north but wildly so, where you might find a difference is when the dealer does the deal, they might be keener to deal where sales aren't as bouyant i.e. away from the mass populus of the south.
Don't forget, one of the leading and cheapest car supermarkets is at Slough.
Browse
Larger filter area = less resistance to flow of air. Hence the potential for longer service intervals. This would however need to be combined with an air box design that ensures air inlet side could distribute air across the surface area of the filter without too much obstruction to flow.
To paraphrase posts, more clogging does not necessarily mean higher fuel consumption ( as was the case with old style non-closed loop systems which would start to run rich) provided you stay within design parameters. However less power resulting from obstruction to flow will ultimately reduce power, hence more right foot, and increased fuel consumption. Everything is a design compromise!
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pmh (was peter)