April 2005
Hi,
Does anyone know the best way to get insurance cover for a single day? I've got to drive a friend's car up the country and although my policy gives me 3rd party I'd like to get fully comp on this car, just for the day.
Thanks in advance,
-- Lee Having a Fabialous time. Read more
Hi,
I've got a 330D SE saloon. 5 months old - 14,000 miles - :))
It really is the perfect combination of power, torque and fuel economy.........
From brand new the car has suffered from a slight metallic rattling noise at tickover - you can only just hear it inside the car - but is quite audible outside the car. Increasing the throttle even a tad makes the noise go away.
The noise certainly isn't getting any worse and sounds like a metal baffle plate could need tightening up. Its one of those things that isn't worth taking it to a dealer for (first service is projected to be @ 21,000 miles) - but I just wanted to see if I were alone with this noise.
Thanks ............... Read more
Any noise/rattle from the engine I'd get checked over - but if it isn't your own car (IE: Company Vehicle) then you might feel less inclined to book it in to be looked at - but be warned thiugh, any future failure might not be covered under warranty if the resulting failure could have been spotted earlier on - so companyc ar or not, you might end up out of pocket.
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Im not plain stupid, just a special kind of stoopid.
The car (1991 2.0 litre auto running superb lots of power) starts fine from cold then as it warms up the idle is slightly erratic when stationary; when approaching junctions the car stalls. When it is re started it idles fine (although sometimes "hunting up and down" but not stalling - then drive off to the next junction and the revs will drop below 500rpm on final approach to a junction and then stall again. If the car is on the driveway and idling it is fine (apart from sometimes hunting) and it will tick over when engaged in "drive" or "reverse" - it is only when actually driving the car that it stalls.
I have had the ECU checked - OK, cleaned the idle control valve (+changed it over for another second hand one), checked the temp control sensor (+changed that over), also checked the over voltage relay; and replaced the lambda sensor.
Any ideas, I am determined to fix it; the car is so good apart from this minor irritant!
Steve Read more
The Bosch ke jetronic system on this car is very robust & rarely gives major problems.There are 2 items that need looking at.Check the microswitch on the side of the throttle linkage to make sure the lever is operating it when throttle is closed.Also you need to clean the throttle butterfly & throat assy.this can be difficult because it is situated below the fuel metering flap ,some access is possible by pushing the flap down carefully by hand.The only other way to reach it is by removing the complete injection unit(not an easy option)
Apologies if this seems like a daft question but is the new Focus selling? I understand it went on sale 3 months ago but I have only seen 2 and I don't exactly live in the sticks.
Anyone got any sales comparisons with the old model? Is the bland design putting the punters off or are companies still buying them in their thousands? Read more
I saw on Whatcar a week or so ago that Ford were offering 0% finance on the Focus as sales had not been what they had hoped. I went and sat in one and, at 6 foot 2 inches tall, I found the inside to be very cramped indeed no matter how much I adjusted the seat and wheel.
I did not like the visibility all around from the driver's seat nor the poor quality of the plastics IMPO. I was disappointed by the lack of space in the rear boot of the hatch also. No doubt they will sell lots of rentals but if I were buyingp rivate I would spend my money on a 'name' and try to minimise depreciation. I think the Focus is too over-priced for what it is... but you can say that about alot of cars.
Friend has just bought a secondhand Golf from local dealer, and asked for cambelt to be changed as part of deal. Job delayed, apparently by mechanic getting hurt during job (?)
Went to pick it up today, and within a few yards found the car to be kicking out black smoke and down on power.
My gas would be cambelt a tooth or so out, but does anything else come to mind. It just seems such a coincidence for the MAF to play up, or sensor fail to go onto "limp home" mode.
Car back at dealers, but alas my friend paid in cash when he dropped his old car off Read more
Thank you to all who responded, particularly sean with that excellent link
I had always expected the VW system to be purely mechanical,and never anticipated the need for a laptop and software etc to change a cambelt
Owner picked up the Golf, and was happy with the explanation that "a pipe had been missed off". Seems as happy as a canine with enhanced genitalia (let's see the swearchecker pick that one up!)
My Mazda 6 diesel (136 bhp) has a very strange intermittent problem. Sometimes on tickover it will just cut out, and while it does'nt seem to do it while driving normally, it is very worrying when you are at a junction waiting for a gap and it "dies" on you. It can be caught with the throttle if you are quick enough. I have even had the air-conditioning condenser mod done and it still does it!! Any ideas? Read more
Ive got a problem with my 1.3ltr Golf heating cooling system.
My heater is warm only until the thermostat opens then it goes cold.
This problem is hardly noticed driveing around locally but recently I have driven to Aberdeen and back (500 miles each way) during the night and I was frrrrrrreezing!
I have flushed out the system and tested the heater element with my garden hose.
I have also tried to get all the air out of the system , all to no effect.
Any ideas? Read more
Ive taken Mattieboy's advice and bypassed the relief valves with two bits of copper pipes.
The heater is working fine now and the engine is running a bit cooler, I will leave it like that for now.
Ive driven from London to Northampton and back on the M1 with no problems.
Thank you all for you advice........TIMBY
I notice this question is tackled by HJ in today's column, but am not too sure about the upshot. If dealers are required to look after the vehicle for six months, are they allowed to offer three-month ones?
My son bought a 2000 (W) Mitsubishi Space Star earlier today (before we'd read the paper!) and was offered the three-month warranty with an optional third-party warranty which we said we'd think about. The car seems fine, but should I push for six-months and/or consider the additional warranty? If so, what's a reasonable price? The car has done 52k and the deal includes a new cam-belt. Read more
I just didn't know (still don't) exactly what was covered. Is
there a digestible summary of it anywhere?
>>
the best i can do is refer you to
www.oft.gov.uk/Consumer/Your+Rights+When+Shopping/...m
and
www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/guide/sogtraderguide.pdf
"Proving the fault
Generally, the consumer needs to demonstrate the goods were faulty at the time of sale. This is so if the consumer chooses to request an immediate refund or compensation (damages). It is also the case for any product returned more than six months after the date of the sale.
There is one exception. This is when a consumer returns goods in the first six months from the date of the sale, and requests a repair or replacement or, thereafter, a partial or full refund. In that case, the consumer does not have to prove the goods were faulty at the time of the sale. It is assumed that they were. If the retailer does not agree, it is for him to prove that the goods were satisfactory at the time of sale."
Looking around for quotes on a new car, the best offer I get is from autoebid.com. They seem to be a reliable company and have good reviews in auto mags, the press and even from the DTI. Has anyone actually used this company to successfully purchase a car and would they like to share experiences with us?
Terry Read more
Having read that Rover dealerships were going to be offloading their stock ASAP - I've yet to come across any who are doing any serious discounting.
Is it still early days or am I missing a trick? I can't believe they're going to be holding their value?
Read more
I think I read at the w/e that a Russian had offered to buy the thousands in the fields...ISTR the offer equated to about £2k each.
Browse
Just wondering how the first bit applies to a hire car...anyhow, I've taken your advuce and been named as a driver for a day on the policyholders policy. Thanks for the advice,
Lee
-- Lee Having a Fabialous time.