May 2005
Hi
I own a 2.9 volvo S80. When the engine is warmed up and under load (eg going up a hill) I get a metallic rattling noise from the engine bay which can only be heard when the window is down.
Ie not from within the car. The car doesn't seem to lose any power and nothing else seems to happen. Does anyone know what this could be and what needs to be done to fix it?
Regards
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Just in case you missed it there?s an update to the Highway Code for all motorists re: red traffic lights. This means that if you approach a set of lights and they change to red you don?t actually need to stop in certain cases. These cases include:
1. You?re approaching too fast and can?t stop
2. You don?t look far enough ahead to see the lights
3. You?re in a hurry
4. You?re too important to be bothered
5. You just don?t feel like stopping at the moment.
This scheme has been trialled in London for a while and I have observed it is now being rolled out into the rest of the country. Good luck!
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"While crossing the road the other day, I met a lady who was confused by the "Green Man / Red Man" on the traffic light. "
Sounds like my ex-wife. She was frequently confused by the "Man she married / Many other men". Did she have big boggly fish-like eyes that looked in different directions?
Over the past 6 months or so car has started stalling while travelling. Starts fine and runs well for a time then the dash board lights come on and all power has gone from the accelerator. I have to steer it over quickly lest it cause an obstruction! The engine will turn over but it doesn't fire up and may take several attempts. It can smell a little of fuel, but I think this is because I tweak the accelerator trying to get it to go. I don't do this all the time in case I flood the engine an/or flatten the battery. There is definitely ignition power there, it just won't turn over. It has also become rather smokey just lately, though it is not blue smoke. We have changed the pollen filter, in-line fuel filter, rotor arm and distributor cap. A mechanic friend of ours who did his apprenticeship on Vauxhalls drove it around for a day but it didn't stall for him and until it does he can't say what the problem is. Someone else in the local parts store said it may be the idle control valve and in his experience it is rarely the fuel pump. We have had it for two years and it has 51,000 on the clock. Any ideas? Cheers...
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Should have mentioned that we changed the HT leads and spark plugs a couple of months ago. The car has also had a new alternator. : )
Hi BR,
A quick question that I hope someone can answer for me.
What defines a road as a Highway?
The reason been, I have a small access road for a couple of meters behind my garden that goes to my private parking space and the spaces for 5 other houses on the site. The deeds say this is a private road which I maintain. Council says the differ and they saying that they have adopted it if its a highway.
Thanks
Michael. Read more
Go to your local reference Library and see if they have the Highways Act 1980. If so look up Sections 37 and in particular Section 38 - Power of highway authority to adopt agreement.
In a nutshell they have to have an agreement. Once agreed then road will be maintained at public expense so that if any vehicle on that "road" has to have an exise Licence which is not needed is private. (insurance DL MOT will dpend on what use made if private).
DVD
I need some advice please. I'm about to purchase a new car from an internet broker (VW Passat highline), I have quotes from two companies which are very similar.
Company A want a deposit via credit card (sounds okay so far) then the final balance direct to company A 24 hours prior to delivery. Their website says that a bankers draft on delivery is the payment method, but they have informed me that this isn't possible because they don't trust the delivery drivers. Does this sound iffy to you?
Company B follows the same route but is okay with the bankers draft on delivery. Plus they can offer me a car with a choice of colour and options.
I know that going for B is the safest option, but I wanted to know if A was a worthwhile back up should B not deliver? Is there anything else to watch out for when buying via this method?
P.S. Can anyone better £15685 for a new Passat 1.9TDI Highline saloon in metallic, delivered.
Cheers,
Brian Read more
You wont be able to get insurance for a car not registered in your name. I tried lots of different companies and was told that it was complely out of the question.
I found a broker that put me in touch with a uk dealership. I got a proper uk spec car from a london dealership, registered in my name all above board and correct.
Definitely a good thing to pay by credit card for deposit though.
Having sold my old Land Rover I am on the look out for something a bit more up to date. Have been offered a 97 Jeep Cherokee 2.5 TD Limited. Nice car in black with alloys aircon etc. It has 6 months MOT and 2 months tax. It drives well and with atowbar it will do the job. What should I look out for? Is it okay at £2850? Need to go back tomorrow night if I want it. Goes to auction on Wednesday. Thanks Read more
Thanks
Could anyone tell me if the C70 Coupe has 2 or 3 rear seat belts? If 2 then is fitting a centre lap belt possible and safe?
Thanks
David Read more
Two.
No.
I posted about this problem on our 94 Passat 1.9 TDI estate before, ages ago, (www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=24091 ) but the problem persists and is a mystery.
The symptom is an occasional cough, or misfire that occurs randomly - on tickover, when accelerating or cruising at constant speed. Some days it doesn't happen at all, others a lot. Other than the misfires the engine runs normally - turbo works OK and no smoke from exhaust. The car has done 153,000 miles.
The garage has ruled out a fuel pipe/pump problem.
Possible causes that occur to me are:
Faulty connectors in engine management system.
Faulty 'Relay 109'
Sticking EGR valve
Engine stop solenoid cutting in momentarily.
When the key is in the 'run' position, but without starting the engine there is an alternating rapid ticking from the wastegate actuator solenoid on the bulkhead and then a quicker 'buzz' from one of the electronic bits on the injector pump.
Occasionally the engine will cut to default mode while running, when there is no noticeable boost from the turbo.
Any TDI experts out there who can throw any light on this longstanding problem? It's getting worse now - I could live with the occasional jolt while driving but now it's getting worse.
Cheers, Sofa Spud (alias 'the Passat misfire bore')
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I suffered from something similar after I got a garage to change the fuel filter on my 106 non-turbo diesel. It did diminish over time, next time I changed the filter I followed the instructions on bleeding air out - basically squeeze the bulb device a few times.
Other thoughts are an air lock in the fuel, does the fuel cap let out a loud sigh when removed?
Try Shell Diesel Extra fuel, my pug ran smoothest on that.
Check any breather pipes you can find for splits.
Well I've gone and done it, after many months of promising myself a move away from the Mondeo I've finally upgraded to a secondhand one company owner Volvo S60 2.0T SE which I collect this coming weekend.
It's an 02 plate model with 87k and a full Volvo dealer service history.
The car is in very good order, a nice light blue metallic colour. I was very impressed with it overall during the test drive, especially the comfort of the leather armchairs!
I'd be interested in what others think I should have paid for this as I think I've got a good price.
Also, any general S60 feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks,
PP
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Hi Nick, thanks for your positive comments.
Just for the record I've paid just short of £7k which seems to be very reasonable.
PP
I have retired the Audi a6 2.5tdi after 132k miles, 80k by me in 5 years, with absolutely no trouble and an average of 47mpg. A great car and so after very much thought and careful looking it was replaced last weekend with a 1995 E class diesel, one of the last of the hewn from granite models, as I understand it. It has had one owner, 78k warranted miles, auto/air con/leather and in all round good clean and sound condition. Just a hint of a fuel leak form the top of the fuel filter, for which it is going in to my local, trusted garage at the end of the week. After a weekend of polishing and cleaning it looks very presentable, just a couple of supermarket dings for dentmaster or whoever to sort. I am aiming to run it for the foreseeable future and want to do whatever is sensible to ensure longevity over short term economy. I reckon to get the fluids changed - auto trans, coolant and brake - and sort out a couple of tyres. Knowing that there are some Merc experts on the forum I would welcome any advice on any other routine or preventative maintenance that would be advisable.
Many thanks, MGs Read more
Interesting. The stuff I am using is Halfords Advanced protection 5 year antifreeze. It claims to meet and be affroved to Mercedes Benz (325.3) specification. It's been in 3 years and I havn't noticed any problems. Anyone else had difficulties.
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Does sound like pinking. Could be very poor qaulity fuel (unlikely these days) or some problem with the engine management system. Ideally it will need to go on Volvo diagnostics.