June 2005
Hi guys, I've been looking for an old car and was offered an H reg Vitara with about 140,000 miles on the clock for 200 quid. It has no MOT on it and it looks clean (I've only seen photos so far) but the seller tells me it has been reliable although there's "A few problems with the clutch".
If the clutch needed to be replaced on this what sort of money would I be looking at?? I was really looking for something smaller as a runabout, but I'm tempted by this hairdresser 4x4.
Should I avoid it like the plague or take a risk? Read more
The remote control key to my 1997 Mondeo Ghia hasn't had the battery changed since new. I imagined that the first sign of battery failure would be a gradual decrease in the range at which it would operate the lock. However, on Sunday, it suddenly stopped working - though the key will operate the lock/alarm as usual when used manually in the lock.
Any ideas what the normal life of a key battery might be?
Would it be usual for the battery to pack up suddenly? (Sunday was an incredibly hot day)
Could it be something other than the battery?
Are replacement batteries particularly special? The manual advises to see a Ford dealer - but is that so that he can charge £20 for a £2 battery.
Many thanks. Read more
Following up on this question - I took the remote control key to the battery stall [for watches, phones etc] on Bury market. The chap checked that I had a spare car key just in case there was a problem with the programme, then changed the batteries. The old batteries, when tested, were considerably below spec (well, they were nearly 8 years old). So, the batteries were the problem and the cost for the 2 replacements was £5.
help!! can anyone please help me i have a 306 dt and the fans won't stop running i have had too take the fuse out to stop it?
cheers dave Read more
Wiring under the front of the car (Front crossmember) or thermoswitch problems on top of the thermostat housing.
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
I've been offered a 1996 audi A4 (1.6 poverty spec model) for about £2.2K. (About right according to the book). However I have a few concerns with it. According to the clock it's done 85K and the history says 65K up to two years ago (Believable).
However, the gear stick gaiter looks worn, the lacquer has started to peel off the drivers door handle and the steering wheel looks a little worn in places. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with these cars and if that was typical for that kind of mileage and age. My Vauxhall Corsa has similar wear on it (the steering wheel is much worse) but
A) Its a Vauxhall corsa
B) Its done 111K miles.
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An old 1.6 A4 is likely to be a bit of a dog to be honest.
If you want realiable transport how about a '99/00 Toyota Avensis or Nissan Primera. Many about that have been privately owned and properly serviced.
Today my Y-reg Ford Ka needed a new horn after its had its annual service, it sounds quite flat & the techinician at the Ford franchise reccommended a replacement.
How long do horns really last? Does it depend on how often you use it?
Any comment will be welcome :-)
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Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-) Read more
>>I guess I am just unlucky.
I bought a new Punto in Jan 2002, the horn packed up in Feb 2003 & I replaced it with a genuine Fiat spare from the Fiat dealer, that one has now packed up.
So I have experience of Fiat horns lasting 13 months and 2 years 4 months.
I thought i was unlucky considering i live in High Wycombe!!
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Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-)
Could someone please let me know how much gearbox oil I should fill my gearbox which I have just put in as a replacement for my knackered old one (Ford Fiesta XR2i 1991 Hreg). It was sitting in my garage for about 3 months and was completely dry of oil, when the car was back on the car I filled it with 1 litre of transmission oil but am wondering is this enough?
Many Thanks
Steveo Read more
In fact cross referencing with other Fiestas, most of 5 speed g/boxes appear to be 3.1 litres as well.
Very bad accident A3 southbound just before the Burpham turn. Police fire brigade and ambulances all in attendance. Looks like people dead. Road closed as at 15:00. Tailbacks beyond M25.
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Update.
Accident was 400 yards before the Burpham turn off.
Thick black tyre marks in a reverse S pattern from the inside to outside lanes of this 3 lane section.
Looks like for some reason a vehicle snaked under very heavy braking from the inside to the outside lane where the collision ocurred.
Here's a query,
I've a 2001 Polo TDi which is having it's first service and the garage just called me to say that the near-side front ball joint is "hanging". I assume this means knackered.
I got the car MOT'd 10k miles ago when I got it (from auction with a full vw history).
It had a clean bill of health "Not a thing wrong with it mate" said the inspector.
So, my question is, can a ball joint go from good to "hanging" in 10k miles or are the garage at it?
They also want to change the anti-roll bar link as well as it runs through the ball joint.
Also, the garage are charging me £11 per litre for oil. This garage used to be good, but I'm not 100% sure any more.
I've asked them not to change it so I can seek a 2nd opinion.
Any thoughts/inputs would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Neil.
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In my experience virtually any component can go from OK to worn out in 10,000 miles. It doesn't mean it has only lasted 10,000 miles. The wear creeps up, and suddenly it passes the acceptability point.
Couple that with the only natural slight variability of MOT testers as to what may, or may not, be a borderline pass, and your situation is quite explainable.
eg - I recently had to replace a rear wheel bearing. It was fine at the previous MOT, end float well within tolerance. Yet at the last one the float had become excessive. That's what an extra 20,000 miles could do on top of 300,000.
I think also it might be true that wear accelerates once a certain amount has started. The "banging about" effect it might be called technically.
Language point: "hanging" is a perfectly normal expression in common usage. Short for "just hanging on", I suppose. Or may be an allusion to hanging meat that has gone off.
Last year I had a loud drumming noise from the rear of my 1999 Vectra 1.8. I had the rear wheel bearings checked and they were found to be okay as far as could be said without replacing them. I then replaced the nearly worn up Avon tyres with Continentals and everything was quiet again.
18000 miles on and the noise is back again but possibly louder than last year. Has anybody else come across this sort of problem?
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I wonder why uneven wear across the tyre would lead to
the drumming noise? If the wear is across the tyre would
the tyre go out of balance or is it related to
the change in mass or rolling radius of the tyre?
From personal experience with my aforementioned Vectra GSi Estate which didn't have worn suspension bushes but which did through pronounced and as-designed negative camber wear the inside shoulders of the rear tyres heavily:- With wheel and tyre assembly removed from the car, the tread blocks could be seen to have worn unequally; instead of all being the same height throughout the circumference, they varied by being tall, short, tall, short, tall, short, etc. This probably happened because of the way they were loaded and squashed as they wore. When the tyres were all but worn out (because the shorter blocks were flush with the carcass) the noise increased dramatically I assume because nothing was left to absorb vibration (which noise is).
I recently had a puncture and took the car to a well-known chain for repair.
They gave me two new tyres as the punctured one was knackered and another apparently had damage to the sidewall. (It's a company car, so the costs of this are not an issue.)
However they fitted the 2 new tyres to the front wheels. I'm no expert, but this seemed odd on a rear-drive car (IS200).
I now have ANOTHER puncture(!). When I take the car in, should I ask for them to switch the new tyres to the rear? Read more
Thanks all.
The ones on the rear have loads of tread. However I think I might swap them next time a take the car in somewhere.
Cheers.
Peter
Browse
"Ask yourself if it's "only the clutch" why has the current owner not done it? Perhaps he knows more than you about the car, and that other components are on the way out, such as the gearbox?"
Well there are people who can't be bothered to get the MOT done, for example when they have got a new car and then just want rid of the old one, but you never know who is genuine with that reason and who is trying to get rid of a car with a lot of problems. So I take your point and I'll avoid it.