August 2005
I have always thought the prices of used models of the Honda Jazz to be very high, yet when I look at the prices in Parker's guide, they are much lower. I got around to doing this today, because I found a 2004/04 SE CVT priced at £7995 at a local Citroen dealer. This is more like the kind of price I would be prepared to pay but, unfortunately, it had been sold.
I have seen a 2002/52 SE CVT listed on Autotrader, at a Honda dealership, for £8495, when Parkers value it at £6995. This is a big difference. The same dealer has a 2004/04 model for £9695, when Parkers list it at £8665. I also found a privately listed 2003 model listed for £8995, when Parkers lists a 2003/53 at £7425. Is Parkers guide totally out with this car? I had always thought they were criticised for overpricing used cars. Read more
auto.howstuffworks.com/quasiturbine.htm
An engine that has significantly fewer parts than a normal one, needs no oil, boasts incredible fuel efficiency, and can run on petrol or diesel. Read more
I've often wondered why not a proper turbine. Maybe driving a generator, with electric motors in each hub. Possibly a battery pack as well for short, but heavy loads like starting - or even a flywheel for same??.
Does anyone know of a good place in Leicester where I can get the interior of my car cleaned?
Nothing serious, but the car is just over 3+ years old, and the grey interior is getting a bit dirty. Have looked at the Yellow Pages, there are a million and one mobile valet providers, don?t know how to pick the best value for money service.
Also, if anyone has had a valet recently, what is it likely to cost?
Thanks in advance.
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A full valet (at least at a valeter near me in the south) is in the area of £60-70.
Oz (as was)
Any ideas why the AC in my V70 does this?
- it switches off every time the engine is turned off;
- it switches off after about 20 minutes;
- when in use it blows hot air for about 15 seconds at random intervals.
One of very many woes with this car and the Volvo dealer's response that "some do that" is hardly constructive. Read more
Well that's the theory. What actually happens is that the AC
itself is always "off" when you start the engine. So it
doesn't matter where the temperature dials are set. It also sometimes
turns "off" after about 20 minutes of use. It also blasts
hot air at random intervals.
And if you press "auto" it switches on again, but it
is certainly nowhere near a "set and forget" system. We have
a 6 year old Audi A6 (with what you call his
and hers temperatures) that does this kind of thing properly.
I have had three Volvo dealers say "yes some do that"
but no offer of a fix.
Well, something is certainly wrong with yours, BC, despite what the dealers are saying and their apparent lack of help. Our 2003 V70 2.4T system is as "set and forget" as I describe - both between journeys and during a journey - as is the one in my brother's 2002 V70 D5. In the shoes you describe I would probably ask my dealer to conduct an investigation in conjunction with an a/c specialist; I did this before with a Vauxhall I used to own after the dealer ran out of things to do or say, and to my surprise, they agreed. The problem was solved within an hour!
Every so often when i get in and get the car started it seems to fail, it continues to spin round i.e starters going round but not firing up, after a few minutes it will gradually engage and will be ok for some days the if i go shopping and get in it does it again?
its an P reg tigra done 75k any obvious items that you might suggest before i go to the garage and charge me the earth just to look at it!
the ecu light does not come on when driving so that rules that out ( i hope )
thanks any feedback will be appreciated.
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Check the condition of the earthing of the coil pack. I tend to run a new earth lead directly to a good earth to be sure, before becoming immersed in more detailed diagnosis.
Number_Cruncher
if i put a 1.3 engine block in my 93 1.1 fiesta will i need to change anything else Read more
Sorry Martin, yes, I understood what you were saying when I read it again.
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Mike Farrow
Picture the scene:
Friday 5th August
5:45am Rudely awaken from a dreamless sleep.
5:46am Look out of window to see a couple of gits speeding off in my 14 year old Fiesta (I didn't know the car was capable of such speeds!).
5:47am Phone police to report it.
6:10am Police arrive and take details but don't offer counselling.
Well, I couldn't belive my luck, could I? After 8 years I'd finally seen the back it. I could stop telling myself "I'd like a new car but why spend all that money when my Fiesta's reliable, economical and cheap to run?". I now had an excuse to buy Autotrader!
Alas, my joy was not to last - the police found my car earlier today, and it's in a worse state than it was before.
The locks have been screwdriver'd, the ignition's been bypassed, there's a huge dent in the side, the stereo's gone and the driver's seat has been adjusted into a position I don't find comfortable.
But the worst thing - and this is where I hope you 'Honestjohners' can help - is that the engine seems to be damaged. It revs without any problem when stationary, but for some reason the car's barely driveable. I managed to get it home but there's a real lack of power - the engine just feels 'strangulated' on the move.
Any ideas?
Cheers.
Riggers Read more
Alvin
I probably could claim on my insurance but it's not worth losing my NCB (hmmm, the false economy of not paying to protect it!).
I'll probably end up scrapping it, or hopefully I might manage to persuade a dealer to let me trade it in.
Either way, it looks like I'll be getting a new car after all.
58k on my 2yr 8mth Citroen Picasso Hdi. Exhaust back box is blowing would this be a warranty item?
Anyone any experience of independent warranty companies, good, bad or ugly please?
Regards,
Alan Read more
Erm... new car warranty, on a Citroen, is 3 years. Back box is covered, as far as I can see...certainly my Xantia estate had a new back box under warranty in its third year, so I would be seeing the dealer first!
I test drove a 1992 BMW 525 today.
Broadly the car looked really good but as I have been driving a manual diesel for the last two years I was left with a few questions.
- White came out of the exhaust at start up and while the car was cold and when stopped after only being run for a short time, the car flashed a warning of low coolant. Once I had taken it for a test drive the steam had disappeared and there was no coolant warning when the car stopped. I am assuming this is just condensation and the car not having enough time to circulate the coolant as I think it had been stood for some time.
- The autobox was broadly smooth although you could tell where some of the changes were. In sport mode on kick down it also sometimes felt a little hesitant. Is this to be expected?
- The steering was accurate and there didn't seem to be any play, although when stationary and going from lock to lock, there was an odd noise at some points. (A mate says that has happened on his car for the last 2 years with out any problems so I might just be being over picky)
Can anybody with any experience of these cars (or similar) tell me if these are all to be expected or are these signs of expensive failures?
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Hi, can anyone help me with a problem I have with a mk1 clio. The rear wash and wipe and front wash have both packed in, the front wipe works ok.
all fuses are ok
replaced switch with no joy
both wash pumps work ok when I run a live direct,
at a loss with this one and the MOT is due soon so any help would be great
thanks in advance Read more
recheck the fuses under glove box& also I think you will find a second fuse box in the under bonnet area ,near the w/wash bottle under a plastic grille.


As ever parkers is completely off the mark - it just is an accurate guide to prices. I'd love to know where they complie their data from.