Hi

Im having emission problems with a 99 golf.

Brought it to fuel injection/emissions specialist.

Was charged £1250 to replace ecu, map sensor, O2 sensor and CAT.

Worked ok for a few days but has failed MOT again on emissions.


CO of 0.78 (allowable is 0.3).


Any ideas on the cause? The garage are claiming that the problem is that there is some oil getting into the system ('car is running a bit smokey'). and that the stuff the replaced is 100%.


Pulling hair out trying to get this resolved. Any advice? Read more

Hi all,

I am working on a Rover 25 K-Series engine, when the car was brought into the garage it was pressurising from the oil filler cap (or rocker cover).

A compression test was carried out on the engine just to see what figures we were getting NO 1 cylinder:40psi, No2:55, No3: 35, No4:120 - Something was evidently very wrong with the engine.

With the k-series engine being notorious for a dodgy head gasket, we took off the head and found that it did require skimming and a new head gasket. Before fitting we checked the bores and pistons which were fine.

The proper head gasket was fitted, new stretch bolts were added and the engine was timed up.

Following build up the car refuses to start (even with a pull).

Another compression test was carried out - all figures were less than 50 psi (should be around 120 - 150psi).

A tablespoon full of oil was put into each cylinder, and a compression test was carried out - all results were above 120 psi. (you may be thinking what we were thinking - piston rings).

Before taking the engine out we looked at the problem in greater detail - and unfortunately found that the plastic oil level indicator fitted to the bottom of the dip stick has been melted off - Indicative of an engine which has been running in boiling oil (i.e a cooked engine).

Sorry for the long introduction - my question is:

Is it worth installing new piston rings into the engine to see if the compression returns, - the engine was running when we picked it up (albeit with very low compression), or once an engine has overheated is it useless?

I.e, I don't want to throw good money after bad, but on the other the other hand I am quite prepared to carry out the work if the engine may run again with no other problems

I would also be interested to hear from anyone who has fitted new rings to an overheated engine and found that it cured the problem.

Any information would be greatly appreciated

Many Thanks,

Stephen Laughlin

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I have decided after sitting in many a car, the corsa is the one for me. Shall be buying it sometime soon.

Im going to get the 3dr version SXI in sapphire black. But I cant decide on the engine to get.

What are your experiances and thoughts on both the engines.

(P.S. please stay on topic. im getting enough stick in real life for buying a new car. Thanks) Read more

Does anybody know of a web-site that lists vehicle manufacturers models and variants along with technical data, principally each vehicles kerb-weight (UK or EU directive will do). Seems the only way of checking out a vehicles kerb-weight is by visiting each respective manufacturers web-site, a time-consuming business. I figured (obviously incorrectly) that there may be an 'official' or 'semi-official' site somewhere ie MIRAS, DoT etc but have been unable to find what I'm looking for. Has anyone else tried and succeeded? Many thanks, TB2 Read more

Seeing someone broken down and waiting on double yellow lines for the breakdown man made me wonder what the legal position might be in similar circumstances.

Suppose you are driving along next to an active bus-lane, when your car cuts out or suffers a flat tyre.
Do you:
a) stop in the middle of the road and call the breakdown service
b) ditto, but attempt a repair or change the wheel
c) pull over into the bus lane and block it while awaiting assistance or changing the wheel
d) drive (if possible) on a flat tyre until you find somewhere you can park legally?

All those options are themselves illegal, but which would be the least illegal, or cause the least obstruction? Read more