February 2006
Am due to get my Scenic serviced for the first time (18,000 service) and was just wondering in anyone with a Renault has gone to the dealer or has gone elsewhere.
I have phoned 3 dealers, Solihull, Birmingham and Leicester and the difference in price is £45 for the same job. Has anyone found this out as well or have they taken it to another type of garage, ie Nationwide Autocentre, etc.
Renault have confirmed that it does not need to go to them, but needs to be done at a VAT registered garage and use genuine parts - highest price I have had for the service which is basically an oil change, a pollen filter change and a general look over the car is £205! Anyone in the Birminghma area had a similar experience?
Cheers! Read more
I know that the 1.8 16V Barchetta engine from 1997-1999 suffers from dodgy VVT components which can make it sound like a diesel - mine, unfortunately, has this problem! I also know that "it's just a noise, and doesn't damage the engine", but I can't live with it! My issue is that I want to fix the problem but need to know where to start! My local French FIAT-LANCIA-ALFA garage is, to put it bluntly, cr*p. (They already destroyed the head and master clutch cylinder on my Integrale EVO by using 1. the wrong head gasket and 2. DOT 4 fluid in the hydraulic system). What do I need to be buying, and what do I need to ask my new mechanic to be doing? OR CAN I DIY THE THING?
Thanks in advance! Read more
I have a Fiat Barchette (early 1998) and have a problem - the boot release (which is by cable from a lever in the car) has stopped working. It is EITHER because the cable has broken (not at the lever end as I can still see it and pull it with pliers), OR the boot release mechanism at the BOOT end is jammed. The problem is - HOW DO I GET INTO THE BOOT NOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM??!!
Can you help?
Thanks in advance. Read more
Dear Richard, had you success to drink a bottle of wine locked into the trunk? I have same problem, had you find the way to acces to trunk space? Thanks in advanced, Angelo
I have removed the CAR300 stereo from my Corsa, as the battery went dead and it went into SAFE mode. I thought I knew the code, had 3 attempts, then left it. I put the stereo back in but now it won't allow me to enter any codes. Just stuck on 7 SAFE. Is this normal, do I need to do something else? Read more
Ok, thank you for your answers
I am setting up in business and want to keep initial start up cost low including the purchase of a couple of cars. They need to be decent- possibly an x type jag. Can someone recommend a vehicle that would match the bill, so if i put cheap private plates on it would be difficult to determine the age (ie a vehicle that has changed v little since 2002).
hope this makes sence and i would appreciate any advice
thanks
Duncan Read more
"I suspect Duncan's business is involved in the high hourly rate professional area.......
Surely an estate car would be better for that sort of thing?
;-)
Hi,
Anyone got any views on the above car. I currently run a Seat Leon 110 tdi, which is a good car, but recently had a corolla 1.4 petrol for a loan while my own was being serviced.
I was mightily impressed with the way the car was put together - this was a car with 98k on it, and not a squeak or rattle anywhere!
Anyhow, I'm now considering buying the 1.4 D4D version, and want to know what other people think of it. Its rated at 89bhp, is this low by todays standards?
Has anyone tried a tuning box on a D4D engine - they are to be got on ebay - would this make it a better drive?
I would assume reliability and resale would be strong on these cars - what do others think?
Read more
I've done a few miles in the 1.4 D4D Corolla and whilst it's not the quickest car on the market it wasn't bad. I would avoid the MMT version though.
Hi, I have a 96 1.8 petrol mondeo. The heater does not warm up and the temp gauge does not move even on 30 mile journey. The car has been sittin for around 3 months and has just been put back into use. Would the problem be that the thermostat is stuck - but then this wouldnt explain the temp hand not moving. Any help would be much appreciated.
I have also heard that there is an electrical switch somewhere near the wiper motor that may be the problem - is there any truth in this?
cheers
Read more
I had a similar no heat problem but not a Mondeo.
The valve situated at the bulhead where 2 pipes go in/out to the heater matrix was stuck.
Moved it manually and the heater was on or off - I had to get the rotary swich inside fixed as the cables had come off. I think it was the result of not having moved the switch over the summer and then because it had partially siezed the cable came off.
Fixed the cable and has been 100% since
Hi, I was thinking of buying a 02 reg passat SE with under 70000 miles in good condition. Does anyone know how much I would expect to pay roughly for this car at auction? Read more
New = New Price
Ret = Retail price (forecourt)
Cln = Clean condition
Avg = Average conditin
Blw = Below average condition
Trd = Trade price, ie what you should expect to pay. This is based on previously achieved sales.
Hi everyone,
Read another thread on here (relating to Sunroofs i think) someone mentioned the VW Luxury pack II for less than £300 (incl rain sensing wipers, auto headlights etc).
Does anyone know if it is possible to have these packs retro-fitted at a dealer. My GOlf is only an 'S' and therfore only includes windows and wheels as standard and i would quite like some of these little luxuries, and for £300 seems quite affordable.
TIA Read more
My experience with these gizmos on my Golf is as follows:
- rain sensing wipers - at first I thought they were excellent, but now, at 31k, they irritate me intensely. They don't work in mist or light spray - the old slow, medium, fast intermittant was much better. Perhaps a fault has developed - when it finally gets to a service again, I'll get them checked
- auto dimming mirror - works effectively and unobtrusively (but when passenger map light is on, mirror does not dim, and there's no manual dip nor secondary reflection capability...)
- auto headlights - work well, I've only overridden them a few times.
- home lighting function - good (but if only I got a quid for every kind person who's reminded me that 'You've left your lights on'...). This is adjustable via the Convenience menu - not sure if that is only with the Highline computer option.
In short, don't worry...!
I had a call or letter this time last year from the RAC offering joint membership of the breakdown service for £38 (could have been £34, can't remember). As my son had recently passed his test, it sounded a good deal so I took it up.
I was a bit miffed to receive the renewal notice for £67 a couple of weeks ago. This is not the first time I've been stuffed on renewal after a good initial rate.
Can any backroomers recommend a basic (or better) cover at a more sensible price? It would preferably be car-based rather than personal, covering any driver, as my other two cars already have car-based cover. Read more
I got some kind of gold account at Lloyds TSB and get free annual travel insurance, plus free AA cover, plus free mobile phone insurance, all for nowt.
Seems that most (?) insurance companies these days offer free recovery membership, and don't seem interested in giving any kind of discount to delete the option.
I effectively have multiple memberships, through motorbike insurance, car insurance, bank accounts, new car cover, etc.
Pity I can't sell one of them on to yourself at knock down price!
Browse
Does it say Synthetic on the front, yet the back says semi-synth?
Fully Synth oil in Makro is about £25.