March 2006
Advice required. I'm currently looking for a quick discrete and comfortable coupe. Until recently I had been looking at volvo C70s (T5 and 2.4T)s for sub£7K. However, recent internet investigations have highlighted the problem of the electronic throttle module on volvo petrol cars from week 20 of 1999 to 2002. The electronic throttle module costs around £650-700 to fix and recon units are problematic because of software issues. Data from the states suggests that the units are 94% likely to fail before 100K and that the replacements have not been modified and are likely to fail again. A car I test drove last week had all the symptoms of ETM failure- prone to stalling and variable idle speed (although I realise these symptoms could arise from other issues). Volvo have not issued a recall in the UK as they suggest that it is not a safety issue as the engine check light lights up when there is a problem.
1. Is the ETM really such a problem that it should radically influence my choice of car? I really won't be happy to fork out £700 repeatedly on a car.
2. I am currently thinking of a honda prelude 2.2 VTi or perhaps a Beemer 325i, are there any significant issues with these further than the CBC breakdown?
Sigma Read more
I've just seen a late-model Mercedes with pink(front) and orange(rear)plates with two letters, a zero, and three letters. Can any backroomer explain it?
P. Read more
That was one of my thoughts but its XX o XXX
so there's a digit missing whichever way its re-arranged.
Not necessarily - a older vanity plate of the "year letter prefix, number 1-20 and any three letters" variety would fit the bill.
Ok, now I know 156's are unreliable. BUT. Look at them. At they're just £2,000! Can they really be THAT bad? Read more
Sump plug caused
by neanderthal mechanics not used to working on proper engines, e.g.
those with lots of Alloy. Air con fairly rare failure point
on all Alfas aside from regassing, look at the bills a
late Volvo 850 generates for unreliable air con or a Mundano.
Not sure I quite get the point, wife's Clio has an alloy sump, Mondeos do not suffer aircon problems, they have a much better reputation than a 156 and are more fun to drive if you like a crisp turn in etc.
That being said 156's are unfairly tarred with the old Alfa Lancia brush a situation not helped by the dealers. I did 2000 miles in a 2.4 JTD a couple of years ago, quite liked it, charaterful though did not really excel in any area.
Hi Room
My wife purchased a 2004 Chrysler Grand Voyager LX 12 months ago. The thing has been plagued with heating/ electrical problems. 3 trips back to the garage so far and now the heater blower has stopped working and its not the fuse.
Question: Are these cars renowned for poor electrics or are we just unlucky? Are the newer models (with stow and go) any better?
We love the car but this is putting us off purchasing another one when the time comes to trade it in.
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\" Keep doing the same old thing, youll get the same old thing, try something different today!\" Read more
I can't remember where I read about it, but, we were put of of the Voyager because there has been a problem with the heater in the past - and the fix needed the whole dash out, which at dealer prices meant at least a £1500 repair bill - that might only be applicable to the earlier models though - as I said I can't remember nor find the article I read about it in.
been looking at a few audi a3s in the classifieds, late 90s around the £4k mark..mostly near to 100k miles
id like to know if theres any major problems these cars suffer with? are any of the engines troublesome(havent decided what engine to go for yet)
is the bodywork galvanised all over
any advise please Read more
I disagree. I think the 125BHP petrol is not half as good as the 150BHP 1.8T. My sister has had no problems with her A3 1.8T in the 4 yrs she's owned it and I've not had any 'T' related issues with the 180BHP version in my Leon.
The biggest issue with these engines was the coil packs in circa2001 cars and cambelts that fail before the service interval (VW have now reduced the recommended interval from 80K to 40K). Neither of these issues is Turbo related.
Also - Steveo3002 asked about A3's - so why the need to immediately mention a Ford in the first line of your reply. We know you like Fords, you don't have to tell us every post.
If I was going to buy an A3 of late 90's era it would be a 1.8T or a 110 (upped to 115?) diesel. Not sure the 130PD was out then.
Good luck
I have a 2.2TDi 03 Elegance
I had problems last year which meant the Emergency engine mgt prog cutting in, without warning, which was downright dangerous.
After 2 attempts to solve this "known" problem , diagnosed as a software fault, my local dealer then diagnosed a problem with the fuel being contaminated by pieces of metal (!) from the lining of the fuel pump which had crumbled.
Cue for more inconvenience, loss of car for 2 days. When I go to collect I find door mirror damaged and after a lot of aggro get the dealer to agree responsibility and replace ( visit again required).
Now I find an oil leak , which my local garage tells me is coming from where the fuel pump goes into the engine block .They say 99% sure it's poor work and/or a faulty seal when the fuel system work was done.
I expect they will dispute that and I may just blow my own gasket when they get it tomorrow! Read more
Out of interest, what diesel have you been using.
Does anyone know the latest on the M42 variable speed limits (section between M40 and M6 junctions in SW.
I have heard fokelore tales that it will go live on 1st April and that the cameras are every 400M and are set to 2mph tolerances. Read more
Recently discussed, and subsequently moved to the speed camera thread:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=39474&...e
Please continue discussion there please.
DD.
I'd like to know once ad for all, when is it due?? VW handbook says every 60,000 then I hear they've said it should be every 40k??
My gf's car is a Mk3 TDI on an R reg. Last cambelt change was done @ 61k miles by main dealer in 2000.
The car is now on 109k. What should I do?? Read more
tdiclub.com/articles/A3-TimingBelt/
If you're doing this yourself the above link takes you through it in great detail, good photos and little waffle
some idiot reversed into me and damaged my front bumper. need to get it replaced, insurance has said i need to pay for it and then they will claim it back for me. so i need to shop around for quotes! also any ideas at how much it would cost to replace a front bumper for a 2001 corsa? also im covered fully comp so it doesnt really make sense to me that i have to pay for it first and then they chase the claim up and give me the money especially as it is not my fault! Read more
Shame you've involved your own insurers already - you could have used someone like HelpHire www.helphire.co.uk. They help anyone who has had an accident which wasn't their fault. It costs you £10 and they sort everything out for you, they even give you a courtesy car whilst yours is in for repair which they bill the 3rd party's insurers for (which is where they make their money). I used them years ago when someone stuffed into the back of me and they were excellent. Didn't affect my insurance one bit.
I was behind a car transporter carrying Audi's today and on the top was a car that had its's features hidden.
What amazed me was the way it was hidden, it was neatly covered in a white material which was tailored to fit, it had zips following the shape of the drivers door to gain access and was even tailored around the two exhaust pipes and mirrows enabling it to be driven a short distance.
Dont know much about Audi's, but they certainly spent some time designing and making the cover, it must been a new model which Audi fans on this site will no doubt know about.
Regards, Mal.
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It's just a bog standard current model TT. They all get bagged up. Most come with plastic sheeting on the bodywork, the TT gets a bag because of the curvy shape. Driving "in the bag" is interesting as you only have fore/aft and drivers door mirror that are useable, have to be very sure of the width of the car, esp when reversing.
Browse
I have a w reg, 2000, V70. ETM failed last October. Replaced for £580. I complained to the supplying Volvo dealer as it was 55,000 miles with Volvo history. Dealer came back with offer of 20% 'contribution' - turned out to be 10% from Volvo and 10% from dealer. I then researched this on the web and 'discovered' the whole issue. The whole problem was denied by the dealer - but as a result, I may well try to get rid of the car sooner rather than later. Trouble is, I find it really comfortable and suits me down to the ground..... Shame.