March 2006
I have the latest Espace and in an effort to avoid the dealers am going to attempt an oil change myself.
Can anyone tell me how much oil it takes and who would sell me an oil filter, gsf don't seem to do one. Any other tips? Read more
My Dad has an A4 TDi which has started displaying the warning light for the ESP being disabled, and pressing the button on the dash has no effect. It seems to come on a few minutes after starting the engine, and then stays on; if the engine is stopped and restarted the light doesnt come on again until after another few minutes.
Could anyone please advise what could be causing this? Could it just be a dirty sensor or something more serious? He has just recently paid £850 for a main dealer service including new discs and pads front and rear. Could it be something they have missed or disturbed in doing the work, and should therefore sort out for free?
I know the best way is to get it plugged into diagnostics to check it out, but can anyone hazard a guess so he's better informed when he takes it in? The thought of getting landed with another big bill is putting him off getting it looked at.
Many thanks,
Rich. Read more
I need to pay more attention to the OP Cheddar.
I didn't notice it was you I thought it was Rich who was posting and could not understand why he didn't know the mileage. Thanks for keeping me right.
Tom
As many of you will know I have had my 2002 Mondeo Ghia X from new, I have always understood it to have Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) though not Electronic Stability Programme (ESP). I clearly recall that EBA, auto-relock and one or two other features were introduced on what were called 2002.5 model year Mondeos.
However the Haynes manual confuses matters, it says:
"The Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) adds another function to the ABS system. Sensors measure the position of the steering wheel, the pressure in the brake master cylinder, the yaw velocity/rate and the lateral acceleration. With this information the system can can compare the driver's intention with the vehicle's movement and apply appropriate corrective action. The system is sometimes known as Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)."
I have always thought of ESP and EBA as different systems albeit using some common sensors.
Any thoughts? Read more
My 2001 V6 Mondeo does not have the mechanical EBA and it was too early for the Electronic EBA. Fords with mechanical EBA have a different servo unit to non-EBA and it has a label on it with the leters "EBA" in the serial number IIRC. My brakes have a softer feel to the pedal, which gives a feeling of uncertanty until you get used to them, but they are very efficient when hard pressed.
I drove a Ford C-Max today, and it had an electronic parking brake. I've never come across one before, and wondered if anyone had any thought about these, on reliability or otherwise. Perhaps I'd get used to it, but it seemed more controllable to hold the car on an incline using a handbrake.
Also, what would happen if, as on my Mondeo, I had a failure of several electronic components, losing use of indicators, door locks and horn. Read more
I have driven many rental cars in mainland Europe with these new ?Electronic? parking brakes, (VW, Audi, Renault are the main ones). I think they are all rubbish on manual shift cars as it makes hill starting etc. very difficult. They are probably OK on an Automatic car.
The Renaults are the worst offenders. As soon as you turn the engine off the brake comes on automatically. The VW/Audis are better in that they do not come on automatically. With the VAG cars I just park in gear with the handbrake off in case they stick, (very worried about the cold in Germany in January when it was -25C).
I still prefer the ?standard? type and might not choose a car because it has an ?Electronic? brake!
Q
How do,
my rear subframe bushes have gone for sure, really loud knock over over camber bumps, first time i heard it i thought one wheel had come off?? that sound right?
anyway, i was just going to get them off ebay the power flex ones, but i don't know for sure that the subframe is ok, it should be? 51reg 30k
and will any garage be able to do this properly! as i don't want a botch up Read more
PS: I ordered the bushes from Demon Tweaks on the phone, they were delivered direct from Powerflex. About £80 inc.
having trouble opening bonnet on rover 75. handle pulled bonnet wont open, seems like cables stuck, i know cable pulls two other cables at offside inner wing to release double bonnet catches, any ideas on how to open?
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unfortunately daltonman is still trapped up the wheel liner of his 75 as he hasnt reported back yet,
come in daltonman ....................
--
\"a little man in a big world/\"
Has anyone even bothered to change a cambelt on a matiz i have just been handed one down as my car! and the cambelt has snapped firstly is this car a safe engine or not and how easy is it to fit a new cam belt? Any help please!
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The Matiz is not a 'GM' engine
Sorry for any misleading information. As previously stated though, I've only seen under the bonnet of a Lanos, which looked like the Astra powerplant.
Hello,
2002(02) Corsa 1389cc Auto.
The problem occurs when the engine is warm and is switched off for short to medium periods of time, ie. petrol station, this afternoon it occured after a 45 minute shopping trip. The car will struggle to start and probably will not unless given a lot of gas, the engine sounds like it is going to turn over but struggles to and when it eventually does (sometimes 3 or 4 goes)it runs like a dream. It is possible to get it to start on the first go if you get it right with the gas but even then you can hear it struggling. This does not happen all the time, but its getting increasingly more frequent recently.
Any ideas? Some sort of sensor?
Many thanks. Read more
I recently experienced this problem with my 03 Astra. My problem was the Throttle Response Valve. I left mine with this problem through most of the winter and one morning I filled up with fuel my car started but my ABS, Traction Control and Throttle had given up the ghost.
It has been repaired under warranty and I was told it was one of those many common faults with vauxhall!
just a quick discussion between me and a few mates. For the mathematitions out there....would there be much of an increase in MPG on the same car with different wheels. For example 14" wheels v 16" wheels on the same 406 hdi? Read more
The reason why the lowest spec is the most economical: narrower harder tyres. But I wd guess the sympathy of the driver's foot wd count for more.
I took my 1997 Passatt for an MOT with no ABS problems. It failed on a split suspension gaiter that was replaced. After the MOT the orange ABS light was showing. I took it back and was told that it may be dirt on the ABS sensor due to above work. Checked, but light still on. Plugged into a hand held computer that could not give a reason for light showing . Taken to a VW dealer by the garage and a bigger computer found both sensors faulty and needed replacement (£105 plus vat each).This is put down to a coincidence by the garage.
1. Surely both sensors going at the same time is rare
2. Surely the above happening after going into a garage is more than coincidence
3. Is it possible the sensors were affected by computer checks that were done during the initial Mot?
Any direction I could get on this would be most helpful.
James
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Likely that MoT place damaged them during repair - but very difficult to prove!
Browse
Roger I guess its just a matter of turning up and asking for the service, I might give it a try next week in person. Thanks for all your help with this.