March 2006
The Focus (51-1.6) is having issues once again:
a) Clutch-related noise? On depressing the cluth, changing gear, and bringing the clutch up, as it releases there's a long whinge/whine sound.
b) Gearbox is getting difficult to put into first and fifth, and reverse (though this has always been an issue) - it's started not engaging first in traffic sometimes and popping out.
c) Engine seems louder/harsher/harder than normal at motorway speeds - like it's working harder to get the same revs...(3,000 is really noisy).
d) Really smoky start-up.
e) On hard-left turns, something around the driver's side front wheel makes a loud thud (kind of as the body leans a little toward that side).
f) First thing in the morning, as I drive away, about 10 secs after switching the engine on and as we reverse up the drive there's a single loud bang, which jerks the car and steering.
I've changed the oil (to the correct spec), but I fear I'm needing a new clutch (possibly new gearbox) and the louder engine coupled with bang and smoke is worrying, along with the loud thudding that's begun to sound. Any thoughts on what the car needs, apart from possibly a lot of money? Read more
Any insurance experts out there? I travel out to my clients each day. In effect my place of work each day is my clients place of business. Most insurance policies cover you to travel to and from your place of work. The question is do I actually need additional cover for business use? Read more
When I renewed my insurance last year I found the insurance company had moved the goalposts - again !
Original cover was SDP ( social, domestic, pleasure) + business use without any restrictions: "to and from a place of work"
Following year included: "to and from a permanent place of work"
This was further identified as "a single place of work" - and as my then company was multi-site, I would have to upgrade my insurance for an additional premium !!!
The outcome was a change of company and full Class 1 use for only £10 more.
You MUST read the RENEWAL NOTICE very carefully.
They are happy to take your money, then refuse to pay out when a claim occurs.
The other thing to remember is to consider part-time/evening "occupations".
There are just the 2 of us, the kids having flown the nest, so we can now enjoy a car. We want a convertible with a solid folding roof. Don't ask why, we just do! An SLK is beyond our means so don't go there. A 206 seems to have problems with its roof. Rather like the 307CCs and MeganeCCs. Reckon we will be buying a 1 year old model and keeping it until the wheels drop off. What do you guys reckon? Read more
At first glance I might be tempted to think I would be better off looking elsewhere but these few faults are nothing compared to what could befall me if I went for a 307CC. "User error" seems quite a common fault on a lot of cars but in reality it is because the manufacturers has made things too complex and there are too many electronic boxes. (Still cannot figure out the i-drive on my brothers 5 series and neither can he!) Assuming I shall be buying one still under warranty I should be covered.
Anything else?
I drive down this road every morning on my way to work. Is this sign legal? Its at the entrance to an industrial estate with a VERY rough road. There are more pot holes than in a pot hole factory!
photobucket.com/albums/d151/sidspud/?action=view&c...g
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Wally, take it you are a big Duran Duran fan?????
Am I alone in experiencing slowing speeds on accessing the HJ site? It's been getting worse for me over the last few days.
Am I alone? Read more
Regarding the speed of the site.
It is something we are aware of and the matter is being looked into.
DD.
Good Morning
Following the FAP issue suggs from BBA reman (thank you so much screwloose) has been to have the 406 2.2HDI scanned. Rang up local Pug dealer & asked. 'is the dash warning light still on?' they ask. 'Not now,' I reply. 'No point then' they say. Apparently the system doesn't store/log error fault incidents. Is this really true?
If so I guess I'd better lug it around until the FAP ignites & then troll to dealer, ensuring I don't go over 50mph, thus provoking a passive regen & putting out the light.
Thank you all again.
--
www.bayingbasset.com
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Hello,
Other than spraying liberally and soaking with Plus Gas for a couple of weeks, does anyone have any other tips or tricks to releasing two potentially stuck glow plugs in a ?96 C220 diesel.
Regards
Ellis Read more
Thanks for the responses, I'll read and digest and when the job is attempted will report back.
Now all I need is some help from the National Lottery this weekend. Sounds like just what I want!
Tim{P} Read more
>>...surprisingly, makes it better in a crash than steel because aluminium absorbs 30% more energy.
This surprises me too HJ. I'd be interested to see/read/hear how this is substantiated.
In particular, it will be interesting to see how these cars perform in real crashes. In comparing steel and aluminium, the concrete wall impacts typically used for type approval can flatter aluminium because aluminium can allow local penetrations with very little energy absorption.
Number_Cruncher
Right, I just got made redundant (as in escorted from the building along with all my colleagues). Not unexpected, and possibly even a good thing (if things work out), but, I need to consider all options. So.
I may be left with no job, and with a lease car I've only just acquired personally on PCP that will be surplus to requirements and beyond my means if things don't go well. So, as far as I can see, I have three options (maybe four).
1. Keep paying for the car on a monthly basis and just lump it.
2. Try and renegotiate the lease to a longer, lower mileage deal, which I believe I can do.
3. Try and sell the car and put up with the difference between what I make and the total of what I owe each month. Will make some loss but will be annoying rather than disaster.
4. Something else.
Does anyone have any ideas about this. At the moment, it's on a 3 year, 35k a year deal, which if work stuff doesn't work out, is far too expensive.
All ideas gratefully received.
Gord.
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Probably won't help with your specific query, but check this out:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=37613
This quote was in another thread today:
"My wife's car was hit by builders truck - wife in correct lane, builder in wrong lane, but in statement to his insurers he says he's in correct lane ,wife in wrong lane. Insurer never checked lane markings and even suggested we accept 50/50 blame."
I have seen several other posts in a similar vein.
It implies that if someone is in the wrong lane they are at fault if someone drives into them. I cannot see that is correct.
I see plenty of drivers who approach a roundabout in the LH lane and then proceed to drive a full 270 degrees around the roundabout to take the third exit. Clearly they approach the roundabout in the wrong lane and for at least half the circumference they remain in the wrong lane. However regardless of fact that they are, nervous, unfamiliar with which exit they want or just plain idiots, I would still consider myself at fault if I changed lanes and drove into them.
I remember a Police Inspector in a court case where I was a witness telling the accused that he should have ascertained the other driver's intentions and not made an assumption on his intentions. It seems to me that applies here.
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The law regards a roundabout as havinf anualar continuoes markings around
an island wether they are autaully there or not. If the
other vechicle changed lanes i.e. crossed a line weather real or
not then he is responsible. Regards Peter
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Do what?
Browse
They sound more like problems than 'issues' to me.
Do you work in IT? (lots of IT people seems to call faults/problems 'issues').