March 2006
I've got a 3.0l CDTI Vectra and have been hearing a continual rumble whose pitch alters with speed when driving for the last couple of months. Vauxhall tell me that the problem is not bearing problems as I thought but mishaped tyres!!!
Anyone come across this ?? Before I replace 2 good tyres!
Thanks Read more
The Ford Focus cabriolet coupe...
www.ford.co.uk/spg/getImage.asp?imageName=SPG_3_28...g
What are they thinking? That boot looks horrid, it wouldn't take them long to think of some styling for that metre of sheet steel!
I won't even mention the colour!
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Mike Farrow Read more
i love it
--
\"a little man in a big world/\"
Have just purchased a 99 avensis 1.8 GS estate, but with only one key which works fine in the door and by remote,but toyota want £120 for another key!! The wifes mercedes keys are only £20, what's going on here and where can I get keys at a sensible price? Read more
I have seen this but unfortunately it does not work with new Nissans.You need to have the car plugged in to the latest software with the unprogrammed key installed with your personnel codes , it takes around 1 hour hence the labour charge over the £80 key cost.
The last couple of times I have driven for a longish stretch on a wet motorway, I have gone use the brakes and found they did not work.
This only happens after 40ish miles of wet motorway driving, and a couple of hard applications seems to restore the proper effect again. The pedal is still hard when this happens, and feels much like brake fade does. I hardly use the brakes on the motorway, so I would imagine the last time I used them would be some 30 - 40 mins previously.
Has anyone else noticed this happening on their car? I've never had a car which did this before! The discs and pads look to be in decent condition, and I can only imagine that an amount of water is building up between pad and disc, but why?
Any thoughts gratefully appreciated! Read more
If your brakes are not working properly then you must sort them out before venturing out on the road.
The Sportage strikes me as very good looking vehicle and has had some very strong reviews.
The weak point seems to be diesel only producing 111 bhp, however browsing drivethedeal tonight I noticed they refer to a "138" version.
Has the engine been uprated, presumably with greater torque as well) ?
If so, I will take a closer look. Nothing on Kia website about it.
Woody Read more
Looking at the latest specs on the website I see that the diesel is now sporting a 'variable geometry turbocharger' (pardon the pun..... couldn't resist it).
The original diesel Sportages just had a 'bog standard' turbocharger so perhaps this is what is giving the power boost.
I read in the Sunday Times that This whizz 'solicitor-to-the-stars', Mr Freeman has launched a website and a monthly subscription service for £4.99.
www.freemankeepondriving.com/join_now.asp
He has very famously got the great and the good off their driving raps. Has anyone joined up, if so what are your opinions please?
Alan Read more
I think you would still have to pay the hourly rate for court atendace. The website only offers telephone advice and help with forms. If any of you are FSB members then you get a similar package as part of the membership.
The brake warning light and stop symbol keep coming on accompanied by a horrid beep usually when going downhill but not pressing the brake pedal. The brake functionality seems to be completely unaffected. My internet research has indicated abs module issues, but I was wondering if it could be a faulty pad wear sensor.
Before I put it on a Renault diagonstics system or remove the wheels I thought I would ask here.
Cheers Read more
Just keep an eye on it.
A friend had to fill his Almera up a few months ago because the light kept coming on. No sign of leaks. It's been fine since.
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Mike Farrow
Hi:
I have the above mentioned vehicle and I am not mechanically minded, but these are the problems Im facing. It running like a three legged Donkey. The revs are up and down and it stalls. When it is left a while it will start but is still rough. Its not long had a service which included new plugs and leads`and the timing is correct. I have not long had the car.
Im being told that it has a AAG engine and the code is 00513-G28. After testing it, the signal is out of tolerence.
Basicly I have not a clue what could be causing this!!
Can anyone help? Many Thanks
Stef
Read more
G28 is the engine speed sensor or crank sensor,a common fault on your Golf.The obvious thing to do is to renew it.
My mate just started as a car salesman last week and has sold his first car. He won't mind me copying you the exact details of it
"It felt pretty good,It was a Rover 45 .It was a trade in which came in on Friday and was going to auction, however the boss said put it on over the weekend and see if it sells.
It was a clean car with only 33k miles and full history.however we only paid £1800 and I sold it for £3995 financed over 4 years with an extended warranty,a service plan and our own insurance,so i should make around £x for the deal,it wasnt difficult, I just hung around the guy and chatted ,i told him i previously worked for x and his cousin works there as well and a wee connection was made.
The boss was pleased, major profit,the margins are usually much tighter,especially on newer cars."
I have told him he should be ashamed of himself!!!!
Read more
Anything - car, house, TV, whatever - is only worth what the buyer will pay for it. The salesman's job is to get as much as he can for the product. If you think the price too high, look elsewhere.
As for buying cars being like a trip to the supermarket, didn't Kia or Daewoo try selling cars in the UK at fixed prices and employing staff who weren't allowed actively sell the cars, only answer whatever questions the buyer asked?
Certainly, FIAT used to have a rule here in Ireland whereby every dealership had to offer the same model at the same price. The only leeway they had was the part-exchange they could offer. And at that time, the Punto was the biggest selling car in the country, so somebody must have liked the idea.
- Gromit
2.4 petrol 1994. Done 160,000 miles without breakdown. New fault as follows. The car has 3 forward gears plus overdrive. There is also a "lock up" mode which engages at 50-60 mph depending on how hard the throttle is pressed.
This now makes a nasty grinding noise when it engages. Once engaged the car works fine as long as at least a little throttle is kept open. If you lift off, it seems to re-engage when you accelarate again.
I'm guessing, but I think it's part of the torque converter?
The problem is that the car is not worth spending much money on plus we are going skiing in it on March 25th.
Does anyone
a) Know how it works, and will it disintergrate on the motorway etc???
B) Know any way of fooling the lock up so that it simply never engages. (Being dependant on speed AND pedal pressure, I presume it is governed by centifugal force AND vacuum.)
Hope there is an auto expert amongst the backroomers!
Regards Richard. Read more
Aprilia (Lancia or just Roman?)
Thanks for the info. Sounds very promising. Next Q is how/where do I find the feed to the No 3 solenoid? If you don't have experience of this particular box, where would it most likely be? Underneath?
Richard.
Browse
I get a drumming noise, particularly noticeable on smooth road surfaces, from the rear tyres of my 1999 Vectra. Alternate blocks on the inside of the tyre wear lower and generate the noise. This usually happens after 15K - 20K wear of the tyres. I've had this happen with Michelins, Avons & Continental tyres and is a characteristic of the rear suspension on this model of Vectra.
If you suspect the rear tyres why not have them carefully removed and fit two new ones but take the old ones home with you to be refitted in this proves not to be the problem.