March 2006
Hi,
The heater in my 2000, 1.8 Vectra has been taking a long time to warm up this winter, but it does get fully warm after a long time.
I'm losing no water at all. If this were an older car I would guess that the thermostat is stuck open and therefore the water is always going round the radiator.
Does this car has a similar replacable thermostat ? If so, where is it ? Or does anyone have any ideas ?
Thanks,
Sutters. Read more
I have a 96N 405 1.9TD, which has done 126k miles, and has been serviced regularly.
I had noticed that the exhaust was getting quite smokey lately, so changed the air filter, which cured the problem - and it is now running a lot better, is much more responsive, and the excessive smoking has now disappeared. The filter was last changed 6k ago.
The problem was that the left side of the filter seemed to be soaked with engine oil. On having a look, I noticed that the oil seemed to be entering the filter box from a breather hose at the bottom of the box, which seems to lead to a valve on the left hand side (when engine is viewed from the driver's seat) of the intercooler. There is a separate hose (which seems to be very oily) leading from the valve, and it then disappears under the intercooler - am guessing it is a rocker cover breather hose - will have a chance for a proper look on monday when I change the rocker cover gasket.
I'm just wondering if there is a common problem on these cars that could account for this pipe to be leaking oil into the air box? and how to fix it.
Many thanks Read more
The heater on my Punto (T Reg 16 valve) goes cold when the revs fall below 2000rpm, but then blows hot again when the revs go above 2000. The heater matrix has just been replaced and the people who did it say my cylinder head gasket could be failing. The coolant level is on the max line. The engine temperature is the same as it always has been. Any one any ideas
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"Somewhere along the line I feel I've been had since it seems a bit of a coincidence that both my heater matrix and my cylinder head gasket should go at the same time."
If its any consolation, I don't think you've been had. When my Punto's cylinder head gasket failed, the garage were pleased that I'd had it rectified as soon as I did - because the heater matrix fails also due to the coolant leak, making for a considerably bigger job.
Or so I was told, at least...
Regards,
- Gromit
Potholes are the new speed bumps...
www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news/s/206/206521_p...l Read more
Or someone to walk across the road, fall over and ring claims direct. Can't see how they can stand by this policy, if it is indeed a policy and not the ranting of a particular councillor.
Lee -- Without bills, magazines and junk mail, there is no mail
Hi all
I am interested in buying the new Honda Civic 2.2 diesel, and was wondering if anyone here had driven one.
I prefer the Civic to the new Focus and Golf, but there are one or two niggles that I have noted in several reviews that I would be grateful for any views on:
1: Is the ride really firm at low speeds? ( I have a Mk1 Focus at the moment...is it firmer than this?)
2. Is visibilty all round really that bad?
3. Does this car really not need a rear wiper?
4. Does the digital display cause reflections at night that distract you, and can the speedo be obscured dangerously when driving?
5. I do not like test driving cars from dealers as I find you never really get a feel for what its like to live with the car, so would want to rent a new Civic for about a week from somewhere....any recommendations?
6. Any other comments/things I should consider with the new Civic?
Thanks Read more
The Accord and Civic are arguably the nicest looking saloons (estates) and hathbacks currently in production. Certainly at the "normal" end of the market.
The driver side door on my Saxo (02 reg) does not like shutting in the cold weather. It opens fine, but is really difficult to shut from inside the car, normally takes 3-4 tries. Been even worse lately, sometimes I have to resort to shutting it from the outside and then climbing in through the passenger side, which results in many a strange look from passers by! Has anyone got any suggestions? Read more
has the door been striped ?there should be a plastic cover over the lock mech inside some times people who strip them are to idle to put them back because they seem to do nothing but it keeps water out of the mech that runs off the window rail,in winter it freezes and jams the lock. i speek and lean from experiance
Interesting article about Toyota's sales here;
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4764748.stm
One quote that I found quite astounding;
In North America in particular, Toyota Motor made a splash last month when its market value reached fresh records, crashing through the psychologically-crucial $200bn ceiling for the first time.
Not only did this make Toyota the world's tenth most valuable company; it also meant the Japanese giant was worth more than twice as much as General Motors, Ford Motor and DaimlerChrysler combined.
I know that GM, DC etc are having a rough time but for Toyota to be worth twice as much as them ....!
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They just lack 'character' - very subjective I know.
They also lack a car with a decent diesel auto,
Toyota or Lexus.
Funny when back home in UK i quite like a car with "Character" hard to define i know)
But out here when i've got about 300km of rough desert track to cover all i'm concerened about is getting there!
I am looking for the door ajar switch for the near-side rear door. Opening the car does not trigger the door ajar warning or the interior light and I think the switch is stuck in or damaged. However, I cannot find where the door ajar switch is. Would anyone be able to tell me where door ajar switch is located for the rear doors?
Otherwise the car is perfect - just had the car serviced and all was well and no extra parts needed.
Many thanks,
Garrison Read more
It is integral with the latch on the door pillar, the gold coloured bracket that the door locates on to.
HI. I have a 1997 Mondeo MK2 TD.
Tonight I found the passenger window wont open from the passengers side or on the drivers side switch.
Drivers side window will still open when I press the switch for that one.
Anyone know what might be wrong?
Cheers. Read more
I am not normally a documentary watcher but just been fascianted by a program on Discovery about the building of the Airbus, how the fuselage, wings etc are being built in different places and then transported by land and barge and land again to its final destination.
Two motoring points from it
1. The Head of the Design was travelling in , what looked like an oldish 5 door hatch - it had manual rear view mirror controls. Thought he would have had something a bit better!
2. The transportation through France on the low convoy was amazing to see, especially when they went through a French village with approx 10 inches each side to spare! This was done during the night and apparently if the Airbus project takes off (no pun intended) then this journey will be happening once a week!
My B-i-L used to work for a company who did this and seeing these units in action was amazing. Using the remote control, the unit can swivel on its own axis doing a perfect 360 degree turn etc as well as lift and lower.
I found it enthralling! Read more
For the sake of accuracy the base in Lancashire is Warton (no h);)


check the temperature of the top hose to the radiator a couple of minutes after a cold start. If it's already hot then i'd suspect that the thermostat is indeed stuck open.