June 2006
Is selling your car to someone you know a really bad idea?
I'll be selling Polo in less than two months time (hopefully!) and a couple of people have already said what a nice little car he is and that they'd be interested in buying him. These are people that I see very often (in one case, every day) and I'm just not sure it's a good idea.
If he breaks down, I will feel responsible and bad for them having to spend money on him. Also, I don't know if I want to see him every day once I've sold him on. On the other hand, it would be nice to know the sort of person he was going to.
Any opinions?
(Yes, I know it's only a car... but he's *my* car!)
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I have a problem which hopefully someone can help with.
I have a 1983 autobox Range Rover which a couple of weeks ago developed an interesting fault.
It will not start until the key is released in the ignition from the starting position, so you turn it over and over then give up, release the key and it sometimes starts.
Twice it has refused even then to start and when it did eventually start (once when it was cooled down and the second time with a booster pack) it knocked on the top of the engine and eventually settled down.
Could it be the switch on the auto box that stops you starting it in gear ? ,or could it be the ignition switch ?, or timing?.
This is a new one on me and any ideas would be welcome. Read more
OK, the quick way to see what's going on is (without disconnecting anything), put a voltmeter between coil +ve and earth.
When you turn on the ignition, note the voltage (your electronic ignition should be doing the equivalent of holding the points open at this stage, and you should read battery voltage - even with a ballasted system!, because there is no LT current flowing)
If you then begin to crank the engine over, watch to see how far the voltage drops. If it drops to much below 10 volts, then I would be very suspicious about the by-passing of the ballast resistor as I described above. If, however, the voltage does stay reasonably high, then you need to look elsewhere.
Please report back with your findings.
Number_Cruncher
Ok every time I try and wind up my rear windows the anti pinch mechanism kicks in and they wind down again. Happens on both sides. Anyone got any idea?
thanks
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF > Read more
Many thanks for the advice......This reset method worked perfectly.
So to recap: if your electric windows fail to work as expected, before going to a garage to seek medical help simply use your key to lock the car but hold it in the anticlockwise '9' o clock position for at least 10". You should see the open windows close....
I am a step nearer attempting a DIY engine oil change on my Golf Mk.4 Diesel 130PD.Just bought a torque wrench & drain can,some 506.01 spec oil & filter.
Can anyone please tell me the Torque setting for the engine oil drain bolt ?
thanks
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if you are doing your own oil change,I would suggest check the type of drain plug that is fitted.Some models have a spline/ribe drive that requires a special socket.
I notice in the JD Power survey that the Polo, Golf and Passat beat the Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo, in their respective groups.
Will this quieten the many VW knockers on this forum?
I think not. Read more
If I was buying a new car, id have a Subaru every time. My father had an early Impreza Turbo, before they became popular, and his car had one fault - the bracket holding the dealerfit aircon unit worked loose and a belt started cutting into the cambelt cover.
When we phoned the dealer, they were totally horrified and collected the car from 30 miles away within two hours and left us a car.
We got the car back in two days with a bunch of flowers for my mum and a free service for my dad.
Now thats the kind of service that makes me want one and aside from that dealer related issue, the car was thrashed to 50k in two years but never missed a beat and the dealer continued their superb customer care.
I know where id spend £21,000 and it wouldnt be at a VW dealer!
Subaru deserve their high JD power positons and beating Ford and Vauxhall is hardly an acheivement for VW, it just means they are better than awful!
The easiest way to discover what cars are the best, is see what motor traders spend their money on - 99% of traders are the fussiest car buyers on the planet.
Busy stripping back wiring to Air Flow Meter (ongoing fuel problem) 4 wires seem ok but on stripping further back I'v found an extra wire hidden inside the plastic sleeve,its totaly bare and does not look factory finished.What could it be? The car had a MAFM problem (low voltage-9 instead of aprox. 17) so it was replaced with a brand new one,but the problem remained.Anyone come across this before? I'm thinking maybe an Earth wire but I dont know how to check I have a Digital Multimeter but I'd hate to 'Blow' the ECU-Can anyone help me please? Thanks-Mick. Read more
I've got a car up there at the moment and have had 3 potential buyers asking me what I'll sell it for an instant deal.
They strike me as being a bit bogus - one says "your car is a cracker" which is a weird thing for a buyer to say to a seller -so I've replied neutrally, saying I'd expect it to go for a bit less than what similar cars go for privately on Autotrader.
Could old hands at selling on Ebay offer any advice please? Read more
You can also use a snipe tool to bid very late. Puts in a bid at 10 seconds to go, such as hammertap.auctionstealer.com
You input your top bid, and at about 15 seconds it looks up the price, and puts in its best effort of a winning bid. Once or twice I've been beaten, but it means you can leave the bid hidden, without someone else running you up.
Why is a gearchange really smooth if the clutch is only depressed about halfway? Does it damage anything to do this? Presumably something is having to take up the strain.
Cheers,
David. Read more
It depends upon at what point there is clearance between the friction plate and driven plates. This can happen at 1/2 pedal travel. The rest of the pedal travel just increases the clearance. If you have the revs about right, the synchro is helping as well.
I figure this question will have been asked so many times in the past....but how ever here goes.
I have just bought a 1996 Xantia VSX Petrol Turbo Estate, personally I Love It, so if anyone wants to diss me then dont bother....
Just looking for advice on changing the sphere's.... I think its hydractive, but i'm gettin differing views from all garages, I'm a squaddie living in Germany and well the local citreon garage wants a small fortune to change them..
Question...where is the best place for me to buy these and have them shipped out, or the address of a decent garage who will change and service the hydraulics???
Regards
Engr Read more
Thank you for your help
1995 fiesta 1.25 zetec engine, when starting from cold the engine somtimes misfires.I can smell petrol and it will not responed to the accelorator, after two to three minuets it drives ok but when idling it hesitates before picking up revs.I have renewed the plugs tested the leads with a ohmmeter they seem ok. Following the Haynes manual I tested the ignition coil I could find no resistances I think I must have done something wrong. I cleaned the idle air control valve.
Any idears? dave.w
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Can anyone help?
Or could anyone please direct me to a site were I could get some information on how to test the Powertrain Control Module and associated sensors for a 95 Fiesta, 1.25 zetec engine.
Thanks,
Browse
I've sold cars to friends and even family (once)and not really had a problem. Just treat it as business.
And some of you may remember my previous thread about buying a new Passat - update, have ordered one for Sept 56 plate through drivethedeal.com. Anyway, I've agree to sell the outgoing BMW to someone we know in the village (at the end of August) and hope the car keeps going ok up until then and beyond. I've been totally upfront about everything and I'm just glad the car is going to someone who really wants it and is excited about it! And at a fair price for both parties.