August 2006
In a survey carried out by the AA, 20% of young male drivers were unable to identify the dipstick on the engine of their own cars. 2.5% of those questioned pointed out the battery as being the dipstick, and a further number thought the radiator cap was where you put the oil.
There are going to be some real lemons on second-hand forecourts in the not to distant future.
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Robin Reliant, formerly known as Tom Shaw Read more
We have had this car, a 1999 Peugeot 406 HD1 Est., 190K miles, since last December, it runs well and has only needed a front spring replacing. Three days ago I went to start it and it turned over normally but wouldn't fire at all. "Electronic Ignition Fault" was on the display.. After spending quite a bit of time looking for bad connections the fault eventually cleared and the car ran normally, but when stopped (turned off), the fault was back. I had it recovered yesterday to the nearest auto electrician about 14 mls. away. The garage doing the recovery were very keen to take it to their own premises, said they had seen several Peugeots with the same fault recently, and it was the fuel pump above the tank every time. They even logged the reported fault as "fuel pump". The auto-electricians found a fault code indicating an imobiliser fault, and suggested possibly a bad connection, faulty key, or the sensor unit which clips rond the lock barrel. While investigating, the fault cleared and wouldn't come back, and I drove it home, stopped the engine, and later started it again without any problem. Today, back to square one! Twice over the last couple of days the display has gone blank. Also a yellow key symbol remains lit until the fault clears. What can I do to avoid main dealer charges? Read more
Hi all this is an old thred but thought i would reply as it may help others. I had same fault on my 1999 406 HDI pug (190,000 miler), i had just entered a moterway all was running well and then engine just died and on centre consol had "electronic ignition fault" along with a yellow key sybol by spedo found the problem the next day, a 30amp fuse had blown under the bonnet and as for the reason i think it may well be water getting in the drivers footwell as i have herd there are wires there that if get wet can short an make many probs, footwell is damp and i tend to get probs in the winter like central locking last winter not working and all doors staying unlocked which i also red can be due to damp drivers floor. This summer when the wethers better i shall pull up the carpet and insulate the wires and check for where the water is getting in.
I have ordered a Toyota Yaris (delivery to be in October) and have been offered Super Gaurd paint and interior protection for an extra charge (£350 normally but as I am disabled and purchasing via Motability the cost is reduced to £150)
Is it a worthwhile treatment?
Has anybody got any good/bad experiences of this type of treatment?
Any comments please. TIA Brian Read more
My last car had Super Guard (bought car as an ex-demonstator so didn't pay for the SG), my present car doesn't have it - I can't see, or detect when cleaning it, any difference.
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Phil
Hi,
I have a Ford Transit 100 T260. It has the 100bhp 2L Duratec Turbo Di diesel engine. The performance is causing me concern at the moment.
At 70mph its gutless although if you put your foot own you can hear the turbo trying hard. Following the same van which has the lower powered 85bhp unit they leave me for dead at 70mph... it just won't go.
Sometimes it accelerates at lower speed through the rev range impressively and then the next minute it runs out of steam shortly after the turbo gives a bit of boost. Totally upredictable!
It's just undergone a big service, changing oil, fuel, airfiler (clogged worse than I've ever seen one!) and this has made no different to performance :-(.
Fuel economy seems fine and it doesn't kickout smoke (that I can see) or missfire. There are no error lights present on the dash.
Anyone have any ideas what might be wrong with my van?
Read more
Air mass meter? The bain of most TD engines....
Some take more kindly to cleaning than others.
My Ford Ka, purchased Sept 2003, has just gone through its first MOT at 19,000 miles.
Failed - broken suspension coil spring (front, driver's side)
This interested me, because about a month ago, the front suspension arms were replaced, because the bushes were worn. (I was told it was simpler just to replace the arms.)
My questions
1) How long might I have been driving around with a broken coil spring?
2) Should I have noticed any symptoms of a broken coil spring - and if so, what?
3) Should I have noticed any symptoms of worn bushes - and if so, what?
4) Would it be surprising for a mechanic fitting new suspension arms to fail to notice a broken coil spring?
5) Could there be any connection between the broken coil spring and the problem with the worn bushes?
6) I've never known a car to have suspension problems this early in its life, especially with only 19,000 miles. Is this unusual? What might be the causes? Read more
Most reports of broken springs appear to be VW.
Am looking to buy a property in Germany (Trier To Koblenz area) initially as a holiday/2nd home but long term for possible long term living in; wanting to keep my house here too.
Anybody got any experience of this this and what taxes and such like I need to be aware of or how to find them out in detail.
Any pitfalls to avoid etc? All help and comments are welcome.
Be happy to communicate by e mail if its easier and may be buy a drink or 2 for anyone who is able to provide in depth help. Read more
Groan! 20 mins, more like two hours :-(
Thanks for confirming my worst fears.
Fancy a weekend in Bath...
Hi, I went out to my Scudo Van this morning and it won't start. For a while now the engine has been sounding more "ticky", especially with the windows open going past houses in built up areas. I took it to my mechanic a month or so ago and he said there is nothing wrong with it and doesnt know what it might be. Now it wont start. The engine is cool, it is turning over when I turn the key but not firing. I have checked for loose connections, don't really know what I am doing as I am a girl! I have looked on other websites for basic stuff though, I am not stupid (or blonde!) the van has diesel in. Please Help! Read more
When any diesel engine does not start 99% of the time the fault is worn out engine pre-heat glow plugs.
An easy way to check if this is the likely cause is to turn the engine over in the normal way to try and start it (and keep on turning it), if you have white smoke coming out the exhaust then there is fuel getting through to the engine it just isn't igniting.
If you do not have smoke then there is no fuel and the fault is then likely to be related to a fuel cut-off problem.
If you have smoke then change the glow plugs. If you don't have smoke get back to me.
My previous jazz vs note has now become a battle of head vs heart with the Mini strongly battling against the jazz. But I am warned that the Mini is not the car to sit in for any length of time for motorway journies. Come on you Mini lovers - help me convince my family that this will be the car for me!!! Read more
Hi,
My girlfriend has a Cooper, and i regularly drive it from Preston to ipswich and enjoy it immensley. I however have a Fabia vRS and it is an awesome little beast, v.quick, economical, beats the mini hands down in all but brand image IMHO.
I've just about asked the question in the title, does the 2003 2.0 I-VTEC Accord have a timing belt or timing chain?
How often does the belt require changing and what are likely costs?
Thanks in advance!
Blue Read more
sorry oldman,im strictly a honda man, you must have mistaken me for someone else,no offence taken
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if it aint broke don`t fix it
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Thanks for the replies - Adam you have mail !
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Thats an intrigueing post BBD and sums up to some extent my relationship with my father. He was never into cars or engineering, but like you i always tried to earn his respect.
I think its that bloke thing of not being able to discuss emotions and feelings with another man - even your own son, thats to blame.
TVM is very lucky in that he could bond with his father in the garage while they worked on the motor. not every son and father has that opportunity.