September 2006
I bought an M plate 106 1.5D with just over 100k on the clock without any service history. Car seems to be in good shape and so is engine but I would like to make sure it stays the same in long run. Shall I change the cam belt on it and service it? I've a friend who could do the job for me so it won't be a great deal except parts. What else shall I replace and what's the best place to buy the parts from? I've got local euro car parts store and GSF is only few miles away. What's the best engine oil for this car?
Also when turning right car makes a noise which seems to be coming from the o/s front tyre so it could be CV joint? Is it costly? Every now and then battery light in the dashboard comes on and then just switched itself off after driving for few minutes. Read more
hi throttle is sticking open all of a sudden at about 1500 revs is there anything I could check cos it is obviously going to guzzle more petrol, car is a 98 vectra v6 auto
have checked that it is returning ok and you can't push it back any further so guess it might be sucking air somewhere
ta in advance
dave Read more
A 98 Vectra V6 has both Exhaust Gas Recirculation and Secondary Air Injection, the latter makes the noise for the first couple of mins of running from cold.
Hello,
Need advice please. Car is low mileage 49K and still has what looks like its original unused spare tyre.
My queries are:-
i. When should I change the timing belt?
ii. Does the engine get wrecked if the belt snaps??
ii. Is the tyre too old to use now?
Thanks
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1. It seems to be recommended on here at 40,000 miles /4 years whichever comes first for all VAG cars.
-however it is shown on Gates' cambelt guide to be 105,000 miles. your cambelt also drives the water pump on this car
2. very probably, it is an "interference" engine
3. should be fine, visually inspect it and make sure you keep it at the correct specified pressure.
I have a damaged front seat cover, (only the lower part, squab is it?) the back is O.K. and I have the opportunity to obtain the same colour from a breakers yard. Does anyone know how they are fitted? and is removing and fitting within the possibility of a reasonable D.I.Y man?
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Its a Golf Mk 3 1.9 GL the problem is now sorted than you for your replys. Stainless
I have just done a head gasket on a 306 D Turbo. Everything is back together but the car wont start. From what I can tell everything seems to be in order, I had originally suspected the glowplugs but these have been changed and a recent checked showed them to be operating fine, I have a burn to prove it!!
Now as the car hasnt started when I withdraw the glowplug would I be correct in assuming that I should be able to see diesel on the glowplug, but at the mo they are dry, could this mean that I am not getting fuel through to the combustion chamber?
If so any advice?
Many thanks
Danny Read more
If you're getting fuel out of the injector pipes then the fuel cut off valve must be working OK. Doe the engine seem to have good compression? Is it hard to turn over using a socket on the crank nut? Or do you have access to a diesel compression tester? Is there no sign of life at all, any emission from the exhaust?
Supposing the timing was now 180 degrees out, fuel in on the exhaust stroke?
You could try here for more help - www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/
Steve.
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Xantia HDi.
Buy a Citroen and get to know the local GSF staff better...
im looking at draining and flushing my cooling system on a 2001 306 hdi. i was wondering what the procedure is as ive never done this before and want to keep the system sweet as the radiator looks in good condition.
Is it worth just flushing the radiator or should i flush the block out too?
I can see 1 bleed screw on the bulkhead near the brake servo are there any others?
The haynes only goes up 2 1999 models which doesnt help. How come theres not one for a hdi?
thanks Read more
Technical terms! Meant a drain screw!
Looking at buying a Golf Plus as it seems to tick a few boxes in terms of size, space, retained value, etc.
My main concern is that I don't see many of these on the road and I wonder if VW will drop the model (especially as I've heard that a Golf Estate is on it's way).
What do people think?
Also, anyone out there own one and can give me their thoughts on owning one?
Thanks in advance! Read more
Why would they replace a nice looking hatchback with a funny over-tall one that doesn't really offer any advantages i.e on a few mms longer and 100mm higher - otherwise zilch.
I sat in a new standard Golf, Golf Plus, Touran and Passat recently in local VW showroom. I set the front seats to suit me then 'sat behind myself'. I'm 6'1".
The Golf Plus was the easiest to get into, had most rear leg room and was very comfortable.
I was impressed.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
I think it's a year since this has been raised - or at least thats what a search revealed - and then the thread sadly degenerated into the usual pro/anti police argument.
Without going into the specifics of any particular incident, we are all aware that many accidents/incidents on our roads result in the area being declared a crime scene - with the inevitable long delays.
As far as I am aware this is a fairly recent practice and it is surely without doubt that our roads are closed for much longer than yesteryear.
Does anyone know if a crime scene was always declared after major accidents?
Or:
Is it in response to a new law?
Is new Home Office guidelines?
Is it new Police protocols?
It would not appear to be the usual culprit - namely a Brussels inspired directive.
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I will make one observation and that is that the large
volume of traffic places a very high demand on our road
network. One hiccup at the wrong time and everything grinds to
a halt. There are few alternative routes that can cope with
the high volume catered for on the main networks - hence
gridlock.
A statement with which we would all wholeheartedly agree.
Logically this would suggest the Police would attempt to streamline procedures to minimise delays.
Instead, without explanation, it would appear that the police at the scene have gone in the opposite direction and introduced more comprehensive procedures which inevitably increase delays.
I have just replaced the head gasket on a 1.4SE Astra (1995). I have got a wire left over from the loom that needs connecting to the engine somewhere. It comes out of the alternator wiring loom about half way along and it coloured blue with a green tracer. It has a one way connector on it with a green water resistant boot on it.
Where did I disconnect it from??!! Read more
check all air pipes are secure if its hunting.
Mk 1 - 8 valve.
My wife?s Punto overheated today. She was using it locally, no traffic jams, so what made it overheat? The only thing I can imagine is the thermostat stuck shut. The engine got so hot that the plastic lugs holding the cambelt cover to the engine have melted. Car was running fine beforehand and starts and runs OK now, although the radiator header bubbles like a boiling kettle. Head gasket failure me thinks. Water level was OK a couple of weeks back when I checked and there have been no leaks onto the garage floor.
The head gasket was replaced about 18 months/3,000 miles ago (she doesn?t use the car much!), so I?m a bit peeved it?s gone again!
Seeing as the engine got so hot, what other damage could have resulted? Obviously the head will need skimming, but could it have cracked?
Chris M
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Well the job is done and the car is running fine.
I haven't done a head gasket in over 20 years and am feeling pretty pleased with myself. All the bolts came undone easily, the head came off with little prompting, all the parts were in stock and were the correct ones first time, I didn't have to stop and go out to get anything unexpected, the car started first time, the weather was fine and the birds were singing. DIY as it should be!!
And perhaps best of all, I save circa £200 on labour - sorry oldman ;-)
Chris M
what 659FBE said, but also you may be getting diesel into the alternator from a drip off the pump if this is so then it will wreck the alternator very quickly im afraid
glad youve bought the 1500 lump they are seriously good and in my opinion yours is low mileage at 100k......