October 2006
The heater on my 306 has started to blow out steam. The rad water level is dropping so I assume the water is going somewhere. No doubt a leak in the matrix although there is no damp in the footwells. My question. How easy is it to remove the matrix on a 306. It seems well and truly sealed into the area behind the firewall next to the brake servo. My first problem is how to access it? cheers Matt
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i had the misfortune to use the dartford crossing then m25-m11 last night, oh my god ive seen such bad delays , i thought i was going to run out of fuel
anyone know whats going on there??
best check and avoid this area if you have a journey planned Read more
Interesting - I need to take son plus friend to Stansted Airport next Mon pm. They're flying to Hanover. We live near J5 of M25, 55 miles from Stansted.
Flight is at 2030hrs, check in therefore 1830hrs - need to leave home at about 1530-1600hrs., or even earlier to be safe. Super cheap flight too, so no excuses!! Probably quicker to drive - have done it in under 6 hours many years ago!!!
hi wonder if you can help bought secand hand ford mondeo 1800 diesel n reg but only one key and its not the master its wearing and still opening doors and starting engine but after a spare whats best way of getting spare and recoding it
many thanks
stevenwinks@fsmail.net
{Moved from an old thread - www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=8327 - DD} Read more
thanks for that
My Cambelt snapped on my E30, M20 engine (BMW 320i Convertable 1991) . I bought the new belt and followed the Haynes manual to the letter for replacement. When completed the job, I tried to start engine but when cranking it sounds like any engine does if you crank it without the sparkplugs being in. The engine seems to spin over far too fast, I have checked that the Camshaft and the Crankshaft are both turning, and they seem fine. After turning engine over I re-checked the timing marks and they line up. Has anyone experienced this? And if so what is the cause?
Thanks.... Read more
Whilst the timing belt maybe fitted correctly to the timing marks, is this one of those engines where it is possible to assemble the pulleys on the shafts incorrectly? Do you know the history, has the camshaft been taken apart in the past?
Back to basics to check the timing visually with piston movement ,TDC of No 1 valve positions and spark.
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pmh (was peter)
406 March 2000 1.8 cc petrol 75,000 miles
The clutch seems to take up the drive with my foot hardly off the floor. Is this normal or is there a possible fault with the self adjusting system? According to the manual, the clutch release mechanism is a 'push type'.
It also says that compensation for wear is taken up by the self-adjusting cable or hydraulic clutch components.
John Read more
Yes. With the engine off depress the clutch pedal, then quickly slide your foot off so it boings up. Do it a couple of times and it might encourage the self-adjusting cable to, uh, self-adjust itself. Works on my car.
I have just got a 1.8t 20v sport passat(yr 2000), on start up for 4-5 seconds there is a noise like a pump running dry, you can hear it from inside the car also it returns when at tickover but increase revs even a bit and it dissapears,it appears to be from the top ned but at all times it is a fast clacking/ticking noise not half engine speed as i would have thought. any ideas? Cheers. Ray Read more
Thanks alec
hi
green antifreeze unipart
can this antifreeze 2yr life be used in all car engines ?
TIA Read more
<< If you keep renewing the water you introduce more oxygen - unless you use old fish tank water after the fish have used it all up and died >>
Not if you take the trouble to boil it first, John. Then you only need worry about dissolved solids, which are significant in hard-water areas.
I own a Nissan Primera '99 just bought this car and ive had to jump start it twice every time i use radio the battery seems flat
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It Sounds like the regulator in the alternator has died, either that or the radio is drawing current off the battery even when the ignition is switched off. Or the battery might be defective. Try connecting a volt meter to the alternator to determin it's output. Or replace the battery.
Hi,
Any help greatly appreciated on this.
Got some weird combinations of lighting problems on the beast.
Driver side sidelight doesn't work, passenger is ok.
Driver side head light OK, passenger doesn't work, but passenger side, side light comes on instead instead.
Full beam works both sides.
Parking lights work as they should do!
I've checked the fuses and they seem ok. No fuse for side lights, I assume that will be combined with the head lights?
The combination rules out bulbs.
Thanks for any help
John
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Hi,
I found the passenger head light bulb is dead, plus I kept tweaking the on/off switch for the lights, and they intermittantly come on! So I guess I've got a bad contact within the switch. Not sure if I can repair that or not, or how I get it out!
cheers
Hi,
I am visiting an auction tomorrow and its been a while since I bought at auction (5yrs) and I am a little rusty regarding what goes on, - so I would be extremley greatful if someone could awnser a few queries I have:
- When a car is stated as being VAT qualifying ( its 3yrs old, 25k miles) is this incuded in the hammer price or added on top when time comes to pay?
- I have to pay 10% deposit on the vehicle at the rostrum - thats fine but as I do not want to carry large amounts of cash around is it possible to leave the car overnight and return the next day to settle the final bill - (with a bankers draft for example) or do i have to settle the bill there and then?
Thanks!
P.S. My first post here and id like to thank you for the great site - very informative.
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"drive home hearing dozens of imaginary noises that make you sure you've bought a lemon"
Haha, and I thought I was the only one!


Getting a garage to replace the matrix is likely to cost anywhere between £300 and £450 as it's so labour intensive. If your 306 is quite an old one then it may be just as well to trade it in- especially if there may be other items which require attention or if your MOT is looming. Another alternative would be to bypass the matrix by joining the two pipes together- but I wouldn't recommend it especially given how cold it was this morning (a scraper and heater on full blast job).
Martin