October 2006
Hi,
i have a 2002 vectra 1.8 sxi, lovely car, but the brakes have started to bind. The offside front is worse, tho it`s still affecting the nearside front. This is an intermittent problem, when get in car first thing, the brake pedal will travel to near the floor, after a couple of pumps, you can hardly touch it before having to peel your face off the windscreen.
As you go along a few miles, you can feel the brakes binding, which loses performance for one thing, and when you disengage clutch, the car will come to a stop, even down a hill. Eventually, the brakes will ease off slightly for a few miles, before happening again. Very frustrating.
It`s baffled my mechanic, who has narrowed it down to either the abs pump, the servo unit, or the master cylinder. I put new discs and pads on the front, to no avail. Took it into vauxhall dealer, who did a diagnostics check on it, left me £72 lighter, and told me that there were no fault codes showing anywhere, that the car had been serviced recently (i know), and that new discs and pads fitted to front (i know), other than that, nothing, did`nt even take it for a test drive, like i had asked them to do, because the problem was intermittent. Felt like saying, why not tell me the car is blue, and i will give you another tenner??
Anyone out there got any clues? A new abs pump is £550, nearer £800 fitted i imagine, which will hurt, and many people would prob say get rid of car, but it is a lovely car otherwise.
Alan. Read more
Hi
I am trying to find the location of the horn on a 1998 S-Class. I suppose I should get in quick and say that I am trying to find it to fix it, before somebody suggests listening to where the noise comes from :o) !!
I have taken the plastic engine bay surrounds off both wings and had a good look in and around the front grill with no luck. Underneath is encased in more shrouds so before I go too much further I thought I would ask.
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Hi
I've just bought a 1997 Mk1 2.0 sport automatic, and have been looking everywhere under the bonnet for the auto gearbox dip stick, as described in the owners manual. All that I can find is a small tube with a blank cover over it.
Does anybody know how to check the gearbox oil?, as it seems its been modified without updating the owners manual.
Also any advice on how to change, refill and what type of oil (dexron II or III) the gearbox would use?
Many thanks for any help!
Josh Read more
Thanks!
I will check to see if I can see it anywhere, otherwise it looks like a trip to the dealers!!
Volvo mounted a heartbeat sensor that warns if someone is hiding inside the car. Any idea where it actually might be located ? Sounds like space-ace technology...
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Free enterprise is the basis of western economy. Read more
I took the photo all by myself, used some old chocolate. I love such controversial stuff so we can all laugh from car manufacturers.
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Free enterprise is the basis of western economy.
Hi everyone ,
I live in Spain and wanted to ask advice.
I can buy a Mercedez 230E W124 year 91 with 115000 miles manual petrol for 1500 pounds or a Mercedes Benz 230 E 2300cc Automatic year 90 with more than 125000 miles on the clock for 1800 pounds. What do other contributors think would be best buy.
Un saludo cordial ,
Spainman
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I can only speak from my own experience of selling Mercs in that I've never had a problem selling and manual and its made as much as if it had been auto. With the newish models people tend to prefer auto's, although the manuals still sell. People looking for an older car can be a bit wary of an auto and I've had customers wanting them for towing or because they've previously burned by an auto. The 6-speed man in the latest c-class seems to be popular.
In Europe the C- and E-class are popular with manual transmission - UK new Merc buyers tend to prefer autos.
Indulge me for a bit
Tempted by a diesel Land Rover SWB on a C reg. Perfect thing for the commute in Bristol, as i'll using the lanes (my excuse anyway).
I haven't even looked at the car properly, it's a bit of a whim, but i'd like to hear your opinions on them and also a sensible price to pay. It's chuck the price book away time.
Thanks Read more
I had a B reg 90 (petrol) which was great fun in its way but had its limitations.
No. 1 problem in old Land Rovers is rust in the chassis and the main buklhead. The rear chassis crossmember, outriggere and the footewell areas of the bulkhead nearly always rust. The Birmabright alloy body panls corrode a bit too.
Problems with the main gearbox or transfer gearbox are expensive to repair because, although they are difficult to remove abd work on.
Most other Land Rover bits are simple DIY and cheap parts are available.
The condition of the steering linkage, which is prone to damage in off-roading, is crucial to safety.
Don't expect very good economy from even a diesel Land Rover - 30 mpg might just about be attainable.
Not all early 90 / 110 models had power steering (mine didn't) - best go for one which HAS!
Other posts here have worried me now that my trusty Saab 93 TiD is rapidly ageing and increasing in miles. I sense heavy maintainance and repair costs looming.
Plan A was to peg the mileage on the Saab over the summer by buying a used MX5 for the summer months and have a ball in that but family circs prevented this. There's always 2007 !
Plan B now is to buy a sensible and dependable new (or nearly new )car and research would suggest a Mazda 3 will suit my current lifestyle and employment needs admirably.and I note that a Special edition called the Katano is available: 1.6 petrol RRP £12995
I have been for a test drive in one today and, although it didn't raise my pulse rate or set me on a tryst with fantasy, it did everything competently and efficiently. (Perry's in Preston have these for £1000 less than the RRP and my local dealer would only budge a "few hundred pounds"). This dealer price appears to be excellent.
My question is, has anybody any comments to make about their experiences in one of these. All comments gratefully received and thanks inadvance.
Ian
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I read once that Mazdas have the highest rate of repeat buyers, ie once they've bought one they usually buy another. Don't be put off your Saab ownership by a thread full of curmudgeonly doom-merchants however, any thread on here relating to the ownership problems of any make will attract them.
Hi,
Along with a few other reaons I want to part ex my '05 Fabia vRS for something cheaper to finance allowing me to sort out my finances. Today I came across a X reg VW Polo 1.4(8v) Match, I had a test drive and it seems reasonably nippy in town and bumbles along happily at 65/70 where I can legally do so. Moving to this car will save me in the region of £150/month on my current motoring costs which is what I am after, Parkers (is that a swear word here?) rate them highly but I wondered about the 8v engine, what's it's life expectancy? The car has 61000 on the clock, the supplying dealer has agreed to change the cambelt (I believe it should be done at 60,000), MOT and tax the vehicle for 6 months. The car has a full VW history until the last service which was at an independant garage.
Is this car going to last me a good few years? Read more
change the oil at regular intervals and these 1.4 8 valves are superb so long as you dont thrash it every morning (remember the car you have now) i read that these vw"s have a few electrical gremlins but ive never had problems in this dept only noisy gearbox ones.
not the best car on the road but they are quite cosseting once inside them and push all the right buttons as a 20 mile commute car
Even worse than the RAC rocket boots ads I give you:
The Corsa muppet puppets!
C'MON?
What were they smoking when they came up with that one? Read more
"I'd happily pay for Barry Scott's funeral"
Indeed!
WRT Vauxhall's track record with ads, they have at least been successful with this:
www.vxrracer.co.uk/game.php
Viral marketing, I believe...
Hi Folks,
wondering if you can help me again - you helped me last month and i decided to buy a Toyota Aygo - which is a great wee car. so thanks.
Anyway, my husband is thinking of buying an Alfa Romeo 147.
We have seen one for sale and it is a 1.6TS 2005 with 4k miles on the clock and the cost is £8288 its for sale through a dealership.
The garage have offered him £1500 for his R reg mada 323 with 74K miles on it, which I think is a good trade in price - would you agree ?
Can anyone advise is the 147 a good car ?
Is this a good price for one ? ( it is the slower one and not the high spec one)
Has anyone had any problems with their 147 ?
It doesnt have a CD player - would we need to get an alfa romeo one fitted so it still looked good ?
thanks, Suzy
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This is one of the choices Mrs V had on her list (Mx5 won) & we had a test drive & was more than pleased with it's ride/style/performance etyc etc.
We did get a bit confused on their trim levels, seems the cheaper velour trim was much nicer to sit in, look at & look after than the leather option, so it sounds like you're looking similar spec.
As for the CD - ask Halfords what they have in their offers this month - surprisingly good brands @ good fitted prices too, sometimes.
& Have you found out the deal WITHOUT part ex, you'd sell the Mazda easy enough, if you've looked after it!?
VB
Browse
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I think you will have to remove the engine undertray front apron to access the horns.They are usually bolted to a bracket under one of the headlights.hth