November 2006
Hi, I have been reading the info that some members have left in the past on similar problems, non of which appear to of had any luck in solving the faults, and was wondering does anyone have any recent info which could help with the fault on my car?
Occasionally it will crank but not start, this is rectified by locking and unlocking the car again.Although it does only feel as if it starts on two cylinders most of the time.
It sometimes suffers from a loss of power as it reaches the 3000rpm mark. Other times it may just do what i can only describe a cough and then be ok again.
Last week i lost power and then the glow plug light started to flash, the car lost almost all power, and then stopped completely,after this it started again and has been fine since.
Many thanks
Sean b
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{Weblink to an article in The Times removed and replaced with
www.guardian.co.uk/transport/Story/0,,1959481,00.h...l & www.theherald.co.uk/news/75555.shtml - DD}
I prefer yearly MOTs as I do not beleive that some people will get problems fixed until the MOT. Read more
How come we have to come into line with European vehicle testing schedules?
We have it right with annual testing. Surely our "Government" should be pushing for the rest of Europe to come into line with us.
Its a safety thing - many people (rightly or wrongly) use the MoT as the only means of finding out whether their car is roadworthy or not.
If you regularly service your car, the annual MoT holds no fear - its merely a formality. If you don't, then you have no idea as to how un-safe your car is, until you get a red, grease stained note from the MoT station.
Mind you, two yearly testing in Europe does explain why you quite often see foreign vehicles on our roads with faulty lights.
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Colin-E
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I'm new to the whole car buying thing. I want to go to a main dealer as I feel more comfortable. The car I want is a Honda with a few options (alloy wheels, red met paint etc), and I want to buy used. My local dealer has said they can get any car from a UK Honda main dealer. I've seen one on the net at a dealer in Bournmouth (I live in Birmingham), But it's a 1k over parkers 'Franchised dealer' asking price.
I'm in the fortunate that I can pay cash, so I have some room to negotiate. but I'm wondering whether I'll have to, or whether it's advisable to go down to Bournmouth to negotiate a better deal. What are the advantages in sourcing the vehicle through a main dealer and what are the disadvantages? Read more
I can't be bothered with all the haggling. I just go to an auction and get an 18 month old ex fleet car. It is still on manufacturers warranty so that greatly reduces any risk.
I am looking for a largish 4x4 in the new year. It needs to have decent road performance as well as the usual credentials.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee takes my fancy, but when you read the owners' reviews on various websites, a large percentage of those who wrote in have had serious problems, usually with aircon and electronics, sometimes with more major problems such as transmissions and axles.
Is this car such a dog (there are, after all plenty of them around)? Or is it just that you are more likely to send in a review if you are steaming mad after getting a big bill from your garage, than you are if your car does its job faultlessly etc, etc.
Anyone out there with any experience (good or bad)? Read more
Thanks for this everyone.
I have ben spoiled for the last few years, have managed to buy low mileage, relatively new mainstream models (Ford, Skoda, Subaru) and, apart from the odd puncture, have not really had much to grumble about in terms of reliability.
Interestingly, your responses are in about the same ratio of good to bad as most of the reviews that I have read on the net.
Oddly however, if you read the mainstream website test drives, then the GC usually gets a reasonable write up and a couple even compliment build quality. Most of the caveats seem to be around fuel consumption and body roll at speed. Obviously the tester only has the car for a couple of weeks, but even so, most reviewers get some kind of a dig in at the Freelanders and Discoveries of this world, in terms of reliability and build quality.
Hi
I am seriously considering buying an original mini as a hobby to restore. I dont have much experience in restoring cars so I would mainly like something to tinker with at a weekend and hopefully drive occasionally.
I would ideally like something that isnt going to loose me too much money as I start to spend on it and ideally would like something more mechanically tired or light cosmetic rather than total restoration as I dont have any welding experience (although dont mind paying too much to get bits and bobs done)
What should I be looking for in terms of vintage and originality? - it will be a long term plan and not fixed up to sell on.
Even some of the worst sheds on ebay are going for silly money considering their condition!
Any advice would be great, even if I am pulled in line or have the idea knocked out of my head!! - no doubt SWMBO'd will do that at some point anyway!
I was hoping a budget of around £500 as an original purchase price - not bothered about what it costs afterwards as it will be as and when I have the time/money to do things, however would like to be driving it within 12 months if its not road legal at purchase.
Other than ebay, any other suggestions on sourcing a cheap mini?
Thanks in advance Read more
Just to update.
Thanks for everyones replys and advice. I think I will still go for a mini, however I am going to wait a while until I have more spare cash floating around and buy a cooper from 1997 onwards with the big arches and nice leather interior. Hoping these cars wont be suffering too much rot and will be easy to keep at bay if I buy one that has already been well looked after, although expect there will still be things that need doing to it for me to get my teeth into as well as some nice mods to think about. I would only really use it at weekends in nice weather so keeping it in good condition shouldnt be too difficult.
If I run into a cared for example of a Mk1 MG Metro Turbo beforehand I may change my mind, however they are like hens teeth and seem to be fetching very good money (shame as I had one at university and sent it packing to the scrappy because i couldnt afford the repairs at the time!)
Ford has just mortgaged itself to the tune of $18 Billion to enable funding of it's restructuring and new model programme.
The money raised is against all it's US properties/businesses.
It does not include Landrover, Jaguar and Aston although it does include stock in Volvo - suggesting that LR, Jaguar and Aston could still be sold.
Are they getting desperate or what ?
I dread to think what would happen if the restructring programme is not successful. Read more
No apology needed - excellent and informative post mk124
The light in the boot of my 1999 Golf sems to have stopped working and I'm at aloss as to what to do about it. I've tried replacing the bulb a couple of times, the wires and casing look in good working order. The 16v power outlet below the light is working fine.
I seem to recall hearing that this problem could be related to the catch on the boot door, but can't remember the specifics of this, or where I saw the info.
Any suggestions? Read more
Ah ha - now it's all clear! I had a leak in the rear washer system last year. Thanks for the tip - will get a new catch.
Hello everyone.
I know I ALWAYS post questions along the lines of "what do you think of x...." but has anyone driven, or does anyone own a Golf R32? A colleague is thinking of getting one and asked me my views, as a "car geek". Nice to have a good rep eh? Read more
PS - the comments above relate to the mkIV. Not driven a mkV
Why is it that all new "dedicated" satnavs have a "landscape" screen rather than "portrait" Surely we are not particularly bothered about what is off to the side but what is ahead and a "portrait" view would be able to show more?
Or is this a daft question?? I only ask because I have an old PDA which has satnav with a "portrait" view and prefer it to my PNA which is "landscape" - but it may be purely subjective of course.
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Phil Read more
What you are actually looking at is a window showing a scrolling view of a map approx 200m wide and of potentially vast length (start ot finish of your journey).
You shouldn't be looking at the screen anyway.
Hi I'm in-between cars and have we just purchased a new house that requires refurbishing. Rather than fill a new car with plasterboard and old bathroom suites I?ve decided to buy a used pickup for up to around £2.5k. Any recommendations, or ones to avoid?
Thanks
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Hi I'm in-between cars and have we just purchased a new
house that requires refurbishing. Rather than fill a new car with
plasterboard and old bathroom suites I’ve decided to buy a used
pickup for up to around £2.5k. Any recommendations, or ones to
avoid?
Thanks
Toyota Hilux - bulletproof.
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I can see you have 3 problems here:
The starting problem can be one of two things: Camshaft position sensor or dual-mass flywheel gone.
The loss of power I had exactly like yours...at 3 - 3.5k rpm. They found a snapped MAF sensor wire to the accelerator potentiometer and changed it...it was fine for just a few months and problem returned. On Tuesday I'm taking it to an independent specialist and keep you posted.
The glow plug light indicates injectors playing up.
Just now I'm seeing how long ago you posted...by this time you either solved the problems or sold it :)