February 2007
Car; Almera 2.2 di Sport, year 2002, mileage when bought; 30,000.
Problems
1. Steering vibration which took approx 18 months to fix, and only appeared AFTER the main dealer replaced the brake pads. t was only diagnosed after the 'nissan technical specialist' from Sunderland came down to check it out that I was told that it was dirt on the wheel hub which was making the wheel sit incoorectly on the hub, hence giving a 'flat spot' on the tyres and causing a vibration. However this has still not fixed the issue, albeit it is 99% better.
2. After fixing the vibration it took several attempts to centre the steering wheel.
3. Steering wheel centred, car now pulls to the left and scrubs tyres, still not fixed.
4. Car takes three attempts (sometimes) to start. Glow plugs?
5. Plastic 'catch' broken for the dashboard cubby hold, cost to fix - £30, the size of the plastic catch is about the size of a pencil sharpner.
6. Fog light smashed, replacement lense? Nope, you have to buy the whole unit at cost of £80, yes I think that is extortionate, so purchsed a set from Halfords for £30, whilst not asthetically as nice as the Nissan ones, they're muh cheaper and do the job equally as good, to be honest I think they are slightly better.
7. Plastic face vent broken, I daren't have a quite for that.
8. Oil filter housing which is made of alloy and requires a 17mm socket to undo, has rounded twice at a cost of £100 replacement, second time I have not had this done and now do not request the filter to be changed.
9. Rattles from the roof and dashboard.
10. Car wouldn't start once, RAC came out and found a loose battery terminal, (I have never touched this) and found a couple of other nuts and bolts loose.
11. And finally the last chapter that is yet to complete, the Air bag light started to flash, took the car in on Friday, another £115 bill, picked up the car to find that the steering wheel is now not centred again. Finally lost my paticence with the garage, told the to fix it and I wont be paying anymore money, if they are unwilling or cant fix it without cost forget it. The car is going I can honestly say whilst I understand that every manufacturer has problem cars, I have NEVER EVER experienced issues like this before. And my last car only had brake pads and new exhaust, tyres, oil and filter changes and went for over 100,000 miles no problems and is still in my garage which I hope to take out of retirement until the nissan can be sold and replaced, what is it I hear you say? A Rover 218 SLD turbo diesal.
I was talking to one of the mechanics who told me he has worked for Nissan for 20 years and "would never buy one" makes you wonder doesnt it?
OK this got me thinking, why not hold a survey and let the mechanics out there tell us who they work for and if they would buy one of there cars? Would this be legal?
Arrgh, thats better.
All the best.
BMDUBYA Read more
I intend to buy a new Honda Jazz for my wife with the CVT gearbox. Has anybody experienced problems with this type of gearbox. Are they reliable? Read more
Thanks, Aprilia. Very useful information. Most of my driving is a round-trip commute of c. 50 miles mainly on good, straight B roads and about 10 miles of motorway. Excuse my ignorance, but when you say 'play up', what warning signs should I be looking for?
AA
Hi
I've always wondered if the cars they use on programs like Top Gear ever get back into the general sale stream, I.e the Suzuki Liana that was thrashed round a track for years, had numerous Gear boxes and clutches and was left for days on end then thrashed of the limiter for 6 or 7 laps then left again, not good for a car, and they show the reg on the program so surely if you had brought this car you would be slightly miffed??
But on the other hand they wouldn't just scrap the car its only 3 years old??
Jon Read more
The ones used by my Force are development cars that aren't 'type approved' (or something like that)
Hello,
Don't know if this is news or if I am repeating the bleeding obvious, well known and understood as I don't really keep up with the posts on this site or the music charts but....
One of HJ's favourite motoring films "C'etait un Rendevous" seems to to have been co-opted into a music video by Snow Patrol. Ask your kids or do a search on the net to check this out out.
I saw it briefly on friday evening on some channel or other and at first when I saw the video I thought to myself that it looked like\was the aforementioned video.
I think the video may be a modern day remake as there seemed to be far too many Minis and 2CVs on it for my liking and it seemed to be quite slow but I also remember that criticism (Speed) being made about the original. I've only seen a dodgy copy of the original film on the net\my hard drive and there was obviously no engine sounds on the music video that I saw either.
Anyway.
Just thought I'd mention it. I was a bit upset that a cult piece of motoring footage was getting turned into another pop video that kids would end up slagging off in two years time for being old hat. Barry Norman always reminded me that ," A cult is less than a minority" so its all been ruined by a band that plays to tens of thousands of people in large football stadia. I will have to find another piece of motoring footage that I can bore young kids with. Nevermind. I am only 31.
Apologies again for stating the bleeding obvious but it was all new to me on Friday.....
Read more
Would have throught they would have used this video for their last song "Chasing cars" ?
Brilliant Song
Does anyone know of a website that lists all the Audi specialist servicing garages in the UK? Specifically Scotland? I am 30 miles west of Glasgow. Am I right in thinking that specialists are cheaper than main dealers? Cheers Lenny Read more
Does anyone know of a website that lists all the Audi
specialist servicing garages in the UK? Specifically Scotland? I
am 30 miles west of Glasgow. Am I right in
thinking that specialists are cheaper than main dealers? Cheers Lenny
Try your Yellow Pages or similar. Independent VW/Audi specialists seem fairly common - I can think of around four off the top of my head in the Edinburgh area. My experience (of one) is that they are a lot cheaper (and generally more competant) than main dealers.
Popped down to the beach for a bit today as the weather was nice. Parked in the car park and found I didn't have any change for the meter. Went off to find a shop to get some change but as it was busy it took a while, I got back to the car about 10 minutes later to find a traffic warden had just put a ticket on.
The warden was very nice and explained that if I bought the pay and display ticket the time would be close enough to the time on the parking ticket that an appeal would probably be successful. He said he would write on his notes that I had returned to car just after he issued the ticket.
Is it worth appealing or should I just pay the £30? (£30 for early payment, £60 thereafter)
My concern is that if they turn down the appeal I will have to pay £60 instead. Read more
Thanks to everyone for the responses so far.
Doc - Yes, you are correct in that I was parked without a valid ticket. However, on that basis the warden could just slap a ticket on everyone who comes into the car park, the basis being that you PARK before you get the pay and display. The basis of the appeal is that there must be a reasonable amount of time allowed for you to obtain the pay and display.
Anyway, I've decided that I will appeal the ticket.
The warden issues the ticket at 13:29 - 13:34, I bought my pay and display at 13:37, i.e there are only a few minutes in between (most of this was me talking to the warden). Basically as I got back to the car just as the warden was putting the ticket on. I estimate that I was gone for about 10mins, which means that the wardens must have come round just as I walked off.
I notice that the ticket has no information regarding appeals, rather it has an "enquiries" address. Plenty of information about to pay though, including a 24hrs hotline which is open 24/7/365! I wonder what the number is for the 'hotline' for the appeals?
Hi,
I need two new remote central locking keys for my car. Is a BMW garage the only place where I can get it? If so, do they charge for the key AND to programme it? Reason I ask is that one BMW garage said I would be charged 85 quid for one remote key and 50 quid for programming - another dealership said I only need to purchase the key as programming is not required.
Anybody had it done and can clarify?
Rgds
HH Read more
You can program these yourself. Its a bit of a rigmarole involving switching ignition on and off and pressing unlock button 3 times etc. I've got it written down somewhere if you get desperate - but you can probably find it on the web.
Wretched dealers will want you to book car in and then get a tech to do it in 2mins and charge you £50....
Note that there are two types of keys; one with a replacable battery and another type that charges off the car system. The procedures are slightly different for the two types. You might be able to get keys from somewhere other than the dealer (although I always bought them from there - not too bad with a bit of trade discount).
Hi,
Just acquired a 1998 525 tds and noticed a problem when the vehicle is stationary. When the auto gear stick is placed in P or N, the car starts shaking/vibrating - not all the time though. Sometimes it lasts a few seconds, sometimes it lasts quite some time. Can't say I've noticed the problem when it is in D, but as with all things, I can imagine that it can only start getting worse. Any ideas?
Rgds
HH Read more
IF YOU GENTLY RELEASE THE BRAKE WHEN IN D OR R, ooops! until the point the car is on the verge of moving, does the car sort of creep in a jerky way? rather than just vibrate?
I used to have this problem when I had too much vegetable oil in the fuel (over 80% or so)
I think it started to cause an injectior imbalance between the injectors.
As you probably don't use vegetable oil, maybe it is a fuel filter blockage (although they don't really tend to block in the UK)
or an injector not spraying very well.
Good luck in finding the cause!
noticed this morning the wiper washer not operating.there is no busser when you press the stick for wipers.however the wipers do work but motor seems tobe dead.any help will be appreaciated. Read more
Maybe fuse 14 in the engine bay box; but without any car details, check the handbook for accurate info.
HI
got intermittent starting problem with 106 1998 R reg 1.6 XL auto
Main dealer diagnosed replacing injection multifunction double relay or transponder aerial replacement.
You mention immobiliser failure 1997 - 1999 models £15 fix.
Can you tell me the cure & save £160 bill @ main dealer?
Thanks
{header amended to make use of drop down menus} Read more
Hi
can anyone help. I have intermittant starting problem on 98 1.1 independence, though its getting more permamnent!
The engine will turn over but won't fire, but after waiting a while it does. In the past have had the code reset on the immobiliser, but is doing it again. Previous posts on this forum suggest it may be to do with transponder aerial. How easy are replacements to get, does anyone know part number?
Any advice gratefully received
Ta
Browse
My tales of woes - 1997 R reg Almera 1.4 GX, the earlier model, bought in 1999, now has 77,000 miles
1 - somehow and somewhen the rear light cluster was smashed on the morning of the MOT about three years ago. Replacement one was £45 via a Ford garage
2 - last MOT, the car needed the sills welding. Hardly surprising as the car gets washed once a year and i use country lanes.
3 - I currently have a rumbling crashing sound from the front and a not right feeling when cornering quick. I suspect something is needed on the front suspension, the car will on a ramp this week to have a look.
4 - the battery went flat when we left it for 3 months. Again not surprising.
In 8 years and 67,000 miles, that is honestly it. The car still goes, stops and steers ok and carries what i need. Still get 35mpg in city commuting and 45mpg on a run, and until the crashing at the front started, a hoot to drive.
Just my 2p worth