April 2007
I am having a problem with my Mazda 323 Diesel its making a strange metallic knocking noise when accelerating, when the engine is hot. Noise occurs from 1500rpm on
I had a problem last week which only occurred once, accelerated hard big puff of black smoke and after 500 yds white/grey smoke everywhere like an engine blow up! This has only happened once and is running fine again except for the engine noise when hot.
I have taken the car to the garage who suspected an egr valve they blanked this off, but the noise is still there.
Any ideas please? Could it be a turbo problem or injector pump?
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How accurate are these retained value percentages we read about in magazines like What Car? and such? for example, it claims that my Focus will retain about £6000 of it's original list price of £15,000 at three years, but when you look on things like autotrader, it's difficult to see 4 year mk1 TDCi's with low-ish mileage for that kind of price...
Also they claim Golf's at 3 years, 36,000 miles would have 60% of their £15,000 new value retained, which is about £9000, but again I don't see this reflected in autotrader.
So is it just because that many are dealer-sold, and I'll get much lower trade-in value that the retained figure reflects, or is it really, it's a bit of an innaccurate prediction, that's trying to predict future demand and can't? Read more
The simple fact is that you more you spend on a car, the more there is to depreciate. Clever marketing by the Germans makes people focus on the % drop rather than the £ drop.
E.g. A £18,000 Mondeo might be worth 35% of its (full list) value in 3 years. A £28,000 3-series might be worth 50% of its list value in 3 years. But if you pay, say £6,000 less than list for the Mondeo, and £2,000 less than list on the BMW, you will have lost £5,700 on the Mondeo and £12,000 on the BMW. And yet What Car will laud the BMWs residual values
I've got a friend who tows a fairly heavy Caravan with a 2000(W) 3.0 ltr diesel Nissan Patrol and he is thinking about chipping it to get some more low end grunt, have any of the backroomers got any experience of this type of conversion or similar as well as the pro's/con's of such a move.? Also any names/firms doing such conversions would be appreciated. Patrol is based in the Teesside area.
Thanks in advance. Read more
There's someone down our road with a large caravan. Its been off the drive once in 2 years. At £10,000 per driving experience, I'd put chipping the vehicle low on the list of things to be done, if this usage rate is typical:)
As the title suggests i'm having problems with my 92 model Ford Escort on an L plate. It is an LX model and has electric front windows which have both decided to stop working. I've checked the fuse but it seems fine. Thought it was a bit strange for them both to stop working together? Can anyone shed any light on what may be the problem? Help would be appreciated!!! Read more
you need to check the wiring that goes from A post to door on the drivers side for starters looking for broken wires in the rubber tube that connects the two
Hi,
My Polo (Y Reg) has started using oil. This only started recently and upto now has hardly used any.....It does very few miles in a year, around 4K.
There is no blue smoke and its not leaking.
Anybody got any ideas.
Cheers Read more
sounds like the piston rings have worn the cylinder bores due to petrol washing the oil away on all these short journeys
or
the rings are stuck for the same reason
cheapest cure?
change oil and filter take on a nice drive on different type roads, fast, slow, fast, fast, slow, for 50 miles,using all the gears and revving up through the range not silly though
if this doesnt work get a garage to give it a compression test and a diagnosis
I have a Proton Persona 1.6 automatic and have recently noticed a noise from the gearbox when engaged in Drive. When i engage reverse i hear a click as the gear angages followed by a buzzing sound which stops after 2 or 3 seconds. When i engage Drive or 2 it makes the same sound as in reverse but the buzzing continues. I used a steel rod and held it on different positions on the gearbox and when i hold it at the front lower side of the box and put the other end to my ear i hear a distinct rattle from around that area. While the car is in Drive the noise stops when the engine is put under load. Any help or advise would be appreciated.
Thanks.
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When I get my new car I want to fit reversing sensors. In the past I have seen a 'Meta Targa SR2' system which consists of a new rear numberplate holder with reversing sensors built in. This appeals because it means no drilling of the bumper and it looks neat.
Can any of the forum please suggest the cheapest place to buy this system and whether there are any similar alternatives (clones)? I have done a Google but no come up with much other than the SR2. Read more
One of my sisters-in-law parks outside the school her children are at 3/4hr. early so she does not have to reverse.
On going arguement./
What is the legal stand point on a driver being able to see/watch a tv from his driving position????
I have been told it is ilegal for driver to view entertainment systems from driving seat???
Graham. Read more
Interesting point regarding blue movies that under age people may be able to see?
Different laws may be involved there though?
Anyone know much about air con units?
I've got a W reg laguna {Added to subject header as per the sticky request which no one takes any notice of! - DD}, with this warm weather I've noticed the air con isn't working properly. Basically the chilled air barely (or not at all) comes through, there's also an intermittent high pitched sqealing when the unit is switched on.
My local 'back street' mechanic (who's usually pretty good), reckons it's worth recharging the system (around £60) first, which he thinks might solve the problem, or failing that it would need a new compressor ("very expensive").
Is he right that recharging might help, if not how much approximately to supply & fit a new compressor, are we talking e.g. £200 or are we looking at alot more?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks Read more
Thanks folks, I'll check the air passage way but obviously a re-recharge sounds needed anyway.
there is no water coming out of my washer jets on the front. it still comes out onto the back window. i uncliped the hose that leads to the jet and tried to spray and no water came out. does anyone know wat could be doing this? Read more
Does the motor run when switched on?
If not faulty motor or no power getting to motor.
If yes, blocked pipe/outlets/pump kinked pipe etc.
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Take it to a Mazda equipped garage to get some diagnostic tests done. Whatever it is needs sorting asap, no point in running it further or you risk an even bigger bill, it could be any one of a number of things.