Hi all,

I passed my Mazda 323 (model year 2001) on to a friend.

He would like to insert a CD player into the modular audio system.

I've visited a Mazda dealer and asked the parts dept if they could source a CD player for the 323. They told me that there is nothing listed for a CD player against a 323 in the parts catalogue.

It does sound strange that a CD isn't available. Before I try another dealer, has anyone out there acquired a 323 CD player recently? Or, instead of obtaining one via Mazda, is there an equivilent oem version that's suitable? Read more

I?ve long wanted to test drive one of these stunning vehicles, so imagine my surprise and delight when the lady at the car rental desk at Frankfurt Airport gave me the keys to one instead of the Golf I?d actually booked. The Brera turned out to be metallic grey, with enormous alloy wheels, and just as gorgeous as the Ferrari red one I kicked the tyres on at an Alfa Dealer about a year ago. I think it?s great that Alfa put what was basically a concept car into production.

I unlocked the door and climbed in. The seats are covered in highly attractive black and grey and nice smelling leather and, after some fiddling around with the buttons, I found a comfortable driving position. This was a first for me in an Italian car. The fly in the ointment is the head rests which are non-adjustable. The rear seats look attractive but are strictly for people with no legs but, unfathomably, they are fitted with adjustable headrests. Boot space, by the way, is poor but no-one buys something like this for practicality.

Putting the key module thingy into the slot, I pressed the Start Button. Nothing happened. A message on the info panel told me I need to press either the brake or clutch simultaneously to the button. I tried again and then the biggest disappointment of all. Instead of the famous Alfa sonorous howl of a highly tuned 6 or 4 cylinder, the rattle of a tractor engine. Oh dear, it?s a diesel. Reversing out of the parking space revealed the one Achilles Heel of the Giugaro styling. This is a large, wide car, with almost zero rearward visibility and no indication where the bonnet is which, combined with the turning circle of an ocean liner, makes low speed manoeuvring tricky to say the least. Thankfully this model was fitted with parking sensors at the back though it could do with them at the front as well.

Out on the open road, the engine quietened a little, though being a five cylinder still sounded weird, and the car turned out to have accurate steering, and excellent brakes but felt rather nose heavy in bends. I pulled onto the Autobahn and put my foot down ? nothing. I changed down a gear and took off like a rocket, then needed to shift up again sharpish as the engine fell off the torque curve at around 4500 rpm. I took stock of the interior. Nicely put together if not up to BMW standards and very comfortable. There are some ergonomic peculiarities such as a rather strangely calibrated speedo and non-selfexplanatory climate control, but hey, it?s an Italian car. There are 3 instruments in the centre console, one is a turbo boost gauge so you can watch the turbo lag as well as experiencing it.

Onto the unrestricted section and up to 230km/h. Very stable and confidence inspiring and the steering really comes to life at higher speeds. Some wind noise from the frameless windows above 150km/h but otherwise a very relaxing high speed tourer.

Overall I enjoyed my 3 days with a Brera. It gave me a feel good factor to be driving something so jaw droppingly attractive and it literally caused traffic to stop in some of the small towns I drove through where Porsches are so boringly common. For me though, the engine spoiled the picture. It is noisy, has a narrow power band and never leaves you in any doubt that its main purpose is to save money rather than enhance enjoyment. So I?m still going to test drive a dealer model, only next time it?ll be the 3.2 V6.
Read more

i have a y regs citroen xsara and lately the engine management light has startd to stay on and now it wont start, ive had it on the computer but there is no faults,

can anyone tell me wonts wrong with it?????? cheers ricky Read more

Hi,

Ever since I've owned this car I've had this problem which is getting darn annoying! On entering the car I turn the key one click, then press a button to turn the immobiliser off. On pressing the button the dash lights up, in particular a yellow light which looks like the engine (it is situated under the battery light and to the left of the hazards ie. bottom left of dash).
This yellow light then 'clicks', extinguishes and I am then able to start the motor.

Sometimes(1) when the light clicks and I turn over the motor, it dies almost immediately even if keeping the pedal to the metal. If I then reset the ignition and try again, the yellow light extinguishes but doesn't click and I'm unable to turn the engine over. If impatience sets in and I just try to ignore it, after so many goes the battery is taking a severe battering. I therefore have to wait before it resets itself and I get a click once more. Now this could be a few minutes or a good hour! Imposible to tell but can be rather embarrassing if you're queuing for petrol say.

Anyone any idea what the 'eck the problem is here? Not up on cars at all so it may not be an immobiliser problem at all, car just keeps on going (when I can get it to start!) so am otherwise happy. Thanks!

(1) Sometimes being very short journeys or when the weather is warm (it was ok all winter but has started again recently) Read more

Hello all,
I have just purchased a (used) Peugeot PU2294A radio CD, made by Clarion for our Peugeot 106. The unit works okay both on radio and CD but when switched off the code needs to be re-entered each time. I have checked that I have a permanent live on the plug and this is okay. Is there an internal fuse on the unit? Does anyone have any ideas? Is the radio CD duff or are the connections not standard? The wiring on the car matches is standard.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Servelan, I read often but post occasionally. Read more