My wife's Corsa has a problem with cutting out at about 4000revs. The car will rev freely when not under any load (stationary or downhill) and seems more inclined to cut out when in the higher gears.

The EM light comes on at around 4000 revs and will go out after a minute or so when the revs have dropped back to less than 4000. The engine will sometimes (in the lower gears) rev through 4000 with the EM light on.

Anyone know anything of this problem?


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Looking to changing my Passat 1.8 petrol for one of the above, 05/55 plate, Zetec/Ghia/SRI trim & wondered which people considered the better car. Mixture of town & M-way driving. Read more

In the last couple of days I've had to do a round trip from the Lake District to Canterbury in Kent, with a stopover in Rutland either way (& a bit of toing & froing at the Canterbury end).
Being a bit of a quiet Northern country mouse, the thought of doing a journey that was primarily M6, M61, M62, A1, A47, A1(M), M11, M25, A2/M2, didn't exactly fill me full of joy at the prospect of a hassle free & enjoyable length of the country trip - but the reality was very different.

In over 750 miles of motoring on the above roads, I came across no congestion, no accidents, no snarlup, no road rage, no traffic jams, in fact nothing at all to impede my progress - the only things that reduced my average speed was the extensive roadworks on the London end of the M2 (IIRC) where the 'average speed cameras' were out in force.

I wasn't on a high speed run, nor an economy run and for the vast majority of the trip I had the cruise control set on a speed that was 'appropriate to prevailing the traffic conditions and allowing for steady progress' (some people may interpret this as being 80-85 mph), it was simply a long distance trip where the roads/traffic on the roads make it extremely pleasant. It was also nice and easy on the pocket, with my 300C CRD returning 44mpg.

All in all, a good run out, and I thought that you might enjoy reading about a trip that went well, rather than the steady diet of '2 hours to go 20 miles' that we all have to endure from time to time.

p.s. Lake District to Kent and back on a single tank of fuel -- not bad for a (very) large car with an automatic gearbox and a high average speed.
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Punto 1.9D 5 yrs old.

Just got a Fiat dealer quote for £455.99 to fit a cambelt kit and a new waterpump at the same time.

This breaks down as £255.99 for the cambelt kit fitted inc vat and
an *extra £200 for the waterpump fitted*.

I asked why £200 as surely the stripdown for the cambelt also exposes the water pump?and was told it was because the cooling system needed to be drained and refilled.

I later rang parts at the same Fiat dealer and found the actual waterpump costs only £53.76

I Can`t really understand the £146.24 above the parts cost of the pump when its sitting there exposed during the cambelt change......

labour rates at around £50 per hour.

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Currently own a '96 mondeo which has been trouble free (touch wood). Unfortunately i have problems with my knees which causes difficulty and pain getting out of the car. To me the mondeo seats seem lower compared to say a vectra. I know it has a height adjustment but i find it comfortable as it is for driving. As you can imagine when i get out of the car i am getting up hence putting strain and weight on my knee.

Have no problems with cars such as galaxy, 4x4 etc where i step down but not keen on 4x4 and mpv is a big for my needs at present. Therefore it am looking for a car that will carry myself and my 3 young children. Family size is preferred. Budget is £3500. Any recommendations? Read more