April 2007

stuartl

I bought a 1991 Mini 1000 three weeks ago which had been sitting for a while.
No problems for the first 10 days then flat battery one morning.
Charged battery and it started fine. Switched off engine, went to restart and the battery was dead.
Bought new battery, fine. Few days later, went to start car and the battery was dead. Jump started, let run, drove for a mile or two, switched off, went to restart battery dead again. The ignition light comes on wen you turn the key and once the car has been (jump) started there is no ignition light on to indicate a charging problem.

Could it still be an alternator fault even though we have no ignition light showing?

Many Thanks in advance,

Stuart


PS I have removed the bulb from the interior light so I know its not that, there is no radio or other extras fitted apart from an alarm which is never used. Read more

dan_b

it could b something as simple as a loose alternator belt so it isn't chargin the battery or it could b a dodgey alternator it'self or it could b that the alarm is not wired in properly so it is shortin out and dischargin the battery

ivrytwr3

I bought a 2.2 TDCi 155 Titanium x 5 Dr on a 06 plate about 2 weeks ago; everything else on the car, so far! is fine. However, i've noticed that i'm not getting as good mpg as my last 2.0 TDCi 52 plate Mondeo. The specs of the 2.2 show 46.3mpg (from Ford) yet on my car info display it averages around 39.1 mpg (i have seen a marked increase in fuel used, a trip to my parents would take 1/4 in my old mondeo in this one it is almost half).

Is this the price i pay for a 2.2 155bhp vehicle or is something wrong with it?! Read more

paulb {P}

the engine is stage4 emissions and is therefore under slightly more load (to acheive this
standard) than your previous engine.


That's interesting - and certainly explains why my mate's ostensibly identical but Euro 3 Mondeo produces better trip mpg figures than mine, which is Euro 4.
Viz

Hi guys....

I'm thinking about buying either the 320cd or 330cd both in convertible form. It would be between the years of 2003 - 2006.
I currently travel about 15,000 - 18,000 miles per year and wondered what costs I may incur through servicing, tyres etc... Fuel isn't a problem really ( I currently drive a 1.8 petrol Focus), but would be interested in the mpg that is possible.

Also, i'd choose the M-Sport model. I know it has 18" wheels, are these a big problem when travelling at speed ?
Should I replace any worn tyres with normal rather than run flats ? And how long roughly do tyres last ?
Do BMW diesel engines sound as rough as other manufacturers engines (not been on a test drive) ?

Any other information would be great, have been reading many threads over the last hour, but not my questions have been covered.

Cheers Read more

Mad Maxy

Do any of the M Sport Convertibles come with 17" wheels
?

Don't think so. M Sport on the coupe/conv gives the whole sporty caboodle regardless of engine. You need to do a spot of test-driving...
mehul

My R reg Fiesta's cable that diverts the hot air has come off the back of the dial. Is this easy to fix and what parts will i require to buy? Read more

mehul

seems like it. basically the dial to switch between windscreen, front and lower vents started moving freely so when i unclipped the front of that i saw that the cable (thick wire with black insulation) is connected to a white plastic bit (that turns when the dial is turned) but this cable was no longer in this. any ideas?

mehul

i recently had a problem with my R reg Ford Fiesta. Only blowing cold air. Reading the previous posts i changed the heater valve and that worked for a few weeks. Now i only get hot air blowing even when i turn the thermostat control to cold. What should i do? Read more

Dave N

It's the valve or the control panel. There was a TSB some time ago for checking them out.

FotheringtonThomas

Why does my M-reg Cavalier 2.0 ecotec make a slight but audible asthmatic wheezing noise when I push
down the clutch? What should I do about it? I've owned the car for 200 miles, and this noise has only become
apparent in th last 20. Read more

FotheringtonThomas

Is this a "springy" type noise. If so they all do
that !


It doesn't go "pdoinnng pdoinnnng", or twang twang boing (etc.), it seems to go wheeze whirr wheeze whirr when the clutch pedal is pressed down. I would hazard a guess that it might be something to do with a "release bearing", whatever one of those is. It sounds like something going around, anyway, and the noise is occasionally audible if the pedal is pressed to the floor and kept there for a few seconds.

What a nuisance if the clutch can't be done easily as in days of yore! Rear ends (if I may say that).
dodo

My brother is contemplating changing his 04 Nissan Primera 2.2 DCi for an 06 Signum Elite 1.9 CDTi. It looks well in black with half tinted glass. Does anyone have experience of these? Are they reliable and a good buy? His Primera has been excellent but is hitting 100k and they are no longer in production. Read more

midlifecrisis

Excellent motor. Go to vectra-c.com for all the info you need.

horatio

Might aswell try to get an answer for this one.

I think I have in the back of my mind that a Bank Hol such as today counts as a Sunday for single yellow line parking, with hours signed something like "No waiting", Mon - Sat, 8am - 5pm

Is this right? Could I have parked there today without fear? I opted to wait until someone vacated a valid parking space, but of course there were cars parked on yellows with no tickets on them. Read more

Hadrian

Where I live, parking is free on Bank Holidays (and Sundays) in the car parks ,as the wardens don't work those days.
Of course at Easter, this only applies to the Friday and Monday, you still need to pay on Saturday.

slack

hi one and all,

I have a 55 plate focus,and the rear door speaker is not working,is the any problems in taking the door trim off.

cheers slack.
Read more

Aocal

The car is still young, surley it still has a maufacturers warranty? Can't you take it back to Ford and get them to fix it at their cost?

Forum bmw 530d
Trickycycling

I've just bought a Sept 2004 BMW 530d SE. It's great, but I've noticed that the radiator grille is black - aren't the 6 cylinders meant to have a chrome grille? Anyone know? Wondering if the car has been front-ended previously. Read more

Pugugly {P}

"I'd love to be able to charge people for not putting something on!"

From what I remember it was/is a no cost thing anyway. I hate "chrome"/shiny plastic on a car.