May 2007
Rather than clog up a thread that's discussing the merits of a particular model, I pose this sub-question:
Why do people, particularly ladies, think that bigger cars are harder to drive?
By way of evidence, I've seen girls of 17, with no experience, learn to drive in an Army HGV 3 lorry, never taking a car test, and they managed fine.
As Lud and others on the thread point out, many larger cars are far more relaxing, refined and just as easy to position, even in tight parking spaces. Read more
what is the difference between tdi and fsi?
{Subject header given a more meaningful title - DD} Read more
NSI - National Security Inspectorate
I am sure threads like this must have been done before, but a few minutes of searching didn't show anything. I hope it hasn't come up too recently.
Based purely on performance, what is the fastest car you can buy secondhand for £1,000?
To open it up a bit, ff your budget stretched to £5,000, what is the fastest car you could buy for the money?
I'm not thinking of buying another car -- stuck with my Citroen ZX 1.9TD for a while yet. Just wondering (dreaming?). ;) Read more
For £1k - Nissan 200SX or a Peugeot 306 S16.
I am keen to try and buy a new shape C Class Mercedes CDI 200 or CDI 220. Yesterday a very knowledgable Taxi driver told me he always prefers automatics; but if he buys a 1.9 or 2.0 litre diesel car be it Passat, Skoda or upmarket Mercedes, the automatic gearboxes in taxis of this size engine give trouble if they are diesel.He said he would go for petrol so he could have a reliable automatic. It seems to me, as I want a diesel for economy, I should buy a C class 200 or a 220 CDI with manual gearbox. I know they always say, that the automatic sells better on a C Class though. I would be very interested in learning the truth if anyone has any ideas and experience on the subject. Read more
Two dealerships near Dublin have told me that the new C Class for the Irish Republic will be assembled in Germany.
Hello, l would be very grateful for any help, opinion, information or experience of a problem with my vehicle.
l've been looking through past threads & it doesn't seem to be a unique problem, though a difficult diagnostic one.
The vehicle in question is a Seat Alhambra 1.9Tdi 115bh with an AUY engine & has covered 130,000 miles, with a full service history.
Most of the time it's a pleasure to drive, very reliable & economical for the size of vehicle. However, under conditions such as accelerating to about 3,500 revs, when overtaking for example, you can gaurantee that the turbo will be shut down & the engine will be put in limp mode. Stopping the car switching off the engine & restarting will correct the problem. Much more infrequently, the engine has been found to be in limp mode straight from start up where the engine has not reved hard however, again the process of turning the ignition off & restarting resets & the turbo is normal.
l have had a diagnostic check carried out with the Volkswagon/Audi sofware, with no faults/errors being identified. There is no smoke produced & as l say, otherwise it runs fine.
Reading the threads, other people with the same problem have questioned the turbo itself, the Mass air meter (which has recently been changed) the coolant temperature sensor & the ECU. However, a common trait with this seems to be a split, loose or collapsed rubber pipe related to the turbo/valve.
l would be gratfull for any info' on exactly which pipe may be at fault, or any other suggestions.
Read more
This is a very common problem on VAG vehicles with VNT turbos. The turbo vanes are variable and controlled by the ECU. The problem occurs when the vane ring becomes stuck and will not move due to the build up of carbon which becomes hard. Typically the engine will perform as normal up to around 3,300rpm. As the vane ring doesn't move the ECU will recognise an overboost situation and drop the engine power to prevent damage occuring. Switching off the ignition and restarting will reset it and you can drive on as normal until you reach this engine speed again. Usually you will not need a new turbo but many garages will tell you otherwise and try to sell you one. Click on the link below for full details on how to fix it, but beware, it isn't a job for the faint hearted. Once it is fixed make sure you avoid the problem again by not driving on short journeys all the time and give the engine a bit of stick once in a while to keep the vane ring free.
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Hello!
Can anyone help me with the following, regarding a '95 Vauxhall Corsa Diesel?
The car had blown a head gasket, which was replaced etc., but I now need to know the quickest way of getting rid of the last of the oil in the water which has come through the system after the first flush.
It's not much...and i'm not losing any vital fluids...I just need rid of the rest quickly.
Any help/advice would be greatly received!!!
Thanks... Read more
I misunderstood! How strong is the solution, it would certainly clean a patio or paving stones and it does kill moss but I am not sure what concentration is used to avoid killing the grass as well! Good luck whatever you do with it.
Can't find a customer service email anywhere on the VW website. I don't want to wait for the post or have to find my way through a call centre. I just want to email. But, unless I am blind, I can't find out how to email.
Anyone able to help please?
:::sits back and waits for the first person to say "of course you can't find an email address, this is just another reason why VW are rubbish and I am smug that I have a Skoda/Ford/Renault/etc::::: Read more
Hi
I understand your point but believe this....
Our road has recently been retarred. Unfortunately during a routine wash of the vehicle I have discovered approximately 1/4 in thick and 12ins in length an accumulation of tar on the sill.
I was going to use my steam cleaner to try and remove any other ideas if that does not work?
Scot Read more
There are several specialist detailing products available that are designed for the removal of road grime, dirt, tar, bugs, etc. Might be worth a try - and even if they don't help solve your current problem, they are excellent at removing less serious stubborn dirt from bumpers, sills, wheel arches, etc.
www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&prod...3
www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/poorboys-bug-squa...l
I hope someone can help with this! I've had a problem with the ABS warning light on my Vectra (X-reg, Jan 2001) for a long time now. It comes on and goes off randomly. My local Vauxhall dealer has been very unhelpful - every time I take it in (you guessed it!) the light won't come on and they tell me that unless the light is on, there is no error code and thus they can't 'fix' a fault they can't find.
On one occasion they told me that they had found a loose connection on the ABS sensors and that the 'problem' should go away. Then they tried to charge me £30.00 to run a diagnostic, even though the light wasn't on! Have now left the main dealership and am using a local 'approved' garage, but they tell me the same - no light, no error code, no fix.
Is this true? My brother in law reckons that I'm right in thinking that the on-board computer does store error codes and that diagnostics can be run to check out problems even when there is no warning light showing at the time.
What worries me is that I DO have a problem with the ABS that keeps coming and going (what could that be?). Also, I've got an intermittement problem with the engine warning light (engine with a spanner through it) coming on and going off when I switch the engine off and restart. I had this a few years ago, but the garage said it was a connector problem and it did stop after that).
Help! Read more
RT,
I agree, the ABS / autogearbox fault codes are readable. However, they're not always stored in the ECU memory, and can only be read out if the light is on at the time.
I have an 04 plate TDCI (100) Focus with 44k on the clock. It has recently started to cut out when started for the first time in the day.
The cutting out manifests itself within a few minutes of starting the car and usually happens when you depress the clutch i.e when stopping at a junction soon after starting the car.
The engine idle revs seem to fluctuate slightly just before it cuts out.
It only ever does it the once after the first start of the day. Subsequent use of the car later in the day does not result in it cutting out.
Does anyone have any ideas what might be causing this? Read more
I can't remember when I last saw any water
in the fuel which they supply even after a neglected fuel filter drain.
I was only thinking the same at the weekend. The Mondeo had done 12k since I last touched the filter. Opened the drain screw and pure diesel poured straight out right from the off. Was the same on our old 306TD and Polo 1.9D
Cheers
DP
--
04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
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And to back that up, just look at the number of small hatchbacks with parking dents & scuffs!