May 2007
Dear All
I recently had an Intercooler hose burst and now replaced but the car has developed a problem when accelerating up to about 30mph and occasionally when slowing down.
The mechanic who carried out the repairs has checked with an analyser but no faults were showing and have since had the pump and injectors on a cleaning system all to no avail.
It passed it's MOT Emissions test without problem just after the repairs
The car has just been serviced with a new fuel filter fitted but still jerky from time to time over 40 mph no problem and fuel economy is OK but just a bit lower I think.
No apparent problem with power because I tow a caravan and it seems to be OK when towing
I would like to sell the car soon as I am buying another one but would like to sort the problem out first
I would be grateful if anyone has had this problem and had it cured or can suggest where to look my mechanic is puzzled
Many Thanks
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***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 13 *****
**** This thread follows on from VOLUME 11 *****
Another thread for commenting on rare, unusual, old or just plain daft cars etc.
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Slightly surreal moment near Edenbridge this afternoon two austin princess (wedge shaped) both looked better than I remember most of them when they were new
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A rather tatty Ferrari 250 Testarossa on the M25 coming back from the FOS at Goodwood on Friday night. Typical Italian electrics - only one brake light worked. It sounded dead gorgeous though.
The central locking on my mk3 51 reg Mondeo is behaving oddly can any one help / advise? The problem is as follows -
I can unlock the drivers door manually, but none of the other doors open, they can only be unlocked from the inside. When locking the doors, only the drivers door locks, & the other doors lock by using the 'double lock' function. Also the remote boot release button on the dashboard has stopped working but the boot can be unlocked & opened 'manually' using the key. I dont currently have a remote keyfob for the car, so I know its not the keyfob / battery.
I have checked the central locking fuse & that seems ok.
Any help or advice greatly appreciated.
Regards
Matt Read more
I am having this exact same problem with my 51 modeo, did you ever get to the bottom of this?
Our VW. Sharan runs fine, but when travelling on a motorway at speed the temperature gauge goes up towards the red, I have changed the thermostat but it is still the same. The fans cut in as they should, but this does"t make any differance. The car is a 2001Y reg and has done 80,000 miles.The problem does not always occur every time. But seems to be more regular now. I wonder if anyone out there could shed some light on this subject. Thanks in advance. Sparky 100.
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I
It's looking a bit battered these days and I just wondered how to actually remove it so that I can replace it with a new one.
Does it unscrew because if it does it's very tight!
It's a 2002 VW Passat. Read more
My disk is very battered and has now fallen off due to busted clips.
Does anyone know the VW part number for just the disk?...
My brother has a 1.4 Y reg clio the timing belt snapped on the motorway on friday,i have not stripped it yet what damage should i expect,the car has done around 50k,is this above the recommended milleage for a belt change? Read more
More evidence for the golden rule, always replace the lot, pump, belt, pulleys.
Does seem a bit worrying. I note that Mr Wilson is engagingly frank about a fairly carp and offhand bit of driving of the sort most of us do sometimes if we are honest enough to admit it. Plod in this case seems to be being a bit heavy-handed. But don't the police fly provocative kites like this sometimes to explore the possibilities of new laws, or even to point up their absurdity and torpedo them? I like to think so anyway. Read more
Not sure whether it applies in Scotland or whether they have their own version
The Story -
Time for the privately owned 2.5 year old MB E Class 320 to go along to the MB dealer for its service. With 42K on the clock I expected a standard £200 to £300 service. Collected the car and was told that will be £800 sir (mouth hangs opens and starts to go white).....Now before you start with the " If you must drive an MB then you must expect the high service costs that go with the ownership etc etc" I should point out that:
1) This was a B service which required 4 hours of labour as it has "Large Maintainance Scope" and requires draining of oil from the auto box!
2) No call to warn me that the cost will be nearly 3 times the normal service cost
3) BECAUSE THE CAR IS STILL WITHIN WARRANTY WE CHARGE 20% MORE FOR PARTS AND LABOUR
Yes .....Thats what they told me 20%... more for parts and labour just beacuase the car is still in warranty...I couldnt believe it so I asked for the reason and they explained:
" Well sir you see we try to offer a 20% discount to all car owners when the vehicle is older than 3 years (read ex warranty) to encourage them to continue to use the main dealer for their servicing needs"
(THINKS.... So Ive been ripped off by 20% for the last 2.5 years then £350 Im guessing)
Whilst I ask whether they use different rates of pay for the service techs or lower quality parts after 3 years I realise what a rip off main dealer servicing has become. IMHO blackmail is at work here as we feel obliged to protect our warranty and have to use the main dealer and they over charge us by at least 20% (possibly more ) for the privilage....
I then explain that I am now a really upset (No swearing) customer and I refuse to pay the extra 20%. Following a chat with the service manager I recieve a 20% discount (thier words not mine) of £130.
A result or just what I should have paid?...You work it out
Am I "Encouraged" to use the dealer next time when my 3 years is up...You work that out too
THE MORAL:
Check your next service bill if you have a warranty covered car and ask " Are your labour and parts rates the same after my warranty expires?"
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\"Eagles may fly in formation but Weasels dont get sucked into jet engines\"
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I would be very unhappy if my dealer presented me with a service bill for £800. At 4 years, my Mazda6's most recent service and MOT, I was invoiced £255.
Clk Sec
As I drive a diesel car, last night I was chatting with my brother in law who's got a Daewoo Lanos 1.6 with LPG fitted. He was telling me on full tank £20 he achieves around 400 miles. I was really surprised to find that out because there's no way any diesel car would even do 300 miles for that money.
What I really want to know is how good or bad it is to drive an LPG car comapred to a diesel one on motorways.
Also if LGP could achieve such remarkable MPG then why aren't manufacturers pre-fitting them on their cars? Read more
This page www.iwemalpg.com/Diesel_LPG.htm says that it's not legal to use LPG in a diesel system.
Is it true and if so why?
I don't know. I just did a Google search and found lots of articles and places doing diesel conversions, especially popular for trucks.
Looking at buying a nice panther black Y reg 2001 Mondeo 1.8 Zetec, seller says it's a cam-chain jobbie, says 'Zetec' on the boot lid and 'Duratec' on black plastic engine cover, and I can see a cambelt that looks shiny and in need of replacing, service book shows no stamp in the schedule for cambelt replacement.....it's done 80k miles so I'd replace it yesterday!!! Should I worry that it says Duratec not Zetec on that engine cover? I thought I knew it all but you never know.......any feedback from Mondeo anoraks greatly appreciated.......
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>>Economy? Economical or cheap to make, if you mean the latter then it would not have had >>a chain cam.
Both! The Mazda designed and made unit is a fine unit when new; however there are concerns that durability is an issue. I am aware of two engine failures both with the 2.0 litre version. I understand that many people will claim they are the perfect engine and run to over 1 million miles etc. It is a fact that they have been more engine failures with this unit than the legacy Zetec-E. Ford is struggling to keep costs under control and this engine is more for their benefit and accountancy balance sheets than for the customers benefit. Yes chain driven units may be more expensive to make but this engine especially in 2.3 form has had a high number of failures. The 2.3 has been available in the US for many years.
I agree about the 1995 1.25 and 1.4 units being high quality and tractable units. The 1.4 in 90bhp specification does however sometimes burn out its valves by 70-80k. The 1.4 75bhp version would be a more durable selection.
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Hi Screwloose and All !
You were bang, on I asked one of our Mechanics at work to give me his opinion of the fault and he said let's put it on a hydraulic Ramp and wee'll have a look.
After undoing the plastic tray under the engine he showed me a Botched Up hose connection between the rubber and metal pipe !
My Mechanic must have snapped the original taking the old hose off I bought the correct VW Hose Clip on the way home 47p including VAT.
Our company mechanic is going to fit it for me in a week's time when I get back from a hort trip.
I think my mechanic has been the problem all along
I can't believe he would string me along knowing that he had botched the hose job in the first place luckily the last cheque I gave him hasn't hit my account yet
I think a call to my bank tomorrow should sort that out
I have used this guy for well over 10 years and treated him almost as a mate, just goes to show you don't know who you can trust.
I will let you know how the car runs once the correct spring clip is fitted
Thanks once again
Dodgy