July 2007
Hi all, newbie first post so hope you can help.
Got a 1999 1.25 Ford Fiesta Zetec with 75K on the clock that the wife runs around in that up to now has been relatively trouble free, the car that is not the wife.
Car had a major service last December but about a month ago it started to run really hot so I checked the water which was ok so I then ckecked oil and there was next to none in the engine!!
This doesn't seem right to me as it had an oil change with the major service so I topped up the oil (approx 4.5 litres) but have noticed today that the dipstick is on minimum so that's approx 1.5 litres of oil gone in a month!!!
Not sure what could be causing the oil to be used up so quickly so if anyone could enlighten me it would be appreciated.
Engine looks relatively clean and I haven't noticed any blue/dark smoke from the exhaust. The car is parked in the same place every day and I can't see any sign of an oil leak on the road so it's a mystery to me.
Your help is appreciated.
Thanks.
Deleted your post in Discussion - this area has a lot of expertise, expect some questioning !
- PU Read more
What is the weirdest `wrong fluid` incident encountered?
I mean, despite all the warnings, petrol is still being put into common rail diesels, diesel into petrol cars.
One of my colleagues put screenwash into the antifreeze.....
Has anyone been changing their oil on the drive and poured the coffee -brought out by SWMBO- straight into the oil filler?
It just seems that *if its possible at all, even by forcing*, its going to happen, somewhere.....
Where and what?
Regards :)
NB, should it just be fluids? has anyone in the trade found a banana forced into the battery yet? as there is almost a match in orifice size...
( Written with warm intended humour)
Spelling of the word orifices corrected :-) - PU Read more
See two posts above! Lucky no-one got burnt:>)
Eh !? Where did luck come into it ? We knew what we were doing...
Five young blokes, garage mechanic, engineers and undertaker what could possibly go wrong ? :)
Hi there,
I have been in talks about buying a car which was advertised as having full dealer service history. When I originally spoke to the guy on the phone he said it was due a service soon, fine. The service interval is supposed to be 12,500 miles, the last service was at 37,200 and the mileage is now over 54k, making it over 4000 miles past its due service. Would you consider the car to have a full service history?
Thanks
Peter Read more
My answer is that a FULL history should have both. Just 1 on their own
makes it a service record.
In all honesty I probably would have accepted either, but with the big gap I think it is cheeky to advertise the car as having FSH.
Thanks
Peter
Today morning I have been flashed by a speed camera from front while doing 20 mph in a 30 mph zone (in Luton town)! I am completely surprised, how can it be possible? There was quite a heavy traffic and it wasn't even possible to travel at 30 mph.
I don't know whether it was Gatso or Truvelo but there were strip marks on the road. I was also flashed just once.
I have never received any NIP before. If they mis-calculate my speed how do I defend?
Any thought? Read more
Some built-up areas now have a 20 mph limit. In some towns there have been proposals that the whole town is limited to 20 mph.
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L\'escargot.
Have a 1996 mondeo (mk1) 1.8TD LX hatchback with 125k on the clock. MOT is till June 2008 and road tax till end of Dec 2007. It has battles and scars from parking in supermarkets and young kids. It is in a presentable condition. Not a banger. How much do you reckon i should ask when i come to sell it over the next few weeks?
Just had new front disc/pads for the mot. Engine runs fine. Starts first time. Over the last two years it has had a new exhaust and alternator. Basically to me it is a good runner and should last at least a year without any problems. Read more
I'm no expert on prices but i would just like to say that a friends 99T Mondeo LX diesel is still going strong on 227000.
A bit baggy yes, but feels like its got many years left in it, so durability is built in on these Mondeos. 125K is barely run in.
My wife has a Scenic, it has a very good tread and condition Firestone Firehawk 702 tyre 185/65/15. I do require another tyre to replace the older one. I had a look on mytyres.co.uk and this tyre is regarded as a Summer tyre rather than an all weather tyre. On the site you can select Summer, Winter or all for a search. Would you all believe that a Summer tyre is okay for all round use in the U.K. climate? or would you say that an all weather tyre must be selected, you will also see that there are Goodyear Summer tyres far cheaper as a Summer tyre than an all weather - is this due to only having to cater for the Summer climate of a country rather than tie in different climate conditions in one tyre.Is the U.K climate mild enough to use a Summer tyre than an all weather tyre.
Thank you Read more
The amount of snow we get in the more temperate parts of the UK is too small to make winter tyres worthwhile.
Once again, it's not snow (there are specific snow tyres) but winter tyres. Winter tyres are meant to be used when the temp is less tha 7C. To be fair, even that didn't happen much last winter.
Two makes that are well known for customer satisfaction, reliability and generally coming high in surveys etc. So do people still have the odd horror story?
Obviously this is in response to VW bashing accusations on the other horror stories thread - there are plenty of Subaru owners here and im sure a few Lexus aswell, so people, are the perceived reputations of these makes justified? Its already been mentioned that VW doesnt always live up to its reputation on occasion - are Subaru and Lexus, to pick two of what appear to be the best living up to theirs?
Read more
Just to add to what many of yo already know about Lexus, I had an IS300 for a while and it really was bombproof. Almost too good in a clinical sort of way -- no real character but very very competent
Hi, we've got a 1998 FWD Ducato long wheel base van. there's play in both rear bearings, probably around 2mm if you move the wheel back and forward (grabbing top and bottom of wheel whilst jacked up). Is this terminal and are new bearings needed or can they be adjusted? We need to tow a caravan 250 miles with it this weekend and I've only just noticed this problem. Should I get them replaced before we go or would the van be ok to use? As time is now short, I'm hoping for the 'leave them as they are', or 'adjust them route' btw no noise coming from the bearings themselves when driving as yet. Read more
I own a Motorhome on a Fiat Ducatto 1998 2.5 TDI. It has an Alko Chassis. I note that it is stated that the rear bearings are tapered roller bearings. What does the btw stand for and is there any adjustment on the lock nut ? If not are they easy to remove from the hub without the use of a press Thanks
I'm asking for a friend here
late 90's Ford Mondeo, they've let the car sit with a dead battery for several weeks, I'm going to charge or replace the battery
what I need to know is will this make any dash warning light come on? if so is it a dealer job to re set Read more
whats involved sorting the code?
Usually the code will be written down somewhere - in the service book or handbook?! If not a Ford dealer might be able to trace it using the Reg-number of the vehicle. Not 100% sure about Ford stereos, but in my experience once you find the code you just enter it using the keys on the front of the stereo.
What hope is there for the retail motor industry when dealers can't get even the basics right?
My sister's Suzuki Swift had to go into the dealer for a recall check (handbrake cable fitting to be checked - it seems some had not been assembled properly).
Anyway, after 30 mins they gave the car back to her; no rectification work required - everything OK. They commented that they had also 'adjusted' it for her.
She called me later in the day to say that she was now struggling to apply the handbrake - could I take a look at it?
She bought it round and I tried to apply the handbrake - it was very hard to get it to even the first 'click' and the back brakes were quite hot. Obviously someone had wound up the adjuster until there was no slack in the cable! The spec. on these is wheel lock at 4-9 clicks.
Couple of minutes with my 10mm ratcheting ring and we were back to 5-clicks and everything was fine and dandy again.
It makes you despair that dealers cannot even get the most elementary jobs done right and they expect to charge customers up to £100/hour for this quality of work. Read more
No I'm reporting my experiences. That's why I used words like "in my experience" and
"seem".
You said "dealers". Exactly how many dealers are you talking about?
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L\'escargot.
Browse
Sorry for late reply but have been away for a couple of weeks.
I don't have access to the car for a couple of weeks so I wont be able to check coolant / smoke at gear change etc. Mileage is average I guess, approx 750 miles per month mostly short town journeys.
From memory the engine bay is a bit grimy/oily but only as much as I would expect for an engine thats done approx 75K
No evidence of the clutch slipping, smoke from exhaust when started, warning lights on the instrument panel or excess noise.
I'll check out coolant and smoke from gear change as soon as and let you know results.