August 2007
I bought an 03 Focus with only one key, paid about £150 for a Main Dealer to provide a second one. This meant that the existing key and the cars immobilising system have been reset to new codes. The previous owner has now sent me the original second key which opens doors etc but wont allow to start. Can I re-program this original key using method in owners manual or will I risk messing up the system? Will it overwrite the old coding with new?
Due to high prices I'm a bit nervous about trying.
Thanks for any advice you can give.
MikeN
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I've had bit of a nightmare with my MX5. I bought the car in March of this year from a dealer. I had no problems with the car initially. I've had it serviced (May) and MOT (end of July) without too many problems, new exhaust, break pads etc.
2 weeks ago I was driving to a friends and had full engine failure 200 miles from home. The mechanic who put in a recon engine wasn't sure of the reason behind the engine failure, but suspected the previous mechanic who did the service had put the wrong engine oil in. Anyway, I picked it up from my friends house (who had collected it for me on Friday of last week). I noticed there appeared to be little fluid in the radiator (not an issue when I broke down), so presumed it hadn't been checked properly after the recon engine had been put in. I therefore topped up with radiator anti-freeze and some water last night. I subsequently left it and rechecked. It had dropped slightly but I didn't think anything of it. On arrival home I re-checked the oil and fluid and noticed there was limited water in the radiator once again.
I've since noticed the radiator can be shaken slightly on the right side. Obviously I would take it back to the mechanic who has done the work, but he's 200 miles away in Leicester, so was wondering if anyone had a suggestion before I take it to another mechanic and deal with further expense.
I'd be grateful for any assistance. Read more
Cheers. Your right. I'm back at work Monday and will have to make arrangements getting the car back to Leicester. I'm going to drive it. I have warranty with the engine so there shouldn't be a problem. If it dies on the way down... then so be it. They'll have to give me a new engine then and I'll ensure they pay the costs of towing (although I'm covered by breakdown).
Hi,
Having changed job I'm no longer facing a massive commute and will instead only have a few miles to drive each day.
I had a look at a private sale 1999 V plated Golf that looks pretty good for it's 70k miles. The only thing I could fault the car on so far is that the A/C isn't working.
The current owner has had it for about a year and I don't think it's worked whilst he's had the car.
The question is, how much am I looking at to get it fixed? Is it likely to be a £50 re-gassing or is it more like a £500 repair job?
TIA,
Lou
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Looks like I'll be having to knock off some serious money then.
How do you go about getting a second key for a golf of this age? Is it a transponder key that needs some kind of programming or is it just a question of getting it cut?
Ta,
L
Thank you for your e-mail of the 20 July 2007, concerning the above.
In accordance with Transport for London criteria, we look at accidents within a three year period, when considering a scheme. There were five reported personal injury accidents along Dorset Road prior to the introduction of the traffic calming. This clearly shows that the road was more dangerous before its introduction.
In respect of the above, I cannot justify taking out the traffic calming.
Yours sincerely,
Subject: Speed Bumps
Dear
Thank you for responding.
Am I allowed some further queries?
I understand the link between speed and accidents. However, there is a 30 mph limit. Was it the number of accidents resulting in injury in the previous 10 years prior to the installation of the bumps that mandated their installation? How many had there been?
I also understand that the design of the bumps was not guesswork and that they were tested. Nonetheless, driving over them at anything approaching the speed limit would be at best very uncomfortable, and obviously likely to damage vehicles or people within them over time. I find them uncomfortable at over 15 mph!
It cannot be right to prevent the minority speeding by forcing everyone to drive at 15 mph. The design of the bumps in ****** Road also makes two-way traffic near impossible over them since cars are then forced to drive over the middle, highest part of the bump, and parked vehicles prevents using the smaller heights near the pavements.
****** Road has neither schools, nor shops, simply housing, and it is a straight road with no obstructions. It cannot be dangerous to have cars travel at up to 30 mph along it. Two zebra crossings might alert drivers and allow even safer road crossing if thought necessary.
Believe me, although new to ******, my dislike of speed bumps is widely shared by many who are anything but boy-racers. The irony is that only the busier roads are free of them!
Regards,
Dear Mr ,
Thank you for your e-mail of the 22 June 2007, I apologise for the delay in my response.
Traffic calming is installed in areas, which have a high personal injury accident record and where it is necessary to reduce vehicle speeds in order to lower the number of accidents that take place. Road humps and speed cushions are implemented under strict guidelines and specifications as set by the Department of Environment, Transport and Regions. Transport Research Laboratory has tested these speed reducing features under laboratory conditions using various types of vehicles.
It is appreciated that in an ideal world traffic calming would not be necessary. However, as the Highway Authority, the Council is obliged to help prevent accidents on the road. The removal of the traffic calming along your road would undoubtedly contribute to an increase in speeds and therefore accidents.
Yours sincerely, Read more
This dumb approach to traffic calming gives the whole process a bad name :(
As you say NowWheels.
Is there any way of adapting car seats for a small person who cannot reach the pedals at all? If not, are there any cars that are capable of being driven by someone under 5ft?
Subject line tweak - PU Read more
Japanese cars are made in a land of many short people. I would try some of them.
Bought this car in Feb 2007, boy this is a great buy !! 5.71 350BHP Awesome, Boy racers in their Honda type Rs - No chance HONDA TYPE Rs No Chance, absolutely brilliant car, manual says 150mph Ignore this 175!!. Book SAYS 0-6- 6.5 Ignore this 5!!
What a Car!!!! I am looking to set up a 300 Owners Club in the UK. Anyone interested please mail me at Info@in-signs.co.uk
Julian Hatton (Sth Manchester)
Business Number 0161 973 1111
Shouting amended ! Subject line tweaked as well - PU (Thanks to the member that also pointed this out as I was trying to hide the post to edit it. )
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You are so right....
Offside one made a horrible crunching sound today similar to the one that the rear side one made two months ago.
This is the fifth time that a front window has failed in five years from new, the first three failures being covered by warranty. Costs about £140 at a VW dealer to put right.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.................... Read more
Cheers S
I am looking to buy a 2004 Honda Civic 1.6 Sport and wanted to get it checked out first. Can people offer advice on which company provides the best service for this kind of thing. The prices for each are listed below...
AA:
Basic car inspection = £136
Comprehensive car inspection = £184
Data check = £29
RAC:
Essential car inspection = £139
Essential plus car inspection = £249
Data check = £5
Thanks in advance for any help. Read more
A few years back (when the AA was still a 'proper' motoring organisation and not some kind of private equity company's investment) they had their own guys to do vehicle inspections. Nowadays I think they sub-out all their inspections to DEKRA (a German company). I once met one of these 'DEKRA' guys and he was essentially a freelance inspector and DEKRA would call him up with jobs in his area. I think the RAC still retain their own staff, but I'm not 100% sure.
SWMBO has just splashed out on a brand new Corsa Design with all the bells and whistles. One whistle that I just can't quite come to terms with however, is the 'ding' that accompanies applying the handbrake. It's driving SWMBO mad and the handbook just doesn't seem to cover it. It appears to go off when the car is on even a slight gradient which makes me think it's a warning to apply the handbrake fully to avoid rolling back/forward. I just can't turn it off and daughter's driving instructor wants it shut down for her taking her driving test next week. Anyone shed any light before I try the dealer?
Slight tweak to subject line - left in Discussion for now, may move it over to Tech later - PU Read more
in my Nissan note you have to be going at 15mph for the handbrake bong to sound
This seems an unusual way to demonstrate the sound system of their vehicles!
www.lexus.co.uk/about_lexus/news_and_events/lso.asp
Bet there's still a few Boy Racers & their Corsas, that'd blow them away!!
VB Read more
I'm hugely impressed by the Bose system in my Accord. Even through a cassette adaptor MP3s sound marvellous, and it's quite capable of deafening me with no distortion at about 30% volume. I keep finding amplifiers in the boot. :-)
Browse
Just to say that the spare remote key I bought of ebay came with a used fob, so it already had an old code in it.