September 2007
Just changed timing belt on R plate 306 td.Used bolts to lock camshaft and fuel pump in position plus paint marks.
When tried to re start engine it will not tick over plus lots of smoke and misfire . Any ideas?
{Subject header expanded to include problem - DD} Read more
Hello
My '52 plate 1.4 16v Clio developed a severe misfire and the engine management light came on. I've changed all four coils and the car now runs fine however the engine management light is still on. Any ideas how to get it off? Read more
Needs to be reset with a renault diagnostic tool
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< Ex RF, Ex TVM >
We have just had a lovely holiday in the west of Ireland. I had been to Ireland briefly years ago but this was the first time I'd driven there.
My observations over about 1000kms of motoring were that the general standard of driving was high. Much less tailgating than in UK although, as everywhere, we observed the occasional nutter.
The N roads are very good where modernised and acceptable elsewhere. A novel feature is the provision of a hard shoulder along single-carriageways as well as dual-carriageways, which result in the habit of slower vehicles, especially tractors, pulling over to the left without having to stop when letting people pass. However there was a lack of lay-bys along these routes and people seemed to stop on hard shoulders for non-emergency purposes.
It seems that black is the fashionable colour for new cars in Ireland - so many black cars. Because of taxation a lot of 4x4's have blanked out rear side windows coloured as the vehicle's paintwork. I don't know if this loophole still applies. Also boy racers like to blank out the rear side windows of their cars too, in body colour. Perhaps there is a company that sells transfer panels to cover your windows!
We didn't visit any big cities so I don't know what driving in Dublin is like - probably like any other big city - i.e. terrible unless you know exactly where you are going! Read more
yes, i went there this summer. Great, only carp driver I met was British!, amazing. Dublin was Ok but the tolls on the bridge was a larf, a person was collecting the toll and throwing it in the auto dispenser!
I found driving very relaxed and obviiouly slower than here, and petrol pump attenants that spoke to you, pleasantly?
B&B were brilliant value, again welcoming- and speak English- mainly, but again not hang ups.
Pity about the widy crossing delaying the ferry, never mind very good holiday destination
I collected my new '57 reg Impreza from 'Allbrandsnew' in Hull this Saturday and thought that I would post how I got on. Allbrandsnew are an 'import agent' and bring cars in from other EU dealers, they also appear under the names of 'Newregcars' and 'Motor Depot'.
I ordered the car back in the Spring. Although they had cars in stock at their EU dealer (Subaru in Malta) they didn't have the particular colour/spec that I wanted, so the car had to be ordered from the factory in Japan. The delivery date was given as late June/early July (due to the long shipping time of 8 weeks). I ordered an Impreza 2.0RX with pearl paint and side airbags for an OTR price of £12.2k. This compared with a quote from my local dealer of around £17.4k for the same vehicle - so around a £5k saving! The dealer was not particularly interested in negotiating at the time, so I paid £250 deposit and completed all the paperwork. The company acts as an 'go between' between the buyer and the EU dealer.
Everything went to plan and the car arrived in the UK in early July, but because I was going to be on holiday until early August I asked them to hold on to the car until Sept 1st - to get the '57 plate - it would have been a pity (and affected the resale value slightly) to miss the 'new' plate by 3 weeks.
The V5C registration document for it arrived last Friday morning. We got to Hull Saturday morning and the car was all prepped. My wife and I were given the opportunity to inspect it, inside and out, prior to paying. Everthing was spot-on, tyre pressures correct etc and showing 11 miles on the odo. We paid and drove the car home.
I would certainly recommend the company. They were polite and professional throughout and whenever I rang I was able to immediately speak to someone who had details of my order right in front of them and could update me on progress. The car is to UK specification and I am recorded as the first owner (no mention of it being an "import" on the V5C). Currently I am waiting for the warranty book to be processed and sent from Malta, which I'm told takes around 6 weeks.
I've driven about 200 miles over the weekend and we're delighted with the car. For the price paid its a bargain. Obviously I'm running it in and so driving gently, but the engine does have a lovely 'thrumming' sound to it.
I've noted comments in other threads about the handling and understeer and the possibility of modifying the suspension to improve the handling. I just wonder at what kind of speeds some of you guys drive!! The car corners exceptionally well and has very direct steering. It will take a sharp A-road corner at 60mph with almost no roll and no detectable understeer on my part - like its on rails - it feels incredibly stable and bolted to the road. I think to find fault with the handling you'd need to be travelling at VERY high speeds, certainly well above the UK legal limit and beyond any use to which I will put it. Previously I have owned a P11 Primera GTE and a BMW 520i E39, so I like to think I know a good handling car, and the Impreza definitely beats them.
I will update if there are any problems with the car or getting the warranty document through. Read more
Excellent decision on the car and dealer. I think you've chosen wisely having done all the research.
I'm still chuckling (after laughing heartily) at Altea Ego's comments re: the WRX too!
How long do HT leads last? I had a bit of hesitant starting 5,000 miles ago [1998 Audi A6 2.8, now 98,000] but all is OK now, so thought it might have been a tankful of dodgy fuel. I bought it at 77,000 with FSH so I am fairly certain they are original.
Is there not an argument for routine replacement as early sign of failure [un-noticed misfiring, especially on engines with more than 4 cylinders] could damge the cat with unburnt fuel? If so, why is this not recommended in the manufacturer's handbook? Read more
HT leads vary in lifespan, and at worst will cause a misfire, which is why they're generally only replaced once they stop working. I doubt an intermittent misfire would cause cat damage if it was sorted soon after being discovered. Most modern cars have low-voltage leads, with a coil pack on each cylinder, and these would be rather expensive to replace every few years.
Anyway, you can't compare a HT lead with a cambelt - the subsequent cost of a cambelt snapping far outweighs the cost of replacing the part routinely. The same cannot be said for an ignition lead (or coil-pack for that matter). Test the resistance of the leads, they should all be similar, and hopefully very low. If not, maybe just replace the one(s) that aren't working efficiently anymore rather than all 6.
Just got back from Kwik-Fit after having the Almera's original exhaust replaced after 7 years and 73k miles. They had a hell of a job removing it, but the car was beginning to sound like a chavved-up Saxo as both the middle and back-box were blowing, so I took the plunge and had it done. (Not at a bad price either, plus I had forgotten how quiet the car used to be).
A lot of people waffle on about petrol cars needing new exhausts every 3 years etc, have I been lucky or are the diesel-heads just picking fictional faults with petrol cars? Can anyone beat a 7-year exhaust life on a petrol car?! Read more
sorry reason for refusal is the rubbers have deterioated and stressed the system..........next please ;-)
I've heard them all now!
My Golf has started making a growling noise when initially used. It occurs when the steering is around the centre position. The car has covered 140k miles.
I've checked the belts, hoses etc and bled the system to no avail.
Grateful your views
Cheers Read more
My 140,000 mile 8v GTI has been making the same kind of noise for the first 10 minutes for the last 20,000 miles. I think it is because the power steering pump is worn, maybe because once I had the V belt too tight.
A female (22) I know, has limited driving experience and has held a licence for a couple of years. She has given up the unequal fight with the clutch and gear lever and a small automatic car is now on the agenda.
An automatic Corsa was suggested as that was the learning car (manual), but I suppose they'd be a bit pricey and not offer good value for that very reason.
Fuel economy does not matter, nor is any issue about slush-box or CVT transmission. All she wants is a go pedal and stop pedal. Annual mileage will be low and all of it in town but nowhere near Ken's CC area.
The cost is a consideration, but value more so. As it's a departure from what she's used to, I've suggested second hand (£1000 to £3000) to make sure it's the right decision, but a new car is not totally out of the question. I don't think street cred matters.
Any ideas on a reliable one? Japanese? Maybe Nissan Micra? Read more
Update. With your help a 51 reg one owner, full history, Nissan Micra 1.0 CVT with 37k has been bought.
Er..a bit more than £1750 !
I have a query about CVT fluid which I'll ask in the appropriate place.
They have resurfaced part of the Fosse Way just north of Halford (Warwickshire), the new road markings include in a couple of places, solid white squares in the center of the carriage way, one in each direction.
Any idea what they mean? Can't find them in the highway code! Read more
Thanks guys, the markings are on a long straight fast bit, so that does make sense!
What is the *latest info* on service lights being locked into dealer special tools?
I thought Block Exemption meant that software had to be made available to independents? But have been hearing ( allegedly) that new Fiats are locked to their own diagnostic tool re the service light and independents cant turn it off, following their service.
Is this true and are other new cars the same? If so whats the future for the small independent?
Read more
You're probably right....!
Was a tooth out now sorted Thanks Chris