Currently have a diesel Caravelle as my main transport and I can't stand it any longer! I'll keep the old bus, but was thinking of raiding the shoeboxes under the bed for something cheap and sporty around £3k.

Although I would prefer something small to mid-sized I'll consider all sizes if there's a conspicuous bargain to be had. I hired an old 1.8 Focus Zetec recently and absolutely loved the handling, just need something similarly good to drive, with a bit of shove.

Any suggestions?
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Just bought this Aug 2002 E39 which I did a 500 mile round trip to see. It's in nice condition and I had an inspection done before I went. It has a few wee sorts to do - trim issues and the like. Should I start using the main dealer or an independent specialist?

By the way, I paid £9K. It's done 75K and has a full service history. BMW up to 40K and then specialist after that. It's the Sport auto box and has leather. 2 owners from same family. Drives really nicely. Sound like a good deal? Read more

My daughter's Saturday music centre band has got through to play at the Schools Prom at the Royal Albert Hall. We've organised a coach but I now find myself on a course in Birmingham that week so will have to travel by train or car from there. If it's the car can anybody suggest where I could park from, say, late afternoon to about 23.00. There is parking at the RAH but I think you have to book it with the tickets which we've already got. Thanks Read more

Hi all

On returning form a job this morning, the Orange Glowplug? light started to flash about one mile from base. Continued back to base and switched off. After a couple of hours i have just started it and the light continues to flash.

no other problems - drives / sounds as normal.

Can anyone tell me if this has a single meaning (& what it means) or could it be a number of things?

Could really do with using the van again tonight but will make other arrangements if need be.

Van is a 2002 model with 36k on the clock.

Any help appreciated. Thanks.

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Hi,

My girlfriend has a '96 Vauxhall Astra 1.7 TD with the Vauxhall Low Blow engine and Bosch fuel system.

It's never been the best starter in the world but recently it has become so unreliable she's reluctant to use it. When attempting to start I turn the key as normal and the glow plug lights come on ok, voltage and timing at the plugs ok too. The engine turns over when cranking and sounds to be turning at a reasonable speed, at least enough to start. Sometimes it will start first time others it may take a good few attempts but nearly always when it does start it's within a few seconds of turning the key i.e. increasing cranking time does not have a positive effect. For this reason I suspect the problem is with the immobiliser and not air in the fuel/backdraining or glow plugs or starting / charging system. There was a problem with the main fuel shut-off solenoid but that was more that it wasn't shutting as opposd to not opening. The plunger has been removed to bypass it at the moment and the engine has been starting and stopping on the immobiliser solenoid.

There are three wires going to this solenoid: black/purple switched live, brown earth and white/red which I can't identify but beleive to be some kind of signal. I have read elsewhere that this is actually a data line feeding a signal to a control unit actually on the fuel pump which in turn activates the immobiliser solenoid valve. I tried cutting the white/red wire with th engine running and the engine continued to run but wouldn't restart, this wire will now be rejoined.

Does anybody have any ideas how to get past the immobiliser solenoid or is there something I'm overlooking?

Cheers in advance.
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