November 2007
Hi,
My Vectra has had a problem over the last month. Hope somebody can help.
When cold, my dashboard cuts out about 1-3 times. When I say "cut out", the lighting stays on but the dials, radio, indicators etc. all cut out. The indicators don't work and I don't think the brake lights work either. This cures itself when I switch the engine off and restart it.
After about 20-30 minutes (i.e. when warm), the problem goes away.
I have asked Vauxhall and they said another customer recently had it and replacing the dashboard didn't help and they still don't know what the problem is.
Has anybody seen this or got any suggestions?
Regards
Mark Read more
Been a busy boy at work of late and looking to buy myself a toy. Been driving a focus for the past couple of years and although I have no complaints, i'm a 25 year old looking to have a fun car before I have to worry about where to put the kids.
After reading pages and pages of baffling reviews about running costs, engine seals, rear visibility and lack of 'golf club space', I was not put off, however, I am still no further in finding where to start.
Firstly, as I say, I am 25 so the "S" version will hurt my pocket slightly more in terms of insurance and also the thought of that much speed under my foot after driving a focus is a little bit...scary. (But if strongly advised to stear clear of other models I would do so).
Secondly, and most importantly, I am still undecided in terms of gearbox - tiptronic or manual? I don't drive everyday, so when I do it is enjoyable. I like to drive the car as opposed to being driven therefore I feel the manual would be better for me. However, I have been told that the tiptronic gearbox is excellent and to stay away from the sticky clutch of the manual.
Thirdly, in terms of age and mileage, what is a good guidline? After scouring autotrader it looks as though my £12/13k budget offers me a '98/'99 model with 60/80k miles on the clock, although more basic spec models with lower mileage can be found. Any advise?
So, I have £10 - 15k(max) to spend and dont know where to start. A £10 - 12k, 2.5litre feels like a safe option, but with no experience I am only going on gut instinct.
Your opinions are much appreciated.
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I've seen some on Autotrader for around £9,000 that are 2004, but theres a 2006 on the porsche website for 16k. which do you think is a better bet considering the 2 year porsche warranty? thanks for your help in advance
Hi there,
Wife just purchased a 2007 (prev model) Tittanium X Mondeo (2.2). Has the Sony single CD head unit, which is great. We had assumed that the aux socket (which we had seen in other cars we test drove) was standard fit on the Tittanium X.
Alas it is not, all there is on ours is a rubber grommit.
My hopeful / naive assumption is that there is an aux socket on the back of the head unit, into which could be placed a cable, that would either be fed out through the hole in the glove box, into the MP3 player, or more neatly, the other end would create a socket in the glovebox, in the hole that exists.
Any thoughts on:
how likely this scenario is
where I might source such cable from
How easy releasing the head unit might be
I have done a forum search, and seen that enabling the Aux cable might in itself be a pain!
Thanks in advance
Jon Read more
This link has some pictures!
www.stdrivers.co.uk/forum/showtopic.php?tid/4426/
The Scenic suffered its first fault in our hands over the weekend. SWMBO pressed the passenger electric window "down" button. There was a muffled "click" and the window slid slowly down into the door never to reappear.
Stripped it down over the weekend, and the (alarmingly flimsy and brittle) plastic glass "holder" has snapped in half right along the line where the two control cables attach to it. The sudden release of tension on the cables has flung them off the pulleys, and both have been damaged (frayed) by the still turning motor jamming them between the pulley and mechanism.
The motor is still perfectly OK
The sliding rail and frame are still perfectly OK.
Renault want £200 for a complete new regulator. How that is justified I don't know!
There are secondhand "genuine" ones on Ebay for 70 quid or so.
There are pattern new ones on Ebay for 50 quid or so.
There are rebuild kits available with new cables and spools, and replacement glass holders - total cost about 30 quid with postage.
Advice/opinions gratefully received.
Cheers
DP
--
04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
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I have created a facebook group so we can collectively discuss
...
I have serious concern about ordering athe new 2008 Mazda6 2.0 diesel. My dealer says the new 2008 model will be available with the same 2.0 MZR-CD diesel unit as my existing Mazda6.
Yet I read on this website that there are serious problems with this engine.... to quote from a fleet manager who posted the article
"In my experience of a fleet of them; nearly all Mazda common-rails will eventually come to a sticky end. Avoid like the plague. This issue continues on...
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=57098
Can anyone give me a definitive answer as to whether the Mazda 6 uses the Ford Mondeo design common rail diesel. Decision time; to order... or avoid like the plague?
James
[The only issue I have with my existing Mazda 6 is the over rated poor sounding Bose Sound System/6cd player. I've heard better from a wind-up gramaphone. I hope Mazda drop this on their new model]
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I did 56k miles in a 2006 143 TS2 diesel, the engine was OK though it didn't *sound* like it was going to last forever. It had an annoying intermittent hesitation at 2000RPM though which Mazda denied the existence of, never cured it, it just came and went.
I loathed the Bose stereo, it couldn't compete with the tyre noise on the motorway (neither could the 'plip' noise of the indicators). The increments on the volume control were too large - 9 too quiet, 10 too loud. The heater was poor, the demister used to fog up the windscreen in the winter, the headlights were dangerously dim, the 2nd gear syncro very weak, you had to be very careful not to crunch it.
The trip computer was designed by a moron (litres per 100 miles?!?) and it was either that or the clock, not both. The clock did not keep time, lost about a minute in two weeks.
Servicing was quite expensive - the first service eye-wateringly so. And it depreciated £12k in two years. Not a cheap car to own.
But it did go well, was quite good on fuel about 41MPG over my 56k. The estate held masses of stuff. And it never went wrong, but I wasn't going to wait for the warranty to run out to find out for how long.
Guess the cost of a fitted replacement clutch for a Citroen C2 VTS from my main dealer.
Win a share of my heart attack! Read more
Clutches last a long time nowadays. My 10 year old Synergie had a busy life but was sold at almost 100000 miles with its original clutch as good as new.
Afternoon all.
Need a bit of help, the Clio is leaking, it seems to be coming from an area just above the sun visor on the left on the passenger side. Anyone know of common areas for blockage here and how to clean out the debris if any?
Many thanks in advance.
Chris Read more
Hi All,
I have a Clio 2005 with a manual sunroof and the water was coming in through the sunroof down the "A" Posts and "B" Posts, tried fixing it myself but still leaked. I found a company called Roc Solutions based in Poynton Cheshire who are also mobile and they fixed the sunroof for me for £80, the guy is called Steve on 07906164154, good luck........
There is an ongoing debate about the complications of new cars and the difficulties of DIY servicing.
I have this theory that if bulbs are difficult to change then the rest of the car is also going to be a pig.
This theory works on my vehicles including the newest car, a 1998 Hyundai, I have managed to maintain this, including a cambelt change, without the aid of a manual (not available), and I can change any bulb (except dashboard bulbs) in under a couple of minutes.
I am assuming that some models are designed for the third world market where back street servicing is the norm and a complicated car simply would have no secondhand value and it seems to me that these are the future for those of us who can't or won't buy new cars with warranties.
I would guess there will be notable exceptions to this theory, the 2CV being an example, but would the bulb test, in general, be a good criteria for judging the DIY friendliness of a vehicle?
----------------------------------------------
One mans junk is another mans treasure Read more
SWMBO's MX5 mk1 (pop-up lights), a doddle. Remove the plastic cover from the underside & sides of the lights (popped up, obviously), push in lens retaining ring & rotate, off it comes. Change bulb & refit. 5 mins, all in all.
Alex.
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Dr Alex Mears
Volvo 940S estate 1993
Maxda MX5 1.8iS 1997
Yamaha RD350 YPVS 1992
I've put this in Discussion rather than Technical because its not really a 'technical' question.
The mother of one of my daughter's friends has a new '57-reg Mini Cooper. The engine was reported to be 'noisy' on a cold start. The BMW dealer have told them that its fine and 'normal'. I've now listened to it and it doesn't sound right to me - sounds like piston slap or possibly a small-end. Anyone got a new (2007) Mini and confirm this noise as being normal? I am very skeptical.
Not impressed with the build quality of this car - only got about 1000 miles on it and the trim is rattling from several locations - how do they get away with it? Read more
WT - can you help me please. I have recently bought a R56 Cooper D 2008 plate and I don't know if it's got a belt or chain. There's no mention of any belt renewal in the service book.
Thanks...
Gents we have many posts describing the woes of Fords TDCI engines also HDI's and PD's. What i dont see too much of is vauxhall diesel problems, can i take it these are relatively trouble free for a modern engine.
slt Read more
18 months ago I bought an Astra 1.7TD with an Isuzu Engine after hearing that the Isuzu was a better engine than the GM.
Car had full Vaux History (which I checked) but engine died big time at 100,000 odd miles.
Could not get replacement engine for love nor money as there was a waiting list and even if I could get one I was looking at £1000 plus for an unknown secondhand one when one came up such was the demand for replacements for these cars.
I sold the car after three months and lost £2300 on it.
Nice car but an experience that will put me off GM cars for a very long time.
Shame as this Astra was my 11th Vaux car/van in 15 years
Browse
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Hi I'm new here and have a 52 vectra. The speedo and all other dials and lights have been going off and on whilst I've been out. I tried the reset the milometer trick and the turn the engine off and on. But only on some occasions this will work. I checked the fuses and they all seem fine
Any advice please? First car and new driver. Thanks