November 2007

BobL

Are there any regular auction goers that can give an estimate on this:
Peugeot 206 1.1 Look, Nov 2001, 37K MILES, 5 door silver. Entered as a main dealer part exchange. Mot June. Looks ok, consistant with mileage.
Maybe prices may have diipped in the last couple of week with XMAS coming and a credit crunch? Read more

pd

Book price is £2750-£2450.

Brit_in_Germany

Cute article in the German papers today. Apparently in order to save money, the 1 star generals P4 car rating was scrapped in favour of the "lower" P3 band. P4 meant Audi A4 or VW Passat while P3 meant BMW 3 series, Mondeo or Vectra. I have difficulty seeing the difference here - is an A4 more of a status symbol than a 3 series? How is a Passat better than a Vectra? Anyway, the bean counters decided that the expected savings involved were too small and the whole idea has been scrapped. Read more

Collos25

"MercedesBenz have fixed up their act. "

Not judging by the complaints they haven't warrant claims are just the same only difference is that agents have been given more money to spend on claims.

y2k+4

Does anyone know whether as part of the Renault Megane II's facelift in 2006 any electrical components were changed? i.e. can you now expect more reliability out of the model? I only ask as the new Clio seems to be quite reliable - I know of three people with one and none have had a problem, yet Megane's are renowned for trouble.

I am considering an early facelift model to replace my Focus II, as I've always liked the styling and interior, but the unreliability reports have always made me somewhat weary.

{Header changed to include question being asked} Read more

The Melting Snowman

Apparently they modified the window regulators on the Phase 2 Megane. These are fitted to Phase 1's when they break. I've had two go on mine - a 2003 model. Seems to be quite a common problem.

MarkH2

I have a 2000MY 306 Meridian which has a VDO instrument pack with digital odometer. The backlight has failed on the digital odometer display so although the numbers are still being displayed it is very very difficult to read (impossible while driving). Does anyone know, is this repairable ? Read more

Dynamic Dave

More than likely you just need to remove the speedo assembly and replace the relevant backlight bulb for the odometer.

HLyon

I sold my 1998 Vauxhall Vectra, 2ltr SRi (118k) on Saturday for £650.

I've just had a phone call from the buyer saying that the engine blew on him while driving along the motorway.

I've never had any major problems with the car, it never used oil or water while I had it.

As I understand it, in any private sale the car is Sold As Seen but the guy seemed like a nice enough bloke and putting myself in his shoes I feel really bad.

What should I do? Read more

normd2

HLyon - stop and think for a minute. Why did he buy a car from you rather than go to a dealer? He would also have been aware that he didn't buy a warranty or a '30 day money back guarantee' or whatever. You as a private individual sold a car. He, as a private individual bought a car. You have no idea what happened to that car as soon as it was out of your sight; his four teenage nephews could have borrowed it for drag racing; it might have been stolen for 'joy-riding' and recovered same day; etc etc. You have no further obligation. End of story.

far0n

My 2000 Nissan Almera 1.5 had it's engine management light pop up the other day. So I pulled in at the side and rang the AA. The chap pulled up the engine diagnostics and it turned out to be an emissions oxygen sensor for the catalytic converter ( I think). The lad said it'll be fine as long as it's running ok then carry on your journey, but the light will probably come back on again (which it did). Now it's running perfectly well, just with the engine light on all the time. I just wanted to know, how important is the sensor in the grand scheme of things ? The engine's running normal, so is it just one of those things I can get sorted at the next service interval ?? Cheers Read more

injection doc

It doesn't have to be the sensor to registra as a sensor. Its would be advisable to have it checked out. The AFM could be failing & triggering a sensor fault. Chains also wear triggering off emission related faults or cam & crank sensor errors.
Take it to someone that knows & don't leave it as it will end up costing more.
Doc

wicked_buffy

My lad's got a 1998 1.25 Zetec Fiesta. When inside the car, he can lock all the doors by pushing in the lock. but it won't unlock when he wants to exit the car. He has to use the remote control key fob. Any ideas?
Thanks. Read more

bell boy

LDV helps AA sort mis-fuelling

van maker LDV says it has just delivered 13 specially liveried 3.2 tonne Maxus vans to the AA to help the roadside assistance firm fix its customers mis-fuelling problems. Each van has Sortimo racking and a Whale-supplied 330 litre tank so that a car, typically a diesel filled with petrol, can have its tank safely drained. The AA says its research shows that 150, 000 motorists a year get it wrong and need fuel systems drained.
sign of the times eh.......... Read more

tullman

SNIP - if you wish to advertise, then visit

www.honestjohn.co.uk/advertise/ads.htm

daywalker711

hi can anybody help me??
i have a vaxhaul vectra 2.0l ls estate, it drives great around town and short distances but if i drive more than 2 hours i get a bad misfire not a constant one every 5 to 10 seconds or so the rev counter flicks up to around 5000 rpm it misfires then is ok then dose it again .
if i switch the ignition off for a few seconds then back on its cured for another 2 hours
what could it be
my ecu light isnt working so dont know if im getting a problem registered
can anyone help please
Dave
Read more

Screwloose

Dave

It shouldn't; but with Vauxhall, I'll never say never....

A code-read might show something useful.

jim-mapps

Evenin all.

Various issues here. I'll start from the top.

Running a 306 XSI (Phase 1) on a P plate. Had it for all summer and as winter closed in I realise it's no heater. Not uncommon for these animals. It's been bypassed.

So, Removed the dash and changed the matrix for another which came from a scrap yard but I belive not to be leaking. Could be wrong. Suddenly the fan doesn't work. It did when we put the dash on and tested but 30 mins later and nothing doing. Next I get steam coming through th vents. lot's of it. Sealed up with radweld (yeah I know) but it sealed... Until the first time I put my foot down.

A few hundred miles later and it seems to have sealed up so I start the next job. an oil leak, seemingly coming from the rocker gasket. it's running down by the front left engine mounting (as you stand at the front of the car).

Gasket changed and drive away, still leaking and now there's white emulsion on the oil filler cap. not only that it's pushing oil up through the spark plug threads. I assume the head gasket's gone and give up hope and park it up in the garage.

It's been parked 6 months. Now it's been driven, around 10 miles. Didn't overheat, engine seems to run ok, and it drives fine. Does still steam up.

The oil on the dipstick is clean but there is some more emuslion around the cap.

The spark plugs weren't tight and after tightening them the oil has stopped coming through there.

Oh yeah, around a year ago, before any of this it blew a spark plug clean out of the top of the engine. Caused i think by a ht lead that wasn't connected properly. Had a compression tes done then and all ok.

What do you think? has the head gasket gone? Read more

drivewell

Or a Ford Pinto ;-)


Not sure about the Pinto (done a few head gaskets on those) but the old Kent x-flow could take some abuse!