Not working today, so I thought I'd take a run up into Northumbria, see the countryside and scenery. It's been a beautiful day, cloudless skies, bright sun low on the horizon and crisp, frosty weather.
I'm a bit worried that Kielder reservoir is so low at this time of the year. Are we pumping our water down South at the moment?
Anyhow, to the point. Once I got back into the city, from just West of the Metrocentre, the traffic was nasty. Typical of this time of year, nobody away on holiday, everybody out Christmas shopping and the Winter lethargy dulling everyone's driving skills.
So, I have to admit that where folk are forming long orderly lines in the inside lane before roundabouts, I've been driving up the outside lane, finding the slow driver at the junction and filtering in. Nobody has peeped at me, they never do at the Tourquoise Panda 4x4, so I don't think I've offended anyone. I just feel that my well-planned, even yet swift progress in traffic must be wrong as so many others just form an orderly queue.
What do others on the forum do? Read more

There was a thread a few days back regarding the bigger 1.9 Vauxhall/Fiat engines and their comparative reliability when compared with other diesel engines, and whether they suffer the usual problems that plague most modern engines (turbo failure, CR systems etc...)

I'm thinking of buying a corsa 1.3 CDTI next year and there seems to be relativley little written about this engine - is this a good sign? The 75PS diesel version only costs £300ish more than the 1.4 petrol, and with it sitting in the £35 tax bracket it does look to make more sense.

I know these engines have not been around that long, but they were used in the previous shape Corsa towards the end of its life. So, is the fact that there is little written about them mean that they are problem free?

Once bought, I would be looking to keep the car for many years so any help would be appreciated!

Thanking you in advance... Read more

I picked up my new car today, a 56-reg Focus 1.6 Zetec. While driving home I spotted a warning light on the dash - it is within the rev counter dial and resembles, for want of a better description, a snowflake shape. Most of the time it glowed amber but a couple of miles from home it turned red. As the car came with no owner's handbook I have no idea what this light signifies. I thought perhaps it may have something to do with the air con but I'm probably wrong. Can someone help please? Read more

Our old 323 has been letting in a bit of water around the sunroof, in the very heavy rain we had this week. Although the roof has a rubber seal, I suspect that this isn't intended to be 100% and I assume any water that gets past is normally channelled off down the A-pillars. Would this be a plastic tube (can't feel one through the headlining) or designed into the metal work?

I would have put this in Technical, but I intend it as a general point, rather than for specific model advice (which would also be welcome, however!).

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Hi,

I don't really know what I am talking about here so please just help me along when I look stuck!

Ok, picked the car up yesterday and all is ok. Duel fuel, good MPG, good acceleration and all works (excepy for ciggy lighter thingy but they are going to fix that next week).

The Sat Nav on an Vauxhall Astra Elegance (2003 1.6 16v) estate.

If the disc is in the CD player - it will function. As in allow me to plot a course and it will direct me.

However, if I want to listen to a CD and take out the Sat Nav CD - it goes back to the 'Add a destination' startup screen.

Is this a software error or hardware issue?

Is it a settings issue - I have looked (inde'struction manual) but can't find it mentioned.

How do I get hold of an upgrade to the Sat Nav software, how do you tell what version software is currently installed/running and how much do they cost?

Thanks for all your help & replies in advance.

Dave. Read more