December 2007
Hi,
I have a 2002 Focus Estate, 2.0 Zetec, which has developed an odd
fault.
When I switch the ignition off, the Fuel & Temperature gauges go to
the halfway position (normally they park at zero)
When the ignition is on, the gauges return to zero then work normally.
This only started to happen yesterday, and the only clues I have are
that I'd just filled up with petrol and then washed the car. Also,
it's very cold and damp outside.
I'm guessing some sort of electrical short-circuit and checked both
fuse boxes, but they appear to be bone dry.
I'd appreciate any advice!
Cheers,
Eddie
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Thinking of buying a nissan primera. There is 2 not far from me both x reg, both silver, both 1.8.
One is a Sport, the other an SE. Can someone tell me what one has the other doesnt?
Cheers. Read more
I had a V Reg Sport last year. That one did'nt have part leather seats, just cloth. A fantastic all round car I thought, really enjoyed it.
I want to change the rear discs on my 406 HDi 110 S Estate (2003). I've heard that the handbrake is a different entity to the normal brakes. My question is: is it a straight forward job or can I expect surprises, ie. special tool required or anything else like that. Many Thanx and Merry Christmas
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Hi,
I did the same job on my '02 406 estate. The handbrake is actually a drum system that uses the inside of the rear discs. When you've removed the calipers, remove the two retaining screws and remove the disc. If you have difficulty getting it off then you can insert a flat bladed screwdriver through the disc and in the two o'clock position (approx) you can adjust the drum brake for easier removal. I found it a piece of cake and required no special tools. just make sure the linings are in good order and working correctly. I believe they are automatic adjusting so you may not need to adjust them upon re-fitting (although I think i did adjust mine). The only thing I would suggest checking is that the calipers slide freely on their pins. Mine were partially siezed - aparently a common problem.
Anything else I can help with let me know.
--
These are the views of Robin the Technician with 35 years in the trade. I fix, therefore I am...
Trundling along at between 60 and 70 yesterday on a fairly busy M6, when everything went off. Speedo and tacho down to zero, no warning lights (but the hazards and headlights not affected) - it was as if the ignition had been turned off.
There didn't seem to be a total loss of power, though, it was more as if the car was doing a controlled shut-down and I managed, without too much difficulty, to manoeuvre onto the hard shoulder.
It has happened once before, at a roundabout, and on that occasion I wondered if I'd jogged the ignition key because it was accompanied by the crrrrrkkkk sound I've heard when turning the ignition when the car's already idling.
Any ideas as to what's caused this?
{year and engine size found with a forum search. Hopefully correct?} Read more
Until a year ago i owned a 1999 T Honda Accord 2.0. From memory there is a recall or a TSB relating to the ignition barrel. On cars of your era the barrel can collapse through wear and can cause the symptoms you described. I was going to get mine done for peace of mind but the dealer assured me that my car was unaffected. You could look at www.thaoc.co.uk (Honda Accord owners club site) to see if you can find out anything new.
What is the best place (website/magazine) to sell a second-hand car? Read more
OK, thanks.
Just a shot rant! why do some drivers feel there is no need to use headlights in foggy weather. Don't these people realise that they are not only putting their lives at risk but also the safety of other road users. Read more
I think people forget the main rules of motoring:-
1. Never use your lights when visibility is impaired, as they will only distract other drivers and dazzle pedestrians
2. Always leave your rear foglight switch in the "on" position so that you can dazzle and stop cars overtaking you when it's raining
3. Always drive at 30mph in the inside lane of a motorway - especially if you drive a Nissan Micra or a Renault Modus.
4. Always use poor visibility as an excuse to increase your speed to 30mph more than normal - you can use the poor visibility excuse to say you couldn't see the speed limit signs
5. When travelling at speed, always drive as closely as possible to the car in front to improve your fuel consumption by slip-streaming.
6. Always take your 15mph top speed JCB on to the ring road during rush hour
7. If towing a caravan, see how big a tail-back you can create by only driving at 30mph - answers to the Guinness Book of Records.............
8. Never buy a hands-free kit - it's far more exciting trying to steer with your knees at 70mph while holding a cup of coffeee and send a text from your mobile at the same time
9. If you're a cyclist, totally ignore any traffic signs, road markings, lighting requiremens or, indeed, any measures designed to improve your safety
10. If you see a police car actually out on the road doing some work, telephone BBC News, the local press, and get their autograph to sell on E-Bay.
Have a safe 2008 folks!
Topping up the oil in my Bora 130TDI today, I noticed that my 1 litre top up bottle was now empty.
Doing a bit of searching for the cheapest supplier of the stuff, I found out that this oil, which is specified for variable service intervals on the pump duse engine has now been replaced by Castrol.
The oil that replaces it is Castrol Edge 5w 30 which has VW specification VW 504 00/507 00.
So all you fellow Longlife oil users take note.
It is still confusing as there are a number of oils with the "Edge" name that are suitable for Turbo diesels but are 505 spec and not the new 507 spec.
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The only saving on the 10,000 regime will be the few quid on the oil. Labour and other charges will be the same so Longlife will save you money.
My longlife regime Audi still gets serviced about every year as I do the indicated mileage (18,500) in about a year.
Quick straw poll here - Now Britain has had "regional" registrations for a few years now (Anglia, Birmingham, Cymru, etc.), is it a better system? Is it better for us to know where the car in front/behind was registered; do you want other drivers to judge you by your apparent origin; or does it make no difference at all?
Spain (as well as Italy, and France from January 2008) changed to "generic" non-regional registrations years ago, and the traditional enmity between Spanish regions - rivalry bordering on psycopathic hatred between certain areas; drivers from the Basque Country routinely stopped by police patrols; incidents of vandalism after football matches, etc... - have all but disappeared. Read more
Has anyone noticed how many "ex demonstator" cars for sale have AF or similar East
Anglian regs and around 10000 miles on the clock?
The vast majority of 6-9 month old cars finding their way on to franchised dealers forecourts with ~10K on the clock are ex-rentals. If these are sold as 'demonstrators', then Trading Standards need to be informed. V5 will show original registrant. These often appear to be registered in the South East. Don't know where 'AD' is from, but see a lot of Fiats registered there. (my wife's Punto, for instance - bought at 6 months old / 3.5K miles from a Fiat franchise in the Scottish highlands (ex - rental)
Also be aware that some cars will be pre-registered by the supplying dealer group to get big discounts, and finally, some manufacturers / importers, will pre-register cars for press and media use.
tried to put battery in after recently changing whole engine gearbox and clutch. had to jump it because it was dead but when i connected the leads the battery sparked into life and locked my car...
heres the bad bit, not knowing it would do this,,, (i dont know a lot about cars) i left my keys in the car... GREAT... now its blocking neighbours drive and i cant get in... spare keyfob and key were not given when i bought the car and i havent had chance to get a copy...
breaking the small rear window looks tempting,,, ive tried the coathanger but its hard because the door handle goes into the door curvature.
is it easy to replace the small rear window? Read more
hi all finally got in using coathanger, wont say how for those that dont know. and now after all this time i have my car working fully again... hurray!
anyone know of a decent holder (preferably to take 2 pairs of glasses) that could, say, be attached to dashboard? If relevant, car's an A3. Or maybe there's a make of vehicle that has such a useful item as standard and purchasable as a part. Am looking for a "pot" or tubular shape that glasses cld easily be slid into.
Merry Christmas to you all and Safe Driving if you're out over the hol in this murky weather!
EH Read more
cld be at risk of making a spectacle of myself here
Browse
Sorry - I hadn't spotted that the Forum Search defaults to items under a month old.
I've found the old thread now.
Looks like I'll probably live with the problem, as long as the gauges work when the engine's running and nothing else goes wrong!
Merry Christmas
Eddie