December 2007
I have a 1998 Megane Scenic 1.9dti and a while ago, on the way to work, the temp gauge went crazy and stuck on max. Checked it over before going into work for the day and it all seemed fine, thought it must have been a dodgy gauge/sender. That evening, totally flat battery. RAC man came and eventually got enough juice into the battery to start it but it was draining continually. Pulled a fuse out and halted the drain, got home and checked what this fuse was and it was the diesel preheat circuit. Have been driving without the fuse in and it starts ok in the summer but now it is getting colder it won't! Keep having to put it in to start then pull it out, not very cool!
My problem is that I can't find the relay, I can find the preheat control unit but (according to Haynes) the relay is mounted separately nearby, but it isn't. I've traced the glowplug cables as best I can (with a clampmeter) and they seem to go to the back of the block, by the turbo).
I'm guessing that it must be a dodgy relay for it to be draining when the ignition is turned off and assume that this is affecting the temp gauge (I have changed the temp senders by the way). I reckon if it was the preheat control unit it would stop draining when the ignition is turned off? Read more
Hi, I'm a real no-hoper with cars, so any help greatly appreciated:
My Fiesta has been overheating when driven further than 4 or 5 miles. The radiator stays cold even when the car is overheating. Also, the heater does not get really hot, just warm, even on full heat setting. The hoses to/from the expansion tank seem to be getting hot (although I don't know which is which!).
I've been told by the RAC that it is the water pump, although I've also been told it could be the thermostat. Bearing in mind what I have said, which is more likely?
Thanks in advance for any help. Read more
My Ford Fiesta 199 1.25 engine has had a heating problem for about 2 years, the heater blows hot air, even at the cold setting. I have replaced the heater control valve 3 times, first two times with an e-bay one and 3rd time with one from a local parts supplier. Each time the car would run for anything from a week to a month with no heater problem but of late I am almost being cooked because the air conditioning does not work either, it has a leak that will cost a fortune to fix. In desperation I got a circuit board from a car breakers yard and fitted that and it made no difference. Someone suggested that if the thermostat failed in the closed position, the heater would stay on, I have bought a new thermostat but it's going to be a pig to replace it. Can anyone give me a clue as to what the problem could be ?
If you flash your lights at someone to warn them of your presence (as advised in the Highway Code), and they mistake it as "I'm letting you out", and you crash into them as they pull in front of you, can it be said to be your fault?
Just wondering, since everyone seems to use flashing lights as the universal signal of "I'm giving way to you".
slt Read more
For those of a curious disposition, there's a shot in the Terrorflag today of two buxom gels flashing their headlights at the Heir to the Throne...
It's years since I last phoned my bank, but my wife wanted to phone her bank the other day. The number they provide is a call centre number. They absolutely refuse to provide a number that will enable her to phone her branch directly.
How many of the big banks will actually let you make a telephone call to your own branch? Read more
Both sound good to me; no noticeable difference. And to clarify- am I right in thinking Nicam was just a method of transmitting high quality audio on 'normal' analogue broadcasts, and isn't used on Freeview?
Another recent thread linked to a site offering new base model Mitsubishi Colts at £5999. Looking a little harder showed this to be 'after minimum part exchange of £1500'.
I've noticed many similar 'deals' in the past and have usually dismissed them as a gimmick, assuming that the price includes a healthy profit margin - even if the punter's old banger is sold for £100 scrap......
Has anyone actually bought a car under a similar promotion? Did it feel 'genuine' (for want of a better word)?
If it's just a 'con', could you extract the same price from the dealer - even without the p/x? Read more
I know of someone who had they car written off and wanted a car in a similar offer. The Dealer wasn't interested when no PX was offered. So they left it two weeks later they had a phone call "are you still looking for a car" yes they said as public transport was starting to be a pain and they got their pay out quickly.
Dealers ears prick up "oh so you have deposit" well yes and no ...."yes we have a deposit but your offer said you old car as a deposit so we we hoping to use that"(they got what I feel was a low price for a very nice Golf)
Well the dealer said ok we'll take your payout as a deposit, slightly stunned they said you haven't once asked what are old car was, how much we got for it or how you expect us to pay for it.
So the guy says look i'm interested but can I talk to the sales manager please ?
"i am ..do you want a car or not?" and at that point no sale was made and another dealer benefited.
I'm not sure if there a con or not but are a good marketing ploy.
my sons 51 reg polo 1.4 twin cam engine type AUA has done 33000 mls as far as i know is still on original cambelt vw reccomend changing belt at 60k but i understand there are some issues re plastic tensioners are they all plastic? can i tell with the top belt cover off? is the engine belt/fail safe? if i have to replace it do they do a metal one like my old golf mk 3? thanks in anticipation.
Read more
These 1.4 16v engines have 2 timing belts and 2 sets of guides and tensioners,so taking off the top cover is only going to reveal the top cambelt.Best advice is to change the lot and the water pump also.(the plastic impellor always falls off on these]hth
Im toying with the idea of buying a brand new car, to keep 15-20 years ( legislation permitting ).
My budget will be no more than £10k, economy is very important as is emissions.
It must be big enough to cope with family life at a stretch ( 2 kids ). Id also prefer a 5dr what with car seats etc being so bulky.
Obviously the car will do some serious mileage and im used to fairly bullit-proof reliability as I get with my Suzuki van. Im interested in generally good dealers, but depriciation and image count for nothing. Air con would be nice but not a deal breaker.
The car that has sprung to mind at this point is the Kia Rio GS diesel. Im not in any hurry to do this as there may be something new and exciting coming next year.
Just after some ideas as the new car market isnt my strong point. Read more
we grandparents can be quite eccentric - if Gran, bless her, has in mind that her splendid boy shld have a "new" car, then best not risk displeasing her in this instance, perhaps.
My 2000 A6 Quattro is doing its annual Chitty Chitty Bang Bang number with the central locking and the electric windows. Whenever the weather turns especially wet and cold it does this, a fault attributable to Audi's notorious (in)convenience module, I gather. It's only ever done 35k miles too.
It's time to change and I have identified several possible replacement E class cars. I've never had a Merc and I feel I should try one before I depart this earth. A tail wagger may even hasten me out of it.
Business and travel commitments will prevent me completing a purchase for about two weeks. In that time I need to park the A6 at an airport for a week. I can't take the risk of the accursed thing spontaneously admitting all and sundry by lowering the windows whilst I'm away so I thought I might remove the fuse.
Is this an officially bad idea ? Where might I find the fuse box ? Is the fuse shared with anything else of importance ?
Thanks in advance. Read more
I usually try to relocate the module to a position just above where the passenger carpet finishes and the lower part of the dash starts.Remove the module from the plastic case and carefully re-route the harness to this area ,there is normally just enough length of wiring.This prevents the system getting swamped again.Just a thought.hth
Saw this on the BBCwebsite:-
A haulier has been stopped on the A90 in Fife after driving almost non-stop through Europe for 14 days.
The man, who was from Azerbaijan, was driving a 44-tonne articulated lorry and was stopped in a random check. Tachograph readings showed the only significant stop by the driver was when the truck entered the UK by ferry.
The law states that drivers must not exceed an average of 48 hours a week. The driver was ordered to take a 45-hour compulsory rest break.
He will now be reported to the traffic commissioner who will decide a course of action.
The driver was stopped on Wednesday afternoon heading north, police said.
Inspector John MacDonald, of Fife Constabulary, told the BBC Scotland news website: "I am delighted that we stopped him because when things go wrong, you can imagine the damage an articulated lorry is going to do if he fell asleep at the wheel.
"We will continue to run operations like this." Read more
As someone who works in a business that has to compete with goods that have a lower tax rate on the continent I do have sympathy with lorry drivers.
What I would do is allow them to use red diesel. It would mean that they would probably not be able to use regular fuel stops but I am sure that they would not complain. Either that, or charge less Duty that is offset by a massively higher rate of VAT, which they could then claim back. Rather than 17.5% why not 40% which would mean that the £1.05 litre would come down to £0.75 ex VAT
need to do my brake pads soon and reading in the haynes manuel that you need apecial tool to push the calipers in.
as the rear ones are on a thread so you have to twist as you are going i thought i could use a g clamp like on other cars i have had or not does any one have any ideas as im a bit stuck
many thanks Read more
If you want to change disc you will need a E18 Torx socket to remove calliper braket from wheel hub back plate draper stock No 58987
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I seem to have the same problem as well. The temp gauge just goes all the way up in about 1/10 second when it feels like it. Car stil runs nicely. I've found a few people with the problem on different forums but not final fixes?