January 2008
I went out today, when the car started juddering then cut out but managed to get it going again after a few attempts,after getting home and parking up for a bit the car now won't start,I've checked the fuel that's getting in and there is a spark, and is turning over ok but just not going any help would be greatful, den
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I have been experiencing a number of problems with my car for the last few months, with the engine rattling very badly.
Last week the car wouldnt start so I towed it to a garage whom have said it has something to do with no compression when starting (?) as far as I understand. He has been unable to get it started so has suggested a new engine as the best option. I was rather bemused so took it to another two garages and both said the same.
How much would I be looking at? Read more
Yes that's right don't go anywhere near Heathrow when it comes to buying Reconditioned Engines!
LoL! I didn't! I just thought it may be a useful benchmark for the price he may expect to pay?!?
Briefly, when I got back to the car yesterday, I noticed that the O/S sidelights (back and front) were on, as was the light over the rear number plate. Same happened when I got home but after switching on and off a few times, they finally went out (as did the alarm light.....).
Today, the N/S sidelights are not working, nor the alarm (light at any rate), nor are the dashboard dial lights. The warning lights are OK, ditto the clock, radio and everything else.
Before I book it into a garage, does anyone have any ideas? Could it be something as simple as a fuse?
If relevant, the car's 3 years old (and has recently had a full service.......).
Thanks!
Barbara
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Brilliant! I think you're probably right. It's a bit of a coincidence otherwise. There was a lot of water lying around yesterday and I didn't see the big puddle till I was right on top of it.
I shall give that a try in the morning and report back.
Many thanks!
Hello.
I have a 1974 midget 1275 in my garage that I have not driven for 7 years.
It has just been left and not started.
Yesterday I replaced the battery and put some fuel into the empty fuel tank and it fired up straight away after it chugged for a bit.
The brake pedal is as hard as a rock.
What kind of work will be required to get the brakes working again for an mot.
All help appreciated.
--
(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters Read more
As said it needs a trailer to the garage or a mobile mechanic, working the calipers is a good start but the rest of the braking system can fail when driving it would be a damn shame to pile into a wall!
At the very most maybe a master cylinder,shoes,wheel cllinders,pads/discs,h/brake cable's, but untill it is checked over by a competent person your pink fluffy dice in the wind.
Im not having a go at you but the brakes are the most important part of any car. good luck..
Hi all. My Vectra has suddenly started making low groaning noises at low speeds. I'm predicting the PAS system. I've had a look at the reservoir and it's too dirty to see very much (rather like all the car!) I'm thinking it probably wants topping-up but how do I do this and can you top it up too much (like oil)?
MAny thanks for any help given. Kev Read more
Hi, that seems to have fixed it. Well, it did until the starter motor burnt out this morning. Never rains but it pours
I got my car back with a new MoT on Monday, having been pulled by Surrey traffic police on new year's eve when their ANPR magic eye (or some other mechanism) told them the MoT had been out of date since, er, harrumph, September.
I continued my journey to Sussex having been reassured that the plod who pulled me did not intend to lurk round the corner and pull me again, and came back to London the next day keeping my fingers crossed. Then I took the car to the indy mechanic I use, knowing that it might need a windscreen - there was a ten-inch crack on the passenger side - and a bit of welding on one of the sills. Got the windscreen from not-Autoglass for about half the autoglass price, less indeed. Turned out it needed two tie-rod ends too. All of this took around a week to organise, what with a body scan for the mechanic (he's OK) and a funeral in Dublin for me.
My man charged £100 for labour. When I drove the car I could tell immediately that it was running better, with its tendency to stall greatly reduced if not eliminated. I went round to give him the odd two quid from the bill and asked what he had done to it. Looking bashful, he admitted that he had had a bit of time to kill so had taken the inlet tract apart and cleaned everything including the crotchety idle control valve. Car men like that, with mechanical green fingers and a completely positive approach, are beyond price, especially when as in this case their financial demands are modest to put it mildly. Read more
Engineers don't mend washing machines household appliances boilers or photo-copiers (well they might do as
a hobby! for a bit of fun!) - engineers are more likely to design and
manufacture them.
There's an old adage that goes: "You only become a writer when someone else calls you a writer". Maybe it's the same for engineers.
Obviously the Legacy is the best car ever made......but is it just my car or is there no courtesy light in the front?
The one over the back seat is fine and the map reading lights in the front are fine but does the rest of the plastic that the map reading lights sit in illuminate and mine is just duff?
Funny what questions crop up after two years of owning a car!
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Aircon I can live without...I always look for a sunroof....although to have both is the ultimate(as I do now in my 10 year old Mazda 626). Living in Biggles training territory,I still find it fun the briefly look up the exhaust of a low flying Tornado thru the sunroof!
Hey!
I have a 1990 VW Polo CL Coupe which I have recently purchased. Runs really well, no problems with the engine.
Recently however the gearbox/gearchange mechanism has been giving me problems.
The gears started to have trouble getting in (first and second especially), this got worse and worse as I drove along.
Eventually it became so difficult to change to these gears that I actually caused the clutch cable to come off (I thought I had broken the clutch cable at the time, which made for an interesting drive home!)
I re-fitted this but can't get first or second (and third is sometimes a problem) reverse and forth are fine.
Could I need a gear oil topup? (if so, how as the Haynes manual does not mention it!) or is it more probable that a new gearchange mechanism is in order?
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Check the engine / gearbox mounts! , if the clutch has been changed recentley they may have not been tightened up properly. Especially check the one near/under the passenger footwell.
May need to hire a car for a couple of days as mine is in garage waiting replacement crank shaft sensor, (will put a post up about this latter).
What I would like to do is for myself and her indoors to drive the car, problem is that my wife
has had her licence less than a year does anyone know of any hire co's that would allow my wife to drive.
Have looked through the web but with no luck so far#
Many thanks Read more
Have you tried Enterprise? My son, then 18, was able to use the car I had as replacement despite the fact he had squashed my car. Admittedly it was provided via the insurance company.
Does your repair shop not have courtesy cars? If your wife is on your insurance they should not have a problem with her driving it.
Alternatively ask if you can rent a car and if they would then find it acceptable for her to insure herself, fully comp, with a NU short term policy (£10.50 a day - £27 for three days)
I have a Xantia HDI Estate, year 2000, mileage 131,000. It sinks at rear when parked overnight or occasionally for shorter periods. New rear outer spheres cured it temporarily, but all spheres are new and fluid has been changed. The front is not a problem. Any ideas, please?
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I have the same model and while it needs a few seconds after start to stabilise the ride height it only drops on the stops when left over an extended period.
Browse
Swapping parts isn't the way to pin it down.
Test for an adequate spark; then, if that's OK, move on to testing for the correct fuel being injected in sufficient quantities; then, if that's OK; test for minimum compression levels. [120lbf/sq/in]