January 2008
Renault very kindly let us have a new Laguna all last weekend. It was a 1.5Dci and yes I was very impressed with it. Smooth quiet and incredibly economical. Our 4 year old Mazda MPV is beginning to cost money and my wife (who drives the Mazda) would like a change. Reports on the last Laguna were dreadful (some garages wouldn't touch them). Should be be tempted by a new Laguna Sport Tourer 1.5Dci or should we look at a Mondeo or Octavia? Read more
My 1998 micra has done 100K and is probably due for a change of gearbox oil. The Haynes manual tells you how to check and top-up the oil (through the speedometer cable hole!) but not how to drain and replace it.
There seem to be two plugs on the front of the gearbox. Am I correct in thinking that the bottom one is for draining and the top one is for filling?
{year added to header, as per the IGNORED request to do so!} Read more
Slight problem - the only way you can access the speedo drive is to jack the car up, but the car has to be on level ground to check the level!
Recently had to replace alternator on two Corsa 1.3 CDTI's in the company fleet, one 53 plate, one 54 plate, both 50k miles approx.
Company policy is for vehicles out of warranty to be serviced by local independant garage, however they could not source exchange units. Local Vauxhall dealer quoted £450 per vehicle, not interested in offering a goodwill contribution from Vauxhall - dealer claims this is bad luck, twice.
Found spare parts via a web search, jobs completed for £200 each.
Is this bad luck twice, or is there a design fault? Read more
Sorry to let you down Seasiders but the the 1.3 Fiat diesel is the exact same lump as in the aforementioned Corsa C-it's made by Fiat for themselves for their Punto and current Grande Punto and Panda and for everybody else including Vauxhall for the Corsa C & D and Astra and Suzuki for the Swift.
I had occasion to stop on a 'loading' only bay. This caused me to wonder what the regulations are for 'loading'?
Many loading bays state 20 minutes; this one didn't.
How long can you stay?
Can you lock and leave the car?
What item should you be loading in order to qualify - must it be heavy?
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"Trade secret" = torn scrap of white lined paper with words scribbled "Working at Richmond
Co - op" laid on dashboard ?
dvd
Laminated, printed A4 paper with contact mobile and organisation (organisation? who am I kidding?) name and address on. And the Co-Op has its own car park. Apart from the foregoing, you are correct in every detail :-)
I have a 2.2 HDi pug 607 that is in serious danger of being pushed off a cliff, if any one can advise how to get this sorted it would be much appreciated.
Took it to garage and had everything cleared as the car was in perminent limp mode and I could not clear it with my ELM323 reader,
it was showing an overboost on the Turbo plus more errors but the car was working again and just tripping into limp mode when the turbo overboosted but fine again after turning the ignition on and off.
I took the turbo off and decoked it, put it all back together but the car went back into perminent limp mode so took it in to have the ECU cleared down again. Now the garage can't clear the errors and I am getting a headache, they have given me a list though!
I have got P1447 - differential sensor pressure too high
P1429 - differential pressure signal low
(is there a right way around for the two pressure pipes on the fap or should this not matter?)
P1421 - EGT Sensor (no idea what or where this is or what may be wrong with it!!)
P1519 - Engine Oil Sensor Malfunction (no idea where this is?)
P0245 - Turbo pressure control (I think this could be the over boost problem still ???)
P0380. Glow Plug/Heater Circuit "A" Malfunction
And irritatingly as I just bought a new one P0100 MAF sensor signal too high.
Arrggghhh, any advice that doesn't involve taking the thing to peugeot (that's my last resort at £80 per hour) would be greatly appreciated.
Ade Read more
Bah, who's dragging up these ancient threads?
I have a 10 month old A4 and think that I may have a developing suspension problem. My car has a tendency to follow ruts and inconsistencies on rougher roads much more than it used to, making the steering sometimes 'snatchy' when driving on country lanes that are a bit rough.
I ahve owned an A4 before, and I have had the tracking and overall front wheel geometry checked twice by two separate garages only to find a very minor error in tracking on the first check. The second garage thought that one of my lower suspension link hydra-bushes may be faulty. I got the Audi dealer to have a look and they came back with the usual 'no fault found'.
I am convinced that the car still doesn't drive properly, and was wondering if any VW/Audi experts out there know of any issues that could cause this. There are none of the usual knocks or clunks from the suspension as is usually the case with worn VaG multilink suspension. Read more
Hi Alan
Did you solve this problem?
Kind regards
Hi guys,
Currently got a new shape Mondeo for a couple of days and am finding the fuel consumption is absolutely apalling. I don't drive like my trousers are on fire so to find that it returned just 32mpg from London to Devon just now (Empty roads and cruise control the whole way) is hugely suprising as I get more than that from my 530.
Even over 10 miles with the cruise set to 68mph, reset with the car already travelling, it returned only 33.8mpg average.
It's a 2 litre petrol manual. I've never driven a car with fuel economy this poor and that includes a Mk2 2 litre Mondeo which over the same trip would have returned closer to 37mpg and my 530i which I'd have got about 34mpg out of.
Is this one broken? It's only done 2000 miles! It's otherwise excellent, btw.
Also why is it so huge? I've parked it next to my E39 and its longer! Yet this doesn't translate to more 'big car' feel on the road.. Read more
Understandably the automatics would be also terrible with fuel consumpsion. The 2.0 litre diesel 140bhp manual would surely be best? I would love to hire one for a few days, long distance and daily city stop start snarl ups.
Hi, we have an MGB GT that we will use as a 'fun car' in the summer.
Anyone who has owned an MGB knows it has a tiny 'bench seat' in the back which has no seatbelts. Am I correct in thinking that it is fine for small(!) passengers to sit on this bench seat without seatbelts as they were not fitted from new?
Thanks
Stuart Read more
>>>>One of the girls ended up marrying me.
.....for your car, naturally...............???!!!! ; o )
I'll try to remember to ask her, but I expect she's forgotten by now ;>)
Car is a Mazda 6 - 2.0 Diesel Sport. 84k
Hi Guys,
Son has just bought an ex company car from the company I work for. Has full service history. However, having looked under the bonnet its difficult to see if its a cam belt or chain. Anyone have the definitive answer? If its belt, please advise the time/mileage to change it. Also if belt will it be necessary to change the water pump at the same time.
thanks
Read more
Robin
AD says belt; 2.3 hrs; change 72k or 6 yrs. W/pump is on the cam-belt - so....
Hi, I have a Audi A4 1996, about a month ago my electronic immobiliser symbol came on now & then while mobile! And when I try to start it in the morning it cuts out but on the third attempt it starts. I have now noticed if I wait for the symbol to stop flashing it will start. Also when I pull my key out of the ignition it doesn't click and the interior light does not come on and the alarm won?t set. if there is a click the light comes on the alarm sets and the car will start ok next time. I have tried the spare key but no difference.
Read more
Thanks adverse camber i will give it a week or so if no joy i will renew the switch.
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Ugly? All I can say is beauty is in the eye of of the beholder
And yes I own one...