February 2008
Hi, have a 2003 Picasso and a occasional fault has appeared.
Sometime when we start up the engine, the whole dashboard fails to light, no power going to radio or the hazard lights.
Other times its fine.
Fault only happens at start up. it never happens mid journey i.e. power never goes when its been working and engine is running.
Any ideas, i had a look at the interior fusebox and it looks a mess behind all the cable looms. Read more
My shiny new (well, less than a year since last renewal) windscreen has a small fingernail sized chip / gouge more or less dead centre and about 200mm below the interior mirror. Darned annoying, but I suppose it's what you get if you spend a lot of time on motorways.
I don't want to claim again because I reckon I'll get a loading for having had 2 new windscreens in less than a year. But, if the specialists fix it rather than renew it, does that still count as a claim and lead to insurance premium loading next time?
Are there DIY kits? Or mobile repairers?
Advice please. Read more
jbif
Thanks for the info, a very timely reminder.
A few weeks ago, for the first time ever, I needed a new screen .
I am certain, in ignorance, I would not have declared this claim at renewal time in May.
Hi There,
Just a quick question really. I have an Audi A3 1.8T (Automatic tranny 2000 - 53K) and am thinking about getting a remap of the ECU to increase it's power. I enjoy the car at the moment, but I thought a remap would put a bigger grin on my face. Don't get me wrong, i do not intend to thrash the car, never have, but simply want to have a little more 'go' from time to time.
However, I am concerned about two things:
* The short and long tems effects of the remap on components, especially on my Auto. tranny.
* The knock on effect when I come to resell.
Any thoughts on this..
Best,
Clach Read more
I have thought about a remap for a while, but am still ambivalent it. What I did do however, was to e-mail several companies (main office and independent) about my Auto tranny concerns. Interestingly none of these companies have replied, I can only take this to mean that are unsure, and do not want to commit to an answer via e-mail.
I did e-mail about other products around the same time, and received an e-mail back within hours!!!
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If I could have justified it I quite like the rear projection Sony Bravia 50" for under £1000 last year. But I could not convince myself of the real benefit. Prices are falling all the time too.
I'd personally go for around 46+" I think (way bigger than what I have) but future proofing. But LCD/Plasma has negatives hence my interest in the rear-projection Bravia's. They have their downside but blacks are black, LCDs bit can be replaced as can the bulbs.
Mondeo tdci 6 estate. May 2003. 42000 miles
I'm somewhat suprised to have found the rear section of my exhaust has failed. Yes I know the car is over 4 years old but I have a 14 year Merc SL with the original exhaust. I don't know of anybody who has replaced an exhaust on on a car less than 6 years old.
Is this a common problem?
Going to see the Ford dealership tomorrow for them to inspect...their parts department has confirmed they have never sold an exhaust for such a young car.
Any comments? Read more
Madf, Richardw and Yorkiebar many thanks for you words.
Have stated my case with Ford Customer Care so I will just have to wait and see. Like you say, its going to be alot cheaper to mig weld the pipe back on. I may well do this if I don't get anywhere.
Will let you know guys...like you say if you don't ask !!!
Hi - 1993 Fiesta 1.3 Petrol. Noticed that the instrument/dashboard panel illumination lights not working all of a sudden - checked fuse (no 17 10A) and all ok. Handbrake and alternator lights working ok just general illumination gone. Might just be the bulbs but a bit odd if they have all blown at once. Will strip down to check but just wondered if anyone else had had this and it was a simpler solution.
Many thanks
{year/engine added to header as per ignored request to do so!} Read more
ive just read the posts above and the advice given is correct
the bulbs come in a black plastic retainer but as someone said the bulb can be pulled out of these and a capless 501 bulb will substitute quite nicely 12 volt 4 watt
if you have smoke coming from your dash you have done something badly wrong and maybe bulb changing on your part should not be attempted in future
CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP - I'M BANGING MY HEAD AGAINST A WALL WITH THIS...
Background:-
The car got a flat battery because the rear interior hatch light was on for 3-4 days in error so I called the RAC to get me going with a jump start...then the trouble started...prior to the RAC man visiting the car was fine.
A day or so later I went to use the car and it would not run at all well.
Although it starts OK it idles roughly it will not rev up or seem to take any load on the throttle ? consequently it runs at 10miles per hour only, cuts out frequently & is basically completely unfit to drive.
My local private garage had the car for 6 weeks & have given the car back to me as they have not been able to fix it, with a £500 (heavily reduced price) bill. / The car is only worth £800 part ex.
Their report is as follows:
Trouble Codes:-
Oxygen sensor circuit
Loss of Power to ECU
Items Checked:-
All engine sensors check out OK on ove data, except oxygen sensor which remains low all the time, unless fuel is restricted or MAP sensor vaccum pipe disconnected, then fluctuates normally.
Continuity between oxygen sensor and ECU checked OK
All earths in engine bay and on engine OK
Earths and power to ECU OK
ECU independently checked twice (both OK)
New parts fitted:-
Oxygen Sensor
Inlet manifold gaskets
New Fuel Pump
Fuel Regulator
Spark Plugs and leads
Fuel replaced in case of contamination
Conclusion:-
Engine appears to be running far too lean
I subsequntly gave the car to the local Renault garage and the cannot find anything at fault on their diagnostoc system and have checked the electricals etc and have also completely drawn a blank with their own car!
The co-incidence of the jump start right at the beginning seems a strong one and i think this may be connected.......please help if you can and I will pass any advice back through to the Renault garage...!!
Read more
The same recently happened with mine. Started it up on Saturday and it was really roughly idling (chugging), loss of power, couldn't drive it anywhere. Mine is due to a fault which has developed in one of the coil packs, a loose wire etc. A new coil pack costs around £30 and is very simple to fit. The symptoms were due to the car only running on two cylinders - in this car one coil packs fires two of the spark plugs and therefore two cylinders, with two out of action the cylinders are out of balance which causes the rough idling.
Let me know how you get on.
Internet car brokers - who's the best/worst etc.. Read more
Is this an undertaker - ressurecting a thread from 7 years ago ?
A chap in our office always buys saloon cars, always has and always will do. He likes the security of having a lockable boot and keeping stuff out of sight, harms way etc. Problem is his car isn't versatile enough for him and ends up taking a trailer on holiday with all the holiday luggage!! The trailer is probably not that secure either.
Myself and others have tried to persuade him to buy a hatchback or estate but he is very much set in his ways, bless him! I can appreciate that some of the larger british, german or japanese saloons (Bentley, Merc, BMW, Audi, Lexus etc..) are very nice places to be and have huge boots but what is the point of a Focus size saloon? Other things come into play like does a medium size saloon depreciate more? On the other hand, if less saloon cars are sold does this make them more sought after by people who still buy them?
I suppose that manufacturers will continue to offer a saloon version of models they sell and obviously take note of sales compared to other versions of the model on sale and indeed recent models like SUV's, 'soft' roaders etc. Possibly the medium sized saloon will be dropped from production in the next 5 years...... Read more
"rear windows doesn't need a wiper"
Oh yes they do! My last 2 cars have been saloons and there have been many occasions when a rear wiper was needed. (See various previous threads on this.)
ok where do i start,lol
have an astra coupe turbo 2002, devolped a rocker gasket leak, but then as well threw up p0340, which is cam sensor related, so bought a cam sensor and vauxhall ( snip, who fitted it isn't really relevant) fitted it for me, as got it cheaper elsewhere, drove out of garage and EML came up, stop plugged in my code reader, and brought up same fault, car was returned to garage, said was probs dodgy sensor i bought,lol. so they will fit and replace a new one.
phone up this morning to discover, that they have took sensor back off as not the prob, and now checked wiring, but its not that
now they aint got a clue, so can anyone help me discover what the prob is as they aint got a clue, yet im gona be left with a huge bill and they still aint solved fault Read more
i am slightly confussed if po340 is stored as a present code then the car will not rev above 4500 rpm, Will your car rev above 4500 ?, have the test steps be done ie test step c-12 if so what were the findings pls
Browse
I had a similar fault where initially the dash display dimmed as the engine revs dropped to idle, and after a few weeks all electrical functions stopped.
I discovered that it was a loose connection on the feed from the battery to the engine compartment at the main terminal post next to the ECU - worth checking.