March 2008
What with reading so many episodes of dealers dodging warranty claims, I was heartned by the superb treatment from my local Suzuki dealer.
I had been hearing what I can only describe as a 'hiss' from the back axle when the engine was under load in higher gears. You could hardly hear it when it was full of things but empty, it was certainly there. Bearing in mind that the 3 year warranty runs out December, I thought I would pop into my dealer and just get it checked, fully expecting to be told 'theyre all like that' or something to that effect.
The manager took it out for a drive and then spent 15 mins with it on a ramp checking the fluid and checking anything else that could have been making the noise.
He said normally you would look to the tyres and wheel bearings but they were perfect and it must be coming from the back axle somewhere and was happy to confirm that it was certainly not normal and that he would like to have it in for three days so they can strip it down and see whats causing it, replacing whatever was required.
What so impressed me was that despite it being neither a serious sounding noise nor any insistance on my part that it was definately a problem, they took it completely serious, made a complete assessment of the noise and at no point did I feel that they wanted to do anything but make sure my van was totally 'right'.
Really made me smile that there are still customer focussed dealers out there who take even the most seemingly minor noise seriously. Read more
Please could you tell me the normal cylinder pressures for this engine when operating properly.
Thanks
Al Read more
Al
Really need to know if it's an X16SZR or an XEL; but 12-15 bar is pretty ballpark.
I am looking for a suitable child booster seat with the deepest possible cushion to combat the car sickness bought on by the high, upwards sloping rear door shoulder/ window line of our car (5 series Touring). The current seat worked quite well in our V70 (with a nice flat window line and light interior) but not so well in the new car, exacerbated by a dark interior.
All the boosters I have looked at seem to have relatively shallow cushions, quite unsuited to providing a good view out the window for a 5 year old when latest generation car design tend to decrease visibility and a feeling of "openess" the further back in the car you go. And the seat doesn't settle very well when used in the centre rear seat position to try and provide better visibility, especially round corners!
Any recommendations gratefully received (there is an ISOFIX facility too on the rear outer seats) for something that provides a good deep cushion base . It seems to be something the manufacturers have overlooked from what have seen and other folks have said the same. Read more
2004 Focus has a knock from the rear suspension, that sounds like the exhaust hitting something, exhaust has been checked several times but noise still there- appear to be suspension related. Only happens over bumps.
Any ideas
Thanks
Chris
{why is it so hard to understand that you need to put the year of the car in the subject line, as per the 3 separate messages asking you to?} Read more
Chris
Check out your Anti Roll bar drop links, They wear just as quick as the front ones and can cause quite a noise.
Are they franchised self employed?
Are they experienced motor mechanics?
Are they taught everything they need to know in a 5 week course?
Etc.
I have probably called the RAC out 5 times and they have always been really really good, fast accurate diagnosis, back on the road 4 times out of 5 too. One guy was a true Golf enthusiast who had recently put a 225BHP Audi TT engine into a mark 2 Golf GTi and that was a pretty good chat. So what are their qualifications? Read more
I've been a member of the AA for about 40 years and have needed to call them out about 6 times. On each occasion I have had nothing but the very best possible service.
The last time was about 5 years ago when the (very old) vehicle that I was driving at the time developed an ominous noise whilst I was on a motorway. I managed to exit at a convenient slip road and the AA man was with me in about 15 minutes. He discovered something wrong in the engine but wasn't sure that the fault was actually the one that had caused the noise. He suggested that I restart the engine and he said that he would follow me home to make sure that the problem did not recur. What he had done obviously had cured the noise problem and the car ran perfectly for another 2 years but what impressed me most was the fact that I lived 16 miles away and he did follow me all the way home.
That, to me, is beyond the call of duty (and I wrote to the AA to put in a good word for the patrolman).
Hello
Yet more problems with my Mondeo
I have noticed a rubbing noise when turning left but not right - it seems to happen when on half lock then stops. The noise seems to be coming from the wheel arch area or amybe just behind.
Any ideas?
{Please remember to include the YEAR in the subject line as it saves me having to forum search and edit it in for you} Read more
check your lower arm bushes
rosco
Another thing that i am curious about in a new car is a fantastic, sporty driving position. The low-slung kind. I sat in a Kia C'eed a couple of weeks ago and liked the way the seat felt low and close to the road. Are there any other everyday cars (superminis, hatchbacks, saloons) that also have a sporty driving position? Read more
I had the use of a Suzuki Super Carry many many years ago.
You'd never say anything about it was really sporty, but the short gear shift, the precise steering and the revvy engine made it handle like a go-kart! Great fun!
I read this article and thought it may be of interest to you here on this forum.
tinyurl.com/24wxpg
Throws another reason your fuel will go up in price, if one oil company is doing it... Read more
They are making the biggest profits in history, and part of this is bourne by the lies about Peak Oil which they propagate.
Hi
I have started to experience a strange noise with my rav, took it to main deelers and they informed me i need a new flywheel! and the cost with be minimum £1600, when i queried why flywheel should develope a problem at 46k, they then informed me they would contact Toyota to see if they can assist with repair! Has anyone else experienced this problem, if so was toyota prepared to help with cost.
All replies gratefully recieved.
Thanks
Corrie Read more
I have had the misfortune this week of having to pay £1500 for a new flywheel for my Toyota Rav4 Diesel. It had done only 47,000 miles. The terrible thing is that this is the second Rav4 I have owned and the second broken flywheel at around the same mileage. What possessed me to buy a second one I don't know. I was assured at the time that there was no chance of the same thing happening again.
When the first one went in 2007 there was an issue with Toyota diesels and broken flywheels admitted to me by customer services. I did get some financial help, but only I suspect because I bought another car. This time Toyota has washed its hands of any responsibility. Apparently my car is too new to have the faulty flywheel as they have been moderated and too old for them to show me any goodwill.
It is more than a coincidence for two Rav4s to have broken flywheels at the same low mileage. I am writing to Toyota to follow up the phonecall but I am not optimistic. I have also started to contact the motoring press. Any suggestions?
Sue
Hi
I have a 2002 Peugeot 307 hdi, which is having problems starting along with the message Anti Pollution fault (always when starting) popped to the local garage and he said something about fluid needing changing and that only peugeot dealers can do this he also warned me it was mega expensive - can anyone clarify the problem a bit more for me ? and also give me an idea of how much it will cost? and if theres anyway around peugeot not having to do it as I know it will cost the earth through them?
any help would be greatly appreciated
Jodi
{year & engine added to subject line AGAIN!} Read more
i have the same issue know my car wont start i got a guy to come and do a fault diagnosis and it come up with unknown error code 0087 i paid him £35 and still no better off please help.when my car was running with the engine warning light on it was running very poor like it was firing on 3 cylinders only bknow it wont even start for more than 1 second any ideas???
Browse
Following on. They rebuilt the rear axle with new bearings but it came back far noiser than it went in - not good at all and after two days with the new noiser back end ( it now sounds similar to driving with the brakes on slightly, plus its gained some whine aswell ), I went back in and said sorry but I cant accept it as it is.
Much to my suprise, without any hesitation, he went straight to the diary and said they would need the van for a week, so they have time to test it and rebuild it, more than once if needs be. Loan car was a given, nice that I didnt have to ask and not a hint even that I was a fussy moaner.
Heres hoping they manage to sort it out. I get the impression that its not a normal problem and as such, they are going blind ( manager said he would get onto 'technical' see if they have any suggestions ).
Still very happy with them though as atleast they are willing and trying to help.