March 2008
Wondering about going down the bangeromics route with a late model MkII (and let my wife use my '05 TDCi as a trade in for something new for her)
Want to get back to doing most of my own repairs, and wonder....
Is a clutch change do-able on a MKII Mondeo, or is it a 'subframe out' job, like the MkIII? Read more
I'm thinking of buying one of these but can't find a quickshift.
Does anyone have any experience of these robotised gearboxes on the Modus or any other Renault? Read more
Not Renault but I drove a Citroen C4 HDI for a year/10,000 miles with the EGS box.
I found that changed better in manual than auto, when the driver controls the changes. The auto change on all these types of gearbox has a slight 'lunge' when the clutch operates, (a bit like if you are a passenger and not watching when the driver will change gear, if you see what I mean).
The main benefit of these boxes over a conventional auto is lower emissions and lower fuel consumption, whilst still having no clutch pedal. They do impose a bit of a compromise, which the fuel savings may, or may not, compensate for, depending upon your point of view. Best to get a long test drive to see if it's for you. (For what it's worth I now drive a Merc C320 CDI with a conventional [albeit 7-speed auto]).
Hi I hope someone can give me some advice on my 406hdi.
My Car suddenly cut out and had to have it trailered away as it would not restart.
It been at the garage a couple of weeks now at a diesel specialist. He still cannot seem to find the fault. He has replaced the glow plugs and crank pully sensor and he says it needs a new ECU and a PS2 ( whatever that is ) and a new key barrel for the ignition at a total cost of over £300.
Im completly at a loss to what i should do . I love the car and it never gave me any prior problems.
I need some advice. Am i being told the right info or am being taken for ride?
Should I cut my losses and get rid of the car.
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks to all in advance. Read more
Thenks screwloose for the prompt reply.
Im not very technically minded but i will pose these questions to him.
The funny thing is i did manage to get my car started agian using ezystart. I filled the tank up to the brim with diesel and too k the car for a 20 mile blast on the motorway to clean things out just in case of bad diesel or something.
Left the car for 2 hours and then it did not start hence me taking it to the diesel "specialist".
It cranks over but does not start not even with ezy start now.
Im completely bewildered. The fuel pump im sure is fine as i can hear it.
75000 mile service will be due in the next couple of months. Thing is, Honda want £550 for this one because gearbox oil and sparkplugs will be changed(1st time). Usually, the expensive service costs between £250-300. Across the board, this particular service for MK6 Civic's is the mega expensive one.
Any Independent Specialists out there who reckon that they can offer their services at a cheaper rate, then please reply. Brand loyalty only goes so far!!
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bristol, basingstoke or basildon?
How can you expect sensible responses with such a lax definition of the location?
you'd probably do better in 'discussion' as well.
Can anyone confirm for me that the removable security panels (the strip with the numbers 2-5 on it) in the Ford CD players from this time are just a simple straight swap to replace? I caught mine on the car door this morning, snapping off the part that allows it to be retained in the front of the actual player, and despite ten minutes crawling around on the gravel cannot for the life of me find the piece to repair it. There appears to be an abundance of them on eBay at not unreasonable prices, so providing I get one that's the correct fit for my model of CD player, should it just click in and work? I will go insane if I have to drive in silence for much longer! Read more
Thanks - I thought as much having had a browse for them when I damaged it previously (managed to superglue it that time) but couldn't believe a 'security' feature could be so easily remedied! I don't think I'll ever bother removing it again in future, as there's probably more chance of me breaking it again than the fact that I've left it in being responsible for it getting pinched!
My Mk2 Focus has disc front / drum rear brakes that I think perform poorly.
The pedal has a "wooden" feel such that I have to press really hard to achieve much braking effort. ( The pedal does not sink down when braking. )
The handbrake also needs to pulled hard when parking, and if tried whilst moving gives little real retardation.
The car has done 26k miles, and has the original pads & shoes.
I have checked that there is friction material on the shoes ( about 4 mm ) and have checked that the mechanism is free and that there is not excessive dust in the drums.
Would "glazed" shoes be the problem? I don't believe I have used the brakes excessively, more likely the reverse.
Can anyone suggest what other course of action may help.
Would replacing the pads & shoes help, or would the benefit be minimal I somewhat suspect that the brakes are simply poor having been value engineered to the minimum.
Any help from you "professionals" in the forum would be appreciated.
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My Fiesta 2007 is at the garage. I have a borrowed car a diahatsu surion 2. I was surprised that the breaks work better. I now the need to improve the breaks, but they are new. The discs and the shoes both new.
There is an option for "grooved"breaking discs. Has anyone got experience?
Sorry if I've maybe missed this elsewhere on the forum, but I read yesterday that there are plans to make new drivers have motorway experience BEFORE they can pass their test.
How do they intend to do this when some areas of the UK aer 300 miles or more from a motorway? (There are no motorways north of Stirling - and I don't thiink there are many on places like the Isle of Wight or the Scily Isles either.)
I certainly can't see someone from Lerwick taking a whole day to sail to Aberdeen, then drive to Edinburgh or Glasgow for a test, then go back home again - a round trip of 800 miles, two drivers, probably 2 nights accommodation...... and they'll probably never see a motorway again.
I could probably say the same for drivers in west Wales. Read more
I work for DSA (who conduct the test) and take it from me thats hogswash. No such plans exist.
Hi
I drive a Ford Granada L reg jan 1994 2.0i Executive 5d now 145.000 on the clock I have had the car 10 years it has done me proud but as time has gone on now parts are hard to find with the garage and they say time to call it a day as I am now told with the problem ( head gasket on its way out would be a big job ,just had a new petrol tank before xmass and now a new idle control valve as it kept hunting and revs drop cutting out when braking ie coming off slip rds roundabouts but would start again when engine cooled .still does this and we have a bit of smoke from the back tinge bluesince having the valve fitted .
what else could I look at that has a big boot to carry dogs .
{subject line expanded upon to make less vague - hopefully} Read more
Late Vauxhall Omega Estate?
Various Volvo Estates?
Citroen Berlingo for about £5K
I notice neither HonestJohn nor this Forum list the corrosion problems.
Minor corrosion.
Around the doorframe under the weatherstrip the seal has not been sealed on 2003 / 2004 cars, resulting in orange corrosion staining.
This may be significant or not - many cars suffer orange corrosion staining around the hinge-to-body areas but it does not progress.
Serious corrosion.
Rear wheel arch is not properly sealed due to place of welds.
Water (& salt) penetrate resulting in inside-to-outside corrosion.
Some report it also happening at boot seams & one reports the same at the windscreen seam and another at the door sills.
UK Mazda forums seem to show 2003 2004 cars suffering it, with heavy blistering evident. USA showing full perforation.
This is significant. Mazda at first touch up (which fails since the corrosion is inside-to-outside) and then replacing the wheelarch and rear quarter panels. Some owners have had the first fix attempted several times, rust obviously returns very quickly.
Q - Anyone know if Mazda resolved this on later models?
Some Mazda3 (hiroshima built) also suffered it in {reformat of post to use full width of message box} Read more
Hi
On another site ( Club ) somebody chatting said he knows of this car for sale.
its a ford frog est is Irish registered so no indication as to year, but there is
a fair amount of M.O.T left on it and he only bought it for the plate.
will it be hard for me to get another plate for it and how will I know the year ( reg paper work I hope ) Read more
I think I learnt from HJ to take out the ashtray, that will have an indication of how old the ashtray is, as will almost any moulded part on the car.
Wasn't the other place to look on the cloth tag sewn to the seatbelt webbing?
Browse
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Just read car-by-car, and see that it is a subframe out job. Is this a job that 'home' mechanics are typically tackling?