April 2008

old Joe Loppy

Went to buy a new Agila and was quoted October before they got the ESP stabilty option model in .

Went and bought a Suzuki Splash instead.... ESP option standard ....same car , £400 cheaper like for like.
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y2k+4

Hi, just changed back to a mk1 Focus, but have found the new wiper doesn't go all the way across the screen, it doesn't seem to reach the far side of the drivers side. Is this likely to be down to the wiper, the motor or something else?

Thanks
James Read more

Armitage Shanks {p}

You could adjust the area wiped by the blade by loosening the arm on its splined shaft and moving it round to the next setting. This won't change the number of degrees that the motor sweeps the blade thru, but it will change the part of the screen which is wiped.

Nonny

My Getz is due its third service shortly. I bought it with 3years free servicing. Last year its second service, when I went to collect it I was handed no paperwork only my stamped service book. I received no "service check list" to confirm that the necessary parts had been actualy checked. The dealer also gives a free basic valet , this had not been done. A couple of days later I went to wash the car and found the rearwiper blade torn, so this had obviously not been checked during the service. This has left me with no confidence in the garage. They have just phoned now asking if they can do this years service. I told the person that I was not happy with last years service and the reasons why. He said that they do not give service check lists out on Hyundai cars but if I want one he will give me one. He said customers in some case do not want the extra paperwork. Have other contributors not received "service check lists" after having their cars serviced? Is this the norm nowadays? Read more

L'escargot

servicing
is the biggest cash cow main dealers have and most abuse it.


Do you have proof that most main dealers "abuse" it, or are you just rumour-mongering?
Steve_MZ6

Picked up a new Mazda 6 2.5 Sport 2 weeks ago.

Love the car but I have a couple of gripes that I was wondering if anybody else had encountered.

First frosty morning this week, I defrosted the rear window and the separate top section of the heated rear window doesn't work. It's specifically the top 3 or 4 horizontle bars where the verticle heating elements are closer together than the ones on the main part of the rear window. Looking at the configuration, it looks like it may be a separate circuit. The suggestion I have had thus far is that it may not actually be a heating element at all and is the integrated aerial. Certainly looks like part of the heated rear windscreen, but i was wondering if anybody else can confirm this?

Also, there's an irregular intermittent (albeit quiet) buzzing/humming noise coming from the Bose Sound system speakers when it is on and quiet. It's particularly noticeable when my Ipod is plugged into the AUX port with nothing playing. There appears to be a pattern to the noise on occasion which would suggest that it is electrical interference. Again, anybody with any experience of this?

Many Thanks,

Steve Read more

Ian7

I have no problems with rear screen (08 Ts2 2.0D) but my wife has mentioned she has heard intermittent vibration/buzz and believes its coming from the stereo unit (I have a cd changer but not the Bose system)

I cannot hear it but she is certain there is something not right with the stereo. This may well be different to your issue. It could be more to do with something not screwed tightly instead of interference like in your case.

gtired

Hi, i want to do a service on my new clio sport 172 2003 model. Does anyone know where the hell the spark plugs are and how do you change them!!
And also the fuel filters location. And is there anything to look out for on these cars?
your help is greatly appreciated thanks!! Read more

Screwloose

gtired

Cars change so rapidly, a Haynes manual is a necessity if you're going to do almost anything - it's so easy to do expensive damage.

tyro

There have been noises coming from the underside of my Ford Ka, particularly when I go over rough bits of road. I mentioned this to someone and he told me it was probably the link rods. (He has not looked at the car though.)

If it is the link rods,

a) how serious a problem is it?
b) how easy is it to sort?
c) if it is not dealt with immediately, will it cause other problems?

{moved from discussion. Year & engine info found via a forum search} Read more

bikerider

ok jc2 in reply to your remark "unsrupulous garages will take advantage" why have Ford warranty never rejected a claim for worn top mounts at the Ford dealership i work for?

Blumf

I've got some kind of alignment/suspension problem, the front left tyre wears down on the outside, all other tyres are fine.

I had the alignment checked by several garages (including full 4 wheel checks) and everything is apparently lined up correctly. Checks on the suspension seem fine, bushes, arms and struts all look okay. The car even handles okay, although not as sharp as it once did. No pulling under braking or acceleration and it drives straight on motorway runs. It seems the only evidence for a problem is the wear on that one tyre.

{pedantic mode on. Changed the word wheel(s) for tyre(s) as it's not actually the wheels that are wearing. pedantic mode off} Read more

Red Baron

What is the distance between the top of the tyre and the outer edge of the wheel arch. Something does not have to be out by much to cause this.

Is something bent? Is the wheel bearing worn? Is the caster of the wheel okay (this is, basically the front-to-back alignment) and can be altered by clonking up a kerb.

davmal

I seem to be seeing more and more poor examples of driving from the local police cars (I am not talking about the Traffic Police). Nothing outrageous, simple things like failing to indicate, being in the wrong lane at roundabouts, undertaking, inconsiderate parking etc.

I know these things are cumulative, the older you get the more you have seen, and so on, but it appears to be happening more frequently.

What really brought it home to me was when my eleven year old daughter asked why (at a roundabout, in the right hand lane) everyone was indicating apart from the police car? She wanted to know who was correct.

She wanted to know who was correct, so, if she were a younger or impressionable driver and she sees poor examples from the "authorities" what would she take away from it?

I know that we have all had to pass a test, and should know the right answers, but I also know, from teaching another child to drive, that even then doubts can remain and poor examples feed those doubts, and good examples with experience teach good driving.

I am not bashing the police's efforts in all directions, from what I have seen of foot and local cycle patrols, their bearing and manner is pretty much unimpeachable, and when away from their cars I have no complaints, but I do wonder if the local patrol car driving standards are slipping somewhat.




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Pugugly

You're right Orson. Back to motoring please.

BobbyG

On M8 yesterday morning, a brand new 08 plate Jaguar, the new model - XF?
Stuck on the mirror was one of those cheap and nasty blind spot mirrors that you get out the £1 shop or similar!

Pay all that money, have beautiful gear knobs that rise out the console, all the other toys and then go and do that with it! How could he!!! Surely it would have the blindspot thing built into the mirror anyway!


Aaaargh! Read more

oilrag

you have to admire his mindset though. Function over form, very refreshing to find these days ;)

prm72

Hi all, had my S60 2 weeks now and wondered if the yellow lights next to the headlights should flash with indicators, as they just seem to be on all the time with the running lights and i dont see the point unless they act as indicators, thanks. Read more

TheOilBurner

Definitely. My problem is that I'm so used to having the lights on all the time, if I asked the dealer to turn them off, I would be one of these berks who forgets to put their lights on at night!! :)