April 2008
Hi All,
Just a quick question,
Thinking of escaping the punitive VED charges.
Which diesel will be the most reliable/cheapest to operate (based on experiences) between the following:-
VAG 1.9 PD130
CDTI 1.9 150
TDCI 2.0 130
HDI 2.0 136
Many thanks,
D Read more
has anyone got a easy way to renew anti roll bar bushes on a 2001 fiesta i have looked and it seems you can get one bolt out easy but one will hit the builk head and i do not want to drop the crossmember any easy tips thanks
{year added to subject header. Obvious the 2 sticky posts at the top of the page are playing hide and seek again which can be the only explanation why you missed them!} Read more
Hi,
I have taken a look at my car so as to be sure I know what I am doing before I start.
If I have got this right, the alignment holes are slightly oval, allowing a small amount of lateral movement. Can anyone explain why it is like that?
I also find that the alignment has not been done exactly - one side is a few millimetres forward and the other side is about the same distance back.
I bought the car when it was already 5 yeard old, so I do not know what happened to it previously, but I did have the clutch replaced soon after I got it. Is it possible that the crossmember was not properly re-aligned when this work was done?
I have not had uneven tyre wear and I have not noticed any problems in handling, so how precice does alignment need to be? It appears to be fairly hit-or-miss. Is there any need to have the alignment checked by a specialist?
Mike.
engine has just become very noisey, appears to be choking and losing power. noise increases with rpm and sounds like a piece of metal would in the spokes of a moving bicycle. the noise also 'runs on' after the throttle has been released when driving.
i am thinking it is something to do with the turbo but would appreciate any advice on being able to pinpoint the problem. Read more
my car had the same problem it turned out to be the turbo on the maifold a garnet part i lost power a had lots of white smoke and the car seemed to be only working on 3 cyclnders
A friend's focus has intermittently not locked/unlocked the offside rear passenger door. As of this morning it won't lock at all now, and apparently she can't lock it from the inside either so the door is permantly unlocked.
I was going to have a quick look this evening for her and give it some WD40 in the lock mechanism and any electrical contacts.
Is this a common problem? Is it likely to be the lock motor dying/dead? How much are replacements?
Thanks! Read more
Hi,
I'd be interested to find out what the solution was to your problem. I have a 1.8 Focus, 2001 reg. In the 4 years I've had it, I've had numerous problems with the central locking, including two locks being replaced.
The problem has now come back and I've been told by the dealer that all 4 door locks need to be replaced as well as the central locking module. This is going to work out at around a grand, I think, for a 7 year old car!
I'm not sure if I'm being ripped off or if there's really no alternative.
Be interested to hear of anyone with smilar experiences and their solutions.
CP
snipquote
I was finally defeated this morning by a Vectra and forced to allow a mechanic to swap a headlamp bulb. I took my revenge by pointing out to a nearby salesman that I wouldn't be taking a new one when its lease is up in May due to this rank stupidity.
Anyhow, on arriving at work and recounting this to a colleague he said that as of the 1st of July this year it's going to be illegal to sell a vehicle in the EU that you can't change all the bulbs on yourself.
Presumably this means that they won't be able to get EU type approval, but anyone know more? Will the rules apply to all makes / models or just newly introduced ones? All bulbs or just headlights? Are there any guidelines on what constitutes the ability to change them yourself (e.g. you *can* change the sidelight bulbs on a current VW Sharan - but it's a very unpleasant task)?
Sounds like a win for common sense to me, but need clarification.
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Objects in the rearview mirror may be huge and a very long way away. Read more
Buy a Fiat Panda and you will be transported back to those days not only
when replacing bulbs but for all your car maintenance issues.
agreed, so simple, i have changed the head light bulbs on my 100 hp in less than 10 mins. no tools necessary, same applies to indicator bulbs and side lights. easily done at the side of the road.
Can some nice person tell me the torque figure for 1993 Nissan Micra front hub nut!
Once again ta in advance.
Marty.
{some repeated words removed from subject line} Read more
Much appreciated Screwloose, thank you!
Hi,
Just had a bit of a worrying experience. I was approaching a roundabout after a few miles at around 60mph, when I applied the brake there was very little response. Luckily I was able to stop in time and my brakes gradually improved after that. Could this be brake fade? If so what could be causing it? I've also felt as if the brakes are maybe sticking on as sometimes I feel as if the car is dragging as I accelerate.
Also I've felt as if there is a 'wobble/lumpy' feeling from the front when rolling at a slow speed, could this be warped discs?
Thanks
flatcap
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>>Do you think my car would have passed an mot with me needing to replace all I had to 2 months and 400 miles down the line?
The pass criteria isn't exactly challenging.
Wouldn't mind one these but what do you reckon folks: revvy little petrol or a torquier diesel? I am drawn to the latter but I still link little FIATS to revvy little petrol engines. Any feedback from those in the know or owners of both cars?
I note that the 1.2 is based on the old FIRE engine that over 20 years old but it was a terrific engine in my old Uno (first car), outlasted the rest of the car. Now significantly undersquare though so is it still free revving? HJ used to say in his yearbook that this FIRE engine was good for three times round the clock if looked after. Read more
A vote for Multijet economy here - have been using ours for work this week. Not driving particularly gently, I have achieved 59 mpg brim-to-brim. The 100HP (which has done a fair amount of urban with Mrs B and a couple of bootings from me) has managed 36 mpg.
What is instructive is that we filled both of them up earlier with (as it turned out) almost the same quantity of fuel (22 litres) and the MJ had gone 106 miles further. Shame it still cost £27...
Been searching for a cover that fits my Celica convertible - not having much joy , noticed a product called "Permabag"
Seems to be a huge bag that has a "divers zip" that is impervious to water.
You open it out, drive the car on to it, and zip it in.
Inside are cannisters of dessicant that absorb the moisture, and also a little digital hydrometer so you can see the humidity inside.
Cannisters of dessicant can be regenerated by baking in your cookers oven.
Seems to have the advantage that as it competely encapsulates the car, even from underneah, and its completely waterproof ( and so has the dessicant) that fit isnt such a problem - bad fits seems to leave puddles on covers thateventually leak through to the car underneath.
It costs about £350 which is about the same as a Covercraft or other top brand cover.
Looks quite a good idea - has anyone got any experience ???
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I bought one for my SLK - I stored it for 3 years mainly to protect from mice. I took it out 3 times in this time and on returning it last week the zip failed. It's probably been opened 6 times in total. I emailed the company and have followed up a number of times - not a single reply. Good idea and works well in use, but it's a £685 investment and neither the quaity nor the service justify this.
My Volvo XC90 has a nasty habit of using up expensive 18inch Continental Contacts,the first set lasted 15k and the second are now getting close at 30k with one n/s rear distinctly dodgy and wearing all on the outside.Last set fitted by Volvo dealer, now closed and nearest 20miles. Dealer claimed tyres needed 4x4 balance cost £180 thank you very much, chap who did it told me "it can be out again in a few miles".What is the best way to prolong life of these tyres which are £150 ago? Specialist fit,tracking, rotation of wheels? Any thoughts? Thanks
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Thanks for advice. XC90 is AWD, not 4wd, so only cuts in when needed rather than constant. 4 wheel alignment done at Volvo dealer, I took the new tyres in cos they are a complete rip off for rubber. As my local dealership has now closed I need to find a tyre set up specialist here. Talked to another Volvo driver who was getting around 20k per set, so driving style is probably a factor, wifes car she has a more aggressive driving style than me.
Browse
I was also unlucky when I got my derv.
It was a 03 octavia 19tdi alh engine. Had 23k miles.
but found on cold starts that it was reluctent to start, and coff'ed/lumpyed up to running ok, with lots of blue and white smoke.
turned out that th hg was naf, gasses were getting into the header, and smoke coming out of it if cold started with cap off.
but, there was more.....
It had the original cambelt, so i got that changed due to age. note the smoke/starting issue was there prior to change.
The original belt was still pressent and showing signs of age.
now back to the hg, I took it in to be done, and had it skimmed, and valve guides needed changing too and 2 followers(oil filled) fell apart.
was noted that the piston tops were scuffed and damaged and 3 conrod were assumed bent as the tops did not go as high as the 1 did. no idea how or what happened there, i moved it on once hg was done, too costly to carry on, it had some chequered history that car did.