June 2008
Hello
I recently had my old Mk1 Fiesta tuned and it's running much smoother now - the ignition was very retarded and emissions were borderline apparently. However, I'm getting some mild pinking under acceleration and was wondering what is the best way to solve it. Do I get the ignition timing tweaked (as it's a late mk1 it's got electronic ignition) or shall I switch to super unleaded or an additive?
I don't use the car much so I'm not that worried about the extra cost of changing the fuel or using additive. I'd rather pay the extra than potentially knacker the engine long term!
Any thoughts/opinions greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Rob Read more
OK, I've had my Citroen C8 for 5 months now and overall I'm really pleased.
There are a few niggles, such as the storage compartments - although there are a multitude of them, they are all really odd shapes and can't fit anything regular in them (CD's for instance!)
But, my clever (I had other words at the time) son decided it would be fun to fiddle with the built in sunblind on the Sliding door. We didn't realise it had slipped off the clip at the top of the window until we opened the door from the outside.
There was a noisy ripping sound as the door slid back and the sunblind fabric was completely ripped by the opening door as the top of the blind caught in the rear of the car.
I was surprisingly calm about it (having kids seems to develop the count to 10 management skills).
So, I thought to myself - well Sunblind £10 from Mothercare - fitted on in the car maybe £50
I called Citroen......wait for it......£150 inc VAT plus fitting (Labour charge = £40).
I almost fell off my seat. I think I'm going to call Dom and not get Done!
Anyone else had experience with ripoff parts for their cars? Read more
The worst offenders are hoses for the cooling or intake systems. They're almost always dealer only, and often such a specific shape that you'd never find anything suitable elsewhere.
I've known people pay over £100 for hoses of 2-3 ft in length before.
I placed an order for an Audi A5 3.0 TDi on April 1st. My deealer quoted a delivery time of 10-12 weeks, meaning mid to late June delivery. It is now late June and no car has arrived. I have obtained information that my car is due for manufacture on week 47 (November) and I will not receive this car until early next year now.
I spoke with Audi customer services and they informed me that if there is a delay it is the dealers responsibility to keep the buyer motoring by offering a courtesy car. My existing car is currently for sale and should be sold in a week or so. I then informed the dealer of this and they said that if they had to provide courtesy cars for all the people they have delayed then that would be about 40 cars. I explained I am only worried about myself and my situation. I also asked the sales person when the cars they are delivering now to customers were ordered. He stated January (5 months ago). Audi customer services have logged the case but cannot make the dealer provide me with a courtesy car. I am of the opinion the sales person did lie when making the sale and that there was a longer waiting list than which he stated. Waht I would like to know is the following.
Does anyone else have problems with A5 delivery?
Can I force my dealer to provide a courtesy car based on the fact I have probably signed for a car based on un-realistic delivery dates?
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My A5 was built last week and is sitting in the dock waiting to be shipped over. Been told it will be a maximum of 10 days but could be as quick as 3 !!!! I hope it was worth the wait.
Hi All,
I have a Ford Focus 1.6 Yreg and only recently some probs have started surfacing. First my driver side electric window stopped working and now remains closed at all times, the the speedo started dropping to zero whilst driving (when this happens it seems power is restricted to the stereo because the volume drops until the speedo shoots back up to the actual speed i'm moving) and then the traction control light started coming on ramdomly even when not skidding (it can stay on for a hour or so and then turn off randomly) and NOW, last night, my ENGINE LIGHT came on!!
The car seems to be running fine and I've topped up all the fluids etc.
Do you think that its a problem or another electrical blip ??
Really don't want to fork out for a full on checkover if it just a little wiring issue.
Thanks!
{moves to Technical Matters} Read more
Engine light should be read at dealer or competent garage.
Speedo dropping is failure of speed sender on gearbox. It changes the stereo volume because it's designed to get louder as you drive faster to counteract road noise.
Window could be failing wiring/switch/motor; get it looked at if you're no good with a multimeter.
tinyurl.com/4l5m26
There has, for some years now, been evidence that using hands free phones while driving is almost as dangerous as using ordinary mobile telephones.
If the government takes action now, when it failed to do so before, it will be an indication that it reacts to high profile incidents, rather than to evidence and reasoned discussion.
So will this result in
a) no change
b) an outright ban on making and receiving phone calls whilst driving
c) manufacturers ceasing to provide factory fitted hands free phone equipment in cars Read more
I really wish they would behave better but you know what they are like wotspur ! My problem in reality is that I am a freelance "one man band" business and act on behalf of various mainly non UK based companies. Despite my fantasy of training them to call direct they, naturally enough I suppose, want to call their UK contact. I have, however, perfected the art of imitating Norman Collier if I really don't want to speak to someone at that moment !
Cars receive `care` via rigid schedules, laid down by manufacturers. At the dawn of the Motor Trade, over 100 years ago this approach would not have seemed out of place in certain aspects of societies attitudes to the poor and vulnerable. Time moved on, but the Motor Trade seemingly stayed fixed in its rigidity of `care` of its products, while Human care became more `needs` focussed.
Let me try to explain my view, by contrasting a Human care plan.
If you were writing a clients needs assessment for social and medical care, need would be assessed and re-assessed regularly.
For Example, while receiving multi agency care at home, as an outcome, constant re-assessment would mean that the discoloured mark on a clients foot would be noticed and they would not remain sitting there being fed `meals on wheels` while their foot deteriorated with gangrene. The vulnerability would have been assessed, monitored and interventions attempted.
Now, I`m prompted to write this topic following the recent thread on rusty sumps on cars serviced by the trade. Pretty simple really for a Garage to do something about it, rather than just looking at it worsening every year until the owner is notified a new sump is required.
The same with brake pipes, just crying out for a smear of grease from the mechanic who has just serviced the brakes.
Perhaps instead its a certain seam underneath that always rusts on a given model and every one knows about it in the trade, but does nothing. It could get a splash of preventative with a brush, but never does.
It seems to me to demonstrate, what I would once have called `Benign Neglect`. The Garage is not directly harming the car, but is turning a blind eye to its actual `needs`.
How many owners would not pay for an extra few minutes, while on the ramp to have a sump brushed with preservative, lines, the odd seam?
It seems therefore, that you could in modern times, perceive car servicing schedules as encompassing elements of `benign neglect`.
Any thoughts?
oilrag
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One big problem I see with allowing a garage to do unauthorised additional work at their discretion is them knowing where to draw the line as to what they ought to do. Also, some customers might applaud their conscientiousness whilst others would say they had taken liberties and exceeded their remit.
All in all I think it's far better if both customer and garage are clear on what work is to be done. Then there will be none of the arguments and bad feelings that is so often reported on this forum. Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favour of a garage advising a customer that additional work would be beneficial. But I'm adamant that the approval of the customer should be obtained beforehand.
hi i was wondering if any one can help , my 98 td escort is drinking the diesel its doing at last count about 18 mpg , also there is a lack of turbo boost, when i used to put my foot down in second the turbo would kick in at about 2.5 - 3 rpm , but now when i put my foot down all i get is plooms of black smoke in my rear view , could anyone recommend any parts that may need changing, its had new oil, oil filter glow plugs, diesel filter , air filter but its still the same , my friend has the exact same car , his accelerator is more responsive than mine , could it be a timing issue?
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It can't do any harm not opening; as suggested, it must've been stuck open. You didn't try blanking it off then?
i need to update my sat nav in my freinds landcruiser but don't know how .
can anyone help me?
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is the disc stored in the unit?
I've no idea. I was asking if you knew. Generally the maps are stored either on CD/DVD or a media card of some kind. Either way they either need replacing or updating via download.
and do i have to go to toyota to buy the disc?
Again, I've no idea. But take my Vectra-C for example; the official route for a new CD is via a company called Navteq (£105) , but I got a brand new disc off ebay for third of the price.
Best bet is to ask Toyota, or if you know the model number of the sat nav system, to look around the internet/ebay.
I managed to find a particularly deep pothole while on holiday which I think might have been enough to damage a front tyre. The wheel seems OK but I don't want to find a problem with the casing at 80mph on a French autoroute in a few weeks. Is there any way I can check it/ Will my local tyre fitters be able to tell me or should I simply replace it as a safety precaution?
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Have a 1.0 litre corsa with the common problem of light steering to the left.
bought a steering coloum with new motor that is supposed to be ok!.How do you fit the coloum as loosened it all but can't get it out dash frame?.
Thanks Martin Read more
you will have to remove the dashpanel before the steering column
Browse
I'm assuming the mechanic did it for 95RON, but I'll give him a call to see if he can remember.
Thanks,
Rob