June 2008
My 1998 Volvo V70R is fantastic in every respect except one, the standard lowered suspension and ride height is too low and offers hardly any ground clearance when I have only a small load in the car. Can anyone give an opinion on my suggestion of replacing the coil springs and shock absorbers both front and rear for standard V70 type which obviously will not be the lowered "R" design, in trying to achieve a higher ground clearance, or is that too simple an idea to work? I have tried asking both my local Volvo dealer and some suspension components suppliers the same question but they have all been unsure for some reason - I guess it is because they don't want to suggest that I buy parts that they are not sure if, when fitted, will achieve the increase in height that I'm looking for. Can you help ? Read more
i have a 96 delica, 2.8 td exeed. when started it will tick over with no problems, when i drive off it will cut out after about 200yds. it seems to be starved of diesel as it takes quite a bit to restart. this may hapen 2 or 3 times then it will run all day with no problems. Read more
Hi, this is a common problem on the 2.8. it is a seal on the pump, needs replacing, around £300 as stated before.
1.8 TD Focus Estate 51 plate. Never let me down however tonight when returned to car after kids swimming lessons it wouldnt start. The clock went dead, the interior light was flashing like a disco light. The central locking motor was pipping away. Lights on dashboard very faded. Luckily fully covered by Green Flag and they came out. Hooked up battery booster and engine started straight away however when he asked me to check lights and put heater on full blast as soon as turned lights on the engine cut out. His diagnosis was probably new battery needed or worst still a new alternator. The battery reading when tested was flicking inbetween the "green ok" section of the meter and the red to the right side. He said it should just be steady in the "green ok". He said the alternator might be spiking as well. Anyway was towed home. This couldnt have come at a worst time for me financially and would be greatful of any opinions of the cost of the repairs as a rough guide so I know that garages are not going to rip me off as it has happened in the past so a ball part figure would be great. Many thanks in advance. Read more
Many thanks for replies. Turned out to be battery - still had the original in from when made so not bad going for 7 years old. New Varta Silver Calcium battery £72 brought to me and fitted.
I much enjoy browsing this site and can't help noticing the absence of several familiar figures recently: For example, where is Aprilia with his vast technical knowledge, Altea Ego with his sense of humour, what happened to SJB - last thing I heard he went off on a bike tour of France, also Cheddar, with his passion for Mondeos? Where's everyone gone? Just wondering... Read more
I wuz born up on Farley 'ill. I reckon I know that place ;>)
Has anybody ever rejected a car within the first 6 months? Just wondered if anybody has any stories to tell - good or bad.
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I rejected just recently a new XXXXXX XXXXXXX - was delivered to my home and it had been damaged (rear bumper scraped quite badly). The delivery guy said the company knew about it but insisted on the delivery going ahead anyway. I refused to sign for it and phoned up the leasing company to say why. Leasing company not very happy, but as I'd just been on an assertiveness training course, I put my newly acquired skills into practice.
Two weeks later I got a new car (checked the reg was different!)
Hi i have got a vauxhall corsa van, and i am looking at changing the speakers. I wondered if anybody could tell me what size speakers i will need to replace the current ones with, (as i don't want to take it apart just to discover the size of them)!!
It is only a very basic model with a radio cassette, which i am hoping to change to a cd player at the same time!
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I'm going to need to get some sort of credit to buy this car but have had problems with this in the past which is still being sorted (no CCJ's or anything yet, just defaults).
I have enough to cover insurance and the first £1k, should I try to get the extra and then go for a car or wait until I find a car then go for the finance?
Thanks,
Luke.
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Hi Luke -
I note from your other thread that this will be your first car as you have yet to pass your test ?
If I were you I would think hard before rushing into this or any other vehicle unless this would be the only one available for you to train on until you get your license ?
If you do go ahead and buy a car because you absolutely need one, I would secondly advise you not to overstretch yourself financially. If you can cover the insurance and the first £1000 why not buy a £1000 car ? There may not be a lot of choice at this level but it is more than possible to get a good well cared for older car for that money. Less of a worry should anything untoward happen to it maybe ? Up to you but if you still have to resolve some other finance issues maybe you would be wise not to take on too much debt right now.
Your call......just my boring old man's thoughts !
Hi, after a bit of searching and getting nowhere ive decided to ask you guys/girls if you may beable to help me with this problem i have:
Its a Ford Mondeo Mk3 Zetec 1800. I bought it a couple of days ago with no problems but now it has started smoking. It doesnt smoke when you start it up but it does when its being driven, the engine itself has done 76,000, fully serviced. It isnt using oil and there isnt a loss in power. Where the car has been started the path has black soot on it and the smoke is a greyish colour.
Have you any ideas on what it could be? Read more
Hi, thanks for that, will do indeed and report back.
I've seen this ad at work:
Seat ibiza,1.4,5 door,04 plate,black,32000 miles,new manufactors engine
fitted 1000 miles ago,1 previous owner,air con,remote
c.locking,f,fogs,p.a.s,e.windows,6 months mot 4 months tax.£3250
This was not put up by the seller but his friend. The seller says that he didn't check the oil and went onto the motorway and that's why a new engine had to be fitted. He also says it was fitted by a Seat registered engineer. He also said he thought the warranty was about 1 year and it's almost run out, I rang Seat and they said it should be 2 years.
He says he doesn't need it now as he has a company car.
He also sent some photos which had the VRM on, I did a basic text check and it came back with 3 previous owners; I have sent him an email to ask him how many owners there have been cos I didn't ask him when I spoke to him.
This will be my first car (haven't passed yet) so am particularly wary.
What do you think?
Thanks,
Luke.
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Seems the next version is out end of the year and not next month as I originally thought.
Luke.
I have a problem with the emissions light coming on .
It tends to do this when I have stopped the car at traffic lights or at a junction. This then makes the car go really slow and cannot increase speed very quickly.
The car tends to judder alot before the light comes on and the only way to stop it is to rev the car when stationary.
I have took it to several garages, who told me it was a cylinder 2 misfire. This does not seem to be the problem though, as when they 'fixed it', it still happens.
I have now took it to a totally new garage, who say they believe it is the throttle body, but replicating the juddering and the light is proving to be a problem for them! How, im not sure, as it happens every day!
Can someone help, as its driving me nuts!
Thanks Read more
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If you do change anything, as opposed to repair or replace with similar parts, don't forget to tell your insurer. What you do might count as a modification to the standard spec!