June 2008
Here's a bit of a positive note for a change.
I've been buying new cars on and off since about 1984. Lately, I've been pleasantly surprised by the longevity of the original exhaust sytem. The system on our 5 year old Jazz is still looking as good as new and the system on my 3 year old Panda is still fine. Not as impressed by the silencer on my daughter's Panda 1,1 active which, after 2 years and 27,000 miles is corroding along one of its seams.
However, past experience has been of silencers failing on new cars on a regular basis after 2-3 years. Never any point in treating it as a warranty claim, the best they ever offered was to go halves but as they charged twice as much as the fast fit places there was no point.
Are the exhaust sytems tougher? Are cleaner exhaust gases exposing the exhaust sytem to less corrosive gases? Or am I just imaging it all? Read more
My xantia is using to much fuel, i had it on a cit diagnostic tool and came up with code no 31- this has about ten items which could be the fault- from ignition system to wiring to air filter and spark plugs (which I have changed recently- so these are ok). one of the other options was lambda sensor.
The car drives absolutely fine, the last mot shows emissions fine- however the garage think based on the list of potential items on code 31 and the fact the car drives perfect the most likely fault item is the lambda sensor, does anyone have any experience or ideas regarding this code or lambda sensor theory?
Btw the engine management light use to take four seconds to go off when the engine was started and use to remain off. Now the error code has been removed the light goes off immediately- this may or may not be relevant.
All help appreciated
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Hi all, I have Citroen Xantia 2000 and I need to read fault codes, clear check engine light etc. What tool and software should I use? It has Bosch Mp5.2.
Thanks in advance.
The Old School, indirect injection, noise, SMOKE and vibration Diesel.
Every year its struggled with the smoke test, either needing to go out again for a redline thrashing, ( despite an hours worth the night before) or as last year getting through on a few decimal points.
This cars is SWMBO`s community work vehicle and never gets over 2,000 revs. Also we never go anywhere in it, its just for work and the City nearby.
Every year, pre MOT, I have to thrash it up and down the local motorway sliproads in third to the limiter. It more or less blacks out the motorway on the first run, you can do this 8 times before it diminishes but its still there.
Last, night I anticipated the same in preparation for todays MOT, but not so. To my amazement, there was a greyish black HAZE on the first full throttle third gear, to the limiter run, but after that almost nothing to be seen.
Put it in for MOT this AM and it was massively under the max smoke limit.
Questioning SWMBO, she has switched garages last year, now filling up with a different fuel near her work instead of the well known (also) major fuel brand (normal derv, not extra priced) we have have used for years.
That`s a real shocker as I don`t believe in any of this, or fuel additives but that`s the only variable from previous years. It goes without saying given my beliefs, fuel additives have never been used.
Now, I should say that the Local Authority MOT testers, have always stamped on the pedal on the smoke test. This year a local garage did the test and there`s always the thought that they may apply the smoke test properly, rather than flooring the throttle in a stamping motion.
But really all the evidence was there last night, smoke massivly reduced. Now much as I don`t believe it, different fuel and its effects over the last few Months can be the only reason....
Any thoughts or similar experiences? Read more
Its Total. Its been literally years on another fuel, but switched to a Total garage, exclusively, (post MOT) last year.
Why? Well the Total garage is `on the patch` for SWMBO who, for the first time in years started to refuel her own car, rather than me taking it up to the other brand garage near home.
my car has just had a new mot three months ago and i had new brake pads fitted.i have not got any handbrake at all and the garage tells me i have to have new disc,s .
i have also been told i can just ajust the handbrake cable.is this true as i am a one parent and money is tight HELP please Read more
Disk brakes *at the rear* is that what you mean, or are they drums?
If discs , rear disks can corrode, much worse than fronts and need replacing. Best bet if you`re wanting to learn more to save money, is to see if Haynes make a manual for the car.
You can search for `Haynes manuals` on the web or visit Halfords where they are sold.
Best thing about that is that there are diagrams (sorry if you already know;) and sometimes a picture or diagram is better than words.
That`s the cheapest, `investing in knowledge for the future` way out.
If you let the garage get on with it, worth remembering that the MOT only meant it was ok at that particular time. Why not just get a second opinion on garage repair cost?
With respect, I think its risky to give and partake of brake advice if you need to ask such basic questions.
Good luck with getting it fixed
I'm planning holidays in Edinburgh with my Mrs and she wants us to hire a car even though I've no problem with driving my Mazda 323 TD to and from Edinburgh. I'm looking for a small hatch (Focus Astra size) diesel but all the websites I've visited seem to offer only petrol cars or at least this is what they've advertised!
I've never hired a car on my own so would really appreciate any advise possible.
Thanks a lot. Read more
I have always found what appear to be unbeatable prices thru ???.travelsupermarket.com. I can hire a Hertz car thru them for less than Hertz themselves charge, usually!
This is a general question for all vehicles, not just my own.
I have replacement discs all round my car, the merc above, when i wash my car within half an hour the discs have turned reddish brown with a coating of rust, the originals took much longer i'm sure.
I wash the hilux (on originals) at the same time, that can stand for 2 or 3 days after washing, no rust on the discs.
There's nothing wrong with these replacement discs, the stopping power of the car is phenominal.
So why the quick rusting?
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I fitted new discs to my W126: £148 from MB (before the discount I normally get) and £87 from Euro Car Parts. Knowing that the ECP product was OEM quality anyway (ATE -- probably the same manufacturer), I opted for them. No problems.
It's always worth checking prices. Sometimes the MB price is close to the best-quality price from ECP or GSF. On exhausts, I favour MB, although with good brands such as Eberspächer and HJS from the other sources I doubt that there is much to worry about, although you do see people claiming that the quality is distinctly inferior, OEM category or not.
Just in case it helps others, here's a note from the ECP site:
"If you have more than one part number showing on the search results page - check the first 8 digits, if they are identical in more than 1 of the parts showing, the difference between them is their make. For example: 332456780, 332456781 and 332456785 are all water pumps for a Saab except '0' indicates 'Original Equipment Manufacture', '1' indicates 'Alternative Quality Brand' and '5' indicates 'Genuine Part'."
"Driver 'double-parks' in supermarket car park"
"A driver caused panic in a busy supermarket car park on Monday when he lost control of his vehicle and ended up parked on top of another car"
Honda Civic automatic.
From "The Daily Telegraph": tinyurl.com/5g2yrh
Sounds faintly unlikely! Read more
The picture on the right of the linked page is somewhat more shocking!
BIG
Just a note for your diaries boys and girls.
This weekend is the 'classic' truck show at the heritage centre Gaydon (jct 12 M40).
There will be hundreds of old time trucks and not a few of their old time drivers on display.
Sunday is probably the best day as many arrive during the Saturday.
Its for old trucks and commercials, none of that new tat anywhere to be seen.
Its also worth having a look around the museum whilst you're there, and there will be no doubt various model exhibitions and enthusiasts doing their thing, inside the exhibition rooms.
I assume it may stop raining at some point over the weekend with luck.
I shall be dragging SWMBO along kicking and screaming, and will bore her to death as usual. Read more
But you can't snooze on a ticket ! Sofas on the other hand will still be there next week !
i have a fault with my 806 petrol its a 2.0l .ive been told i have a fuel filter but i cant find it strange i know can anyone tell me were it is its the sl model 1997. and what type of filter it is as i keep losing power Read more
many thanks hope it does
Sorry guys, I have got to have a rant. I?m quite attached to my 98 Pug 406 2.1td on 192m and believe I treat it with mechanical sympathy.
I took it for an MOT first thing this morning, same place as always and believe they give it a good look over. On the emissions test normally 2 or 3 increase in revs, not foot to the floor and it passes ok. This after checking engine hot, oil level and asking me when belt last changed.
But not this morning, some ------, who turns out to be a rep for I believe --- their equipment supplier is lucky to still be alive.
Straight after driving into the workshop before I noticed what was going on he had put the exhaust gas probe in and foot flat to the floor for 2-3 seconds, I thought the thing was going to take off. Suffice to say he could tell I was not pleased.
This was not even for the emissions test, just to demonstrate a new bit of kit that apparently they have to buy for next year when the emissions test will be linked directly to the computer and measured on only one increase in revs.
Ok I feel a bit better now, and the car passed again.
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The author censored the word himself by using $*& type characters. Had I followed forum policy on swearing to the letter I could have just gone ahead and deleted it instead of just changing it to pfd.
Back on topic now please. DD.
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Just replaced the original exhaust on SWMBOs Honda CRV - 1999 model, 98,000 miles. Her typical drive is 15 miles each way.
Mates Astra - new exhaust at 34,000 miles and 4 years old - similar kind of trips
Dad's Golf - W reg, 30,000 miles - exhaust is like new (mind you, so is the rest of his car!)