July 2008
I have an electrical warning light that sometimes comes on and the computer says it`s an exhaust valve sensor. Does this sound right? Is it easy enough to remedy? And how much do you think the part would be to replace? Read more
Problems with car overheating, found that fans are not kicking in, have run a drect supply to them and they work, tested sensors in boiling water, they are ok, suspect the relays could be at fault but not able to find them, any idea,s ? Read more
Ok thanks mate, there is a box between the 2 fans i couldnt open, ill drill out the screws and take a look
I bought my 130PS Sport Estate last autumn with 41K on the clock. Earlier this year, it lost power a total of four times, twice on the same hill and then twice on the same stretch of dual carriageway, accelerating out of a roundabout, all after about 40 minutes to an hour of driving . In every case, I had a warning "beep" and the instrument panel showed "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP!" The problem persisted for about 24 hours, but then cleared itself.
After the fourth event, I took it back to the dealer, who replaced a valve on the turbo under the extended warranty. A week or two later, the problem recurred and the car is now back with the dealer again, who is trying to recreate the fault, presumably by driving it around. I have read suggestions of an air mass meter fault, or a turbo variable vane problem. Any more thoughts or suggestions out there, please?
Read more
I'd take a stab at 17965 - overboost. The coked vanes are very common - cleaning does work and is a far better option than a re-con turbo - but a brand-new dealer's turbo, for nowt, is even better.
Use good fuel and drive it hard; then it might take longer to clog again.
Can anyone tell me if replacing rear tca bushings on this model is a diy job.
Can bushings be removed manually or do I need to get them pressed out and in?
I know there is a tool to do the job without removing arm from the car, but my budget wont allow im afraid.
Any advice most appreciated. Read more
Recommendations on a fuel frugal semi-auto, focus sized (5 door)
BMW 118/120 seems expensive. Read more
Citroen C4 HDI EGS or Focus TDCI Powershift are worth looking into - should be cheaper than a Golf DSG.
A friend's car has been hit while parked and the insurance wants to write it off. It is a red 1994 Golf III auto, in what I would describe as average condition. They have been offered £750 for it.
Is this a decent offer? Sounded like it to me, but I'm hopeless at that sort of thing.
The owners are Iraqis and I don't think they could cope with buying it back for peanuts and shepherding it through the body shop. Indeed not having seen the wreckage I don't even know whether that is a worthwhile option. The car was idling too fast and drinking petrol before the incident, and the local garage they were using in Richmond was obviously pretty hopeless having failed to deal with that or even mention it. So many garages are such incredible sluts I don't believe it sometimes. Read more
Thanks chaps. I think it is safe to regard this as a quorum. I have passed on the word (including onb's blue oval suggestion).
Girlfriend and I have a 98 VW 1.9 TDI Passat Estate which until a recent road trip holiday was working perfectly (despite the 150,000 miles on the clock). During the last few weeks of this 4,000 mile driving holiday the car developed a problem with a pretty severe, but intermittent lack of power when on a motorway doing 60~70mph or when the engine is under load (such as going up a hill or accelerating to overtake). At first this happened very rarely but by the time we got home from our holiday a few weeks later was happening pretty much every day. This problem (or similar) seems very well documented on the web, and from what I've read it would seem there is potentially an issue with the MAF as when I turn the engine off and on again it operates normally again with no power issues.
As the amount of car knowledge my girlfriend and I have (especially TDI) could fit on a pin head we really are not in a position to try and fix this ourselves. I was going to just take the car into a VW dealer to see if they could fix it, however their hourly rate is fairly astronomical (plus I've read a LOT of threads where people seem to have gotten fairly poor service from VW dealers) so I was wondering/hoping someone could recommend a VW/TDI specialist in London to take our car too? Read more
Depending on whereabouts in London you are I've used these people before and been very happy (they solved a problem on my car which one VW specialist said would cost 350 pounds for just 50):
Volkspares Ltd
104-104, Newlands Park, London, SE26 5NA
Tel: 020 8778 7766
Hi all
A friend is having trouble with his old mk3 Fiesta - the idle speed is too low so, although it runs okay on the open road, slowing down for junctions etc. requires fancy footwork!
I initially thought the idle control valve would be at fault, however he turned up in it yesterday and it's spluttering and blowing black smoke, which would suggest overfuelling?
I think these ones are injection and ECU controlled, so no carb to fiddle with.
He also reckons the temp gauge barely moved off cold even when stuck in traffic on a day like yesterday - seems odd! Not sure if this is related or a separate problem to investigate!
Thanks in advance chaps...
Read more
Start by checking the air filter, a blocked cat and for the presence of a thermostat.
What engine is this; single-point/multipoint etc.?
Don't try this at home...
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2...l
subject already posted:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=65607
continue discussion there please Read more
Does anyone have any suggestions for a £10k car for weekend fun? I have a Primera GT that i use for Track days, its huge fun, but at 150bhp, its also less powerful than mine and my wifes daily drivers (320d Msport 163bhp & 330d Touring 231bhp). My Rover 216 race car also falls short on the speed front even though its perfect for a budget championship.
I'd like to get a sports saloon in a few months, and the E39 M5 and C32 AMG Kompressor (both circa 2001) seems to be the best bets.
The M5 appears to have some very expensive inherent issues if you buy a lemon, I havent read so much on the Merc, but it appears to loose nothing in perfomance to the BMW. I'm not bothered about Auto or Manual boxes.
The 3rd option was the Audi RS4/RS6. I haven driven a moddified RS4 2.7T V6 (circa 480bhp) from a colleague in Germany, it was certianly a very quick car, but again, i dont know about long term relibility.
I also like the Monaro 5.7V8, seems alot of car for your money, and a few are starting to break close to £10k now, but i'm worried that the lack of ESP may make it a bit of a handful on wet/greasy roads, and wouldn't feel happy about my wife driving it in those conditions (She is only used to driving a FWD hard on Track days).
Any other ideas, comments or suggestions?
Neil Read more
boxsterboy, thats very true, and I have considered both the Elise, and older Elan 1.6 Turbo as both are light enough for my trailer so I could take to track days further afield, however, I want something that will also cruise the motorways/Autobahns in comfort as I make 5-6 trips a year to Germany to see relatives, and an Elise just doesn't appeal there.
I guess my criteria includes a big 6 / 8 cylinder engine with over 300bhp too :-)
Browse
How does he know what to replace and £160 is a lot to spend on something that may only need a clean?