July 2008
When I use the powerwasher on my Panda, the right headlight takes about two weeks to clear of water/condensation. I reckon it's a faulty seal.
The thing is, it's under warranty still, but if I take it in for inspection, the dealer will say that it clears itself up.
Is it worth having fixed? Read more
If this is worth more than £50 as scrap I am a monkey?s uncle.
tinyurl.com/6zp4dw
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Pity the car is in silver, not the best colour for an MG Metro. Metallic Blue looked best or the later all-white models. Red or black at a push. I always liked the pepper-pot wheels.
My dad was a Rover dealer in the eighties and I got to drive a lot of these little Metros, even wrapped an MG one round a telegraph post one Sunday morning. I think the MG had about 73hp and was quite brisk to drive compared to the usual supermini fodder of the day. Handled well and had an acceptable ride IIRC.
I drove my grandparents back from Glasgow to Dorset on a freezing December day in a 1.3 HLS metro in 1983, four hundred miles and only four gears.
The later GTi models were a hoot! 105hp 1.4 16v K-series, five speed box and tasty spoked alloys. They were quite refined but totally outclassed by the 205 GTi.
I pick up his car tomorrow and not that that it is advised to lubricate the wiper mechanism which is not part of normal servicing. Where do you find the bits to be done? also this is a convertible and as this is my first one what do I clean the roof with? Anything I should be aware of in other areas? Read more
try the renovo hood cleaning and maintenance products - they are very very good
from vertar.com
also very good supplier
We need to do a quick Blighty run this week from France and we are tempted to use the Dieppe-Newhaven crossing with Transmanche Ferries - seems cheap and convenient.
Only problem is - the return ferry leaves Newhaven at 7am on Saturday and we don't know the area. We'll need a hotel Friday night and I read a railway book backalong by a bloke who grew up in Newhaven and said it was, to put it politely, 'the back of beyond'. So does anyone know if there's somewhere handy for the ferry where we can stay over? A Premier Inn or Travelodge would do, I guess...
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Actually, the more I think about it the more confused I am.
When we loaded from the 'N' word we went through the bow door and out the stern end at Dieppe, as one might expect.
But on the way over we loaded at Dieppe through the stern but had to reverse out - huge trucks and everything.
Maybe it was because we and the trucks were on a high deck so everything had to reverse from the front and go down a ramp to the next deck before driving off.
I was a bit confused at the time - it was 6am and we didn't get on until gone 12.30am - after the scheduled leaving time. Then, an hour later when everyone had settled down in their cabins and were trying to sleep the safety announcement came on the Tannoy! It was a bumpy crossing and at 5am someone came round banging on the cabin doors to wake us up again, an hour before scheduled disembarkation...
I've bought ( for a bargain price I hope ) 2 of my works company cars. One is a 2004 Focus 1.8 TDCi ZETEC and the other is a 2000 Focus 1.8 TDi.
They both have huge mileage ( 250k ish ). The TDi one has had everything rebuilt or replaced ( head, turbo, injectors etc ) everything except the fuel pump.
The other one I'm not sure about.
They have both been diagnosed by Ford as having fuel pump issues. As far as I know they both have similar symptoms: They suddenly lose power andor cut out and sometimes start again after being switched off and sometimes they don't. The heater plug light on the dash also pulsesflashes.
Ford quote a grand or so to supply, fit and code a new pump for the TDCi one. I can buy a cheaper one second hand though and maybe get a local garage to code it ( I'm told there's one near by ). Does the TDi one run a similar fuel pump setup so thus talking similar money to fix?
I want to get them up and running as cheap as poss. obviously and am wondering if it's worth just chucking a new engine in the TDCi one as I can get a 30k miles one for about 500 squid plus fitting.
Any help/advice you can give me would be great as the whole thing is doing my head in!
Thanks in advance
Ste
{moves to correct sub forum} Read more
Ste
Two totally different units there; really nothing to connect the problems at all.
Starting with the TDCi; what exact codes/evidence were found; I've found that many dealers start by changing the pump and then diagnose the real fault from there, so go carefully. Cam sensors fail in droves; has it had the modified one - with the wiring change?
On the TDDi; pump failure is not unknown and is very expensive to fix. Again; what exact codes and what other evidence is there?
ANyone had experience of used car warrantys? ever taken out a warranty on a used car or know of anyone who has?
Considering it in light of a possible purchase.
specifically Warranty Direct who seem to cover absolutely everything including wear and tear
Worth it?
Problems?
ANy reports?
Cheers Read more
Just signed up for a 'Luxury' policy from Warranty Direct. Looks to be as comprehensive an aftermarket warranty as you can buy. I'm paying £25 / month on my (just turned 3) Mondeo TDCi. I understand that this level of cover will be offered at this premium for a further two years (3 in total).
I figure £300/ year buys a significant degree of peace of mind. Had I bought a newish car, in order to get a manufacturers warranty, then my depreciation would have been a lot more than £300 / year.
I walk past an MB large main dealership daily . It's very modern , spacious and filled with scurrying suits .
I always look at their stock, and have noticed all their cars carry finance quotes at 14.7%..
this has been the same rate since at least last year.
Are they real ? Their customers, I'd have thought , are either cash buyers or savvy hard working self - made types who know the cost and value of money to the extent they know 14.7% is a right royal rip - off .
Am I missing something ?
BTW - when I once inquired ( had to call and chase up for it too ) about having my ancient
SL checked up there , was eventually told by a suit their labour rate would be £125 an hour + VAT. Did not bring it in...
Finally, have noticed in the last 3 months or so that their used stock has been cut back, possibly by a third or so . The stock car park was full , now full of space .. Read more
If you think 14.7% is more than you should pay, don't. Would you pay the screen price for the car?
Throuigh surrendering a no-longer-needed insurance policy, I'll soon be lucky enough to have some money to spend on a 'fun car'. I want to put the majority of it aside (I'm a chartered accountant after all!) but about £6k would be a reasonable amount to spend leaving a bit more for insurance (this will be a low-mileage car in addition to the Golf estate, so I'll need a new policy).
It definitely has to be a convertible, and the obvious choice is an MX-5 1.8, about 5-7 years old. I've thought of:
Toyota MR2 - not many around but possible
Honda S2000 - too expensive
MG TF - too much of a gamble
1970 Triumph Vitesse 2 litre - I'd love one but I'm no mechanic and it would cost too much to have someone maintain it
VW Golf convertible - all reecent ones have the rather tame 2.0 non-GTI engine.
So I keep coming back to the MX-5. Am I missing anything?
(Please, no sensible suggestions that this is a bad idea and I should put it all in the bank....)
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I would look for a Saab convertible or the Volvo looks really good but a dealer told me sufers fronm a bit of scuttle shake....whatever that is. I ended up with a Merc Clk convertible and it didn't cost the earth. If 2 seats were the priority then the BMW would take my eye.
Comrades, just bought my first Modeo, 1800 diesek LX R reg 151K on the clock, no service hisory. Runs as weak and as lumpy as a lump thing, and on a 70mph road, is constantly hesitant, I am aware of the petrol/ diesel differece , last 4 cars have been self bought diesels, and cannot believe that I bought such a good looking dog, hence lost my mind. Help, Air filter is not not the worst i havfe ever seen, what do you think hvae I finally done myself ???
All suugeestions welcome from the best foreum in the world
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Smart [high voltage] charging was fitted from '94 onwards on this engine.
Currently looking to buy a car. recent COugar wrote off. Have recently been put off common rail diesels altogether by reports / threads on here and other forums about turbo failures / pump failures / lub issues. THis is an inspiring post.
Recently travelled to Newcastle from N. Ireland to pick up an 03 mondeo tdci ghia x with 95K on it. (ebay purchase) Injectors had recently been replaced. Had a ferry booked from Scotland that evening when it all went horibly wrong putting the car through its paces
Glow light / engine management system was on - lost power - limp home mode - disgusted - ford garage - computer fault read out - looked like whole fuel system needed replacing - metal bits in fuel system - circa £1500
In fairness the guy selling felt a completely awful. He gave me my depoisit back (£100 paid through ebay) and paid for a flight home. Car still mine if I want when it gets fixed. Only 2700 quid to buy in 1st place STill can't work out if he knew all along though.
Anyway, had originally believed the mondy to be a great motor. Warranty direct has it for a great score in its reliability rating. All the mags give glowing reports on reliability. However, I think the key point is that they havn't taken into consideration those cars operating at 80k+ miles. This in my research seems to be the danger zone for fuel systems.
Moved on to looking at Mazda 6 (imagined great reliability through out) BUT lots of fleet managers and posts relating to complete engine failure around the 90k plus end. Engine closely realted to fords (both companies in bed together these days).
I basically have been put off common rail diesels altogether now. However..................
Like alot of people say. Maybe people are just reporting the bad stuff. Maybe they have had issues, attempting looking it up on net and have all found these sites which facilitates their shared experiences in dissing the engines and having a rant?
I would love to see stats for these cars Ford / Mazda / toyota for those models that are still running versus those which have packed up.
At this point, belive it or not , I am considering returning for the car in newcastle once ford sorts it. Im thinking ' hey a brand new fuel system, must be good for another 100k or so. Also considering purchasing a 3 year extended warranty(bashing out a deal) which will cover everthing in case something does go drasticly wrong. Would still be cost effective in my eyes.
So to sum up. WOuld love to here peoples throughts on these issues then
Common rail diesels - Crap after 90k?
WHat percentage fail do you think? - 10? 20%?
I am nuts going back for that motor?
Maybe I should just fork out more cash and buy a lower mileage model for 3 years use then let the next guy handle the big end failures after 90k?
Thanks in advance for responses.
Apologies also for spelling - dont really give a pink fluffy dice when trying to get the general point across.
{Please read the forum policy on swearing. If I have to edit one more post of yours because of it I will simply delete the post instead as it is so much easier. }
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>>Also considering purchasing a 3 year extended warranty(bashing
out a deal) which will cover everthing in case something does go drasticly wrong. Would
still be cost effective in my eyes.
My '05 plate Mondeo TDCi (130) turned 3 years old last Tuesday, with 44K miles on the odometer. I'm planning on keeping it a while, particularly since it has has recently had a new clutch, DMF and gearbox (in an attempt to cure an intermittent resistance engaging 2nd gear when cold). It also had its fuel pump replaced, because it had developed a very slight leak. All this work has been done under the original Ford warranty.
I have taken out a Warranty Direct 'Luxury' policy at £25 / month, which appears to be to all intents and purposes every bit as comprehensive as the Ford one.
Incidentally, the car is running as well, if not better, than it ever has in the 27 months / 34K miles I've had it for. (bought it at 10K miles / 9 months old)
NB, MoT was a PASS with no work, no advisories, and a FastPass on the smoke test.
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A common Panda problem.
A very light misting of condensation within the headlamp that clears by itself is acceptable and the dealer will not be interested.
Heavier condensation where water droplets are seen is due to a faulty seal. I consider that the fault is with the seal on the light unit back panel which is removed to replace the bulbs.
Now, I hope you don't use the pressure washer under the bonnet. No, I'm sure you don't but just clearing that one up as the headlamp seal can't cope with that abuse.
If you have heavy condensation in a headlamp unit it should be dealt with under the initial 2 years Fiat warranty but won't be covered by the 3rd year dealer warranty.
Don't let the dealer fob you off with the Fiat "repair" of drilling huge holes in the back of the headlamp unit. This will only make things worse. Stick to your guns and demand a new unit and your problem will be solved.