August 2008

allysina

I have a Tino, the display has now started to show 'service required, vehicle service is now due'

how do i get rid of it? or can it only be removed by a garage? Read more

charlie1967

Turn radio off. press and hold INFO button and spin the volume control. you will then have 2 options on the screen, highlight the bottom one ( cant remember what it says) press enter. select SERVICE. Then select RESET and press enter. you can also alter the time to service on this screen, When you have completed the above press BACK several times to get back to the 1st screen. hope this helps.

Thanks! Been bugging me for two months since I bought the car. Worked a treat. I love you!

gordonbennet

The morals police don't need to get upset, this is theoretical.

We are aware that many owners of performance petrol cars buy themselves aftermarket freer flowing exhausts, often with a straight thru piece of pipe where there should be a cat, and only fitting the cat for MOT tests.
I don't condone this, but it does go on, and i can understand why its being done.

Now in my ignorance i am assuming that the large cat like bulge in the downpipe of the exhaust system of a modern DPF equipped diesel car is in fact the DPF.
If its not tell me i'm a berk, everyone else does...;)

If thats not the case, and its a diesel cat, where is the dpf situated?

Whats to stop someone doing the same with their diesel exhaust and fitting a by pass pipe eliminating the DPF?
Would it in fact be beneficial to the overall running of the car.
I'm asking as posters constantly refer to modern diesels needing to be regularly driven long distances to keep the dashed thing clear, is this really the case?

Are there any other more reasonable preventative measures we can take to help prolong the life of these emission systems?
Read more

Screwloose

when the aftermarket tuning lads find better ways to fool the ECU.


It would be a piece of cake for the VMs to add the differential pressure sensor to the security CAN network. [Yes; I know that's a tautology...]
pullgees

Is there a reason why tax discs are different colours? I thought it might have something to do with spotting expired discs but not sure. Read more

Pugugly

Into cover with slightly dirty plastic front.

Then drive through a covert ANPR camera and get arrested !

mfarrow

Engine code Y17DTL

Yesterday, car suddenly lost what grunt it had and is now quite hesitant/underpowered and sometimes gives out a lot of grey smoke.

I tried to invoke the EML, which I succeeded only at 3500 rpm. I don't know what it says yet as the scanner is in the car but the software's at home! Only a cheap code reader one so don't get too excited yet about live data.

It barely made 70mph on the dual carriageway with my foot flat to the floor.

I can hear the turbo winding down when turning off and no whining noises presented from it previously. The car idles fine with no cutting out or mis-fire.

My initial guess is EGR, with what looks like a vacuum-operated valve connected via a solenoid. Problem is it's all hard-plumbed into the turbo tract so I can't easily block off the pipe from the exhaust manifold.

Any suggestions much appreciated. Read more

mfarrow

GF's neighbour's cats have all been inherited by them, so I don't think it's that.

It's white (now black) cotton-like fluff which came out in clumps at first so I assumed was part of the cat, but then I saw it stuck to the face of the monolith. Odd.

mattbod

Just want to know if this system is fit for high miliage if well maintained. I know it has to run on special oil but can it run on a normal grade in an emergency or must I always mke sure I have 505.01 in the car? Why does the oil have to be 505.01 and not any 5w 40 synthetic motor oil? I can get the oil at the dealer or Halfords but it is expensive. Luckily mine uses hardly any between services as it was run in following the hj guidelines and gets taken to the limiter once a week( once fully warmed) to blow all the crap out. Read more

Pugugly

If its the same as the Roomie if you look at the data sticker in the Manual or in the Spare wheel well, you'll see a load of codes, one of these codes relates to the DPF. The manual will help you de-code it.

Sheltie508

Have seen a 2006 Avensis tourer t180 with 38k on the clock for £10795 and wondered if any thought this was a good buy. Haven't asked about Part ex value of my 2002 Mazda 6 estate at that dealer yet but was offered 3k at another supermarket and want to get rid of it due to rust issues.

{subject header made less vague.} Read more

apm

We bought an 04 plate T4 1.8 hatch a few months ago, and are thoroughly delighted by it. Not the most exciting vehicle, but as has been said very well screwed together. Even with the petrol engine, it does about 36-38mpg on local journeys, 40+ on longer trips. We too looked at the Mazda 6, but actually preferred the look of the Avensis (perhaps we're strange...).

All round, a thoroughly splendid vehicle. Particularly attractive as the depreciation makes them rather good value.

Hope this helps & good luck finding your car,

Alex.

skorpio

Apart from maybe filtering out sunlight, what is the point of privacy glass?

To me it makes a car look odd when the windscreen and side windows have normal glass and the rest of the car has dark windows. It must cost more too.

Its mostly people carriers and exec 4x4's that seem to have it fitted but those I've seen recently only had two people in them, a driver and front seat passenger who were clearly visible so no privacy for them!

If they were carrying kids in the back, why would they require 'privacy'?

Anyone? Read more

L'escargot

I rather fancy privacy glass which has a coloured reflective outer coating, like you can get with sunglasses. I've always wanted to be a bit of a flash git!

Natty Bumppo

Some of you may remember back in May I reported 3 faulty window mechanisms in 18 months in my 04 Megane. Guess what. Last Friday, 15th August, open the FNS window and it refuses to then go back up. Off to Renault Main Dealer. 'Its the window regulator sir' I'm told. That's OK then. It was last replaced in April this year and as your invoice states 'All vehicle repairs and parts guaranteed 12 months' then it will be done FOC.
No such luck. Renault UK Customer Service (now there's a misnomer) stick their oar in and require from me a contributory payment. No threat was actually made but by implication I might not have got my car returned. I was also informed that the 12 month guarantee was only applicable if a contributory payment had been made.
I was in effect forced to pay over £30. I described it as blackmail.
Anyone want to buy an 04 Megane? Trouble is it will cost at least £600 per year just to have windows that operate.

Read more

The Melting Snowman

Three down, only one to go then.

jag

currently run a bora 1.9pd 100hp. due to change in the next 6mths. will likely stick with vw diesel so what are the pros and cons of 1.9 v 2.0 . am i better to get the 1.9 and lightly chip it or get a 2.0. for the extra power or stick with the bog standard 1.9 and go slower ? jag. Read more

Avant

They clearly do vary don't they!

Mine will be a year old on Friday (i.e. a year since delivery) - only 21,000 miles but average 48 mpg (usually 52-53 on a long run), no engine problems (or any others) so far, touch wood, and front tyres still have 4 mm on them.

chipfork

Has anyone else experienced a similar problem and found anyone of help at the DVLA.

The other day a DVLA van clamped my car whilst they called for a tow truck, guy said the car was showing as untaxed. On noticing that it did appear to have a valid tax disc he removed the clamp and advised I move it before the truck arrived and then ring the DVLA.

Phoned the DVLA, what a helpful bunch of people, I explained that I had personally bought the tax through one of their post office agents three months before, had been given a receipt at the time and could supply the name of the PO and the disc number. However that was of no interest, their stance is that the car isn't taxed, therefore I should buy a new tax disc, not at a post office, it would have to be at a DVLA office. In addition if I asked nicely and filled out some forms they'd take the disc that I'd paid £400 for and investigate further.

I phoned the PO and they were very helpful, they tracked the disc to their paperwork and provided a DVLA transaction number that they only get when the disc is scanned and the transaction is complete. In their opinion it's a DVLA problem as the transaction has gone through. So phoned back the DVLA and got the same spiel, eventually though I got transferred to someone who seemingly wanted to help. I explained that imho I'd done all I could from my end and that the onus should be with the DVLA to resolve the problem. He seemed to accept that and gave me a fax number for their investigations team. So faxed all the information I could gather and a week or so later, nothing.

When I ring up I get the runaround, passed from one clueless jobsworth to another and I'm at a loss as how to get this resolved. I'm still driving the car, I'd be lost without it, needless to say I'm concerned that the cameras or the police aren't going being very interested in my excuse. Read more

DP

I was told that I'd be prosecuted for taxing my car a day late a couple of years ago - a simple oversight on my part.

I paid it no attention at all, and never heard any more. It's a scare tactic, and typical of the "soft target" culture that emanates from the authorities these days. Hassle people who slip by a day (and gain nothing as a result), and do nothing about the difficult-to-trace hardcore who drive unregistered, untaxed, uninsured and unMOT'd every day of the week.

Jobsworth muppetry of the highest order, and not worth any fretting at all.

Cheers
DP