September 2008
A month ago I bought a high mileage (210k) 405 LXTD estate. Recently I have noticed that I can taste what must be fumes in the cabin. This seems to be getting stronger. I have changed the oil vapour hose as this was worn and leaking slightly. At the same time I was able to check the other hoses - all seem fine. I have replaced the air filter. There don't seem to be any strange smells from the engine under the bonnet. Opening the windows does not seem to make a difference. Nor does closing/opening the vents. Last week I took the car to the garage for them to look underneath. The engineer checked the exhaust and hoses and concluded they were fine.
Can anyone suggest the source of this, as I'm finding it a bit worrying? Read more
When driving, if I stop or slow down at a junction etc the revs drop and the car stalls.
This also happens when reversing. Some days it is quite random.
Please Help
slt
Read more
Setting-up the idle speed and mixture was a delight on those - and that was when the volume airflow meter was new.
Check for all the usuals; air leaks, blocked breathers etc. but finding a grizzled specialist in L-Jetronics[?] is your best bet.
Just done a brim to brim test on the Focus.
It's a 1.8Tdci, 115bhp, now done 75,000 miles.
The old bus is returning just over 50mpg in day to day driving, 13-mile commute, occasional run down to the caravan in leafy N Yorks, pottering about, etc.
I'm not the world's fastest driver, but rarely get in anyone's way, either.
I reckon 50mpg is pretty good for a car that pulls pretty well if you give it some wellie.
There's a few people on here who are unhappy with their car's fuel consumption.
Are there any others - like me - who are quite pleased with the mileage they are getting? Read more
On my last fill-up I got 24mpg from my Impreza RB320 which amazed me.
This is an experience that is not to be missed.
It starts once you get a few miles West of Dumfries on the A75...
...it is like going back in time.
Bad drivers? Just be ready to give way to anything on the roads around you.
As for when you actually get in to Galloway - this is a whole new driving experience to behold in itself!
Speed minus is a serious understatement - no one is in a hurry to get anywhere.
Wigtown we saw not only double but even triple parking with people just stopping their vehicles (anywhere) to talk to people and even on on A roads as they pass each other, with little or no consideration for anything or one else around - they pull up, park, turn, pull out in front of you, u turn (even tractors....) with no form or warning or use of indicators and in 7 days, 7 whole days we saw one solitary police man, in his little Skoda car - and he was directing traffic in and around the meat market at Newton Stewart!
Throwing car doors open is a real speciality though - watch for this one!
B class roads are so pot holed the only vehicle that can safely use them are tractors - and if you think Cornwall/Wales/Norfolk or anywhere else for that matter was bad for farm vehicles - most people with access to these vehicles - use such as every day vehicles and we even saw 1 x JCB fastrack parked up in Morissons in Stranraer!
It is a lovely part if the UK to visit though and the people, heavens knows how some have a drivers licence mind you - are absolutely warming as welcoming as could be. Read more
Used to use that road a lot to and from the Belfast ferry. Rare to see a cop car but watch out around Castle Douglas. I was once "making good progress" in convoy with an R32 Golf and a Sierra Cosworth on my way home from an Irish trip very late at night and was overtaken ( eventually ;-).....) by the Cosworth. Glad he did that because about 5 miles later I passed him stopped in a lay by having a chat with the local traffic cops..........
Whistles innocently and tunelessly and drives by at 59.9 mph.............
We were looking at a fleet of Harley`s outside `Hill 60`. Very nice too. Gleaming paint and chrome. Big old lads heaving into the saddles, bellies protruding and `love handles` extruding to the rear.
At least the `old` lasses had made an effort and there was just a hint of the nymph of 40 years ago.
I admired it really. The ability to soak up a tarmac back flop without a full (glass) skeletal shattering on impact and 10 months in a full body plaster cast.
To bike or not to bike again. That is the question... maybe not...too thin these days, almost lizard like.
Hill 60.
Hot coffee. Shell cases. Death 90 years on.
How do you preserve it? erosion, original tree trunk with bullet holes. shell cases and radial engine with coroded alloy pistons, preserved push rod tubes. Tree at the end of trench line and unblemished farmers field after that.
Leper,
Museum, unbelievable.. artifacts for sale. Bayonets 100 Euros. Shell cap only 15...
Walking away and thinking of some of the poets on tourism. Foreseen.
High Wood, Albert - gold spire. `The old front line` and the trap of a single track road leading towards Thiepval from Albert- ending in a crossroads of 4 roads with a crucifix on a cross at the edge of a wood.
A mile long, tarmac at both ends, ultra narrow, no chance of turning, going from tarmac to crushed rock and then rough, sharp flint.. A few hundred yards of that and then back onto crushed rock and finally onto tarmac at the other end. No signs at either end. a perfect flint, tyre ripping trap for anyone new to the area.
Part 2,
The Search for the next handbag.
Eventually captured in the place opposite Europa.. or something like that. A blur..
Nautica,
Big fish circling above, in a cone, under an artificial sun... The inverse pyramid of reality- circulating with the flow. Later in a photograph one is seen to be purposefully upside down. looking down into the depths perhaps wondering..
misc,
Lodgings, Calais - Kyriad. flank speed. 64 mpg. Small single engine plane at twilight, heading out over the coast towards England. A helicopter caught up and then followed it about one plane length behind and just above. Suspicious? or what?
The Machinery,
Better than expected. A relatively normal performance envelope was sustained for a week with no hint of further care or emergency surgical interventions.
In Yorkshire, (returned 3 hours) the mind probes the continent for further adventures.. perhaps further afield? Next time...
oilrag
The Fiat? Need you ask? Flawless ;)
Read more
Maybe it had a chip on its shoulder........
Hi I have a 53 reg focus 1.8 tdci estate car has been fine up until a few weeks ago when it seems like the power is a bit flat when accelerating and then other times it seems to go like the clappers. weather or not the starting problem is related I am not sure.
the starting problem is when you start the car the car judders violently and has trouble trying to fire up and will take approx 10-15 seconds before she will actually fire up.
I have noticed if you turn the ignition on for a 15 seconds or so the starting is not as bad, but still judders
it has been suggested by a friend it could be a software problem and the fuel not getting enough pressue from the pump? no idea
any ideas or help would be greatly received.
regards jedibike Read more
if this is only happening on a cold engine it sounds like a glow plug problem
Given that most of us are on this site because we are especially interested in cars or driving in general, and prompted / bullied into posting this by a friend who is not quite the full shilling and who would possibly turn awkward if I don't. ( Sorry Albert but you know to take the medication now don't you ? ) :-)
I dropped something onto another thread about a daft ambition I have which is to drive a TWR XJS down the Pacific seaboard of the American continent. As I mentioned there I can't really say why but it has been festering for years and I suppose I shall have to do it or something similar eventually.....
Anyone else got a "driving ambition" ? Read more
I've always wanted to drive L.E.J.O.G, the vehicle TBC
;o)
Mrs P's GTi will be due for a service in a couple of months - Having been disappointed with the supplying dealer's abysmal service we may do it whilst we're up in Wales. Located three dealers in the area where we'll be staying (near Llanberis)
1. Slaters in Abergele (Good experience at the Skoda side of things there)
2. Pentraeth Automotive on Anglesey
3. Regent Garage in Criccieth
Any local knowledge out there ?
We're not going to the Chester VW site. Read more
Or even booking the Skoda in while wearing it. "There's lovely boyo" ! "You'll be from England then I expect ? "
I have just bought a 3 year old Mondeo from a dealer in Southampton, with 30K on the clock. I found the car on the internet and went to view and purchase the car yesterday. When I originally phoned about the car, I asked if there was a full service history and I was told there was. I did a visual check of the car and went for a test drive. Everything seemed OK. I asked about the Service Book and was told it was in the glove compartment. I didn't check. I paid for the car and drove away.
I couldn't check the car in detail after I got home yesterday, as I had to go out. I used my wife's car as I cannot tax the car I bought until Monday (It was originally resistered in Northern Ireland, and I live in England).
This morning, I checked the car in more detail, including the Service Book. It had one service recorded in it - the one the dealer said had been done as part of their package when selling a used car. The car was a proper Ford Service Book, but there was no history of any other service.
I called some Ford dealers in Belfast, and located the one which had serviced the car last. The dealer said that the car had been serviced in December 2007, and a few parts replaced under warranty. The service was carried out at 20K miles. However, they then went on to say that the first service at 12.5K was missed. Any defects as a result of missing this service would not be covered by Ford. Presumably, this is not a problem as the warranty is 3 years, and the car is just over 3 years old.
I am annoyed I didn't check this before, and probably won't get anywhere with the dealer.
The question I have is, I would like to take out extended warranty cover. If a failure then occurs, will the warranty cover company get out of paying up if they discover the history? Will the fact that Ford replaced some parts under warranty on the service at 20K miles have a positive effect on this? Read more
Past history is not relavant, you would not be able to extend the Ford Warranty has the original has expired. If you can, it would be very pricy.
I would suggest you look at Genisis (Warranty Administration Ltd) and take out a years cover inc breakdown. As long as its serviced in line with manufactures spec there is no problem. You might have a case against the garage if you were mislead, might be worth speaking to them. For piece of mind, maybe take it to a Rapid Fit for an oil change and visual check perhaps?
Just looked it up and its still alive! My Dad done it up, new engine everything about 10 years ago. Wonder where it is now! Read more
Ask on volkszone.com - UK-based with lots of camper owners, and there is a where-is-it-now sub-forum.
Perhaps you have a small leak in the heater radiator & you are smelling the vapourising chemically anti-freeze smell.
If so, try some Radweld or similar.