October 2008
Hi I've had this problem for a while now.
Basically I am only getting about 130-150 miles out of 20 quid. Just going to work and back which is 25 mile round trip.
Whenever i start from cold i get a cloud of white/grey smoke and i have to rev to get a stable tick over. If I leave it its really rough until i accelerate. (So I imagine whatever is causing this is causing problem). Its that bad I have to wait for anyone walking by to go past first! Never had any prob with MOT emissions etc.
The engine was changed about 18 months ago (second hand) after a piston went. But i was getting this problem even then,i dont know whether this could have been the cause. We kept the original fuel pump and injectors when we swapped engines.
Cars getting on a bit now, but if i could get better mpg i could save a few quid!
Any ideas?!
No need to repeat the car make/model in the subject header. The choice you made from the pull down menus already does that for you. Read more
It's possible to spend a quarter of a million pounds or more on a lorry or a coach, but how many miles can you get out of it?
A bus operator once told me: 'A million miles is nothing for a coach.'
Is that correct? Read more
Because of the strange way I make a living, 2000 miles a week is not uncommon from mid February to mid April and again from mid July to mid October. The rest of the time the cars rarely move other than local domestic duties. Neither scenario seems to bother them much. Only golden rule is that if servicing or other work is due it gets done on time. However, they are not trucks or buses so I'll be off now......
;-)
Edit- That is they rarely move except for a couple of blasts down to the Med in the Summer, but we don't really count those.......
For the last few years I have lived in Dubai, returning only rarely to the UK. Recently I decided to partially retire and also treat myself to a car I had lusted over for some while ? a Lexus GS450h SE-L. I decided to buy ?nearly new? and spent quite a while waiting for the spec I wanted to show up on the Lexus GB website. Eventually an 06 car of suitable spec became available and I negotiated with the dealer (name not given here for reasons which will become obvious later) seeking confirmation of things like had the car had any previous accident damage etc. I was given positive assurances, by email, to all my questions. I agreed to purchase the vehicle and for it to be delivered when I next returned to the UK.
On delivery the car was quite dirty, and inside was literally filthy with many areas of damage to the upholstery etc. I later also found that the delivery mileage quoted on the sales docket was 500 less than showed on the odometer. After 50 miles the gearbox failed, and my local Lexus dealer (superb service ? not the one I bought the car from) fitted a replacement box under warranty. While the car was on the ramp they noted and drew my attention to some irregularities and advised that I have the car inspected by the RAC. I did this and the RAC report identified that the vehicle had been in a significant front end shunt, and had been poorly repaired. Overall the report was very critical recommending, among many quite significant items, that a full steering and geometry check be carried out and suggested that it was potentially unsafe to drive.
I contacted Trading Standards local to the dealer and, would you believe, then found that because I was in Dubai at the time that I opened the emails assuring me that the vehicle was in good condition with no previous accident history that the UK ?Sale of Goods Act? did not apply and that the dealer could not be prosecuted due to lack of evidence ? because the emails to me were inadmissible evidence !
Eventually, and with legal assistance, I recovered the purchase price of the car from the dealer but was left out of pocket to the tune of over £1000 for legal fees and RAC inspection costs etc. In UK law costs incurred by a buyer because of misdescription by a seller are normally recoverable, and I tried to recover these costs from the dealer but was unsuccessful, being advised to sue him if I wanted reimbursement. My lawyer advised against this, again because of the inadmissible emails.
Obviously I wrote to Lexus GB about this, drawing their attention to the illegal practices being used in their name in order to sell rogue cars. I also telephoned their Customer Relations Department and when I explained what had happened the woman I was speaking to said ?What do you expect us to do about it ?? and explained that my purchase was from the dealer and that Lexus GB distanced themselves from the transaction. I subsequently had a written response from Lexus GB which reiterated the dealer opinion that I had been ?treated fairly? ? notwithstanding that I had sourced a car through the Lexus GB website, had purchased a Lexus Approved Used car from an approved Lexus Dealership and was now over £1000 out of pocket. The letter concluded with ?I am conscious that this reply does not engender goodwill ..? Too true !
Footnote: I eventually bought exactly the car I wanted (a nice shiny red 07 Lexus GS450h SE-L) from my very good and trustworthy local dealer and am 100% pleased. I agree with the HJ observation about this car: Highly recommended !
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Hamsafar - thanks for that very useful link to a service of which I was not aware. Sounds/looks a bit easier than SCC.
I would just like to draw BR member's attention to a very good day out. P&O run mini cruises to Calais; the one I went on cost £65 for two people. You book on line and then drive to Dover and park in the Multi Storey Car park (£6), check in and go to the ferry by bus. On the ferry you get the use of the Club Lounge which is normally £14 each, each way, so £56. You get free tea coffee and champagne and go to Calais. You stay on board and on the way back to Dover have a 4 course meal in Langhans Brasserie on board which would normally be £30 a head. You have full choice from the the a la carte menu. On board shopping is cheaper than UK: I got 1.5 litres of 47.3% proof branded gin for £22.
So, a fair day out for £65 plus Dover parking and the cost of the drinks with your meal. Recommended!
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Go to poferries.com/dailymail
For day trips , such as the one I have next Thurs out 1020 back 1800 , car and 3 £17
Normally I would have been dismissive of this, but the recent talk of Clios reminded me again of the issue they have with the secondary catch. I think this might have failed on the Daewoo.
Opening the bonnet, you used to have to click over the catch under the bonnet to get it to open. However I have noticed that the last few times I've opened it, you just open it from the inside and lift straight up. Something's clearly not right there, and it's a bit unnerving especially as these cars have thin windscreens and heavy bonnets.........
When the bonnet is shut, it's shut -- so the primary catch is fine. However, SWMBO drives this car and I'm concerned that there is a potential safety problem here.
Any advice gratefully received as always. Read more
Had a similar problem with my old mondeo. When i opened the bonnet i noticed the safety catch was not springing back to it original position. Due to lack of use etc grime and dirt built up around the mechanism. A bit of WD40 and grease freed up the catch.
I'd be grateful if anyone could help me diagnose my gearbox problem (without mentioning that I should be going to the dealer for a diagnostic test).
The car at present drives perfectly when in auto (or tip) but when I stop and change into neutral the car jerks. When I put it into reverse or drive, sometimes on computer the gear select square that highlights the gear that I am in changes and all the squares (i.e. P, R, N, D, 4, 3 and 2), are all highlighted at same time. When I change from reverse into neutral the car jerks twice as badly as from D to neutral
After that it wont drive properly and it feels like it's in a higher gear i.e. possibly 3rd is engaged. So I turn off the ignition to reboot then everything is okay until next time I stop.
I had the 3rd service (47500miles) and MOT last week and the VW dealer put it on the diagnostic instrument and cured the problem, saying that it would probably revert to the same symptoms. They were proved correct......but they did all that free of charge!
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tinyurl.com/637ktc
According to the local paper in Swansea workers from the Ford plan in Bridgend have contacted them saying that 700 staff are going to be put on extended break. The company denies this in the article.
Apparently the plant builds 4.0 and 3.2 litre engines for Jaguar / Land Rover. Anyhow, it is all in the above linked article.
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>His company sells specialist pants.. to the auto industry
Brown pants are probably popular in the auto industry at the moment.
Kevin...
clutch on my accord has been slipping very slightly for about 3000 miles. could this be needing bled or is it definitely on way out.? Read more
Andy,
I'd call 6hrs labour expensive. But then I'm a tight old g*t!
As for duall mass flywheels......... best not to get me started on that topic!
Help! While driving home today, on two seperate occasions my car's engine stopped while I was driving. The battery lights came on as though I had turned the key in the ignition without starting the engine. The 1st time I was going about 30km/hr, and the second time I had just started to drive in 2nd gear after a light turned green. Both times I was able to start the engine again. Any ideas what's going on? Thanks Read more
In that case; it's fairly safe to say that there was a loss of a major ignition-controlled circuit.
The most likely place for such a problem is the ignition switch itself. You could hook up a couple of LEDs to the two key-switch circuits and that would give you visual confirmation if one went off.
My sister's Civic is making a squealing noise. Apparently it's the fanbelt. The garage have ordered a replacement but she needs to make a 200 mile journey before the new fanbelt arrives. She wants to know:
- is it likely to last? Does the squeaking mean that it's likely to snap?
- how will she know if it has broken? Is it simply a matter of the temperature gauge rising?
- can she drive on with a a broken fanbelt? Does she simply need to stop if the car appears to be overheating. Can she set off again once it's cooled down?
- Should she even attempt the journey?
Thanks in advance.
Pete Read more
There is a proper garage at Craignure
Bay View Garage has been up for sale for 7 years if you're interested....
Sorry I've got my sums wrong getting about 100 miles to 20 quid. ( If i put 25 in I get approx 150)
Plugs won't make much difference to economy will it, other than improving start?