November 2008
My 55 reg car is in today for its first MOT and while there I have asked them to service it. After its last service I was told that the pads on the back only had a couple of thousand miles left in them while the ones on the front were better for a bit more. I left it a bit longer than I should and then got the brakes done - in doing this they said that they would have to replace my rear discs due to damage by the over worn pads.
I have just had a call from the garage doing the service and they have told me that the front discs are on a poor state and need replacing. How can this happen in only a couple of months? Surely if the front discs are now in a poor state, they would have also been in a poor state a couple of months ago when the rear ones were replaced.
The car has 63k miles on it and is used for motorway driving mainly.
How long should a set of discs last?
{No need to repeat the make/model in the subject header - see When Posting A New Question To Technical Matters for guidance} Read more
Hi,
I have a 52 reg focus 1.6 ghia auto and the passenger side window has developed a mind of its own. It goes down and stays down without touching the button or if you do put the window down it won't come back up. The motor is working properly as far as i can tell. Any ideas anyone? Read more
Thanks for your suggestion, i'll give it a go...
My 54 reg 307 sw only came with one key and NO code card can a secondhand key that is coded for another vehicle be cloned to my other key or recoded to my ignition/immobiliser ?.Can this be done at an auto locksmith or is it a dealer job ?,thanks.
{{54 changed to 2004 as 54 is the reg plate, not the 'year of manufacture' - which is what the fill in box requested} Read more
Without the access code, I'd think it was a dealer job to add another key.
I realise that cars which travel crab-wise do so because of misalignment/mispositioning of one or more of the wheels, but what causes the misalignment/mispositioning in the first place? Is it manufacturing tolerances, accident damage, or incompetent assembly? Read more
Harleyman, there was no rear wheel steering on this crane. I could see the rear tyres scrubbing as they slipped towards the kerb and transmitted the drive.
The driver did a superb job controlling the the thing, it really was as though the back end (heavy) bit was influenced more by gravity than anything else.
I suppose it was heading for a job and this particular (unsuitable) road was the only way there. I guess that this sort of slippage goes on whilst they're hurtling down the motorway at 30mph but isn't a problem as there's more time and space to correct things.
I took out the passenger seat of my Primera to make room for my son's stuff when he left university. When I put it back, and reconnected the electrics, the seat belt warning light started flashing. How do you reset this? Disconnecting the battery did not work.
John Read more
Do you mean the airbag light? What code is it flashing?
Dear All.
My Polo Fox 1.0, 70000 miles, L Reg, bought for £325 2 years ago, has been going strong ever since. Apart from the more than common problem of problems when engine is cold.
The other week though, we lost the use of reverse. I read through the net, and a common problem mentioned was the gearstick base components wearing and causing insufficient movement at the gearbox to engage some gears.
I had this renewed at the garage yesterday (Cause i couldnt manage it with the car on a jack, it needed to be on a proper ramp), but alas after 1.5 hours work (£60), the problem was still there.
So, the mechanic said he also tried to engage reverse from under the car at the gearbox itself, to no avail. So its therefore gearbox or clutch. He suggested gearbox, cause its as though something is simply blocking the engagement of reverse, and it goes into 1-4 gears no probs. The car is at least driveable.
But baring in mind i paid very little for the car, and its now worth even less, as soon as the forward gears start disappearing, it may be the big scrapyard in the sky for my otherwise reliable VW :-(
Any suggestions? Is it much of a job to put a new gearbox on? I've tried to undo the top up screw, but i wonder if its glued as they say its a "Non maintenence" box on these, like most modern cars.
Would a 5 speed box fit on the 1.0 does anyone know?
Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Marty. Read more
Funny you should mention that mate. A few weeks back, i followed the wife driving the polo, and the reverse light was on the whole way home. So to fix it, i took the bulb out!
Is this linked to not having reverse anymore????
So the lamp switch, that plugs in to the underneath of the box doesnt it...? if i take it out, will the gearbox oil poor out after it.?.?
Cheers.
My car has a fairly fresh MOT in terms of milleage yet when I go over bumps it clonks a bit, nothing in the adivories say about suspension problems BUT my machanic probably did have a point about the spring and bushes need doing.
I have just driven my mates car with a fresh MOT, it was down right dangerious, the steerin kept pulling to the left and the position of the wheel was not straight, i.e you had turn to the right to drive in a straight line.
My dads had a few cars that have had failed suspensions (i.e wishbines cracking) yet nothing in was mentioned in the MOT only 3 months before these incicents happened.
I have only had my car two weeks and I do not want to spend £300 on a new suspension so I am going to take some good bits off it and sell it in 4 months time with some ticket remaining. I fear too many people buy cars because it has 12 months MOT, but don't realise it is not actually in road worthy condition.
I think the MOT test is too black and white, e.g because they can't dimstantle anything it is impossible for testers to tell the true state of the chasis, yet they can fail a car for having no windscreen wash. Read more
Several times when my wifes car used to go in for MOT and service the Garage sent the vehicle for an MOT then used the out come to service / repair as necessary. Now she separates the two activities and stays well clear of main dealers.
I think i have now seen it all ,that one can go out and buy a new Dodge Avenger for 20k and get one free!
Having seen discounts on new cars increasing in the last few months, i guess it cant get any worse for the car industry,or better for the buyer, depending on how one looks at it! Read more
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=68724
{Link corrected - DD}
I am going to replace the radiator on my 1998 2.3 Honda Shuttle LS auto.
I have replaced radiators before on old cars - 4 bolts and 2 hoses. I imagine that it is not as simple as that. Anything I should lok out for? Read more
Hi.
Just bought a secondhand Seat Ibiza Sport. Am looking at replacing all 4 tyres as there nearly come to there life span. I dont drive the car hard, Sometimes at a quickish pace but very rare. Am looking for the follow.
Quite running
Moderate grip (dry/wet)
Best place for tyres, Online or highstreet.
Thanks in advance
Luke Read more
>>>My 06 Toledo tyres are so noisy
What make of tyres are they?
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If you're going to use anything off Ebay,you need to make sure items are genuine not rubbish in a box maked "Mintex".