December 2008
Weird (and alarming) one on Monday morning. Was trundling south at about 0820, enjoying the Christmas-induced quietness of the J10-J9 stretch, when I saw one of the roadside matrix boards display something I hadn't seen before - and don't want to see again.
20
Oncoming vehicle
Passing junction 9, no-one else seemed to be slowing to anything like 20, but I got myself into lane 1 and matched speed with an HGV a comfortable distance ahead, making sure I had as good a view as I could get. A police car had joined ahead of me at the junction and set off southward with blue lights flashing.
I kept this up until somewhere near J8, when the centre matrix board changed from 20 to 'End', and went on my way at a more normal speed. I saw nothing else unusual, and didn't see the police car again, so I wonder if anyone here was ahead of me, or coming north (preferably on the northbound carriageway!) and knows any more about what happened. Read more
I have just bought a 1998 s reg 2.0 di ls astra. It is reported to have a problem with the diesel pump. It turns over but wont start. there is power reaching the pump.I have attached a code reader. It is showing no code faults at all!! would this be the case if the pump was faulty, or should i be seeing a code. Could it be anything more simple , the mileage is 118k.
Thanks Mark
{edited subject header to remove repeated words that are automatically put in from your drop down menu choice and compulsory year and engine detail boxes} Read more
mac et50 code reader, would it usually show a fault code for pump??
In contrast to Mr X's thread
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=70...8
This foreign driver was NOT let off:
tinyurl.com/99mp2t
" A lorry driver who smirked as he rammed rush-hour traffic out of his way on a busy motorway was jailed today for dangerous driving and criminal damage.
Victims feared for their lives as Vitezslav Labounek shunted their cars with his 40-tonne articulated truck as he ploughed through a speed-restricted section of the M1 northbound, Derby Crown Court heard. ... "
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One case as compared to the thousands breaking our motoring laws and returning to their own countries without being prosecuted.
Hi
I have just sold my 02 plate astra in a private sale. I took the new owner for a test drive and he was happy with the car. He has just called to say the car has broken down. Whats my legal situation on this. Is it sold as seen. Ive never had any trouble with the car in the past.
{minor typo in header corrected} Read more
There was the Passat with a water leak as well:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=54157&...e
How does one describe a motor trader?
When I arrived home and my Ford Focus 1.8 (petrol) was idling I noticed a smell of bad eggs so I got out of the car and bent down to smell near the exhaust and I think it is coming from there.
I have read on motoring websites that this can be caused by a bad catalytic converter and if so what other symptoms are hallmarks of a failing cat. converter.
Also it says that another cause of the bad smell is if the engine has mechanical problems - what do they mean by this and how can I find out ?
The engine has covered about 78 000 miles and is a 1999 model Read more
It is also more likely to occur if a non-manufacturer's cat has been fitted.Another reason why some replacment parts are cheap-they don't use the same washcoats in the cat manufacture and H2S is produced.
My Honda has done 181000 mile and on Friday last developed noisey steering,on a smooth road surface all seems well,but on rough surface the steering creeks and feels notchey? My local garage could find nothing wrong with the steering but replaced a anti-roll bar link on the rear suspension and lubricated the suspension bushes to cure the noise.The noise is not so pronounced now but the steering is giving the same symptoms?? Read more
Ok I have this really dumb question. I have bought a 2nd hand Ford Mondeo 2003 TDCI Diesel 2.0 car and have been driving for 6 months. I have noticed that people tend to pour in water or battery water into their cars. However mine does not seem to have any compartment to pour battery water. I only pour in engine oil when its at low. Thats it. Does my car even use water, Pls advice as Im not good at all with cars. Thanks Read more
I never worry about using tap water!
My bad, what I meant to say was not corrosion, but limescale. I live in a hard water area and the scale that builds up in the kettle and the steam iron persuaded me to use demineralised water in the car cooling system.
I'm going to buy a 2006 3-series and after reading lots of reviews I was all ready to go for the 320d SE. However, 2 things have started to sway me towards a 325i SE:
1. I'll only do 10-12k mile per year and therefore given the higher cost of diesel the difference in running costs will be fairly small and will probably all balance out when taking into account the higher cost of servicing a diesel.
2. The credit crunch seems to have hit the price of larger petrol engine cars more than diesels and there are some 325's available at pretty keen prices at the moment. I intend to keep the car for 3 years so even after depreciation I'm guessing that I wont be any more out of pocket for buying a petrol rather than diesel car.
Just wondering what your thoughts are on this - do you agree/disagree with my thinking? Read more
It's reassuring to find you both in agreement over the 325i although I'm going to look into the 330i as well now that CJay mentions it. I'd planned to stay away from the Sport model as most opinion (on the internet at least) seems to be that the ride is too firm for anything but motorway driving. Any opinion on this? Also what's the auto like in the BMW? Cheers.
Hi,
My engine warning light recently came on. I took my car to my local garage (not Ford branded) for them to diagnose what was wrong.
They have told me both Oxygen sensors have failed. One suspected open circuit, the other suspected short circuit.
They advised total cost of repair would be GBP350, including VAT and cost of diagnosis.
I have now asked for a breakdown which is as follows:
All plus VAT:
-Cost of diagnosis (EMS test): GBP50
-Two new Oxygen sensors: GBP55.95
-Two hours labour @GBP68 per hour
They've told me half the labour (ie 1 hr) was to diagnose the problem, they had to check some wiring to determine if the sensors were actually dead or if it was a wiring problem.
Does this seem reasonable?
It seems like a lot of money to me. Perhaps I am a bit annoyed that my expecations weren't managed very well as I was told diagnosis would be GBP50+vat, and now they've basically added another GBP68+vat making total cost of diagnosis = GBP118 + vat.
So is this reasonable? Thanks in advance for any thoughts. Read more
Thanks both for your responses. And a great idea asking for the fault code numbers. I will definitely do that.
Just an update, just reached the 6 month mark & almost 6000miles with a Freelander2 auto. Well what can I say, Hasn't returned to the dealer yet as it has been faultless.
Fuel consumption now vastly improving with a 340mile round trip 80% on motorway with crusie control returned 37mpg at 70mph over 170 miles & 42mpg over 170 mile return trip with the cc set at 65 on the return
I know that there was a post saying that the auto box hunts around gears but I cannot even make it hunt even at 30 mph on narrow roads. The auto box has been a dream & after 33 years of motoring finally converted to auto.
The performance 4x4 with only a 2.2 engine is excellent & the ride & handling is great, extremley quiet,Kids love sitting in the back as the vision is so good & load space is good.
I now smile every time a park in a car park there is always a good gap when vehicles park iether side! guess they don't like getting their doors dinged. When ever I parked my Jag in a car park cars were always nearly hugging the thing when I returned & door dings were common.
Lets hope the next 6 months is as good as the last . keep you posted & Merry Christmas to you all.
I Doc
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Pleased your enjoying the Freelander long may it continue.
I never even park next to a 4x4 or large van but sometimes they park next to me.
I've got the dings to prove it !
Browse
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Thanks to everyone for some interesting comments and insights. Might even try Focus's link to find out what happened in this case.
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