December 2008
This question refers to a 1999 Ford Focus 1.8 Ghia petrol.
The car has done nearly 78k. I have read in the fault finding section of the Haynes manual that difficulty engaging gears is a sign of worn synchronizer units, although there are other causes of this as well.
Given the age of my vehicle do you think this is likely what is happening to my car and how can I eliminate other possibilities ?
Thanks
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Have had the car a week now.
First off, the misses is absolutely delighted with it, she wont hear a word said against it.
In her estimation, it is better in every area over the Picanto.
Our biggest congratulations go to the dealer who has been simply superb. No question unanswered, no request too much.
Our only issue so far is that one of the alloys, which have a polished surface on the spokes, has laquer which has lifted, I think due to the valeter who also seems to have acid cleaned the alloys for some daft reason as the polished surfaces are all dull. I suspect he used alotta heat too hence the damage.
Luckily I have the stuff to polish the wheels up so thats a job for Friday afternoon. I wont bother requesting they rectify it as the valeter clearly isnt all that so it is likely beyond his skills if he was dumb enough to damage them in teh first place.
The dealer, true to form has already got the matter in hand. We didnt even need to bother the service department - the salesman took upon himself to handle the matter and was as swift as you could hope for.
Its had its first wash and hoover and is a very easy car to clean.
Ive driven it a few times so far and it is a very well sorted car, feels like it will go on and on in that classic japanese way with a smooth autobox and totally intuitive controls. I especially like the 'pod' that the dials are mounted in - it is just beyond the steering wheel, not set deep in the dash. Its extremely clear and easy to read at a glance.
I can well see why the owner reviews on Parkers are so positive.
If I could improve it, id prob add a centre armrest in the front and some cruise control would be good. Other than that it is a great tool with excellent backup. Read more
i have a 02 406 HDi 90, today i have just changed the the rear wheel bearing and now its bringing up faults
it constantly displays engine immob fault and shows a key light on the dash which is for immob fault, it will not let me start the car
is there anyway i can dis able the immob and where is it located in the engine
thanks Read more
I also have an 02 406 HDI Exec estate and have recently had similar problems with my immobiliser. Sometimes the key won't open the door and I have to do it manually and the alarm goes off but I can then look the car with the key when inside and reopen the locks and can then start the car....wierd.
Hope you got an answer from your question
Hello all,
ABS engined Golf - with the 2 wire lambda sensor in the top of the exhaust at the back of the engine - up against the bulkhead.
Tried to remove it tonight - gave it welly with a std 22mm spanner (you cannot get a socket on it sadly) - and no joy. Swearing at it or hitting (the spanner end) with hammer didn't produce any results!
Only thoughts are to get an extra long 22mm spanner / possibly also a ratchet one and cut the wire off.
Any other ideas? Basically seems to be a how-do-you-get-more-leaverage type question...
Cheers,
James Read more
Sorted. Amazing how easy it is with the right tools! 18" bar and a 22mmm crowsfoot.
Cheers!
This is almost motoring related - at least, I was driving along the road when the question arose.....
Several times a year I venture west of Oxford on the A40, and last weekend was one such occasion. For the last few years I have noticed on side of the road just by the Windrush turning and not far from Sherborne a substantially large unfinished building,
It is surrounded by chainlink fencing and appears to be structurally complete - but is
missing about half of the windows, some bits of roof and is situated in a derelict building site.
I know curiousity is said to kill cats, but I can't help but wonder at the story behind it. I'm guessing it was intended to be a hotel or something - I can't believe it was ever intended to be a private house so close to a main road - and that the dveloper went bust, but as I say it is substantially complete and must represent a major capital investment for someone.
Anyone out there know the story behind it and able to satisfy my curiousity. Every year when I pass I expect to see that something has hppened to it - but nothing ever does!!
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>> but why does it have a toast rack / cd rack style chimney?
From another site: "The chimney stack is adorned with rings designed to reduce turbulence that
could otherwise be a hindrance to aircraft. "
Thanks that's answered something tha'ts been bothering me for a while..
Can they answer this tho, Why did they build a chimney close into a major airport flight path?
Well. After my problems with the coolant tank, I've only gone and snapped the car keys today - stuck right in the lock now.
So I'm now using the red master key! I think Someone is trying to tell me something!
If I persist with the car - which is now more doubtful - I'd need a new lock and a spare key - at least £60 - plus 4 part-worn tyres when it's next serviced in February - plus an interim service.
Someone my Dad knows is selling his 1.4i Sport Jazz in January, as he wants the new i-SHIFT 1.4 model.
I also had an i10 on the shortlist.
I only do about 5000 miles per year and virtually no motorway driving, unless I go somewhere at the weekend.
Would you persist with the car I have, or buy a used car at a bargain price?!
Thanks.
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The Clio III is not a bad car but I found it a bit 'heavy' I am not sure what engine it was though othr than a 1.2 16v. The steering also felt a bit vague, it was accurate but there wasn't much feel to it. That said that is the only modern generation supermini I have driven and I am comparing to the same car you currently have the 96 Fiesta.
I will see my experience of Clios is they are extremely reliable cars, engines seem to go on for ever but servicing can be quite expensive.
am i asking to much money for my toyotta corrolla 1.4 hatchback its mint condition with only 25250 miles on it mot, tax, and extended warranty til april 2009 i do live in the sticks but cant beleive not sold, it realley is mint condition. Its for sale at £2700.00
extra bits of info edited in for you - other posts (asking for that information) removed - so we can start again Read more
pne £2,700 looks like a trade price to me. you're over by about £1200-£1400 if selling privately in my (non-expert) opinion. It's an old-looking model now despite the condition, mileage and Toyota mechanics.
HJ recommends sure-sell.info which he says is almost guaranteed to be hassle free and yield a 'good' price. But not £2,700...
Pub discussion on Sat night, one guy had used the office pool car to visit a client and when he returned to the car park, managed to reverse it into the side of his own car!
Should he claim off work insurance - if he had hit any other car this would be the outcome
- or claim off his own insurance (insured comprehensive).
Office car was undamaged but own car has gouge on door and wing.
My immediate reaction was that it should be claimed off the work insurance, but can you claim for damage to your own vehicle that you caused whilst driving another one? And would his own insurance cover it if he knows how it happened and who was driving?
I left before the discussion finished but he was erring towards trying to get his own insurance to cover it, but not sure if this was out of "trying to keep it quiet" from the boss! Read more
>>then we would be looking both at gross misconduct (possibly justifying instant
>>dismissal) and also at possible fraud, justifying a call to Mr Plod.
The latter would require suspension on full pay for the six months it took for
1) internal investigation
2) police investigation
3) prosecution.
A watershed has been reached: it is no longer possible to search for a Pug 205 on the Autotrader website. How shall I fill in those idle moments? Read more
Well I know where there is one!
An F plate, which was used daily, up till last week, when I managed to get the owner into his new (54 plate) Toyota Celica.
That was after weeks of auction hunting, to find a straight one.
& he still can't make up his mind to scrap the Pug!!
VB
Some will have appreciated that when the Road Safety Act was passed it promised various scales in relation to points and included this for speeding.
The wheels are churning and a Commencement Order has been made for this and other matters (dealing with foreign drivers on the spot etc) viz:
tinyurl.com/5vosgn
Scroll down to Explanatory Notes for edufication.
Yet to see the Order setting the speeding points tarrifs but all should be revealed between 5th Jan and 1st April 2009
dvd Read more
I agree with Humph...As I drive around this city I find that most people are happy to drive along with everyone else at around the speed limit. Most people are mature enough to know that speeding is anti-social and often doesn't get you there any quicker in town
Of course, there are always those that 'boot it' when they get free of the pack but these are the ones that pay for it in the long term.......more fuel used, fines, tyre and mechanical wear plus accidents.
Ted
Browse
Im not going out of my way to fill it with Shell really since its only a few miles away. We generally filled up with Tesco juice because it was cheaper by 3p p/l and we could tie it into our weekly shop but now its the same price, we go with whichever seems to make the car run better, that being Shell so far.
38mpg doesnt sound good but the car has only done 500 miles from new so no doubt this will improve as the engine loosens up. The combined figure for the 1.3 auto is 44.1 mpg so 38 from a new engine isnt too bad at all, esp given the large proportion of stop start running its done. Im hoping that this current tank of fuel will come in around the 45 mpg mark, which is what we expect given the extra miles we seem to be getting.
As a yardstick, its currently the same as the Picanto auto which is a 1.1 doing the same journey but that had 37k on it, so we are hoping that it will surpass that in time.
It proves to a certain extent the theory that if the engine is too small, it will use more fuel than a larger, less stressed unit, esp if you tend towards the gentle stye of driving like we do allowing it to change up early.
What definately helps are the change points for the autobox as it slips into 4th just on 30 mph and will stay in the gear even if you drop to 27mph, nor does it hunt around or panic as soon as you hit a hill, which the Picanto did. The extra ccs make alotta difference in this respect.