January 2009
I'm talking about model numbers.
Did you know even numbers are saloons and odd numbers are hatchbacks/estates?
So a C30 is a hatch, an S40 a saloon, a V50 an estate, an S60 a saloon, a V70 an estate, an S80 a big saloon and an XC90 a big estate.
So what's a 99?
An ice cream with a flake in it, dummy.
Seriously, the way Volvo play the numbers game was news to me, is it news to you ?
And anyone care to explain other manufacturers' numbering systems? Read more
Hi, my water light is coming on all the time and the car is overheating but the tank is full. Any ideas what i should do. I am a total car idiot so please speak in baby language! Thanks :) Read more
If the heater is not working that would probably indicate air in the cooling system, likely caused by a leaking head gasket pressurising the system and blowing the water out, this could be as a result of overheating, or, it could be as mentioned, failure of the thermostat. To check for this, start the engine from cold and leave it running for a few minutes then feel the top hose to the radiator, this should remain cold until the engine reaches normal temperature and then suddenly get hot as the thermostat opens. If the high temp light comes on and the hose/radiator is still cold, that would indicate a faulty thermostat.
Is the water level normal when you check it from cold? Pressure in the cooling system can cause it to rise when hot even when the engine is not completely full. Is there any sign of water being blown out around the filler cap or vent pipe? Have you had to continuiously top up the water?
I have a T reg Ford Focus 1.8 petrol which has done 78k miles. I have worked out that since the last oil change which was last November, the engine has consumed about 500ml (0.5 quart/litre) of oil whilst covering about 1000 miles. Is this rate of oil consumption normal and also presumably all car owner's have to top up, some more than others, if there is a full year between services and they have driven say 10-12k miles.
When I checked the oil level today it was about 3mm above minimum, but provided it doesn't go Below minimum then no damage would occur - is this right ?
On this webpage it gives some figues for engine oil consumption but when they say NEW engines today use less than 0.5 quart of oil in 3000 miles this wouldn't apply in my case
www.aa1car.com/library/oil_consumption.htm Read more
All engines use a little oil, which will increase with age and milage. Your consumption is within normal tolerances, and if it were mine I would personally not be too concerned.
Ford, like many others, do specify a 5/30 or 0/30 oil and it will obviously use more than than a thicker /40 oil. Originally this spec was because of "inferior oils" a few years ago which would block and gum up the valvetrain with carbon and gunge on this engine. I used a Fiesta 1.25 which suffered bad consumption on 5/30, which halved consumption on 5/40. If you read the oil feature on here it suggests that oil degrades and thins down over the service life, so what started out as a 5/30 could be down to a 5/20. When the engine is hot and tolerances open up this alows the thin hot oil to slip past the rings and get burned.
My advice to owners of all these cars which specify a /30 (mainly for a 1-2% improvement in fuel consumption) is try a 5/40 but fully synthetic, which will stay in grade longer.
As engines age and wear oil consumption has always increased. Valve stem oil seals are not as tight, piston rings wear, bores glaze (a problem with gently driven engines - unusual in a car which makes good progress - ie take it to the red line daily).
I know lots of cars that run on synthetic oil, top notch coolant, and are driven enthusiastically, which run to 200k without problems. The high consumers are cars which are pootled about, on the cheapest top up oil on the forecourt. Car dead at under 100k.
looking at mpvs, touran 2.0 diesel se against verso 2.2 diesel sr. £1390 difference to swop the bora in favour of the verso. more toys on the verso but the touran looks more practical and has deeper windows. resale values at present favour the touran.
anybody got experience of either/both. tia, jag. Read more
thanks for advice & comments. dealer is good, son works there as a van technician so aware of turbo probs and iv'e been driving turbo diesels for over 30yrs, never had one go yet but there is always a first time. as reported it is a good drive. thanks, jag.
I've been running my 52 plate Octavia estate on biodiesel since October last year. I buy in 25 litre containers and use a rudimetary suction pump to empty about half of it from container to fuel tank and then lift the container up and pour the rest in using a big funnel.
I'd like to get a pump that I can screw into the thread on the container but can't decide which sort would be best - I've seen item number 190281991079 on ebay and this other one
www.online-pumpshop.com/xcart/product.php?producti...r
Anyone got any idea which one would be best for the job?
Thanks
Read more
hi everyone
i was driving my car when suddenly it started splutterring and missfiring then the engine management light came on. the car was low on fuel as i was on my way to get some so i pulled over and turned the engine off. tried starting it again but it took a while, when i got it started it was just the same. ive since put fuel in but its still the same. could it be that the fuel filter blocked or someone said it could be the coil pack knackerd. im just after a bit of advice to save on big garage bills first of all.
thanks Read more
yeah its going on a computer on monday. it was just incase anyone had had any of the same problems.
thanks anyway.
Hi, hope someone can offer some advice to our problem . The car starts fine runs fine but as you approach a junction and start to slow, as you depress the clutch, engine revs to about 2-3000 revs and slowly returns to 1000 revs. No juddering when pulling away . Not overheating. Runs well apart from this problem. Any advice appreciated.
Thanks Mick. Read more
have a look around the accellerator cable linkage and make sure it is not adjusted to tight or that it is not sticking. What are the revs at immediatly after starting the car.
Brakes working and ABS seems to be also but this fault stays on the display. Could it be a simple cure or do I have to spend £70 on having it wired upto the diagnostic at my local Citroen dealer??? Read more
Hi,
My wife and I own a 2006 Focus Ghia 1.8 TDCi. When we got it, from our local car supermarket, it only came with one flip key (3 button; lock, unlock and boot hatch unlock). We asked about the 2nd key, which I think is supposed to be a standard non-flip one, but they had not got it. We enquired with the previous owner (fleet management company) but no reply...
It is a pain to only have one key, we would like to get a second key, preferably another flip one.
Our plan is to get one flip key (about £30-£40 on eBay) and get it cut to match our existing key, then use the method described in the manual to program the key to the car. Would this work?
Where can you get the keys cut, would your average high street place be able to do it?
If not, how much should it cost at the dealer?
Thanks in advance for any advice you folks could give.
David Read more
Not so easy I'm afraid.A second or more keys can only be programmed with the aid of diagnostic equipment which means main dealer or a good independent.Don't waste you money on flea-bay.hth
Q1 - anybody know the mileage at which cam belt on 1.5 dci engine should be changed
Q2 - above engine sometimes fails to start. Operation of fuel line bulb tends to indicate air in fuel line. Any ideas?
Q3- what are correct tyre pressures for this vehicle?
I apologise for my ignorance - bought the car in Spain without manual! Read more
Browse
That's right, originally they wanted to call the V40 the F40 (F for Flexible) but a certain Italian manufacturer (not the one who makes tractors) objected.