January 2009
Anyone owned a Hyundai here
On autotrader, they seem to be very reasonably priced. My question is, are the diesels reliable and has anyone had any experiences with them.
They seem to be very good cars.
Greg Read more
Hi, I bought a 98 R reg 16v zetec Escort a while back. When I first bought it it would rev uncontroably at traffic lights, junctions etc then it would cut out but start up again fine. I took the car to a local garage and they managed to clean something in the engine (which he decribed as being full of gunk) which has stopped the cutting out, since then though the revving has started again. It seems to rev when I dip the clutch or try to change down a gear for a junction, traffic lights etc, once stationairy the revving will last a short time then die down to normal idleing with an occasional judder. Some days it doesnt do it much but other days its every time I press the clutch (i think it does it more often in the cold, however it seems to start fine). I have had it back into the garage and they could not find a problem as it wasn't over revving when they had it.
Really need some help on where to start really, my friend has changed the air flow meter and that did nothing. I'm not particularly good with cars but am trying to learn, so any advice would be extremely welcome!
Thanks
Matt Read more
Have a look at "Focus Driver" re his Focus with a similar problem. Could be helpful.
On a recent return journey from a skiing holiday, colleague & partner broke down whilst on the autoroute. They had breakdown cover with AA, and BMW (manufacturer's cover) but neither covered them on the autoroute: They had to pay 150 Euros (cash, of course) to be towed off the autoroute to a point where their own breakdown insurers could assist. Having driven through France regularly for the last 20 something years, there's something I didn't know... sounds like I need to carry a breakdown fund of 150 notes!
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If it weren't for Albania, I'd recommend the route down the other side of the Adriatic, through Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro. Stunning. If you could get a ferry from Bar in Montenegro around Albania or maybe via Corfu to the Greek mainland, that would be a great route. It would be worth it just to see the Boka Kotorska in Montenegro, the only fjord in the Med.
Hi
Just read HJ's FAW on air con which suggests that you should keep it on all the time.
Is this recommended?
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Standard A/C (non-climate control) will increase fuel consumption by around 10%, climate control a bit less.
Running for 10-15mins per week is usually recommended by manufacturers as DD says.
If you do around 10k miles pa, expect to spend an extra £100pa in fuel leaving the A/C on all the time.
I generally have no problem with speed limits and feel that in most cases they correct for the roads concerned, In many cases I would actually like to be able to travel at the speed limit. However, there seems to be an increasing number of instances of 20mph limits on main roads, usually near schools or old peoples homes. Now I don't have a problem with slowing traffic down at these points but it is actually quite difficult dropping to 20mph and maintaining that speed on a main road. The worst thing though is that I can't get the council to put a 20mph limit on my estate even though it has two schools, lots of young children and a lot of old peoples housing, yet they will allow one on a main route into a city. Read more
20 limits
Stick your car in 2nd and let the car do an italian tune up while the engine is screaming at 3500rpm. You won't want to speed up. Relax and let the nut cases behind you do their thing and just focus on those school kids who will play chicken run in front of you.
In many of the 20's near me it is impossible to do more than that away as they are narrow roads with too much on coming traffic you have to give way for.
Is there a car (or even van) which does not come with a radio or similar as standard? Read more
my Triumph (mk1 2000) has:
- no place to put a radio (so years ago i put one inside the
glove box and hid the speakers under the dashboard)
They were known as a wireless in those days. Where did you put the lead-acid accumulator and grid bias battery?
;-)
Rear window wiper and washer are not working. Everything else is working as normal. Could this possibly be a fuse or the motor? Can anyone shed some light? Read more
when you lift the hatch up, at the top beside the hinges there are two small rubber tubes one either side of the hinges, one holds the tube for your washers the other the wiring for your wipers, pull the tube right back for the wiring one and see if there are any broken wires.
Hi, I have a 52 reg 1.8 Focus TDCI 100, had number of problems including new brakes new turbo etc in last few months, however recently the engine makes a constant squealing noise. This lasts the entire journey no matter of length and is very noticeable. I don't know whether it is tied in but it very poor starting in the morning the engine turns over for a period of time before kicking in.
Any ideas is much appreciated Read more
Hi,
With the bonnet up and the engine running, you should be able to rev the engine up. Whilst doing so, pour a cup of water over the belts whilst the squal is happening (you may get a bit sprayed). If it stops then you either need to tighten the alternator belt or change it. At this time of year cars are using more electrics which puts a load on the battery and chaging system.
Hope this helps
Hi
I came on forum a few weeks ago regarding possible new engine for a fiat punto - it turns out garage who said that didnt know anything. It ended up needed new head gasket, cam belt and temp gauge.
Got it all fixed at a cost of 600 quid including a few other bit (tail light, handbreak tightening and oil and filter change), got car on wednesday and it drove better than it ever had, really smooth and resposive - however, this morning on way to work (only a 3 mile trip) the temp gauge slowly crept up to High and it made 'gargling' sound, it was only for about a second but cannot be good, considering loads of work has just been done.
I am taking it back down to garage tmrw and they have guaranteed all their work. They suspect it is just the temp gauge and i hope it is.
Has anyone got any other ideas or advice (apart form dont buy a fiat!!!) or anything i should ask them about?
Cheers
Dan Read more
my money is on the head gasket, again.
apart from which, £600 sounds a lot.
hope the guarantee is good.
Discs rust after standing for a while. I notice that, when setting off in my Hyundai i30 after a day or two without use, and before braking, there is a rubbing noise. This intensifies on braking but then, after an application or two, disappears. This leads me to believe that the pads are in constant light contact with the discs. Is this normal? Read more
Maybe not as rare as you think, I use the garage to keep a car. I also run a dehumidifier in the garage 24/7 in the Autumn/Winter/Spring.
Browse
Or a young looking person driving one!! ;-)
One of the reasons Mrs V decided aginst one - choosing her Mx5 instead!!
VB