January 2009
I recently did an oil and filter change on my 2.0 TDCI focus using a very well known brand of oil filter, paper element type, plastic top and bottom. After the oil change the oil pressure was slower to come up and extinguish the oil light. I replaced the filter with a Ford filter, cardboard top and bottom and tighter fit in the housing, pressure rise back to normal. I bought the non Ford filter at a factor as I was buying front brake pads, these must be softer than the original pads as the braking is slightly improved, probably wont last the 50K the original pads lasted. Win some, lose some, but no more pattern oil filters for me. And the Ford one was a few pence cheaper! Read more
Hi there, my passenger-side rear cluster go all 'disco' when the lights are on and the brake pedal is pushed. Gotta be a dodgey earth, i cud just run a wire from the earth at the back of the cluster to a new earth point but would prefer to check out the current one
Problem - where is it?
Got a haynes manual which says it's E6 or summink onthe wiring diagrams but doesn't say where on the car this is
Any ideas Guys?
as always thanks in advance
Hapless Dave
:-) Read more
iirc it's in the c pillar near the light unit, may need to remove the trim. this problem can also be caused by poor connections on either the light circuit board (bit that holds the bulbs) or the connector that attaches to the board, it's worthwhile cleaning both up with a bit of emery cloth aswell as the earth point and lead. do the same on both light units.
chris
I've just received some letters from Peru, and the stamps have photographs of cars on them.
The cars are
1903 Clément Brass Phaeton 9CV ~ I'm not sure whether the "Brass" is part of the manufacturer's name or the model name.
1928 Stutz BB Sedan Convertible Victoria.
1935 Auburn Speedster 851 SC.
1926 Dodge Brothers Special Pickup.
Apparently there are others. tinyurl.com/8tx6r2
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Those of you relying on National for between service oil changes will find a 50% increase in price,and they will only do it if they use their own filter,I always take a Toyota one.This might invalidate new car warranties .The nearby Quickfit had no oil!
Geriatric Read more
I recentley changed and flushed coolant on said Beemer.
The cooland already in the system was a green color and as I collected the contents of system(most of it) it came out nice and clean with very little particles/ dirt.
When I went to motor factors for replacement cooland the guy checked up on his pc and recommended some "Car Plan" premium coolant which I assumed was the correct spec.
I drained and flushed the system making sure heater was set to hot , and I also drained the engine block and flushed thoroughly.
When I refilled the system with the red coolant, which I mixed 50/50 with the de-ionised water I was well happy.
Any way next day I checked the level in the expansion bottle and to my horror the coolant was an orange/rusty colour.....
Am a bit concerned , as In my previous Focus coolant was also a red colour and it stayed nice and red asnd clear.
Can someone allay my fears plz! Read more
Happy ending here.....colour of coolant turned out to be an "optical illusion"
I drew some coolant from espansion tank with a syringe and put it in a clean glass.....turned out to be a lovely "cherry aid " red colour.
Am guessing the coolant looked brown due to the black top and "yellowed" white expansion bottle.
Never jump to conclusions I have learned from this.
I got a call from the Honda dealer yesterday to say that they had an i-Shift Jazz in as a demo. I thought that it was going to be going for recertification before being released. I checked on the Honda site and it's still over 120 CO2. Read more
All Jazz models are VED band C (£120 p.a.), not just the i-SHIFT variants. tinyurl.com/76c9g6
Hi, Has anyone had any problems with a creaking dashboard and a noisy back bench seats? my car is a 2006 2.2 direct design model
I complained to Vauxhall dealers and acknowledge the fault but they say it is not covered under the 2nd and 3rd year warrenty. They will investigate the noises but charge for the job (estimating around £150.00) plus parts if required. i don't know where to go with this any ideas please? Read more
A few strategic squirts of silicone spray may help.
My car was not back from the garage yesterday so was given a new Avensis to get me home. Only done 60 miles so initial impressions.
Didn't particularly look at the outside, realised this morning that it was Blue.
2.0(?) diesel with dual a/c, sat nav (3x?)
Ride / handling is very indistinguishable from the previous model, had two weeks with one in December.
Interior is much better to look at than the earlier model but . . .
Was set to lock as you drive away but does not unlock as you get out (as the Octavia does), I had to unlock the car to get my coat of the back seat!
The electric hand brake is out of reach when sitting normally, I have to lean forward to operate it.
The door handles are not easily within reach.
Why put the fuel cap release and traction control switch low down below the steering wheel just where the switch illumination annoys me at night but in a difficult place to reach!
They have repeated the problem with the previous Radio where you do not appear to be able to curtail a TP announcement easily.
I do not like the cruise control lever moving with the steering wheel (as before). At least there is an indication that it has set now but it still turns off each time you turn the ignition off - pain in the neck when you are used to systems which do not.
This was an estate and the bolt looked VERY small for a car of this size, defeats the object. Lots of plastic storage under the floor but how do you get the sofa home from IKEA?
I don't think you would get into the armrest storage with the rear seats tipped up (you have to slide the top back before it will lift!
Would I get one - well more likely than I was with the last model but still falls far short, will be nice to get the Octavia back. Read more
Hi,
My parents are going to Australia on a long holiday and will be away for just over a month. In the middle of the trip my dad's tax runs out. They leave UK on the 31/1 and return sometime at the beginning of March. The tax expires on or around the 15th Feb. Other than giving his card details to one of my brothers (risky ;0D) and getting them to renew it online what are his options? How far in advance are you able to renew it?? I told him to phone the DVLA but he's tried and has yet to get through to a human being!
Thanks for your help! Read more
Some confusion here, tax can't run out on 15 Feb can it? Are you confused and talking about his MOT?
I sprung a leak in one of my power steering pipes. I purchased some replacements from a breakers and got a local garage to fit them. (I assume the pipes were correct as breakers said they were, and garage who fitted them didn't mention anything)
The garage said the s/hand pipes were in good condition (which they were), and replaced the P/S fluid with mineral PS fluid which they said was required by VW's.
Since then the steering is heavier than it was before (but still power assisted). Any one have an idea why this would be?
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Over filling is not the problem but suck some out to see the colour. The weong type will cause the seals to swell in the rack and it will stiffen. However your has happened a bit too quick for that but check the fluid colour. Yes it should be green. Regards peter
Browse
But well known brand name manufacturers of pattern parts have a reputation to uphold and hence IMO some pattern parts are actually superior to OEM.
My own experience was with wiper blades, replacement Bosch ones lasted 12-18 months replacement OEM ones lasted 5 months.