January 2009
Hello,
I have a Ford Fiesta 1996 1.25 Ghia. When I bought it I had this problem that on high rev in 5th gear the car starts loosing the power. The revs, though, stay the same. It is the speed that is decreasing. It does that for a while and then goes back to normal. But it only happens on high rpm and only in 5th gear or, I should say, when driving around 70+ mph. I mean, if I would drive on high revs in 2nd or 3rd gear, this problem would not occur. Meanwhile, when coming off from the motorway, the car is very jerky on low speeds as well (that's after driving it on the motorway). After one minute drive on the low speed the car adjusts itself to normal -- no problems with hesitation to accelerate, etc.
I looked into this problem deeply and it was suggested in many threads that it is the AFM (mass air-flow meter). I changed that and the problem really went away for while. Well, at least it became more subtle. Now it's been two months since the replacement and I haven't driven the car for 3 weeks as I was on holiday. I am where I began -- the same problem, even though there is this new AFM. For testing purposes I decided to disconnect the AFM and continue my journey on the motorway. It was better, but the problem was there very, very, very subtly. I mean, it still felt like someone is pulling the car back but not nearly as much. So there is a connection with the AFM, but not only with it. Or the AFM is only the immediate cause while something is the real cause?
(The mechanic said everything is fine with spark plugs)
Thanks in advance for your help. Read more
Hi,
Bought my 2002 petrol 2.2sri Vectra C in 2004 with 18000 on the clock. Havnt had much bother with it (bar the front left suspension collapsing while it was sitting in the driveway).
Bout a year ago after a really stormy night i came out and the car wouldnt rev over 3500. the wee engine management light came on and i parked it up and got a taxi to work (i was late). i came home that day and was about to take it round to the dealship when it just started fine. thought it must have been a load of water got into th exhaust and the wee run i gave it dried it out again. never thought any more about it.
Happened again this morning. engine management light, wont rev over 3500 and it was a stinking night outside last nite. Is this just a coincidence? vauxhall dealer have already got £70 from me today to run a 'diagnostic' on it i will come back with the error code it gave when i pick it up today, but they want up to £189 to run further diagnostics.
I told them to shut the bonnet and not to bother. Anyone any ideas? is this this fuel pump problem everyone is talking about? and if so why does it happen after a stormy night? is wind throwing water into my electrics or something?
Much appreciated. Read more
Good advice.
But I'd be surprised if you need to send them a new photo. I only recently applied for my 1st photocard licence and didn't have to get a pic, because I have a digital passport - they used that pic. Read more
The reason for 10 year renewals is that after 10 years you look 10 years older than your photo. HJ
I think that may be part of the EU standard that these things comply with. Just checked mine over here - 10 years.
Rather interestingly, I had to push to get it. They saw no reason to swap it here in NL until the British one reached its expiry date. Same story was trotted out by the authorities in CZ when I was living there too. None of your "must swap within n months" bit on the continent.
Could anyone please advise if they know of a vehicle which has a thermostat in the form of a valve, electrically/electronically controlled, wherein the owner can set the opening and closing temperatures?
Thank you. Read more
Hi,
I have a Ford Escort 1.8LX(Zetec) 1998.
I was driving up the motorway around 60mph the other day, when I wanted to overtake, I was overtaking and there was some smoke from the exhaust and the car started to lose power.
I got the car home, which ran rough all the way. Let the engine cool and then started it, it is running really rough, from what I can tell it is misfiring on Cylinder No.3. When I took the plug out there was oil on it and I could see a thin layer of oil on top of the piston. The car has been burning oil for months so I would assume it is burning it through Cyl 3, all other cylinders are clean and plugs were ok, apart from Cyl 2 where the plug was black, but not oily or wet.
I have changed the HT leads and changed the plugs, so not sure what my next step should be. I can confirm that all plugs are sparking though.
Thanks
Jon
ps : Hi by the way :) Read more
Hi,
Well in the end took it to my mates garage, he's a mechanic and had a good look at it, done all the tests etc. Says 99.9% the rings are gone. Its just too expensive for me to get them done so going to scrap the car. In fact already looking at new one.
Ok, so car is off to scrappies this week. Does anyone know the best way to drain the tank? Something that doesnt involve me sucking on a tube lol :)
Jon
Why should the Government, who are taxing high emission cars and want us to move into smaller more fuel efficient cars be surprised at the problems being experienced by these two companies.
Looking at the SMMT figures Jaguar have one model with CO2 emissions of under 150g and Land Rover has 2 with emissions under 200g (none any where near 150g).
As they have not introduced models that meet the Governments stated policies why should they expect any help. BMW did it so why haven't they.
This will probably find its way into the downturn thread. Read more
Do you seriously expect joined up Government?
If you do, don't be naive.
(See Heathrow expansion and emissions)..
well folks here it is the new company car of the leader of the free world
tinyurl.com/95xrt2 Read more
compared to UK Prime Ministers trying to shrink their necks so as
to sit upright and still smile in the back of a Jaguar.
I've posted this before, but still treasure the memory of Francis Pym and the French foreign minister, Roland Dumas I think, being compressed into a brown Whitehall Cortina Mk 4 with a driver and two, or possibly three, special branch heavies on Horse Guards Parade amid a scrum of hacks during the Falklands war. The two ministers, both small men, looked like a couple of naughty schoolboys being nicked and taken away for rowdiness.
I have a P reg corsa vegas 1.2 and it will not start there is spark and fuel i called out the breakdown and they eventually got it going but could not tell me why it did not start ..once it is running it will be fine all day no misfires or anything its just first thing in the morning it will not go please help Thanks Read more
Try replacing the cold start water temp switch, the one with the 2x wires get the correct one from vauxhall, cost approx £10.00
For the past couple of months I have been extremely busy and had lots going on within the family. No excuse I know for whats following.
Over the weekend I was sure the tax was due on Mrs ND's car, quick check of the disc tells me it was 11 days out of date. No problem, will order it online and we'll be ok.
Problem no 2. While trying to order the disc online the computer says no. There is no current MOT on the car. W'oh. That means its 2 months out of date.
Quick visit to my local garage on Monday. "When can I have an MOT done mate"? Oh, Thursday or Friday at the earliest. Er, Steve, you dont understand its 2 months out of date. OK, go get the car now and I will get it done this afternoon for you. Thank goodness for local garages that enjoy their work.
Car passes MOT, no problem and order my tax online that evening.
So, warning to everyone else. Please dont be a numpty like me, get your MOT's done on time. Read more
ND, you're not alone, a few years ago when my life was in severe upheaval my road tax was due and i then found the MOT had run out some 3 months earlier.
One of the pitfalls in having a completely reliable vehicle i suppose, just never gave it a thought.
I offer no excuses and i still can't believe i let it happen.
HI, this is just a general enquiry,
I have two cars, one being a lotus which I had just collected from a garage (in for repairs), the insurance had lapsed for this car however i thought i was ok driving if under the third party part of my insurance cover on my other car..
Apparently not as the Police stop me and sized the car saying the actual car has to have insurance.
My question is if the car actually has to have insurance regardless of any third party cover from other insurance policies how was the policeman who drove it away covered to do so.. Wouldn?t the car have to be towed / flatbed to the impound. Does anyone know if there is a procedure document which the police have to follow???
many thanks for your replys..
Tim
Read more
>>>If someone were to make that allegation formally and it were found to be not true, easily achievable these days with all the CCTV cameras/ANPR everywhere, then that person would be committing offences such as 'wasting police time' or maybe 'attempting to pervert the course of justice'
That's rather the way my mind was going....
David
Browse
Cheers guys,
went and picked up the car and it was working fine. the error code that was produced was to do with the accelerator sensor but when they checked it was not faulty. it seems to have dried out a bit anyway. i think ive just paid vauxhall 70 quid for parking my car at the showroom for the day... it will remain a mystery. hopefully you wont hear any more from me ;)
ta again.