January 2009
my golf runs fine, and starts no problem, however when i drive it up to a junction or a roundabout and deppress the clutch the engine revs down strate passed the idel revs and cuts out. some times it drops to about 400rpm then starts coughing and splutering before finaly cutting out. Read more
Hi folks,
I bought my xsara a year ago and thought it could do with a service at a dealership. They recommended a change of pads and discs (not too daunting). One of the things they noted on the service sheet was that the handbrake needed adjusted. Again no big deal, I thought.
When I got in the car there was far more travel in the handbrake than there was before. It was now coming up 8 clicks.
Anyway- I changed the pads and discs with no dramas but when I checked the brakes they took quite a few pumps to build up pressure. Once pressure was built up the pedal still seemed to be creeping to the floor and if left for a minute pressure dropped again.
We went through the process of bleeding the front brakes- No air, no change. My dad said that the fluid coming out had been quite dirty. Maybe opening the caliper had pushed dirt through a valve in the master cylinder and bust it. Sounds plausible I thought so he replaced that. No change.
We bled the back brakes and got some small air bubbles. But still no real improvement in the feel.
Adjusting the hand brake is next and possibly bleeding the whole system again in the correct order. How much fluid should I need to go through?? So far- two and a half wee bottles used.
Can anyone else think what could be causing this?
Many thanks
P Read more
I've no idea what the set up on your handbrakes are but maybe the brake pedal/handbrake travel are related, either the brake shoes need adjusting or, if they're auto adjusting, they've siezed. There's also the possibility the garage backed the adjusters off to get the drums off and look at the shoes, then forgot to re-adjust them when they put the drums back. Looks like this is next on your list to look at anyway.
If the old brake fluid is black then you'll see when the new stuff comes through (it's also way past time to change it!), not really sure how much but I think a litre should do it.
Another thing you could watch out for is bulging brake hoses.
I'm (also) not sure if yours is similar but the Haynes for my '98 Peugeot 406 (and my 2004 - don't ask) warns not to turn the ignition on when I'm messing with the brakes because air can enter the ABS unit and I'll need Peugeot to sort it out with a special piece of kit (arm, leg, left testicle).
Hi Guys,
Could really do with your help, last week my Golfs just decided its not going to start properly from cold anymore. It'll fire up if i keep my foot on the accelerator then keep the revs up for about 10 minutes til its warmed up but if i don't warm it up it'll instantly cut out. Ive replaced the temp sensor at the front of the engine but this had no effect. I'm not really mechanically sound so any ideas what to try or how to fix would be much apprciated =D
Cheers
Paul Read more
I had the exact same fault with mine, it has done 170k. The problem turned out to be the engine breathing passing oil through to the inlet pipe just before it goes into the throttle body. If you remove the inlet pipe and find oil in there, clean it out and also clean the throttle butterfly, this cured my problem for a couple of months then i have to reclean again, hope this helps.
www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/58_8568.htm
These things are pretty bright, & don't go 'Ping!' if you knock them over. Read more
How many crime writers does it take to change a light bulb ?
Two...one to screw it almost in and one to give it a surprising twist at the end !
I'll get me coat !
Ted
I am looking in to the possibility buying a new estate car, and I require automatic transmission, preferably of the DSG/Tiptronic type.
Many models are under consideration (leaning mostly towards a Skoda Octavia at the moment), however it has crossed my mind that I would dearly like to buy a British built car if at all possible.
So, that's my question. Are there any estates built in the UK currently which can be ordered with auto/tiptronic? I do not want an MPV (wife's got one) and I will under no circumstances consider an SUV type vehicle (including the Nissan Qashqai).
I will consider Focus/Golf sized or Mundaneo/Passat sized cars, and would want to avoid "prestige" or "premium" brands. Although I might consider an X-Type if I could get a cheap deal I suppose, it is British built I presume.
Max budget around 15k and will consider new or pre-reg/nearly new (up to a year old).
Anyone got any suggestions? I'm particularly wondering if the outgoing Vectra C is built on these shores......even though I've never thought I'd ever buy a Vauxhall. Read more
I assume you're not after the new Avensis? You mention you might go for a hatch and they have done the same as Honda with the Accord and only have a saloon and estate.
tinyurl.com/9ub2c8
A lot of "bells and whistles" - Flood damaged ? but a runner?
Read more
I should think that Smokie's car, if on eBay would make relatively good money - far better than an insurance claim if it's only worth £3k.
"Unfortunately I was clearing out a shed last week and spilled creosote in the boot on the way to the tip. The car smells of creosote, and my wife hates me for it. As I was going to change the car anyway, I've bought some domestic peace by selling the car now."
I have a Fiesta Diesel that recently completely failed after going through a fairly minor puddle. The EAC Fail warning appeared on the dash. After about 30 minutes the car started and was fine for several weeks. I had the car checked and they found 'a hose off the back of the engine so it was probably taking in water' They obviously fitted the hose back. However, now I notice in wet weather the EAC Fail warning intermittantly appears, especially when changing down gears. Occasionally the car will cut out and then, in effect, bump start itself. Read more
Have either of you fixed this as my 1.25 fiesta is now doing this and it is very annoying spent over £400 in my local garage by changing and abs wheel bearing and other abs sensor and it's still not fixed
Hello All,
My wife clipped a low wall which broke off a post card sized corner of the rear bumper. I have all of the pieces and they fit together OK.
Is there a solvent that would 'weld' these plastic bits?
Has anyone ever used 'Super Glue' and was it successful please.?
Any help welcome, Vinnie. Read more
There are many places that can do a successful repair on your bumper - but it depends where you are located. Try googling 'PLASTIC BUMPER REPAIRS' and loads of companies are offering their services.
hope this helps
Hi,
A couple of weeks before Xmas i was on the M25 when i suddenly lost power, had my foot on the gas but the car just slowed and started lurching forward, managed to limp into a Services Car Park and call the AA. When the AA turned up i mentioned that my central locking had been unlocking itslef while i was driving and also the day before my radio had just turned itself off and wouldn't come back on for about 10mins, he put a jumplead on and the car started first time, he said i had a 'bad earth' and that it wouldn't be expensive to have it repaired.
Got in touch with a mechanic who was a 'friend of a friend', he fitted a new earth cable for me for £90(cable was £30), drove the car home on saturday night and the central locking still unlocked itself, drove the car on Sunday morning and once again lost power, kept my foot on the gas and it kicked back in after about 5secs of lurching.
As the problem hasn't been fixed by fitting a new earth cable, i was wondering if anyone else had heard of this problem or has any thoughts on what it might be?
Cheers guys.
Read more
Something else i forgot to mention, when the mechanic fixed the new earth cable he said the old one snapped when he removed it and i also had a broken earth bolt, which he fixed.
Hi,
I've been to Tyre fitting centres who make an effort to fit all of the wheel centre caps so they are all 'pointing' the same way (eg, text is right way round to be read).
And I notice used cars in a dealers lot all have the centre caps pointing the same way.
But when a car goes round a corner, dont the wheels turn at different rates? so wont the centre caps point in different directions following a bend?
Or do the caps allow the wheels to turn around them (ie the caps dont turn with the wheel) and so do stay pointing the same way?
Thanks for any info.
Durelli Read more
I have said this before but in many dealerships there are little "Hitlers" in the form of sales managers who go out their way to get things done with car displays just because they can and as a sign of power over the sales team. I would not be surprised if they were asked to jack up cars to turn the wheels.
This would be added to their other habits like lining up cars perfectly equidistant ( I have witnessed one sales manager with a length of string making sure they were), the old favourite one wheel up on a ramp (always convinced me to buy the car as a result), the row of boots open etc etc.
GordonBennett must see a whole load of these displays in his travels, maybe even more so now that the sales folk have got nothing else to occupy their time!
Browse
good good glad it did mate, just wish i knew what was wrong with mine lol