February 2009
I followes a cirtroen for a while tonight. Strange backside, like an old Volvo estate stretched vertically by about a foot. Normal brake lamps, odd-looking lamps up the "pillars", and when the brakes applied a fat line of red along the whole roof line, side to side. Most 'orrible and distracting, complete overkill, hard to see anything else further in front. A Bad Thing IMO. What was it? Read more
engine runs perfect when in park and can be revved up, but as soon as a load is put on the engine it starts to mess around. travelling along the road it will sometimes run ok but then when acceleration occurs it will missfire until a cruising speed is reached and the throttle is eased off and then it runs ok. it only ever seems to be one cylinder. it's easy to determine this because the one that is misfiring is also the one that has a small leak from exhaust gasket which has been there for almost a year and ran perfect before........... Read more
yep it was the leads....as the engine rocked on mounting it was just enough for lead to short out.......
I have just bought a newish Toyota Avensis T-spirit with a navigation system with TNS310(Traffic)Plus, but I can't find the navigation unit in the car, I've had a look at the manual and the location of the unit is not in it!!! I don't want to go to the garage just incase they try and charge me for their time, can anybody help PLEASE!!
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Hi
I've got a 56 plate T4 and the Navigation system appears to be under the passenger seat. I've had Merc C Classes before and they are not as good - the diesel in the Toyota is much quieter. Good luck - I'm sure you will enjoy this car. CB
Sorry if this has been mentioned before.
But is there anything that we can all do to try and speed up the repair of the roads after the recent freeze?
The roads that I use to get to work on were once pretty reasonable, but now they are frankly highly dangerous! I guess due to the combination of snow, ice and salt, small potholes and cracks now resemble craters on the moon, and when it?s rained there?s no telling whether they are an inch deep or a foot deep. There are sections of road where it is only really safe to drive along at either a snails pace or to pass the potholes on the other side of the road.
My council have always been very good at requests to fill in potholes, they even have a facility to report them via their website, but I think at the moment there are far too many to be able to tackle them on their own.
Unless this is only in my neck of the woods then other BR?s must have experienced this, what?s the chance of the Government stepping in and implementing some kind of program to resurface the worst hit roads before we start putting in claims to our councils for damage to our cars (I know I?m dreaming).
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Be public-spirited and fill the local ones in yourself. Tarmac is readily available at any good DIY store.
I like my car accessories, and I like trying to protect my car from dents by parking as far away from other cars as I can but I just cannot see me ever deciding I want a set of these
tinyurl.com/dllws9
OK, maybe if car was to be parked up in an airport car park for 2 weeks but everyday use down Tesco? I don't think so?
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My idea is a couple of inflatable tubes, joined with ropes that you'd throw over the car on leaving it.
However 2 of our cars have nasty dents high up on the rear doors which must have been caused by 4x4 rear doors being flung open by kids - no idea how you could guard against that.
Just musing really. Maybe it's just me but I find cars can go from being contemporary to looking old fashioned really suddenly.
If you take some commonplace models such as Mondeo mk3s, Peugeot 406s, Previous model Passats etc. they all were and still are a daily sight on the road. So commonplace as to disappear against the roadscape. The latest one to look old fashioned in my opinion anyway, is the Mondeo Mk3. Strange thing is though, it has happened since Christmas. Before that they looked OK. Now they suddenly look old. Shame really.
Some cars stand the visual test of time better than others whereas others age very quickly when their production run stops.
For example, I think a Volvo 850 estate still looks reasonably modern where another maker's early 90s model might look positively antidiluvian.
It's the speed at which it happens I notice. One day a car looks OK or even modern, the next it's yesterday's child.
I suppose that's the good news for the canny second hand buyer really. Buy something which has lost its youthful looks and you might be getting a very good car for sweetie money.
I'll stop rambling now and give others a chance....... Read more
I again thought you could not get more modern
Reading these comments brings home to me how difficult it would be for makers to sell cars if so many people weren't sucked into buying the 'modern'. Nearly all of them know that in about 5 years the car will look stale, so they go out and repeat the cycle. A few models sell because they are really good cars (to drive, that is), but not many maintain that aura indefinitely.
The Astra comments illustrate that a car can look great but not be worth driving ...
I mean, I know that in several countries Liqui-Moly products are not widely known, but from the people that have tried them, I've heard some wonders... Is that true? I'm planning to use some mineral oil in my Zetec 1.4 SE engine... It would do the job, or should I stick to the well known brands like Castrol, Shell or Agip? Read more
I think, with respect, Woodspeed has misunderstood the product. Liqui-Moly are a respected supplier/manufacturer of quality oils and chemical treatments for engines in Germany I believe. Their injector cleaner is particularly good but difficult to source. If their 5w/30 oil meets Ford spec (which if it is a straight mineral possibly WONT) you shouldnt have a problem. If it doesnt then I would not recommend you use it. Use either Ford's own or Texaco Havoline (same stuff) semi synthetic,and you wont go wrong. Be wary of full synthetic on an older engine, it lubricates well but may result in higher oil consumption.
Had a nightmare with my 54 reg car over the last year and won't bore anyone with it now. Details on Parkers!!! I have had a turbo blow, replaced, second one damaged and knackered engine. Extended warranty refused to pay as wear and tear, but on all 17 visits to the garage not once was EGR or CAT checked. Now on new engine with same EGR and CAT and I seem to have lost the oommmpf it used to have, and can't do any better than 34 MPG, and I spend most of my life on the M80 Stirling doing 60 to 70 all the way. Would i be right in thinking that the EGR at least should have been checked or replaced at first turbo blow up. And would that fact that it was never done caused my engine damage after the first turbo was replaced. The second one was only caught as it was in garage every 2 weeks, and it had a damaged compressor and needed rebalance. car had done 50 000 or so, as I have had the infamous dash blow up as well, along with every other fault you care to list! Read more
DP
I had mentioned it a few times but was never taken seriously. Arnold Clark were most unhelpful. That said I bought car at 37 000 and it was serviced correctly to that point, then I had it serviced again 14 000 after I had it, and 1 week after this it was in for oil loss, and been the case ever since. Oil used has been 5W/40 fully synthetic, all filters and turbo were from Renault, and my as regards driving I drive about 400 a week and some times 100 a week depends on where in Central ScotlandWest coast I need to be (work for NHS) and when I get a chance I do give it some welly. In 18 months of having the car I have added maybe 20 000, and it has spent a good 6 months i the garage! I only mentioned that CAT as I currently struggle to get more than 34 mpg! That said, took a Peugeot 4007 GT for a test drive today, and was very impressed.
My sister has a 54 plate 1.4 astra, recently started firing on 3 and then 2 cylinders. only got 27k on it and has two oil changes a year using all vauxhall items as my dad is ex vauxhalls. Inspection at lookers vauxhall found knackered rings and a valve which had a chunk missing out of it which we have kept. Its obviously a material defect in the way its broken. The cylinder was heavily coked too. Is this a common fault. The repair cost 1100 quid all in, which you shouldnt have to swallow at this mileage. Any experiences such as this ???
regards
Dave Read more
Just out of interest, where does she buy her fuel from?
Friend of mine reports "something in the engine affecting the steering (pulling to the left and vibrating through the steering wheel but when I put it in neutral or put the clutch in it went away
Went into garage and it stopped after a while and they put an engine flush through it and have recommended some nice expensive petrol and a good long run"
I cannot see any link between the symptoms, particularly the pulling to the left. Is this traditional power steering or electrical. Ideas??
Suspect it was a misfire and then imagination, but is this sounding any bells with anyone
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Browse
Could be - bally horrible looking thing. Whoever designed the rear lights should be shot. Straight afterwards, whoever *accepted* the design should be shot as well.