February 2009
Hi
I've got a 52 reg ford focus 2.0 ghia saloon and it had a service yesterday at Benfield Ford, they told me that the rear suspension trailing arm bushes are split and need replacing and have quoted £450!!
Does anyone know if this is correct and what should I be looking at?
Thanks
Read more
I know that we are expecting another icy blast (it's been snowing here on and off here since 11'ish), but I've just driven past the salt-box at the end of my road and seen half a dozen people with their old supermarket carrier bags helping themselves to the road salt.
Looks like I've been missing out on a trick as I've always bought my salt from the DIY shop (for my path & drive), I just hope there's some left for when it's needed for the road. Read more
The Idiots' Guide to Highways Maintenance gives information about British Standards for winter road salt and salt spreaders. tinyurl.com/aosqxc
Incidentally, if I saw people stealing salt out of boxes I would ring the council and inform them. That's the public spirited thing to do.
Does anyone know what the latest news about the Lord Ahmed fatal crash is? I am aware that sentencing was adjourned until the 19th of Jan and this is the most up to date information I have been able to find. I have not heard anything about the 19/01 hearing.
Can anyone enlighten me? Read more
But the peer who did go to jail had burnt his boats with all the cronies who might have supported him.
While doing my routine weekly checks of tyres, fluid levels etc today I discovered a small nail right in the edge of one of my front tyres (it had lost 15psi). Better to find it today rather than when I need the car early tomorrow. The fortunate bit is that as the puncture is too close to the edge of the tread to be repaired it is in a tyre worn to 3mm and is due for replacement. Unusual as usually its in a new tyre. Two new tyres tomorrow, and yes they will go on the back. Read more
My C-max is behaving rather strangely.
The alternator warning light comes on when you switch the ignition on & goes off when the engine is running (i.e. just what it should do) but checking it more thoroughly with a voltmete in the cigar socket, the battery voltage gradually drops over several days and (unlike my other car & every other one I?ve tested) doesn?t shoot up to 14V whilst the alternator is running. I?m thinking ?alternator relay? but perhaps there are other possibilities (hopefully even a fallen off wire).
Exactly the same thing happened back in November but for no apparent reason it righted itsellf after a couple of days.
I've seen an item in another forum about 'slipper bearings' but my alternator does appear to be turning (& in any case if it was stopped , shouldn't the warning light come on ?). Does anyone have any ideas ?
Eric
Read more
Thanks for your input.
When this happened a few weeks ago I was in two minds whether it was alternator or battery but after a couple of days uncertainty (& several overnight charges) the system seemed to right itself and was indeed chucking out 14v when running. It was of course the battery then (other evidence as well) so that's now been replaced (& yes, new one has got a 'silver' label on it). New battery hasn't actually gone 'flat' yet - but only because I won't let it; I'm sure it would if I just ploughed on.
After 2hrs charge I've just taken it for another run. There was a hint that voltage was higher with engine racing than ticking over but it definitely dropped as lights were switched on. Now charging overnight & will take it for another run tomorrow.
I'm inclined to suspect the 'smart charge' system too but am not sure what to replace to cure that. I presume there's an alternator relay somewhere in one of the fuse boxes but the owners handbook is less than helpful on which of the anonymous black boxes it will be.
Not directly connected to this query but does anyone have a list of which fuse does what ? Handbook claims there should be a list in box but I'm blowed if I can agree that it's any help at all.
I've owned the car since new and until last November had never had any bother with it. I have actually replaced it but it's now being driven by my son.
Eric
Hi, my first post on this forum so go easy on me. I bought a 53 plate lpg factory conversion last summer and it's been driving great since i got it. However last week the radiator water warning light came on and i discovered that it has been consuming water. I drove about 140 miles and it went through about two liters of water. There was also a slight temp variation as i was driving but nothing too excessive.
There is no visible signs of water in the oil and it's certainly not smoking so i'm hoping it's nothing to do with the head gasket.
Am far from being an expert but I'm guessing it's the water pump , anybody else fancy taking a stab in the dark as to the issue here.
Thanks in advance.
Swampy Read more
Peter , I also did the test re the reservior and pressure. Definitely no pressure in the water system. Hope to hell it's just a leak somewhere.
Oh dear. Yesterday we had a big problem with our Zantia Estate. Firstly the light comes on (EMS Orange), then she notices a drop in power and a deal of smoking out of the back, and nurses it to a local supermarket car park and calls me, who knows jack about engines. I check fuel (on reserve),all belts in place, oil dipstick, water and antifreeze was done just before Xmas.
With a bit of a turnover after 10 minutes it starts again, and I'm able to make several circuits of the carpark no warning light on, so after the customary "dont drive the thing all the time on reserve" row, we bung some fuel in and drive back to where I'm working, during which time it starts belching smoke again, pretty black, and when I park it it leaves a smut mark on the ground of soot.
We call the AA, and he says he thinks its over injecting " but its OK to nurse it home" about 3 miles and he'll follow her. I finish my work and get home to find it obviously got hauled on the truck, and he's now saying its terminal. Apparently sparks as well as smoke were coming out of the exhaust, and theres a horrible metallic smell of burning.
Today we recalled the AA to see if they can get a diagnostic bloke (a mechanic) round to have a proper look. After a bit of head scratching, he thinks its the cat breaking up. Any advice gratefully received as its a scrap or save situation, and these church mice are having a problem stumping up for cheese let alone hefty garage bills
slt Read more
Where are you located?
Sure is - Got up to an achingly beautiful morning - daylight at 7.30am, birds singing - cold but hey, despite the forecast its on its way, thoughts turned at lunchtime to sorting my garage out including the two bikes.......still cold with a foot of snow on the way but, but its on its way.
Anyone doing the Dragon Rally....15th of February ? Read more
Lovely day here today, no snow. Brilght sunshine. Took the Silverwing for it's MOT, which it passed without even an advisory. Only £20 too. Went on from there down to Delamere Forest where I had a very nice lunch at the station cafe. Was trying out the 'Laminar Lips' recently fitted to the top of the screen and the sides of the fairing.
They work just fine, meaning I can ride comfortably without a visor....even better when it's warmer ! Kept under 80 on the M56 but it should have given her a good clearout.
Ted
Hi
Neither the front or back washer jets are working. Done the usual stuff, water, pricked the jet holes etc, but its not them.
Theres no noise from the motor.
Is this any easy fixable job? If so what parts are needed?
I'm sick of squirting water out of the window!!!
Thanks Read more
Usually the pump gives up on these.Access is from under the front o/s lower plastic panel ,behind bumper.Not difficult but a bit of a fiddle as there is not much much space for your hands.The pumps on these are very expensive at around £50.Fuses ok?hth
Well, I'm sat here in the study listening to hold music on the NatWest fraud helpline, but that's another story. So I browsed through the Telegraph "1,000 ways to save money and time" which was free with Saturday's paper. It says you can use cooking spray (whatever that is) to clean brake dust off your car wheels. Here is the distilled wisdom of the item;
"... brake dust - produced every time ... the pads wear against the brake disks or cylinders. "
Cylinders indeed. If my brake pads were anywhere near the cylinders I would be looking at a design fault, not for some cooking spray. Read more
I've used the cheapest of cheap washing up liquids to clean cars, motorcycles and cycles for forty years and any vehicle I was determined to look after stayed in pristine condition for however long I had it. There is only a tiny bit of salt in washing up liquid, only a small drop of washing up liquid in a bucket of water and it is hosed off within ten minutes of applying.
After the first 100 yards of your journey in tomorrows conditions you will get more salt on your car than ten lifetimes of cleaning will put there, and even if you are a regular buffing and polishing freak it will be there until next weekend at least.
Browse
Another update- Got work carried out at inde, and when I picked the car up bill came to £440 - jiust about same as dealership!!!!