March 2009
Hi I am looking on buying a 03 plate 2.2 dci expression laguna automatic. Has anyone got any reviews on this car? I would appreciate it if people have had problems that you could let me know. I havent had the best luck with cars (6 in the past 4 yrs lol) and really need a reliable car for me and my growing family. Many thanks lucy Read more
Hi All,
I am in the process of buying a Mazda 6 TS2 (facelift) 2006, I heard that rust quite common the pre facelift model, especially around the wheel arch.
Has Mazda sorted out the rust issues on the facelift model? or should I move toward a 2005 Mondeo/Honda Accord.
Read more
Hi issieman,
Did you end up buying the car? How is the car doing? Would you mind updating us, as to how your experiences with the car have been?...
Dear All,
recently I put too much oil in the engine of my Renault Master 1996, 2.5 diesel minibus (110,000 miles). At the MOT check when at high revs the van started chucking out black smoke, when the tester turned off the ignition, the engine still ran. Looks like oil got sucked up into the fuel system. The RAC repair man drained the oil out and the van went through the MOT ok. Now, the van is very difficult to start in the mornings. It takes about 2 minutes of turning over the engine and then it starts with a puff of black smoke. When started, it is fine throughout the day. Just a little more sound than normal (slight knocking). Halfords auto shop told me to drain the fuel, change the diesel filter and flush the system (not sure how). This morning, I cannot start the engine and the battery is slowly dying. Have I totalled the engine? What is my best move now? Thanks for any advice, Matt Read more
Hi Gordon
Thanks for a reply. You are right that i made a mistake without realizing what could go wrong. This is my first car ever. I am sharing this information so that others can learn from my mistake.
But my car has now done about 4000miles after that mistake and i got a main dealer garage and another engine specialist to check my car for any possible problem. They both said the extra oil does not seem to have done any damage. The extra whining noise from the car is from the turbo...refurbished turbo fitted about 4 months back.
To be honest I have taken my car to 3 mechanics all confirmed that turbo is making some noise engine is fine. i need to hopefully get that sorted and carry on.
Regards
Anup
Hi,
The EPC light has flashed up on my polo.
I have done a bit of research but i want to be as sure as can be..
Yesterday, I noticed a brake light was out so i checked the other lights too but left them on accidentally, so i had to jump start the car because the battery was dead. This worked ok and the brake light bulb was replaced and everything was fine. But today i have noticed the epc light is on.
Help would be appreciated! Read more
What? the battery was never disconnected.
I had the brake light switch replaced and it is working fine now.
I went over a speedhump in Streatham, South London this week, about 15mph. An almighty "clonk" from the front, and the steering started making rattling noises as it turned right....
Just been up the MOT station who jacked it up for me and the drivers side front coil spring has snapped.
Obviously I wil lhave to get a new set fitted...
I was not going fast, and the hump is quite high, and has lots of gauge marks on the descending part - and is very steep. Do I stand any chance of claiming back any of the cost from the council as as far as I am concerned this is the cause of the spring to break as it is far too steep.
If so where do I write..... Read more
"I went over a bump in Haringey Council......I go over them at around 10-15 mpg...."
Either the councillors are all very fat - or else to use that much petrol you must have been going at such a speed that I'm surprised all the springs didn't break....
Friend was "caught without insurance" driving his 2006 car. This car is insured in his name under it's original reg number. A wee while after the policy was started, he transferred a private plate (a 2001 Y-plate with his initials) onto the car from his old one but forgot to advise his insurers (genuine lapse!).
Basically the outcome is that the car was impounded after he was stopped as it wasn't on MID with the new plate, he had to pay £170 to release it, and he has been given a fixed penalty of £200 and 6 points.
He's got 28 days to decide whether or not to take the points + FP.
Question: is there any point taking this one to court or is he going to have to take the fall? Anyone have experience of similar, and if so, do the courts take a sympathetic view or otherwise?
Seems very harsh as otherwise the car is unmodified, but his insurer aren't being helpful and have actually sent him a letter saying after this year's policy lapses they no longer want his business.
Anyhoo - thanks for any advice.
Read more
I am suspicious the refusal to renew is because my friend is 25 and if he gets another 6 points will be on 9 points. I'm not sure which company he is with, but that's not the important part if he challenges the FP notice - has an offence actually been commited? maybe the CAB would be a better bet than a lawyer initially from the cost point of view?
I can't see how in court it can be proven he had no valid insurance, as the insurer has not withdrawn it despite being made aware of recent events. The VIN/engine number applicable to the car as originally insured are no different that at the time of taking out the insurance.
As far as I am aware, not informing the insurance company of changes to a car does not amount to "driving without insurance" until the policy has been cancelled (eg. if a boy racer adds phat alloys and a bodykit but doesn't inform the insurance company - the Police can't charge with driving w/o insurance).
I'll certainly keep the BR informed of whatever transpires.
Googling implies this is a fairly harmless, common problem, but I know there are some long time VAG PD owners on here, so just wanted some reassurance.
2002 Golf GT TDI 130. Starts instantly (literally half a second after turning the key), idles at the right speed, but has a slightly "lumpy" idle quality for the first minute or so if the car has been standing for more than half an hour or so. The revs stay steady according to the rev counter, and the engine sounds steady, but there's an intermittent gentle "rocking" from the engine, as if it has a slight misfire.
Drives perfectly though, and as soon as the engine is even slightly warm, the problem disappears. Seems to be in good condition otherwise (goes well, economical, not smoky etc).
Any thoughts?
Read more
I have the same engine in my A4 and does exactly the same thing. If you sit on idle from cold for a minute or so I get a noticeable change in engine note with an associated click from somewhere and all is well. Mine has done it since I bought it at 110K and has nearly 155K now and not given any trouble.
I might be buying a car but I don't want to get into that yet, there has been enough said and enough advice given so far on other threads of mine, I just have a very specific question according to HJ this engine is a chain cam can somebody confirm this? Its never had a cambelt change and I think HJ has the answer to why.
Its the 1.2 16V unit found in the Corsa. I always knew the 1.0 was a chain cam but I assumed the 1.2 was the same as the 1.4 16v. Read more
The exact definition of Corsa's into A,B,C,D etc has always seemed flaky to me. The version I referrred to was the 1998 -99 minor facelift with vauxhall v badge front, suspension uprated and anti roll bars fitted as standard plus Lotus revalving of the shockers.
My wife's was an automatic which has a delightful litte auto box, still smooth as ever at 90K plus. However the auto version has a different oil filter to the manual varsion (old style element to be renewed) and I don't know if this may influence the oil starvation issues. Either way it coped with motorway drives of several hundred miles very capably.
Been having problem with the brake light switch which controls all 3-rear brake lights.
About 2 months ago i noticed all 3 light were on even when the brake pedal was not pushed, i adjusted the switch so that they come on when the pedal is pressed- all ok for a few weeks, then one day i noticed the brake light don?t come on at all. I purchased a new switch from gsfcarparts and i noticed the plunger section on the new switch was longer so maybe on the old switch it was jammed.
Fine all ok i thought- then about a month later exactly the same problem happened (plunger partially stuck in- so brakes wont come on when the pedal is pressed). Gsf replaced the part and now this one has lasted less than a week with the same problem.
So is there an underlying fault with the brake pedal or something else which is causing the plunger section to stick in, or could it be all 3 switches are faulty (2 from gsf, 1 the original).
Read more
thanks all
ive put a new switch in (original peugeot part). checked the rear and front lights and all seems to be in order and all bulbs work. there was very minor crust on some of the bulbs contacts- but i dont thing anything major- ive given them a clean. i have the feeling this switch will go the same way.
Hi, I wonder if anyone can offer any advice on this:
I test drove a used (2001) Ford Focus (Automatic) earlier this week, which was for sale at a local independent garage - it was advertised as having "remote central locking" on AutoTrader...
When I test drove the car, the keyfob was missing a battery so the remote part of the central locking didn't work. It appeared to work fine when locking/opening the doors with the key though, so I presumed buying a new battery for the fob would suffice.
After the test drive, I negotiated a price with the dealer and agreed to buy - without warranty. I collected the car today, and paid via MasterCard credit card.
Now having had the chance to spend some time with the vehicle, I've noticed that 1) The "airbag warning light" is permanently on, 2) The handbrake doesn't prevent the car from moving quite freely and 3) the remote central locking does not work (other than making a clunking noise without actually locking any doors). Rather frustratingly, one of the rear doors doesn't lock at all via the remote or via turning the key. The key seems to open/lock all doors except this one - which I have to lock from the inside manually.
I realise these are things I should have picked up on during the test drive, but I'm not that savvy when it comes to buying a car!
I'm prepared to sort the airbag light and the handbrake out myself, but should I expect the dealer to fix the central locking issue for me? (bearing in mind I didn't negotiate any warranty as part of the deal). I personally think he should, considering it was advertised with remote central locking, and I've only had it for a few hours(!) but not sure where I stand legally?
Any help greatly appreciated! Read more
interestingly nortones i have given autotrader 3 feedbacks in the last 12 months and 2 of these have indeed been taken up and acted on for the good of all
the only one i want them to do now is go back to 1978 prices where an advert was 7/6p :-0
Browse
.jpg)
its the only car i know where every trader i know has had one but wouldnt have another
i wonder why
ok its because they sounded cheap under the hammer