April 2009
Driving my newish (to me) Mazda 6 through town this morning, I flicked on the cruise control at 30mph as it sudddenly dawned on me that it would be a good idea to help me keep to 30 along a road with several speed cameras.
After about 500 metres or so, the road took a dip downhill on what is a fairly steep gradient (bicycles are often travelling faster than cars down this particular stretch). However, the cruise did not hold the car at 30 and it started gathering speed.
I was under the impression that cruise should hold the car at the selected speed whether going up or down hill. Am I wrong? Is this a fault, or is it normal behaviour on a Mazda 6? If I remember correctly, the cruise I had on a Seat Toledo held the selected speed whatever the gradient. And I shall have to try it out now on my wife's Touran next time I'm driving it. Read more
If you are running an Aygo/C1/107 check the water pump isn't leaking.
Our Aygo (late 2005 build) pump has failed and is now at the dealers waiting for a replacement.
There is a back order as the part has been redesigned to prevent further failures - first available date for a new one is 12 May.
The problem is a slow weep and there will be no evidence of water leaking from the car. Check the header tank level - ours was just above minimum and check around the pulley areas. You are looking for bright pink staining on all pulleys from the coolant.
Toyota have been excellent with us and provided a long term hire car - a Nissan Micra which is IMHO better than the Yaris I drove last week, it's just a pity it's so ugly on the outside! Read more
stuartli there is so little to go wrong what do they do with it for
it to be so unreliable.
Our SEAT Ibiza is a pretty simple car, but it's still broken down 4 times in 4 years - 3 of those times at moments that caused significant inconvenience.
It also miserably failed its MOT at 4yrs.
As it's the same car as VW Polo and Skoda Fabia then the same things could happen to one of those.
I have a Volkswagen LT35 2.5 TDI which has been running well until it started making a tapping sound intermitently, however i came in after a run and found that when the van was at idle its sounds really rough and tapping however when i rev the engine the noise goes away, i drve the van again to see if the power is there and it is but soon as i idle it the horrid noise comes back, since then i took the front timing cover off and found that the timing belt was really loose, so suspect its slipped some teeth, the van still runs but im not going to and revs up with the noise going away, it think its slipped a couple of teeth, how likely is it that theres valve damage? am i likely to got away with it and can put a new belt on it and tensioner?
Forgot to mention theres no smoke Read more
Just out of interest ID, a mate who had the 'pleasure' of doing several of these (and successfully changed no5 glow plug...respect...tried meself without success on the engine in my Volvo once) told me that the camshaft pulley had no woodruff key for locking to camshaft and relied purely on the tightness of the locking bolt, and the essential use of a proper timing kit to set the belt position.
Did i understand that correctly please?
As stated, airbag light is flashing on daughters car, she tells me the light stays on continually sometimes but flashes at other times.
Any thoughts please?
Its a nice little motor in good overall condition and very economical so worth fixing. Read more
i asked in the post office today for any pre increase first class stamps,apparently they dont put these in the sale to clear them out though so i had to pay 39 new pence for one
Should the button be pressed in, or not?
I only ask because the handbook of the CC3 says do not press the button while applying the brake.
A poster in one the Honda CRV threads has been told the same by Honda.
I've always pressed the button and never had any problems.
I wonder what difference it makes and why the advice not to press the button is given?
Read more
Speaking with innocence of a provincial bumpkin, have you tried bearding Boris on that one Lud ? Strikes me that he might be the sort of guy who would decide to think it preposterous to pay to drive around your home city. Maybe not of course, but might be worth a try, especially if you emphasise the effect on those with more limited resources ?
I expect Boris has a handbrake. ( for thread decorum )
;-)
now im only 18 looking at buying my first car, so im not too good at spotting dodgy deals
but this deal looks a little strange
i emailed this guy about him selling his 2007 for 2k asking why it was so cheap, thinking it may have been involved in an accident
and i got this reply...
Hello there
Sorry for my late reply regarding my 2007 Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 Cdti Club 5 Dr ,
My name is Jacques LaPrise
Please take some time to read this whole email with attention, because I want you to understand how this
transaction will work.
I am writing you regarding the 2007 Vauxhall Corsa listed on autotrader for 2,000 £. The car is still for sale and it is in perfect
condition, the bodywork is immaculate, no scratches, dents or hidden defects as well the interior is in excellent
condition, never involved in any kind of accidents, HPI clear, non-smoking and it has 40,000 miles. The car is located
in Birmingham locked in my garage and will come with full service history.
The price that I'm asking for the car is 2,000 £.
Now I'm in France because I just opened a store in my home city Bordeaux / France and I need a car here. I already
found one here but I need to sell my car from UK first.
I want to make sure that you really intend to buy my car because I will fly to Birmingham only if I am sure I am
dealing with a serious buyer with cash money available. It will be no problem for me if you just tell me that you
don't want or can't buy the car.
To avoid coming to UK for nothing the best way for both of us it's to transfer the whole amount of 2,000 £ ON YOUR
NAME to Birmingham, using Western Union. You could ask your partner or a member family to help you with this and to send the money on
your name to Birmingham. In this way your money will stay at Western Union until we meet to close our deal. You control
the money, since you are the Receiver and your partner is the Sender.
Note that you don't send me any money in advance for the car, I ask you to do that because just in this way I can
verify the transfer online to see if you are a serious buyer with money available.
Once I successfully verify the transfer online with Western Union i will fly back home and meet you to complete the
deal in person and you will pay me in then.
If you are still interested to make the deal with me please reply so we can start the ball rolling to set up my trip
back to UK.
Thank you for your understanding.
Cheers
2007 Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 Cdti Club 5 Doors, Manual, Hatchback, Diesel, 2007 57 Reg, 40000 miles
transferring the whole amount on my name to some guy seems a little odd
considering i havent even tested or viewed the car yet
thanks for any replies Read more
maybe autotrader are more interested in taking money than making reporting scams easier?
Spy cars to catch illegal drivers
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7985833.stm
They look like this
www.key103.co.uk/Article.asp?id=1256100&spid=23160
I now have this image of a guy in a truck eating a Yorkie and a snorkel appears at the side window and "yor nicked". :-(
www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Smart-police-car-aimi...p
For some more detail Read more
just a guess here but they use a simular system in germany and have done for a number of years, all the photos there contain a data strip showing the cars speed and therefore proving the car is moving and not parked up........sorry mr x there goes another of your police state conspiracy theories
It's a 1993 Mk3 Astra 1.4MPI (C14SE engine). I have a leaky head gasket, which I've managed to avoid attempting to replace by using an additive called 'K-Seal'' This has worked fine for about 4000 miles but, despite a fresh application the old problem is back with a vegeance! Has anyone out there changed a head gasket on one of these? Looking at the Haynes manual it looks a tad daunting (I'm also conscious of the fact that nuts and bolts on a 15 year-old car are often a bit reluctant to come off!!). I've replaced the timing belt, pullies, water pump on this car (and much else besides, as previous posts will testify to!) but the head had never been off from new. I know someone will say 'for goodness sake dump it and get a new car!' - but I like it, and I still think it has a few more miles left in it. Are there any particular points to warch out for? Grateful for any help/advice. Read more
Job done! More straightforward than I feared it would be. Replaced timing belt as well while I was at it (34,000 since last change). Water ways seemed fairly clean so didn't see a need to flush (to get rid of K-Seal). Had to have the head skimmed though (measured 0.15mm with a straight-edge - Haynes says max of 0.05mmm). All back together and running like a sewing-machines again!! Many thanks to all for your help and advice.
I've got a problem with persistent stalling at idle or very low speeds approaching junctions - once fully warmed up no problems
The local garage has put it through their diagnostic checker but found nothing wrong
any suggestions out there? Read more
Hello Kaimal, I was wondering if you found any solution? My car's having the same issue.
Alex
A piece of good news for mondeo mk3 2.5l owners-
I had an alternator on its way out, confirmed by Ford. The battery light was coming on and off.
The Ford price was £370 approx, plus fitting say £450-£500. I didnt like that and was recommended to use an independent specialist.
The fitted alternator was not the exact model as none could be found at short notice, but I was assured it would be compatible and capable .
Price fitted with two year guarantee was £213.00.
Moral of the story is dont use main dealers if you dont have to, and be flexible.
I'll let you know if it ends in tears.
Read more
That's good and a good price then. My old Mk3, which was a 2001 2.5 V6, alternator packed up whilst it was still under warranty, fortunately. It looks like a really difficult job to DIY unless you've got access to lifting ramp, due to the restricted space up there behind the engine, although I still would have had a go if it had not been a warranty job.
Browse
You may be poor GB, but only the drivers "trained" to car standard will consider you unskilled.