May 2009
OK, I will try to summarise the problem. I noticed the temperature gauge wasn't working, and then I noticed there was coolant on top of the spark plugs!!! So I took it to Ford, who fitted new ECT sensor, and also replaced the spark plugs and the cylinder head core plugs (was this necessary?), charging me £350 for the privilege. Now I am experiencing that when I turn the ignition on, the engine revs up to 2-2500 rpm, for a long time, and the temperature gauge takes a long time to move and even when it does, the needle doesn't go to near the middle, unless I go for a long drive down the motorway. When the needle move to the middle, the engine will idle nicely at around 750rpm. I presume the choke keeps the revs up until the temperature increases then will slow down? But why is it taking a long time for the temperature gauge to move? The sensor was replaced. What should I do? I am getting really fed up. There doesn't appear to be any more coolant on top of the spark plugs so that's good. Ford mechanics seem to have fixed one problem, yet caused another? I would really appreciate any advice you could give me on this problem. Thanks! Read more
It is important to have two working headlights, and some countries even require you to carry a spare bulb.
It is impossible to change a headlight bulb on many (most?) modern cars without specialist equipment and a great deal of effort.
I may be wrong, but isn't this a design fault?
(I can remember, as an extremely unhandyman, being able to change the headlight bulb on my 1980 VW Golf.)
And why isn't anyone campaigning to get the manufacturers to sort it out?
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>One bulb in 37 years Mr Snail? That must be a world record...
Ask him how many cars he's had in that time.
};---)
I made it come to 39 years since 1970, but I must admit I used old-fashioned mental arithmetic and not a calculator like you youngsters do! Since you ask, during that time I've had 13 cars, and I've averaged about 15,000 miles per year. Is it relevant?
Hi,
My EMU light is on all the time and my car seems to lack power below about 2500 revs, but seems fine above 2500 revs.
When pulling away in 1st there is a big 'flat spot' in the revs, I need to put my foot right down to get above 2500 revs. Sometimes this is not as bad if I blip the throttle (clutch full down - no load) before trying to pull away in 1st.
The revs are steady and not surging at idle.
I have great faith in this forum, TOPBLOKE has sorted out an earthing problem with my MAF / temp sensor and diagnosed a broken dis unit within the last 12 - 18 months !! Thank you once again !!
Anyway, I have used the paperclip method and have retreived the following code from my ECU :- 0100.
Has any one experienced this and got any ideas ?
Thank you in advance,
frustrated.......
Sutters
{subject header edited to include full error code} Read more
Hi,
I left the MAF disconnected and drove it to work today, it drove okay, not as 'flat' at low revs, easier to pull off in 1st.....
Will this damage anything ? Will it reduce economy ?
I'm thinking of leaving it like this until I can get a replacement MAF.
Bellboy / Top bloke - where would you suggest getting a replacement from ?
Thank you for the help,
Sutters.
It has been announced in The Sunderland Echo that weekend shifts are to return at Nissan from next Saturday due mainly to the various scrappage schemes on the continent and in this country.This will be due to an expected short term demand for volume. Read more
Catching up with Ford then;currently selling all the Fiestas they can make!!
Can anyone recommend a good/large used car dealer in North London (preferably nearish Islington)? Apologies for such a boring question, but I have no idea where to go.
I need to buy a small car (Fiat 500, Ford Ka or the like) maybe 1 year old. I don't know much about cars and I don't want to spend ages looking. I want to just go along to a couple of largeish car dealers, look at what they've got, and pick on.
Any help is hugely appreciated!
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Car Giant
Just reflecting on all the posts by those with carburettor nostalgia. The Stoneleigh kit car show is on this weekend in Warwickshire. Even if you abhor the thought of driving scaffolding or a re-worked fibreglass bathtub the cars can be quite fun to see. We might go on Sunday or Monday if I can get out of decorating/gardening/etc........
;-) Read more
Hi,
My car is in the garage at the moment and my company has hired me an Insignia.
Really impressed with the car as I have been disappointed with previous Vauxhalls. It rides very well (it has 17" wheels) and also handles rather tidely. Wind noise is very low but tyre noise is considerably more excessive than my car and my car has wider wheels (225 front 245 rear, W203 c class merc).
Interior size is very good and the boot also looks to be a useful size. Stereo includes DAB and this is a nice addition.
Negatives: The door mirrors are truely woeful. Why are they almost triangular in shape rather than rectangular? The view from them if you wish to change lanes is dire and as a 35,000 mile pa driver, this would really put me off. Likewise the view out of the rear window is also poor. It is a small window and you can't see much at all when reversing, this coupled with poor side mirrors is not good. The only other negative I have noticed concerns the bonnet. I know that in modern cars you can't really see the end of the bonnet but this car is probably the worst car I have even driven for knowing where it ends. I accept that you will learn this with time.
The final matter concerns the engine in this car, a 1.8 petrol, just nowhere near enough power. I'm sure it is cheap and economical for tax (I haven;t checked though) but you really need to rev it to get it to go (and even then not very fast). It's OK at cruising on the motorway but for single A road overtaking, I think you would need quite a long run up. I don;t no how much the car weighs but I guess quite a bit as it is a big car and 1.8 with no turbo is just not enough. I'm sure that this doesn;t apply to the larger petrol engines or the turbo charged diesels.
For what it's worth and I cannot verify it, the trip computer claims I've been getting 35 MPG in mixed motoring. Read more
0-60 in 10.9 seems a bit ambitious from the way it goes about it's business. My merc is a W203 2.2 auto CDi and I think that's about 0-60 in 10 seconds. The Insignia wouldn't stand a chance against my car. More importantly though, the lack of torque means you have to wring its neck to get this performance.
www.gtiproject.com/
its new its fast its different
#
go on you know you want to
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best lap 24 seconds, and then i just kept flying of the corners all the time
Its very clever though how you get "picked back up" by one of the enginners
Top stuff
My alarm has started to go of randomly on hot days (not often then)
I had a bout of this last year, 2 or 3 times, I found a rather large spider hanging from a thread, assuming this was the culprit, I removed it and sprayed the interior with insect killer, no more troubles but this might have been misplaced, as we had no more hot days.
It has now done it 5 times, about the same time each day when the weather is hot, I have sprayed the interior and boot each time but to no avail.
I have check the windows, they are all closed, I have checked the footwells, they are all dry, I have replaced the car battery.
the alarm goes off for about 30 seconds then stops, the indicators continue to flash, I tried pushing the internal de-activator button, but that didn't do anything.
anyone please, any help or ideas? Read more
No, the VAG forum is at
www.vagowners.co.uk or www.vwaudiforum.co.uk or any of the other VAG related forums google throws at you when searching.
This forum isn't specifically dedicated to one make/model of car.
hi, i have a mystery misfire on my berlingo van. this van is petrol. it only misfires on idle. spark plugs all ok coil pack likewise and a compression test has shown no faults. now i am stumped, anyone got any ideas of what this could be? many thanks. Read more
If it has been misfiring for long it may well have killed the xhaust catalyser thingy.
The over revving could be caused by a faulty throttle position sensor. Unlikely to be detected by the ECU and show up as a fault code. Takes about 5 minutes to change.