June 2009
I've seen a 05 Fiesta LX with only 3809 miles on the clock, advertised in a local Ford dealer. On making enquiries they say it's got the Durashift, anyone got one, are they any good? I wasn't looking for an auto. Also is such a low mileage on a 4 yr old car a good or bad thing. The car is coming in to the dealer over the weekend from another branch so he couldn't tell me it's history. What should I be looking out for? Incidentally it's priced at £5889. Read more
hi, i got a 1999 1.9 dti, when the tubro comes in there seems to be very lttle power gain. what i can hear is like a tutting noise, air escaping.
does anyone know what this might be please.
also the central locking does not work of the key.
{'txt' talk substituted for proper words!!} Read more
Can any one give advise on how to clear bad emission readings. Its the carbon monoxide that seems to be the problem. The car has been low on fuel and was stood around for months, could bad fuel be making it run rich? Would it help to fill the car a give it a good blast?? Can anyone help?
Thanks Read more
Thanks for the info, next to do on my list.
For the first time in about 15 years my car's sump was overfilled during a routine service. I didn't need to use my car the next day so I took the cheapest option and siphoned out the excess via the dipstick tube with the length of Ø 5.5 mm o.d clear PVC tube I used the last time. It took about ten hours but after the siphoning action had been started the only attention it needed was a visual check every few hours. If overfilling occurred more often I'd think about buying a suction syringe, but at the current frequency it isn't worth it. Read more
I have a Pela pump and use what I consider is a easy way of refilling to the correct level.
In my case to start I need 4 x 2 litre clear plastic fizzy pop bottles.
I drain the old oil into the Pela container then into 2 of the plastic bottles, then putting sticky tickets on them saying old oil, ( these are now ready for the recycling dump) the next time I pass.
The other two bottles are filled with new oil to the levels of the two bottles of old oil and used to refill the engine.
Then to make sure, check for correct level.
It seems to be taught now, that cars are parked with the handbrake and not left in gear.
Perhaps that`s a safety issue when teaching Numpties - so it`s less of a complexity when setting off and less chance of them starting it in gear?
Maybe that is a spin off from `gears are go - brakes are for braking` as my niece once TOLD me following learning how to drive ( and heaving heavily on the brakes without changing down and then holding it at the junction in gear instead of neutral - waiting until the lights changed)
Over on another forum a while back a lad was complaining at his neighbours for telling him off for not leaving his car in gear ( twice it had run slowly to the bottom of the hill and been found resting against theirs)
Point is, he had never heard of leaving a car in gear and it went along the lines of the modern times comment of `stupid car`.
So, given that it`s now becoming normal for cars to run away on hills when the brakes fail to hold - that seems to put more responsibility on car makers. So what`s the solution? How about a `sprag` that locks pins into the drums or discs on application of the handbrake - thereby removing the pressure/friction element out of handbrakes holding.
Or a device that stops the engine shoves it into gear when the handbrake is applied...
"Stupid car" ;-) Read more
It's a bit of a game leaving some of the automated manuals in gear, it's so natural to put them in neutral before turning off, those creatures not normally having a 'park' feature.
They often come with a nice electric handbrake too.....oh joy..;)
We're thinking about eventually replacing our Synergie which has been brilliant, but is getting on in miles. Does anyone make a compact 6/7 seater with swivel seats and flat floor, in a vehicle that's not huuuuge? The Synergie is only 4555mm long, and the new breed of Fiat / Citroen Scudo seem to be considerably longer. Don't mind it being a bit utilitarian. Read more
I'd just get a standard Espace. I know its big, but very versatile too
Hi there, just after some advice, a teeny tiny pin prick of a hole has appeared on my radiator, firing a little jet of liquid out the front of the grill mesh. What are my options? Help! Read more
A Blob of Araldite Glue has always worked for me (on countless old bangers in my youth) - Must be dry though.
My VTS has done 52000miles and has now developed an intermittent fault/faults. Every couple of days or so the engine will stutter slightly and then on tickover (normally 1000 revs) the revs drop to about 500 and then pick up back to 1000, then drop again and so on, taking about a second to drop/rise again. This is a definite rhythm and not erratic. The symptom will go away again just as suddenly later in the day and then drives fine for the rest of the journey.
Less frequently, about 3/4 times in the last month, the engine loses all power while driving- no warning lights come on until you coast to a stop and dip the clutch, then just the usual lights are on. The engine will restart straight away and may be fine or may have the fast/slow tickover described above. The car passed the MOT last week and had it's last full service in July 2008, 7000 miles ago.
The car is being PX for a new one under the Scrappage scheme, but there is a 3 month wait for the new car. Therefore I am reluctant to give the garage an open cheque book to change everything they can think of when it may still come back faulty. However I am not looking forward to another 3 months of potential engine cut-outs, and would be very grateful if anyone has any suggestions for where to look first, even if I have to take it to the garage for them to do. Thank you in advance. Read more
Sounds like: the the crank sensor failing.
(common fault)...Intermittent cut outs when hot are the sympton. Replacement cost £50 ish..
Or the connector plug is corroded.
It will not show a fault code if the crank sensor fails.
Alternatively the idle speed control motor is faulty (another common fault).New one c £80...
This post is here so we do not have another thread on this and this is a motoring site after all.
He died today aged 50. No discussion needed. Like or dislike his music etc. we do not need to discuss here.
Discussion can be on another site.
Rob Read more
www.thatcham.org/bumpers/pdfs/research_news_vol2_i...f
Or it may well be written off! The last page is startling, the back of the car isnt strong enough in a 6mph crash and causes £2300 in repairs Read more
I am saying that american cars are so pig ugly that an RSJ at the front and back makes no difference to their looks. The extra weight may even help the handling.
Anyway american drivers are sooooooooo useless they need all the help they can muster.
Browse
ok i finally took the car to the garage and they have told me the turbo has seized.
does anyone know where i can get a cheap replacement?
thanks