June 2009
I've had a problem with my car for a good few months now.
It goes through oil like nobody's business. No noticeable leaks under car either.
I have now started to notice oil in my coolant system.
Having looked into this on other forums, it was suggested that i may have a breach in the head gasket. This as since been changed but the problem remains, and although the gasket was very old, there was no obvious breach.
The car is driving fine, not smoking or any other noticeable problems to myself, although is slightly more sluggish than when first bought - but sure that is due to age.
If any one has any other Idea's, please let me know!!!
(scrapping not an option at the mo either!!! :) )
Thanks Read more
Hi my daughter has a 2000 citroen saxo 1.1 petrol, the key jammed in the ignition and we had to get a new ignition barrel - it appears that it needs recoding - it started but then the key light was flashing and now it wont start - can you take the chip from the old key and put it in the new one - is there anyway of recoding it without taking it to a citroen dealer. Read more
I have a 530D saloon with 90,000 on the clock. Just recently it has started to feel lumpy at tickover, but only on occasions. It runs fine under power, but when stopped and idling feels like it is running on 5 Cyls instead of 6 - can anyone help???
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Unfortunatly none of the modern common rail diesels are as reliable or durable as the last generation of IDIs, which is why I run Citroen XMs. 300k miles from a 2.1td is not unusual and a new injector is about £35.00 - and, you can fit it yourself, but they don't go!
Tomorrow, insh'Allah, we will acquire a Chrysler PT Cruiser. It's a better class of motor than my 16-year-old £250 Escort Estate, with leather/suede seats, a/c, cruise control and all those sort of things as well as garishly shiny wheels. It's a 2 litre petrol manual, about 2002 I think, with sensible bumpers. A couple of small parking dinges but clean, fully serviced, under 60k miles, just had its suspension bushes replaced (London speed bumps, bad-o).
It's quite a pleasant car with nice switches, doorhandles, badges and so on. Drives OK and is comfortable of course. My wife will be able to drive it (the Ford has always had niggling running problems I didn't want her to have to cope with).
But I am already feeling ambivalent about it. It's worth ten or fifteen times what the Ford is worth, on paper anyway, and is going to cost twice as much to insure. My mechanic sucked his teeth Aussie-style when I mentioned it, and muttered something about expensive parts and tiresome repair procedures. It will drink a bit more than the Ford too. I'm afraid it won't go about its work in that sturdy, no-nonsense, slightly thuggish Ford style, and it will of course be rather less invisible (although there are lots of them about so no one will think it interesting).
I will like it of course, as I like virtually all contraptions with wheels and an internal combustion engine. But I'm worrying. And I don't want to chuck the poor old Escort away like a worn-out glove. It's done me incredibly well considering. Read more
Was Leonard Rossiter Belgian?
From "The Daily Telegraph":
www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/5552263/Caterham...l
Homologation certificate for wild Seven sports cars paves the way for the company's expansion. Read more
Fishing for a tyre, 185x70R14, fully fitted inclusive prices....
F1 = Admiral =£44.76 + lifetime puncture service.
Nat'l = Wanli = £39.50
KFit = Debica = £47
BCirc = ??? = £38.87
Humph. Read more
I have tried a few different specs of tyre in the past and will always stick with good ones from now on, my old Mondeo has four Eagle F1's fitted now.
There is a bewildering array of these. Do members have sfggestions as to the best please? Read more
I am with Directline and for me by far it worked out the cheapest. The cheapest confused.com was actually 80% more expensive! I saved around £600 by going to DL. However it does depend purely on circumstances.
Anyone know why the price gap between the two has pretty much narrowed to zero again ? My local's selling them for exactly the same price, it's wasn't that long ago there was a 10p difference ! Read more
I reckon VAT will be increased to 20% within two budgets.
Why do you cap it at 20% ?
Under European guidelines they can put 7.5% onto the existing rate.
Currently the UK has one of the lowest rates of VAT in Europe. It could be worse.
The UK also has a zero rate on most basic foodstuffs. Other countries charge a rate for staples.
I'm not defending the 17.5% rate just saying it could be a whole lot worse.
For the past week I have walked past a '55 plate Outback for sale privately. It is not for me...I always want a sunroof, and would like blue with cream leather..this one is green. However, it does look immaculate both inside and out (cloth interior)...decent T &T, MOT, full main dealer service history and the most surprising thing is it's sticker price of.......£3995. Looks like that Spec B is getting closer to my budget! Read more
Update.
The 55 plate 2.5 Outback is still for sale...now reduced to £3495 ono.To recap...green over grey, 3 owners, FSH, cloth trim and no sunroof. High miles, now on 117k. First owner for 3 years was International Motors, the current owner has had the vehicle since Nov '08 and runs the Outback as his second car.
Having spoken to him it seems a genuine sale. It has probably not sold for several reasons... I think a belt change is imminent and could be costly...first one done at 65k...low mpg (probably mid 20's), manual (is this good or bad?) wrong colour and not leather interior, most Outbacks have a large sunroof, and next year's VED may be £300+?
I can see it dropping to £3k in the not too distant future, when it should make a sound buy if you plan to run it for a few years, have a good indie and can afford the petrol.
Can anyone please advise me the correct oil to use in the gearbox of my car Read more
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Key coding is a main dealer only thing unfortunately, you will need the immobiliser code card that should be with the service book. If you don't have this fear not they have it on record, but will charge you to retrieve it (surprise surprise). Maybe try the parts guys at a quiet time