June 2009
In the last couple of weeks I have been noticing several small round wet patches on the road where I park my car.
My car is a 1999 Ford Focus 1.8 petrol which has done 80k miles.
Today I took the car to a garage for an opinion and he looked underneath the car and said that it was the manual gearbox which was leaking oil. Obviously because there is no way of checking the level of oil in the gearbox, I have no idea about how much has been lost and so am worried about doing irreparable damage to the gears and bearings inside the gearbox from continuing to drive it. I am taking it to the garage on Wednesday morning for the repair to be done. Are there any symptoms to look out for that would suggest damage has already been done to the gearbox e.g. difficulty engaging gears ?
26 minutes ago - 4 days left to answer.
Another concern that I have just thought of is could the oil from a manual gearbox leak get anywhere near the clutch or does this only apply to oil leaks from the main bearing in the engine (which is what I read on the engine oil bible website)
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Hello all
I'm looking to upgrade from my current banger to a Yaris (51 plate). I've been quoted approx 1350 pounds for a 1.3 5 dr hatchback. My only concern is its got 100,000 miles on it. Is this too high for a little car? I don't want to fork out lots of cash for it to only last a couple of years (I've had my E reg Polo for nearly 5 years!)
Many thanks Read more
Couldn't agree more with your last statement DP. My Mondeo estate notched up another several hundred fuss free miles this week. Still smooth, rattle free, pulls like a train and comfortable. The bodywork is in very good order apart from an odd stone chip at the front. The leather interior is unblemished despite the regular abuse it takes from my work kit in the week and our mountain bikes and equipment at weekends. It often ends up half way up tracks many would only attempt in a 4x4 as we seek out new muddy places to use our bikes. By this time next year, assuming I keep on with it, it will be eight years old and heading for 200k miles.
Everything non consumable is still the original equipment. Never had a breakdown or a failure apart from a couple of headlamp bulbs. Clutch, turbo, injectors, exhaust, gearbox, DMF, suspension etc are all as it left the factory seven years ago.
I might be curious enough to see how far it will go now.....( assuming it doesn't self destruct this afternoon that is....)
;-)
I am about to change my vehicle to a new diesel automatic with a raised driving position for ease of access and I am considering a Diesel 180 SE B- Class !! what are your opinions on this vehicle and any known problems
{Typo in header amended} Read more
I have had a B 180 diesel auto for almost 3 years without any problems, on a run I get just over 55mpg.
Ease of entry is important to me, this is good. A bit noisy on start up but it cant be heard inside whilst driving.
MB dealer a bit greedy though, £10 requested for two remote key fob batteries (a few days after a £250 service)
Before the B I had an A Class again no problems.
Being replaced next week by a VW Tiguan with similar spec. Again for ease of entry only, I hope I get the same service from this car.
Can't get the link to work HJ.
H Read more
Two cans of Cataclean and a packet of crisps please.....! :o)
(or whatever the froggie equivalent is over there).
No, I can't see any problems with the filters on those cars either, they must be totally spotless.
When are manufacturers going to realise that not everybody has a house drive exiting onto a race track road?
Going to take myself off to car giant to see what they have got kicking around and if i see something i like the look of does anyone know if these types of places will work with me on the price or are they all working from a script so wont drop below price X ??
Also does it make a difference to them if i PX or not? ie will i get a better 'deal' if i dont PX ?
just want to go prepared
thanks Read more
Experience at the Car Shop was definetely not. After adding in the various admin charges and warranty fees price (for cash) was so close to franchise dealer that I preferred the security of the latter's approved used scheme.
Hi
Peugeot 407 SV Hdi
Just wondered if anyone can help or advise. I am not extremely technical so bear with me.
A few week ago I had what appeared like a fuel starvation problem (erratic response) and a warning on my car - "Depollution system faulty". I took this to my PUG dealer who said it required a new high pressure pump which would cost over £600.
This was replaced and although it drove a lot better it still has a problem with what I describe as lumpiness (fuel starvation?) when cruising. It is only really noticeable when I have been driving for some time (30 mins or so) and only when my foot sits on the accellerator at a static speed as when I depress it fully to increase my speed it is not noticeable.
Has anyone had anything similar and can suggest what the problem may be.
Thanks - Appreciate any help ! Read more
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EGR Valve replaced and garage informed me all was well and 'running like a dream'
but they will keep the car overnight to give it a road test. Garage rang
me first thing this morning to say the car was not fixed and they would
go 'back to the drawing board' to resolve the issue. They did confirm there would
be no charge for replacing the EGR valve.
Frustrated or what !!
Hi, ive got a 407 s hdi 136 bhp with the same problem, the PUG garage said it was the fuel pump too. have you manage to resolve the issue?>> Update
Hi
My son bought a 106 Zest 1.1 (S-Reg) and now it has a problem which I can't solve.
We noticed the car was overheating from the radiator cap.
On closer inspection I realised the cooling fan was never coming on.
So after a series of tests I found that the fan was good, radiator fan switch is good but the top hose was never getting hot, thus the switch never activating and therefore not turning fan on.
I assumed thermostat problem and REPLACED this but i made no difference.
Running the car - coolent gets hot, top hose cold - over heats.
I'm now thinking water pump? But I can't even find it on the car, the Haynes manual is next to useless.
I understand head gasket is also a contender - but no visible water trace in oil.
Just read about K-Seal - would you recommend using this regardless??
Also air lock possibility? - I've run it for ages with radiator cap off, it just eventually boiled over.
I'm at a loss - any ideas?
Many thanks. Read more
The reason the fan isn't cutting in is because the heat and pressure in the top hose is more than likely hot gasses rather than water. If the top hose is rock hard it's a sure sign the head gasket has gone. I'm starting to sound like a prophet of doom I know but I've had these kind of issues numerous times in my time as a car dealer.
Sometimes I feel that if I have a car large enough, the day trips can be extended into next day by spending the night inside the car.
Ever done it? How practical is it? Which cars are best for sleeping inside?
Obviously I don't think any car can fit more than 2 adults lying straight with seats folded.
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Of course, she could have taken it to trial.
The Act provides (s. 5(2)) "a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1)(b) above to prove that at the time he is alleged to have committed the offence the circumstances were such that there was no likelihood of his driving the vehicle whilst the proportion of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine remained likely to exceed the prescribed limit."
Why didn't she?
My partners '02 1.7Dti Astra LS is showing the dashboard engine management light- its not due a servce, there seems to be nothing wrong with the engine (no problems with engine running and no unusual noises) .
The strange thing is that the light goes out when braking to a stop.
Any ideas what this could be?
Thanks Read more
I'm going to eat my own words here, because it happened to my girlfriend's Corsa 1.7Di when on holiday recently.
Cause was two blown brake light bulbs, reporting the code P0571 Brake Switch Circuit Open....
Ever since I bought my volkswagon golf gt 05 every now and again (sometimes months apart) the radio spontaniously turns itself on usually in the middle of the niight.
I now have to get this sorted as my neighbours are starting to take offence at being awoken at night!
I have telephoned the dealership and they say it probably requires a software update but would have to charge for this as it is out of warranty.
Does this sound correct? Read more
Wish I had read this CD trick a few weeks ago!
My neighbour & pal has just taken his 54 reg Golf into dealer for same reason, head unit replaced by tham on exchange at £300 approx. Ouch.
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We did this job on an Escort RS Turbo a few years ago, and it was simply a question of marking the relationship of the selector shaft to joint, undo the joint, prise out the seal, slide the new one in, seat it using a suitable sized socket, realign marks on the joint and tighten up.
20 minute job IIRC.