August 2009
How come the M6 Toll card payment machines don't need a PIN? You just put your (in my case Visa) card in, it comes out a second later, and the barrier lifts - faster than cash.
Do they get special dispensation? Why do automatic petrol pumps (to use another motoring example) need a PIN? Read more
Hi there!
I just accepted a PhD-position in Scotland and am planning to move up within the next month to stay there for at least the next three years. I will definitely need a car and accordingly I checked the car market and figured out that buying a car wouldnt be a problem, but getting cheap car insurance will be.
I have 9 years no claims discount and have no penalties for speeding or driving convictions on my german drivers license, but insurance companies in the UK dont seem to take that into consideration. They just put me on a basic level as if I wouldnt have any driving experience, thus all quotes are terrificly high.
I hope you can help me with some advice!
Thanks a lot, Astrid Read more
Could you talk more about the claim process for this particular type of car insurance?
(Link deleted)
I recently had loads of work done on my catalytic converter and the exhaust, then my engine management light came on. I went to a garage and they found out it was something to do with the fuel valve, they have never heard of this before, i really need to sell this car and its mot is at the end of the month! Help!
Maxine Read more
If the car runs alright try disconnecting the batttery, leave for ten minutes then reconnect, leave for ten minutes and start it. (ECU reset)
Also check the plug under the passenger seat, a clio favourite.
Also check the where the wiring harness goes into a small black metal box at the back of the engine for bare wire showing through harness.
Just thought I'd offer some feedback on my 2 and a half year old Manual C4 Grand Picasso which has now done 14000 miles...
Unfortunately we've had a few niggly problems that have been sorted out by dealers - for example window relays failing, the boot not opening... but now "bigger" problems are surfacing.
I noticed that there was coolant loss, after three trips to the dealers (two different dealers) a leaking water pump was diagnosed (that's been replaced today).... pretty poor in my opinion for a car of this age and miles.
What is more worrying is an intermittent judder that happens when pulling away at about 1500 revs.... for example if you are pulling out of a side street and want to get out quickly the whole car judders violently almost like a really bad wheel spin (obviously without the wheel spin).... this seems to happen more when the car is hot. The dealer has said they think it is the clutch or possibly the flywheel.... if it is the clutch then it would not be covered by warranty so they don't want to proceed unless I agree to pay for a new clutch if it is needed. Also I am not keen for the gearbox/clutch to be ripped apart for a possible cause to the judder, I asked the dealer to speak to Citroen and see if similar problems have been reported (I got the impression they hadn't bother really or if they have Citroen haven't been of any help to them either. Personally I think 14000 miles for a clutch is not good enough... I have spoken to Citroen but they have just dismissed the problem really. As I say this is intermittent so it is difficult to replicate. The only other time the car hudders is from about 60 - 68 mph..... again the whole car feels like it is juddering (not just the steering wheel).... if you drive slower or faster, no judder. I'm not sure if this is the engine/gearbox or more likely steering/suspension. At all other times the car drives fine but I am not happy with so many problems. I wont buy another Citroen as a result of these problems and Citroen's dismissive attitude to the possible clutch problem. Read more
Its french, what do you expect??? Seriously though, it does sound like one of those cars that you don't want to be lumbered with once the warranty has expired.
TDCI, 67k, fully serviced, no significant issues until this.
Car has cut out on Motorway 4 occasions in two days over only about 30 miles (every occasion between 50mph & 70). Each time, glow plug light flashed and lost all throttle response. Luckily I've been able to get to hard shoulder on each occasion. Car won't restart immediately, cranks but doesn't 'fire up', glow plug light flashes again. After 5-10 minutes restarts as if nothing has happened.
Taken to local garage who fitted new pedal assembly as fly by wire suspected faulty. This didn't help - same problem occurred twice afterwards. Fuel filter was also checked for water and crankshaft sensor inspected for dirt etc (was spotless). No faults found on diagnostics either by this garage or AA.
Any help or ideas on what may be causing this would be greatly appreciated! Booked in to Ford on Monday, I don't want to be fobbed off or be paying for this I shouldn't! Read more
Had exactly same problem on an 03 tdci focus, 81k. AA told me egr valve but garage said more likely to be fuel pump / fuel metering valve. Don't fancy £1000 repair so thinking of trading in car! Has cut out 4 times now, as you said, glow plug lights flash and engine goes into limp mode. Turn off engine and it restarts after 5 mins as though nothing wrong, and garage can't replicate problem. Computer shows fuel pressure problem but my local garage has recommended taking it to Ford main dealer - will cost £90 for them to diagnose though - help! I am 'helpless female' to make things worse...
ECU remap to increase PS from 130 to 170 for 1.9Tdi PD. Questions
1. Does anyone know whether it's realistic to expect this level of increase?
2. Is it suitable for an engine that's done 100K miles?
3. Do any other engine components or car parts need to be upgraded to remain safe, e.g suspension, brakes etc (assuming all currently at original factory spec)?
4. Price of remap is £300 - sound about right?
Thanks Read more
1. Does anyone know whether it's realistic to expect this level of increase?
YES
2. Is it suitable for an engine that's done 100K miles?
YES
3. Do any other engine components or car parts need to be upgraded to remain safe, e.g suspension, brakes etc (assuming all currently at original factory spec)?
NO
4. Price of remap is £300 - sound about right?
YES
Also check...
www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=76714
You just missed the £250 remap and rolling road day, but there will be others.
I had mine boosted from 155BHP to 195BHP with similarly better torque. The difference is night and day, now with 155,000 miles. Much lower revving and just poodles around effortlessly in high gears riding a crest of torque.
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I've installed VLC and DVDs now have sound. It may be a hammer to crack a nut but I'm sorely tempted to use the hammer on something else (he said glaring at the black box by his knee).
That's more than enough for one night! Thanks again AE, and thanks to BB for moral support. Cheese 'n Onion wasn't it?
JH
I am in the market to by a new car but put off by ther fact that most of the big manufacturera are not supplying a spare wheel but instead some sort of emergency kit for making a temporary repair.
My question is, once this temporary repair is made, does this make the tyre useless or can it be repaired in the normal manner.
Signed
Confused ? Read more
What is the weight of a tyre and wheel assembly? I'm thinking about 16Kg for a Mondeo sized car.
>>
Just followed a new Bently Continental R and noticed two things.
The spare was dangling in its cage underneath the boot. I cannot imagine the owner, in person, dealing with a wheel change :-(
The other thing was the centre brake light was not working ( or is it some clever job that only works at 1 G braking ?)
My Vectra 2.0dti estate (2002) recently developed this problem. When the engine is hot and you slow down or stop (eg traffic lights, junction, traffic, etc) the engine management light comes on - whilst on there is a degree of power loss. Once I'm up to 3rd or 4th gear, the light goes out, and power returns.
I've had the car 4 years and the light has always come on when first starting from cold, but always went out after a few seconds. I thought this was normal behaviour.
But this recent behaviour is definitely not normal.
I did 1000 miles last week, around Scotland and the light came on every time I stopped or slowed.
Yesterday I took it to a local garage, to hook up to his computer. He said it gave 2 fault readings. One was the glow plugs and the other he described as 'catastrophic'. But did not know the cause, so he didn't charge me.
I am driving to London tomorrow (from Hull) and ideally would like to fix it myself today if I get some sound advice - that's if it's just something that needs cleaning???
Any advice greatly appreciated. Read more
glad that you fixed it ,you could edit the post to say fixed, its always worth doing a search before posting,Regards TB
Hi,
I have a 1999 Ford Focus with a central locking problem.
If I press the "lock" button on the key fob - all doors will attempt to lock, but then ping open again (lock and then unlock). And if I press the unlock button on the key fob, only the driver's door unlocks opens.
If I try locking the car from the driver's door lock, the same happens (all try to lock, but then immediately unlock again).
If I lock the car from the passenger door, all locks execute fine - and likewise if I unlock from the passenger door, all doors unlock fine.
If I unlock the car from the driver's door, only the driver's door opens - no others.
Sounds strange, eh?
Any ideas? I'm not *that* bothered, as it's a 10 year old car I'm learning in, so central locking isn't really important for learning to drive... but it's a niggle that if it can be easily or cheaply fixed, I'd like to resolve.
Thanks in advance. Read more
On the focus you can disconnect each door electrics individually, if you open door you will see large trunking from door pillar to door, undo one at a time while checking locking system if system works when say passenger door is undone suspect that is the door at fault. If the system stops working suspect fuse which is located behind main fuse box, you have to remove the whole fusebox to get at it, fuse is on the back on its own
Browse
Many moons ago, the Safeway petrol station in Edinburgh was the first to go live with 24 hour paying at the pumps.
I remember the conference call we had on a Monday morning when it was casually mentioned that there had been a bit of an issue on the Sun night once the main shop closed at 6pm.
Cutting to the chase I believe that a good number of Edinburgh taxi drivers managed to get free fill ups that night with a dodgy card or cards.....