August 2009
My sister's family also have a mk1 Focus estate but with the 1.8 TDDi 90bhp engine. I asked BiL if he'd looked into getting it chipped, and he hadn't. Superchips do an upgrade to 123bhp and 200Nm to 273Nm for £391 - anyone tried this?
Cheers
F Read more
Just wondered when you change your car? I've had mine since March and I like it, I know it inside out but I am getting bored. However since I have fixed all significient faults I would be mad to sell it. My plan is to keep it till at least next March or longer (probably till next August) of course an accident or an engine failure woudl change that!
So I wonder why do most people here change their car? Is it due to the fact its no longer ecominical to repair, its a company car or you're just bored of it?
I've decided my next car will either be an Astra G or a late Focus MK1. I am thinking of a 55 reg and I already have a money tin I am putting at least £10 a week in to try and save up a little bit!
I would probably keep my next car for around five years. Read more
I've usually changed mine when I realise they were bought without thought of practicality (recent examples include a Citroen Acadiane, xantia activa, xm petrol turbo estate and a cx 2.5 auto). Being a community nurse and skint, my current £200 Bx is proving reliable enough and Citroen enough to last me a little while. Having had 21 citroens in the last 10 years, I console myself with the thought that none were so expensive I lost fortunes when I sold/scrapped them a few months into ownership.
i was driving to work yesterday when i got an `emmisions workshop`appear on the displayand then a yellow engine light lit, according to the handbook it`s the lambda sensor which is faulty, where is it & is it easy to change? Read more
Just incase it is the sensor its self squirt a bit of WD40 where the
sensor screws into the down pipe. I have been amazed at the results of giving
WD40 a day or 3 to work.
Yeah,
I 'mended' a sensor on my clio with a bit of WD40- never gave me trouble again!
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
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.....
The clutch pedal goes right down to the floor on my Activa & am unable to select gears.
Observing the clutch cable at the transmission end I cannot see any way of adjusting it
so I think it must be an automatic adjusting cable.
I learn a plastic clutch clip near the pedal often fails on Xantias.I'll be looking at this next.
The garage tells me the clutch must have gone.It's only done 38K!
Surely it can't have gone so soon?!Anyone experienced similar?Any advice most welcome.
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Justed posted my query on this forum ... appreciated!
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.
Browse
The opacity reading is being reduced further for the MOt so the cars that have been chipped the reading will be too high!