August 2009
My A3 has recently become very reluctant to start. First thing in the morning, it starts OK, but if the engine has been running in the previous few hours, it can barely turn the engine. If I try to start it immediately after switching off, it won't turn it at all.
In the morning, I checked the voltage across the battery terminals in situ, with the ignition off, and it was only 12.1V, checked again with the engine idling, and it was about 14.4V, so I decided the battery was on its last legs (it's just over 5 years old) and replaced it. Disappointingly, it was the same story the next day: OK in the morning, only just managed to turn the engine in the evening.
It was only after I bought the new battery that I realized the battery warning light wasn't illuminating at all when I turned on the ignition, which seems to suggest an alternator problem (diodes?) - but the fact that I saw a good charging voltage with the engine running seems to contradict this. Haven't got round to making any more measurements or checking for shorts yet. Has anyone seen these symptoms before? Read more
Buy some new leads
I said "BUY SOME NEW LEADS" Read more
Don't confuse mechanical anti-theft devices with immobilizers-since the 70's,anti-theft devices have been fitted to vehicles-usually a steering lock but also on some cars a gear-lever lock(clutch interlock is just a safety device).In the 80's,electronic immobizers appeared.The key on your Fiesta has a transponder fitted(looks just like an ordinary key) but this sends a signal to the module and this will not allow the car to start/run if it is the wrong key.
Can anyone clarify for me the situation since 2008, reference yellow jackets and triangles.
I gather they must be kept in the cabin of the car but do I just need one jacket for the driver or one for each passenger?
Also, I say jacket but are high visibilty vests/tabards allowed instead?
Is it an easy task to accurately fit beam converters onto a Mk 3 Mondeo?
Many thanks. Read more
>>Police didn't ask about spare bulbs.
That's not surprising as there's no legal requirement to carry them in France.
Eh? I hear you say.
No, HOWEVER, if you are stopped with a blown bulb, you will get an on the spot fine from a policeman. HOWEVER, if you are able to show him a box of bulbs and replace the blown one, you will get off.
So, you will never be asked to produce them.
This is my first post and unfortunately under bad circumstances. My girlfriend had a service carried out (50k) two weeks ago from a Mazda dealer on her 55 reg Mazda 3. Whilst driving the car last week the oil light came on and within 1 min of the light coming on, the car virtually siezed - she managed to pull over on the A34 stopping one lane of traffic at rush hour! Anyway it was towed to Mazda who have stated that the car will need a new engine!! Unfortunately the car is out of warranty but given that they replaced the Oil filter and sump plug washer on the car during the service 2 weeks ago, surely this could have caused the problem? So far the dealer has stated that the Oil pump had come away from the engine causing all the Oil to gush out and thus seizing the engine!. What do you think the next course of action should be? I feel that either the service should have spotted any potential problems with the Oil Pump or that someone carrying out the work may not have done the job correctly and has caused the issue. Thoughts welcome as we're now going to be facing a major bill. Read more
Someone was being economical with the truth at some point.
Unless the oil pump is bolted on outside the engine, i fail to see how they could diagnose a loose/faulty oil pump when they diagnosed a ruined engine, but manged to overlook a missing sump plug with empty sump whilst doing so...or have i misunderstood?
Hi,
my mums key to the car broke the other day. Now a few weeks a locksmith nearby said it would prob cost around £120 to get a copy cut as had to be sent to Vauxhall, not sure why. She wanted a copy as there was a small line in the key which indicated it was gonna break soon.
Anyway, the inevitable happened and it broke yest, how can I get a replacement and at a decent price?
In Northern Ireland if that makes any difference.
Cheers in advance. Read more
yeah works 100%.
And this was just a local locksmith, well kinda local. The nearest locksmith actually referred her to the dealer.
With a budget of 3 - 4k which would you go for?
Both look great, and get pretty good reviews, but for the money both would be pretty old, which would be most reliable?
Anyone have any other suggestions? Read more
>>> Steering's somewhat lighter than the 309's without 50lbs in the front tyres too..;) <<<
(hehe!) The trouble (for me) is that, well - its an Hyundai ... I've worked on many of the critters and I didn't rate them very highly but - I am going back a few years ... well, ok - decades! I spose things have moved on a tad since then :-)
Hi,
I know this topis has been covered often before but i can't find an answer to this question:
Is the Particulate (FAP) Filter the same in the 2.2 (136) HDi & 2.0 (110) HDi?
The reason i ask is that i have a 2.2 (2001 '51' plate) with 140k miles that has just started showing the dreaded dash warning "clean particulate filter - urgent" for which my local Peugeot dealers more or less want me to re-mortgage the house! I've read here and on other forums that the filter can very easily be cleaned (but dealers don't like to offer this). To make life easier i'm looking to buy a replacement (used) filter from either eBay or one of the part-finder services, then get that cleaned up and ready, do a simple swap, then (if it's still in reasonable condition) clean up and sell mine to recoup some of my costs. All in all, this makes it a far easier job to do over a couple of evenings after work!
Anyway, the one i've been offered is from a 2.0 (110) HDi and is very reasonable - hence, if it fits, then its a great buy.
Finally, once i've done this, is there any way to reset the "Gas oil additive - low fluid" warning and the "clean particulate filter - urgent" warning without the use of a main dealer's computer? Eloys fluid was refilled but warning not reset (last owner took it to a local garage - have receipt confirming fluid filled and noting unable to reset wanrings due to no compatible computer system).
Thanks in advance. Read more
I had a Citroen C5 with the same engine & particle filter.
Here is a link to a post of mine from a few years ago explaining how to clean the filter.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=39...5
It should be a similar layout on the Peugeot, took me about 3 hours in all without rushing.
The Eolys pump keeps pumping the fluid even with the 'low fluid ' warning.
Mine was still ok a year later & still showing the warning. Just keep the Eolys container topped up with the expensive special fluid.
Hope this helps.
Hi,
I'm planning to buy a used car and am after a Rover 45. Is it worth investing money in this car since production for this model has already stopped 4 years back. In case of any accident, if I have to carry out repairs, will I be able to get the required spareparts?
What are the other pro's/con's that I should look out for when buying a used car whose production has stalled.
I would like to add that this is going to be my first car so I do not have much technical details regarding the buying/selling a car. Would appreciate any help/feedback/comments from other members. Read more
>>they are so last century dorling<<
Give me simple last century cars anytime over todays complex ' one big bill away from scrap' modern cars.
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B&Q sell two bungs which you put in the pipes
leading to the tank in the roof (supply and return(?)) which apparently allow you to
remove a radiator from the system without otherwise needing to isolate it. Really?
(I have a non-working TRV and anyway need to move the radiator.)
Yes, it does work, is the simple answer.
Plumber friend of mine has actually demonstrated it to me while he was changing some pipework and heated towel rail for me; he did the lot without draining down the system at all. He uses a couple of old wine corks but principal is the same, one goes in the overflow vent pipe over the header tank the second in the pipe supplying water to the system from the header tank. This works on the same principal of the old trick of putting a straw into a glass of water, putting your finger over the end and pulling the straw out holding the water in the straw, same as lab scientists use a pipette. The copper pipe is the straw and the cork is your finger, relies on the fact that nature abhors a vacuum and will even defy the laws of gravity in an attempt to fill it. You will lose a small amount of water initially, about a half pint, ISTR, until the vacuum kicks in sufficiently to hold the head of water.
He reckons he can change a radiator valve in about 20 minutes using this system, whereas some other plumbers may charge you several hours for a drain down and refill.......
WARNING: this will only work if you have a plug in both flow ans return and you only have ONE open end on each of the flow and return pipes.
Make a second cut or opening and you will release the water back to the nearest cut point to the plug and WILL get wet!!!
Hey,
Ive been having problems with my 1.9 Citreon Berlingo van the serp belt has been squeeling for quite sometime so today I decided to change the belt. I have the modle with automatic adjuster and power steering with no air con. I got the belt fitted fine. checked it all over turned the engine over but hand to make sure the belt was ok and it was. Went to start the van and the belt started to slide off and then it stopped so now the belt is half on half off. I re fitted it and it did it again. The van runs but why does the belt keep slipping ?
Any help would be great.
Header amended to give brief details of question being asked Read more
The belt is like the fan belt or auxilery belt It runs things like power steering air con pump altinator.
Have a look at the pic
z.about.com/d/autorepair/1/0/0/E/42163929.gif
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Thanks for all the suggestions - I certainly know more about starter/charging problems than I did before. However, it has all become a bit moot now; I discovered on Friday that my local VW dealer had a new Golf 1.4TSI in stock as a result of a cancelled order, so I'm afraid it's scrappage time for the old girl.