August 2009
HI - I have been having problems with my micra K10.
It really doesn't like mornings. Most mornings it won't start at all - turns over perfectly but won't fire, then later in the day when it ha shad the sun on it's bonnet, it will start first time around.
I have replaced distributor cap, rotor arm, and leads which have made it sound a little less "rough" when it does start, but doesn't actually help with the problem. Yesterday I charged the battery fully (as I thought that I had been trying to start it so much I don't want to completely deaden the battery) and this mornign it did try to start.
I am sort of guessing that I have got some leaky wiring somewhere maybe?
Can anyone help with this please
OH - yes it is a pretty new problem, I have had the car abotu a year, and it started this in July.
Many thanks
hoggie Read more
After a recent accident with my bikes on the roof of my car, decided to eitehr buy a van or MPV to transport the bikes. It will also be used for camping equipment so do not want to move from carrying bikes on the roof to carrying on the rear.
Whilst Van would be most obvious with regard to carrying, was wondering if there was a Galaxy sized car that had fold flat seats into floor area. I know Vauxhall have that mid range MPV with fold flat seats, not sure if next size up, any cars have this. Would prefer a car as I wont feel I am taking a step back in the comfort levels.
Thanks Read more
Be aware that most fold-flat seat MPVs means no spare wheel, and reliance on a can of gunk to get you home!
Hello all,
I am looking at buying a 2005 1.4tdi VW Polo with 47,000 miles on the clock. According to the handbook it did 30,000 miles in 1 year with 1 lady keeper, then a following 17k with another female keeper.
It's only had 1 service though - done at 30,000 miles. The garage said they will service the car and MOT it if I want to buy the car. I assume the cambelt will need changing in approx 13k miles time?
Should I be wary of this service record or am I nitpicking? I thought a car needed a service at every 10k miles/1 year which ever comes first.
Many thanks in advance for any replies, they'll be greatly appreciated as I'm a bit of a beginner when it comes to cars.
:) Read more
I wouldn`t touch it with a bargepole Steve. There are plenty of cars..
You might find one where the owner has been caring enough to pay for an interim oil and filter change .
No evidence offered in support of my view that it`s better ;-)
It`s been a good move though for the first two owners, saving money on oil changes...
Evening/Morning all
Thinking about changing cars again and wanted some opinions and advice...
Due to illness, my better half is unlikely to be able to drive again. We currently have a 55 Citroen C4 Coupe and an 04 Mazda MX5. We bought an 08 Dog and as he's getting bigger he's getting too big for the boot of the c4. There's comedy value in having him sat next to me in the MX5 but that leaves my good lady at home.
Given the costs of insuring, taxing, servicing and maintaining two cars I've been thinking about replacing them both with one car. But what would fit the bill.
Well the subject line probably gives it away but I quite fancy chopping them both in for a V70 D5 SE auto around 05-06 plate. Huge, comfortable and something I've always quite liked after my dad's 760GLE way back in the day.
I've read what I can on the interwebs about the car and it seems pretty solid (CBC checked too).
The car I'm interested in is at a local independent which comes with a 90 full warranty that I can upgrade to two years RAC warranty - am tempted to do this, have got policy to read detail.
Soooooo. Am I nuts? should I stick to the two cars (won't use MX5 much and C4 no aircon is really getting on my nerves), what should I watch out for when buying and finally (deep breath) what else could I look at that has an equally nice interior (light leather) and isn't a mondeo.
Thanks as ever
Lee
Read more
I spend 12hrs a day in the cars, sat in body armour and trousers out of the Victorian age. Without aircon, it can become very unpleasant...(the fan alone doesn't penetrate the body armour)
Around 13 years ago, the job paid EXTRA to disable/remove the air con from patrol cars. They decided that cars fitted with aircon were far too extravagant for mere uniform officers :)
Wish to change oil and filter, can anyone let me know best type of oil, how much I need? Best type of filter. (Service book mislaid during house move!) Read more
Try here:
www.commaoil.com/
I use my local motor factors for filters.
I am aware that early versions of the 2001-2006 Almera suffered from chain stretch. Does this issue also affect the 95-00 petrol model?
{header amended - no need to SHOUT!} Read more
Thanks folks - that confirms my thoughts - would be an expensive job on a 1998 car....
A friend wants a four seat cabriolet for around 5k ish - I have no idea where to start. Any ideas please?
shouting moderated Read more
Many thanks for all responses - looking into this the conv. cost so much more than the same saloon - amazing - I think a cossetted Audi 80/A4 is the way forward........
just seen the bmw 'we make joy' ad on telly, i liked most of the cars but the actual ad just seemed to be a bit woolly and naff. what has happened to proper telly ads? Read more
Firefox latst version - the last link worked ok - must have been half asleep this morning.
Just had a call from my ex-wife. She is staying in our daughter's house while the daughter is away with husband and nippers.
A neighbour told her the car seemed to be open. One of the doors was on the latch, and they are all unlocked. It's an Audi A3 diesel, five years old or so. I don't know the car myself.
How does she lock the car without the keys or fob? Can one operate the central locking from inside and then shut the door? The car is in a side street in Holloway, not the sort of place you want to leave your car unlocked.
Can anyone suggest anything? Read more
? The car is in a side
street in Holloway not the sort of place you want to leave your car unlocked.
No now it isn't. Thanks for the tip off :)
Travelling on motorway at around 80, car started snaking, no trailer, lasted around 3 or 4 seconds, braked gently, and slowed to 60, all ok. This was at the end of a long run 400 miles, previously car had been wandering slightly. Turns out there was too much pressure in front drivers side tyre 35 pounds when should have been 30. Could this have been cause or should I be looking for something else? MOT 3 months ago, tyre tred ok Read more
Any problem in the steering components, rack track rod ends etc.. or a severe front impact with a kerb/speed hump can affect things. This "free play" in the steering can cause steering to wander and be affected more by ruts/grooves in the road where normally you would not feel them. If generally the steering feels a little vague, or wanders slightly all the time (needs a lot more "correction" than your used to....get it looked at by a specialist.
If you have owned car from new and sure that you have not had any wheel collisions with kerbs or speed humps, it could be something else, perhaps just very windy and exposed on that leg of the journey?.
Browse
.jpg)
OH ugh - Have just spent some time scratching my head over the Haynes manual and figured out why I can't find the points - it has an "integrated circuit ignition unit" in the place where the points should have been AAARRRGGGHHH. I am not happy - this was supposed to be a car I could learn to work on myself :( And the thing that is REALLY bugging me is that I had to go and get VI number to order parts for it in order (so they said) that they could check that the parts I was ordering were the right ones :(
Oh well - rant over - just thought I would add this piece of info in case it changes anything. Although according to the Haynes I still need to check the gap between the "reluctor" and the baseplate poles.
hoggie