car geos into gear but will not drive somebody help me please
Read more

Hi all,

I am looking for a little advice on a slight problem with my pride and joy.

When I got the car, It stalled when braked at junctions or stopped suddenly. I found a way to get round this by not engaging the clutch until the last minute which in most cases has worked till I could take time off work to investigate (suspected Cold Air Sensor) however I now have a bigger problem which I am not sure whether or not it's related. Driving along the other day and I heard a small pop and the car lost power, it still drives but stinks of unburnt petrol (which it did anyway with the other problem but now worse). I pretty much stopped driving it after I got home. When you accelerate, nothing really happens but every so often it gets power back then drops again so you kind of kangaroo about. I am still going to clean/replace the cold air sensor anyway but really not sure this would cause this 'sudden' problem. I am not sure if this explains enough as I am not really the most technical person.

Rundown:

1) Rarely starts on first click (totally unrelated i'm certain)
2) Stalls when stopping suddenly (prior to power loss time) - Suspected Cold Air Sensor
3) Popping noise from exhaust after power loss time although foot is flat to pedal to get any power to move - almost seems like some sort of blockage as the fuel seems to be getting there but not making car move most of thetime but is giving short spurts of power then goes again.
4) Idle is not good. When you start the car it idles okay but then after a minute or 2, it worsens then eventually the car stops.
5) Running really rich.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

PugGirl Read more

Just been to look at a 2003 fiat stilo for sale privately.

Everything seemed ok, the car was in good condition for its age, only has 38k miles, the owner had receipts for work that had recently been carried out (new exhaust, coils etc.), the owner also seemed genuine (he explained that it needed a service but he didn't want to spend any more money on it after the recent bills). The price also seemed good at £2000.

The problem is that the current owner has had it for two years, but before that it had 4 previous owners. So that's 4 owners in 4 years. On top of that the document with the previous keepers details was missing.

This is the only problem with the car really but it's enough to put me off. Would anyone else be concerned?



Read more

Just picked up my new Focus 1.6 CDTi Zetec from... well, a very large, well-known Car 'supermarket' west of London.

I say 'new', it's got 7K on the clock and has a small scuff on one of the alloys and a scrape on the front bonnet lip, otherwise no marks, and a pretty nice car.

The lady taking my 13K (in cash) gave me a bundle of stuff including the spare key, wheel locking nut, the SatNav SD card and the Handbook. While she printed out the invoice, I was idly looking through the Handbook case to find that, in fact, there was no Handbook, just the Audio manual.

'Where's the Handbook', I cried, to which she blithely replied, 'Oh, sometimes they don't come with them'. 'Huh? All cars have a handbook, and there's some complex kit on this car', I reacted... 'Well, it's a second-hand car, what do you expect?', she said. 'But, but... I've just paid you 13 grand, I'd at least expect a Handbook. And you don't mention this in your ads, that there might be bits missing from the cars you sell. Can't you just take one from another car, you've got a hundred of them out front?'.

'I couldn't condone stealing from another car', she said as if I'd suggested mugging her mother. 'There's a Ford main dealer just along the road - they'll sell you one for a fiver, that's not very much is it?' 'If it's not very much', I spluttered, 'why don't you knock a fiver off the bill?'.

The upshot was that I went along to the dealer and paid, not £5, but £16+VAT for what I consider to be an essential piece of kit.

So beware, and check that the car you're buying does indeed have everything you'd expect... Read more

Ahoy !
Have the 306 Auto that turns but does not start.
Clues, new starter fitted due naff battery with loose connections by previous owner.
New battery fitted. No spark
Code inserted, red light on steering wheel spoke goes out, fuel pump whizzes for a second.
Red light on key pad stays red and green indicates when keys pressed then stays off.
Only one red light on dash flashes on radio. Have found alarm button in front of
ignition key and reset. Have disconnected connectors under back seat and battery waited for 20 mins and stood on one leg and put finger in ear. Have replaced crank sensor !!!! Flywheel has damaged spots as the cranking is 'clunky'. Have checked flywheel security by screwdriver down sensor 'ole, difficult but seems OK. Tank shows near full. Anybody any ideas ?
Jim
Read more