September 2009
Why do (some) diesels have/need DMFs and petrols don't? Or do some petrols have DMFs as well? Read more
My car's offside rear tyre has a shallow dent in the sidewall, about 0.6 mm (estimated) deep and about 15 mm across. I suspect it was caused about a week ago when I was slowly reversing on a friend's drive and caught the sharp corner of a concrete kerb-like border edging stone. When I first noticed the dent it was much deeper and wider than it is now. I assume that the tyre's steel reinforcement was deformed inwards and that it has gradually returned to closer to its normal shape.
If it was yours, what would you do about it? I'm concerned about the safety aspect but don't want to buy a new tyre unnecessarily. Read more
Little dent in is OK little dent out is not.
Discovered a little dent out in a front tyre last week, was wondering what to do about it, then read this - replacement fitted this morning. Thanks.
Thinking about changing the car (again) and I've got a preference for diesel (based on driving characteristics and economy) but seriously concerned about DMF problems that seem common place.
Does anyone know of any modern, mainstream diesels (Ford, Vauxhall etc) that don't have a DMF fitted? For instance, I heard the Ford 1.8 TDCi doesn't have one. Anyone know if that's true?
Or should I just go for petrol? Consensus of opinion seems to be that it's a much safer bet.
(To give you some context, I've got a max budget of 7k and don't really want anything much over 5 years old / 50k mileage. Cost of maintenance is also an issue)
Thanks everyone!
*** PS. Apologies if this specific question has been covered before - I searched but couldn't find anything! Read more
opps I stand corrected. Just shows what tired eyes can do. sorry
Been worrying about this. As I approached the lights they had changed to amber but I was still far enough to stop but I must have mid judged it and stopped slightly over the white line. Would I get this done for this? The lights were still on amber by the time I had stopped. Read more
In my experience of observing other people, they only seem to flash when vehicles cross the induction loops with both front and rear wheels. The first flash is usually when the rear wheel is over the line and the second when the car is exiting the junction. Funnily enough, I saw a car parked on the pavement which had been unloading to a shop which was being 'done up' the car then drove along the pavement to be moved out the way and this triggered the red light camera. I presume because the wires go under the pavement even though they are not intended to catch anyone there.
www.howstuffworks.com/red-light-camera.htm/printab...e
When I watch the various police and cars programmes on the TV, I notice how often the driver thought to have broken the law is asked to come and sit in the police car.
Now it may be that it's something to do with the filming, but if it's not, can anyone say exactly what is going on?
Because I must say that I'm not terribly enthusiastic about it (not entirely sure why) and if I were stopped and asked to join the policeman in his car, I think I'd politely say "no, but you can sit in my car with me".
Anyone see a problem in that?
Read more
I think if you refused to do as you are asked then you would not only alert them to thinking you had something to hide, but also fail the attitude test ( nice phrase by the way ), maybe 1 of the reasons they ask is to stop you from adjusting anything in the car that might have made them stop you in the first place.
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Does anyone know how much a spare key from a main dealer would be and how long would i would it take to order one?
Thanks. Read more
Hi there, we bought a 2nd hand C3 which annoyingly only came with one key, We tried to to get another key but the dealer wants £175 inc vat to get a new one,
Now Word Of Warning if you are thinking of getting a Non Genuine key, the car dealer who sold us the car got his 'mate' a car locksmith to get a programmable key, got the codes from Citreon and proceeded to cut and code our key, his first attempt made our original key useless, would not open or start the car, his 2nd attempt got our original key working again but the new spare will only start the car, it will NOT lock all the door, very annoying and looks like we will have to pay the extortionate amount Citreon want for a new key, note to self, never buy a car with only One key!
Hi
Berlingo diesel DW8. Drives OK at low speeds and drives OK if it's pushed.
However, around mid revs the engine seems to lack a little power. It feels like a flat spot, is this normal?
Of more concern, if driving down the motorway at about 50-60mph and you ease off the power the engine feels very "jumpy". Under load it doesn't do this though.
Someone suggested engine mounts but these look OK. Any other ideas? Read more
Hi there again Guppy. As regards to your "jumpy" drive at 50 to 60 mph on acceleration only, on the berlingo this is an indication of worn drive shaft (inner) velocity joints, (its possibly a blebbed tyre also so try a diagonal wheel change first)..a lot of people point the finger incorrectly at the engine mountings and its true that the mounting nearest the gear change at the g/box is VERY soft and can sometimes cause "tramping" of the power unit which is a design characteristic. The surefire way to diagnose this "jumpy is when it starts to do it next time,as you accelerate throo the "jumpy "zone... put your hand on the gearstick and if the gearstick is rocking backwards and forwards....you shafts require changing.
Timing chain on my Nissan Almera got stretched so I agreed to paying £530 for it to be replaced but just got a call from garage saying the "variable valve timing hub" ceased up which caused the timing chain to stretch in the first place.
Fitting a new variable valve timing hub cost £830. Do anyone know what a variable valve timing hub is?
Has anyone seen this problem before?
Thanks Read more
I've done some digging and using the Nissan parts catalogue: nissan4u.com/parts/ I've come up with the fact that both the 1.5 and 1.8 versions of the engine (QG15DE and QG18DE) have the same part number listed (13025AU000, alternate: 13025AU00A )as a 'Sprocket-camshaft, intake' on the inlet valve camshaft. See tinyurl.com/my3asn and tinyurl.com/lx4n8v
What I previously thought was some electrical connection, is presumably the cam sensor.
I guess this 'Sprocket-camshaft, intake' works in the same sort of way as a steam engine governor and moves the camshaft relative to the drive cog, dependant on engine revs.
I hate to think what disadvantages it introduces, bolting a lump of metal weighing a kilo to the end of a camshaft.
I've not used the main dealers for servicing for a while as the rates for labour were getting huge. What do they charge in your area and which makes are the highest/lowest for labour charges? Read more
The labour rate for Skoda, at our VW group main dealer in Marbella has increased sharply in the last couple of years.
It is now 46.70 euros + VAT @16%. This comes to 54.17 euros per hour, which I reckon is now on the high side. (Around £46.30, depending on the £/Euro rate).
The consolation for me is that in the same workshop, using the same mechanics and working on broadly similar cars, the VW rate is about 9 Euros an hour more!
Phaeton & Toureg are +8 or 9 euros onto the standard VW rates.
There ARE advantages in being the VW group's poor relations!
My wife can't cope with the automatic handbrake on her C Max Ghia and has difficulty using it for hill starts She wants to change the car even though she loves everything except the handbrake. Does anybody know if I can change the brake to manual by disconnecting the electrics, fitting a "normal" handbrake lever and changing the centre console -hopefully from the dismantlers. It seems a better option than changing a very good car. Thanks.Mike Read more
Ok, thanks for your answers
Lp
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"Why would this lead to failure?" - due to the torque reversals the dmf has to absorb between tickover compression (diesel - high cr) and power stroke? (Must say that I've often used the VAG TDi ability to run on tickover - not so much now!)