September 2009
hi i have a 2002 mondeo 1.8 lx i have had it for two years its been a perfect car but ever since i can remember i have had a hockering or a flat spot when accelerating and seems to be getting worse could anyone help or suggest what it could possibly be thanks Read more
can anyone tell me if you should be able to get the original ipod to connect to the nissan note ntec as my will not work.
thanks Read more
Well it should do saying as it is advertised as an ipod/mp3 connection. I'm awaiting arrival of my NTEC so cannot yet coment on how it works with my current 120gb pod. Have you tried it with any old mp3 player?
www.ridelust.com/wp-content/uploads/infiniti_g37_h...g
I really wanna see that sun shine!...
...so, after last month's extended E350 Coupé drive already under my belt and with the A5 Sportback brochure arriving yesterday morning (the timing of HJ's recent road-test much appreciated) I feel I'm finally getting close to making a decision?
I'll probably just settle for another Octavia at the end of all this stuff & nonsense mind...
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We made a point of calling into the opening of the first UK dealership (Reading) last Friday.
For interior decor (of the premises) think contemporary chic hotel lobby ? it's everything that was promised in the advance publicity. Only 6 examples of metal on display within ? one of each model offered ? aligned in perfect symmetry to one another, dark wood, brushed aluminium (possibly titanium?), lots of comfy leather chairs/sofas offset by large modern art canvasses, but I digress...
...that Lexus IS250 Convertible is close to £35K if I'm not mistaken Lud. The Infiniti comes in at around 38! I drove the SC430 a few years ago at a Lexus Open Day but wasn't overly impressed by it's looks (from certain angles/roof up, etc.). I recall performance was pretty reasonable but was distracted much of the time by a femme fatale who was accompanying me for the day, but I digress...
I shall be going solo tomorrow and although it's unlikely I'll plump for it in the end I feel I must give it a fair crack in order to be certain!
It did look/feel pretty absolutely eye-candy gorgeous mind...
There's something wrong and I think it's probably the gearbox or t.c. Under load it's ok, but when I'm cruising or driving at a constant speed there's a slight judder\hiccup. Just as I come to a stop it judders or slams as it disengages from drive. A bit like a manual car that's stalling when you don't press the clutch.
I've had transmission fluid changed and it's made no difference.
It feels a bit like a misfire but had a diagnostic done on the engine which came out fine apart from an occasional oxygen sensor fault - whatever that is. It's sweet as a nut when I rev it, could it be that it's only in drive that it's misfiring? Deep down I suspect gearbox which could be terminal for this car, given age and value.
It's less pronounced when the engine and gearbox is cold.
It's a puzzler. Any thoughts?
Many thanks
Dave Read more
Dave,
you might want to have a read of this thread on frenchcarforum (you'll have to register):
www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=261...3
where CitroJim removed and rebuilt the transmisson on his V6 Auto Xantia. It looks like the box is not inherently weak, but has a weak point (the spring in the valve block) which goes on to cause terminal failure inside the box. Your local auto trans specialist will probably be able to remove the valve block in situ to have a look at that spring.
Otherwise, just keep driving it till total loss of drive, and consign it to the scrapheap. Note that fitting another box requires access to a dealer diag computer to reset the ECU so it recognises the new box.
SWMBO and myself have not had our summer hols yet, and were thinking about a week 'leaf peeping' in a softop late Sept/Oct this year. Have any BR's taken such a holiday, and if so, any recommendations as to how best use the week?
Presumably we would fly into Boston and mimse thru Massachusetts, Vermont & New Hampshire. It would be an interesting experience (mimsing, that is) Read more
We have recently returned from a fantastic motoring holiday around New England. I can thoroughly recommend the quiet roads, wonderful scenery and great hospitality.
Hertz were our hirer of choice because their rental fleet is primarily Ford, and wanting a convertible for 7 days, hoped that we would get a Mustang. The Boston office did us proud, providing a shiny black, with grey leather, almost brand new vehicle, albeit with the 4.0 V6 rather than the hoped for V8!
After 2 nights in Boston, using Priceline's 'name your own price' facility to get a great hotel deal, we collected the car and spent 4 days driving up the coast to Acadia NP on Mount Desert Island, Maine. We then headed inland following scenic routes, almost to the Canadian border, visiting the White Mtns region, and briefly into Vermont, before using the Interstate to return to Boston. The guidebooks we used were the Rough Guide to NE, The Rough guide (motoring) Map of NE, and The AA Best Drives NE, 23 car tours for the independent traveller. All worth their weight in gold.
We experienced everything from glorious sun, to freezing overnight temps when I had to scrape the ice off in the morning and wait an hour before lowering the roof. The final two hours into Boston were in a sleet & snowstorm, although the following day dawned clear & sunny.
The Mustang returned 25mpg, mostly gentle touring, although on the Interstates I cruised around 70/80 mph. The auto box makes for relaxed driving, and the rear seats are useless for anything but small children.The build quality is ok, but nothing special, with shiny silver effect plastic on the steering wheel masquerading as metal. Given the overall dimensions...larger I think than my fiances Passat, the boot space is appalling. But would I have one again...you bet.Top end models get heated seats, so every day we froze our butts off. A small price to pay for having the roof down.
The majority of motorists were unfailingly courteous, even in the city, and the few hours we spent on the 8 lane Interstates were a world apart from our busy motorway network. Our only 'near miss' was when an elderly colonial pulled out directly in front of us from a parked position....I gave him a long blast and his retort was 'didn't you see my blinker'! Speaking to the locals, it seems that some elderly drivers are under the misapprehension that by indicating to pull out from parked, passing traffic has to stop, which I almost didn't! You are warned.
Stopped at lights on Sutton bypass/M6 Toll this morning, LHD Jaguar XF on trade plates pulls up beside me followed by a Jaguar coupe also on trade plates (not unusual around here - aabout 2 miles from the factory)
It had a blue assembly in place of the front brake disk about 10" in diameter and did not appear to have a brake disk at all.
Is this what ceramic brakes look like? Read more
I remember watching endurance racing at Le Mans in the eighties. The Honda-engined Elf racer had a single-sided front swing-arm suspension set-up.
This meant they could only have one front disc. I recall that they pioneered ceramic discs.
T'was interesting watching the brakes glowing red in the dark.............
last night I had a chat with a good friend who lives in a rural area in the South.
Setting out for work he thought his petrol guage was faulty as he had only just put in £50 worth the night before.
Somebody had drilled a hole in the tank to drain it off for their own use!!!
This is definitely an original theft to my knowledge. Its a pity the friction of the drill did not cause spontaneous combustion! Read more
>> I usually only add 10 litres at a time ...
>>
If I did that I would have to fill up twice a day!
After the glow plug light goes off, turn the key and the engine fies up. Unless I keep the foot on the throttle, it wont maintain idle and dies.Sometimes this is followed by a 2sec buzzing sound from the dash or just inside the engine bay. Next 10 startups are the same. If I keep my foot down and take it for a 300m spin around the block it starts up fine.
Seams to happen when the first startup is in the morn. Afternoon starts are fine. Probably no more than 5 deg difference in ambient temp (ie early Autumn with no frost) Battery is good, fuel from shell, fuel filter and all belts are 9 months old. Engine oil and filter 2000mls old.
Any help much appreciated. Read more
Can anyone indicate a possible problem. I have engine tick until the engine reaches normal working temprature, then the engine is as quiet as amouse.
Glynne Read more
Unless of course the Hydraulic thingies have a problem..then it can be expensive....But yeah a change of oils worth a try..praying as you put the new oil in helps. ;-)
I have rented about a score of cars, in Europe and the USA, and have never had one with more than 13,000 miles on the clock. Only one showed signs of abuse and most were in new condition. How come they are sold off so soon? Read more
I had about a year in hire cars when the company I was working for were re-doing their company car policy and had a hold on new purchases.
I was covering between 1-2k every week, so Vauxhall hire would change the car every 4-5 weeks on average. This seemed to coincide with them getting new batches of Vectra's in, so I would normally get a call asking me what colour I wanted this month! Got quite friendly with the rental manager, as a result and now she is SWMBO and we have a couple of kids!
Only downer was that without fail I would end up with a new windscreen within the first week! Have never had to have a replacement screen since, so not sure why I always used to get chips and cracks in the new cars screens!
Coil packs are a weak point on modern Fords. My mum has a StreetKa which had similar symptoms to your car (hesitation, "holding back", and surging slightly on light throttle). This developed into a serious misfire, and a new coil pack solved it. Unfortunately, the misfire had damaged the cat, and this needed changing as well. Since then it has been perfect.
The StreetKa cat came in at just under £1,000 including fitting at a Ford dealer. My dad haggled, and got them down to £800 as they'd done the original diagnostics and the coil packs the week before. The car has run perfectly ever since.
Incidentally there was a whole saga before this of having the coil packs changed for non-Ford items at a local indie. This caused even more trouble. Bite the bullet and fit genuine ones.