October 2009
The front of my car is covered in stone chips and lots of them. You aspect some in everyday driving but not this many there are simply loads and I only do about 8000 miles a year. Colour of the 6 is Dark Red. I am wondering if it is poor quality paint used by mazda but not sure how a could sort the problem as they are likley to say it is every day wear on the car but I have never had a car so prone to getting so many chips. Read more
Hi
I have tried the dashboard suggestions and re soldered all the connector pins to no avail, but I did not know about the heater earth.
Just waiting to have it brought back from the dealer who say the gearbox has gone and want £3k to replace. This does not make sense as I drove it there, though it was a hairy journey.
When the problem happens I have noticed that the LT to the distributor has gone or is 0v which sort of says it is an immobiliser problem coupled with the fact that the car has to be locked and then unlocked or it can be cranked all day without starting.
The only other issue is that the battery will not hold it's charge, even though it has been replaced.
Would really be grateful for any advice.
Regards
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The CD player in my car often rejects a disc, with the message 'disc error' or similar. Sometimes does it repeatedly. Is the problem likely to be the disc, or the player?
The disc it often rejects isn't in the musician's discography and may be pirated or sort of semi-pirated by industry insiders. A copy of it made the other day by a friend won't play at all.
Is this a common fault with CD players, and is there anything simple to be done about it? I've never had one in a car before. They're a bit new-tech for me. Read more
They don't like some copied CD's if it's ok on a normal disc try another make of CD to do your copy.
Whilst I would be the last to condone tailgating, I've noticed an increasing number of car drivers leaving an ocean-wide gap to the car in front. Okay, maybe not Atlantic-sized, but a good five seconds or so at 60mph.
Sounds laudable, but in busy, fast-moving A-road traffic it creates a quandary for drivers emerging from side roads. The gap they leave seems just short of what is a comfortable pull-out - and I've seen quite a few 'interesting' moments recently at the same junction.
It's not that they are just 'exercising caution' at junctions, as they then maintain this gap on clear stretches, too.
Any ideas why? Read more
Having that "two second" rule componds [sic] the problem by suggesting >>
And [sic] to you too!
Interesting to see Avant's letter to Autocar agreeing with their view that the thick end of £20K for a Yeti is too much. I hear that the much talked about Fabia Vrs replacement (if it ever sees light of day) will be £16K.
Skoda make wonderful cars but their prime sales virtue was offering all of VWs quality for a lot less. Is it only Autocar, Avant and myself that share this view? Read more
Understand the point about the bottom end. my Octabvia is an Elegance so towards the upper end.
I added some of the safety extras (e.g. airbags) and the equivalent Golf would have needed a better radio to match the Octavia (18 months ago the Golf/Jetta did not play MP3 or have an aux socket) and on list price with equivalent specs the Golf was £1000 (on 17k) more (so more tax) and within a tenner on the monthly lease.
The different standard fit / options tell you they are aimed at different parts of the market.
i have a puddle in the drivers footwell any ideas please Read more
Check the bottom of the door when its been raining, either the seal could be leaking or it could be running down the inside of the panel, especially if its been off at sometime and the waterproof membrane has not been replaced/repaired.
Cos I got a really good one
Honest Read more
what causes a loss in compression, if it is the cylinder head gasket what signs do i have to look for, the cars acceleration has been affected, is there any other reason than the head gasket that can cause this problem. i used to get to 50-60 mph in third gear with no problem now the engine makes a noise like it is protesting. Read more
Thanks for your reply, i will check the water level and the air filter this weekend, by the time i get home from work it will be dark.
I have had the car for about 18 months, up till recently the car was very responsive, i had the oil changed and replaced the air filter about 6 months ago, i have not had the spark plugs changed, i believe they were new when i purchased the car.
I will also check the dash for any warning lights, there was a grating noise coming from the front of the car, it turned out to be inner brake pad wear and sticking caliper, i had the pads and the caliper looked at, this has made not a lot of difference.
could it be ann thing to do with the fuel side of the car
thanks
Ok, I have a Transit Tourneo 8 seater (not a connect, proper transit) with the 125 tdci engine doing a school contract, 140 miles a day, 6 days a week (yes, SIX) and am averaging 38mpg.......(figure accurate over 15 weeks)
My question is, as I have the run till march 2013 and only carry 2 pupils (only 1 from july) and am spending £110 a week on derv, should i change vehicles, as i hear a Ford Focus (and maybe a saab 1,9td or AR 156 JTD) could give me 60+ mpg
I need at least 1600cc, at least 4 doors and a 2005 reg or newer.
cheers
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I was crossing over a dual carriageway today, and happened to pick the right lane (which is for both straight on and turning right) and got stuck in the central reservation area, behind a car that was turning right (I wanted to go straight on). Traffic in the left lane was all going straight on and eventually stopped when the lights changed.
There were two sets of traffic lights in front of me, one on the reservation and one on the exit from the dual carriageway.
The picture shows the junction and I have circled the lights. In the picture I would have been the white car in the centre, waiting behind the silver car that is turning right.
www.flickr.com/photos/43786777@N06/4035047389/size.../
The photo below shows more of the junction:
www.flickr.com/photos/43786777@N06/4035046587/size.../
The problem was that the lights I have circled were not showing any lights (I don't know if the green was switched off or whether it was completely covered by the "blind" over it). So after the traffic on the left had stopped and the car infront turned right I had no indication that I could cross the box junction and exit the carriageway.
I basically just proceeded with caution and got across the carriageway, however on the exit a couple of people were walking their bikes across, and seemed angered by the fact that I was coming towards them and had to hurry across (of course I slowed down, so there was no actual risk).
The lack of lights and the fact that the pedestrians seemed to think that they had right of way made me very worried, so I later went back to the junction (with camera in hand).
It turns out that the lights were working but that they were just not displaying the green. So a few seconds after the light before the central reservation turns red (stopping the traffic moving onto/over the reservation) the lights I have circled turn amber and then red.
So, I think that I was OK and that the pedestrians had just seen the left lane stop moving, assumed it was clear and started crossing, not realising that the right lane was an ahead lane also.
Does the above sound correct? Why would the green light be somehow disabled?
I have asked around at work, but the only explanation provided was that kids had vandalised the light by closing the "blinds". Seem a bit unlikely to me, but not impossible.
Any help in understanding this would be very appreciated.
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Sorry, yes, I misread your point about the pedestrians, as you were going straight on.
So they too were misled/confused into making assumptions about lights they couldn't see.
There is a slightly similar ambiguity at ordinary junction lights. You want to turn right, the lights turn green, you pull forward ready just waiting for a few cars to clear out of the way, and partly turn ready to move into the turning. At that point you have passed "your" green light and are now facing a red light. But an instant's thought tells you to ignore that - although it is facing you, it is meant for someone coming from somewhere else, not you.
Or perhaps you were going straight on, and passed the first light on green but were then suddenly held up by a crowd of jay walkers, a very slow lorry negotiating a turn, a red-light jumper, etc. You wait in the middle, then the lights change to red.
You don't have to stay stuck in the middle blocking the junction, you can proceed cautiously on your way against the second red light. You have in effect been given permission to proceed by the first light, and that cannot be countermanded by the second.
Browse
Hi, I have a new shape 57 plate 6 in dark blue. It's the 2.0 d Sport. I have covered a total 19,000 miles in nearly 2 years of motoring and I am amazed at the number of stonechips!!
I have recently been toying with the idea of selling the car so went to a body repair shop that said, and I quote "I have never seen that many stone chips on a car...ever" and continued to question the thickness of the lacquer that has been used on the vehicle. His recommendation to me was to speak to Mazda directly as, in his opinion it should qualify to be rectified under the paint and corrosion guarantee. I have not yet had chance to speak to Mazda (as I only went to the bodyshop today) but when I do I'll let you know how I get on.........