October 2009
Hi
I was given a Mondeo 2.0i Ghia (1998) with only 28,000 miles on it from new, and a full service history earlier this year.
It has run beautifully for the past 9 months/12,000 miles, although the auto gearbox has never quite felt 'right' - but as I've never owned an automatic before I just put it down to, well, being automatic.
Anyway, driving home tonight I put my foot down to overtake on a hill and although the engine revved perfectly smoothly up to 5,500 rpm, and the gearbox kicked down, it didn't result in much increase in speed - perhaps and extra 5mph.
Since then there is a slight hissing sound when you put any load on the transmission at all - which I assume is some sort of hydraulic leak?
So, my questions are what do you think the problem is, how expensive will it be to fix, and how many hours labour do you reckon it'd be to fit a manual gearbox and pedal box from a scrapped one?
Thanks in advance for any advice. Read more
I am about to service my 2.0 hdi peugout partner. Any profesional/insider advice about best practise for changing filters etc so I can do a decent job of it
Thanks in advance
Alan Read more
Well,oil filter ok to get off,use socket with strap or belt even bett 3 arm tightens on filter, fuel filter is complete with housing im sure, not cheap,dont use suction they leave to much behind let it drain off,
I have not changed these before. I have heard that to remove the disc two bolts are screwed in. My questions are: what size bolts? Where is the shoe release if the discs jam on the way off? Does the brake hose stay on? Any helpful hints or special tools required?
Thanks for any contributions. Read more
Scoobynut - thanks for the comprehensive reply. This was for my car and all went smoothly in the end. I had let the rear pads get pretty low and now, after a few hundred miles of new rear pads and disks the braking performance of the car has been transformed!
Incidentally I managed to get a new pair of rear ventilated OEM discs for £49 - saved me a few pennies compared to a dealer!
Thanks again
Paul
is the link working ? Read more
No doubt millions have been spent perfecting the suspension styling and comfort on the new
Astra and here's us talking about the temp gauge of all things!
:)
It's true! I am not sure if there is a temp gauge either, but have a look at www.torqueastra.com perhaps this site could be helpful if we want to know the nitty-gritty along with the rest. It has load of pics too so you can have a look at the car from all angles if, like me, you've never seen it in the flesh.
I can understand the point and take DP's point re motorcycle helmets though when I am on my bike I want to hear as much as I can, helps in sensing other vehicles intentions through to mechanical issues with the bike.
Just heard on the local news that Essex County Council or police (sorry couldnt remember which one) are running Anti Congestion Patrols.
I can just imagine it, "sorry sir, you must pull into that field as if you carry on there will be congestion".
How else do they expect to control congestion?
Read more
I think it was His Tongueincheekedness himself, the Right Horrible JC, who proposed that contraflows, rather than having a lowered speed limit, should have a mandatory minimum speed limit of 100 mph.
No logjams then.......
;-)
The salt mountain, in the big shed by the M62 at Ferrybridge is heaving, as rock and table salt gleam in the moonlight. The seasonal werewolf of winters discontent - the consumer of the under-body and silver veins of fluid induced to flakes of brown red.
Degeneration of the great and good, the sustaining body.Time flows convincingly in linear flow - as stardust briefly forms flakes of red ochre.
The decay, as rancid as the rotting crocodile - in the mangrove swamp of far away. Out of sight and out of mind, in the tea party of polishing the upper paint.
The roof and bonnet, the doors and wings. The pearls of passion in the search of shells for the one true gleam - the sheen of polish on polish and exotic wax. The counterpoint of the final layer - bridging the sun and moon with a shine of pure opulence - and the everlasting honour of application on gilded cloths.
The rotted crocodile down below - the underbody. teeth agape in the putrefaction of neglect - oozing and encrusted in the pipes and frames. The skeleton leaching salt and losing fluid from pipes once pristine and silver.
Oh, for a touch of Castrol LM waterproof grease and a brush... Read more
I am not that good at writing although I can drum up the odd grumpy letter when required! I am sorry the deadline for this excellent competition was set so short. The Booker prize entrants have a minimum of a year!
Can i return my lease car with remould tyres on. The tyres are almost at 1.6mm on the edges and may be border line by the time the car is returned to the lease company. Does anybody have any experience/knowledge of this scenario?? thx in advance Read more
I have to admit that I still need some convincing that the cost saving represents a reasonable trade-off with my perception that they're less safe and a false economy on passenger cars (admittedly based on media articles over the past 15-20 years).
Does the structure (banding, fabric etc) of passenger car tyres not have a 'design life' and does this really exceed the tread wear in a world where everything is engineered to be 'just good enough' ?
Hello folks. Having owned a citroen xsara 1.9 diesel(non turbo) I sort of expected this 2.0 hdi model to have a bit more oomph!! At 70mph it feels as if it doesnt want to go much quicker but does get to 90. The car has done 118,000 miles. Is this just a big slow boat?! Thanks Read more
I suggest you have the cambelt checked
Hi all
My car has just failed it's MOT due to a steering joint issue. The Dealership has sent it back with the RED Failed certificate and it is marked as dangerous. It's still under warranty but they don't have the parts in stock (at the main dealer) to do the repair.
If I go past a police car with the automatic number plate recognition will this flag up that I do not have an MOT? No MOT means no insurance too right? So i'm now about to drive a car home with no insurance?
Bit annoyed they've put me in this situation, the car feels fine to me?
Thanks,
Adam Read more
Just to finish this one off, my car is back on the road with a cosher MOT now BMW have changed the steering parts.
Thanks for everyone's advice and tellings off :-)
Browse
>>I was quoted £70 for a new CAT last week
>>>>Sounds like a very cheap cat. Go to a reputable supplier but if it's on a 98 car, a good new one would be worth more than the car-it depends how long you intend to keep the car.
>>
Phone a Fords spare dept for the price. then you have a max figure to start with.
I had a new cat on my 98 2.0 Ghia X Auto in 2005
I was surprised at the price at a Ford main dealer - £230 plus vat plus fitting. I was expecting a lot more. Obviously prices are higher now.
Some sort of gasket was also required and I accepted the need. IIRC it was about £10
Apart from the old cat rattling badly due to its insides becoming detached the performance certainly improved with the new cat.