November 2009
What is the BRs advice on car batteries.
I have an 06 Focus with the original Ford battery. So out of warranty and coming up to 4 years old. My experience with Fords is that their batteries in the past don't last long, and I've usually had to replace everyone.
Would you change it before it gives up the ghost, or wait until it dies? Read more
I bought my Mondeo over 8 weeks ago, and yet I am still not the registered keeper.
I think that the dealer took 3 weeks to send off the paperwork to the DVLA, but the DVLA say that it is still not on their system never mind processed (they say that it could have been received but not yet put on the system).
Of course, there have been postal strikes, but it still seems to be taking a lot of time.
I could send off my green slip and apply myself, but I wondered whether I should hold onto it in case I need to prove ownership (although I do have the sales invoice).
I'm not generally concerned, because I bought it from a franchised dealer, so there is never going to be an argument over ownership, but I am concerned that if I ever got a ticket for something, the delay in finding out might cost me.
For example, I went 3 minutes over on my parking in Westminster last week, where there is roughly one traffic warden for every 3 cars. No ticket on the windscreen though.
Anyway, has anybody else had a delay of this length, and do I really need to worry, or should I leave it a few more weeks before applying myself? Read more
Thing have come to cumbersome - to many bits of paper and writing.
I took my 2002 ford fiesta in to be serviced today at my local Ford garage, and while changing the oil the sump plug would not go back in. The garage said the threads had gone on the sump and I now need a new sump cost £105 - has anyone heard of this happening to the Ford Fiesta 1.4 d zetec before?
I know sump plugs can give out but the actual sump?
Should I have to cough up on a new sump when they must have damaged it? cross threading the sump perhaps Read more
As soon as expedient you need to dump that garage. They are monkeys.
Unless Rebelgirl66 knows otherwise, it could have been damaged during a visit to an entirely different garage, or by a previous DIY owner.
Hi
Without opening the debate on attention to detail and all that. My sister has just bought a car privately, she then immediately took it in for service where she was told that all four tyres are illegal!!! Does she have any rights to fall back on with the private seller?
Made make/model non-specific. Read more
Used car expert vehicle check was fine.
If someone else checked the tyres and thought they were OK then my money would be on the dealer exaggerating the situation.
lecture from servicfe manager that it equates to 12 points and a ban.
That's not true either - it's treated as one offence so normally only attracts one set of points. Even the guy who killed the cyclists in N Wales only got 6 points and £180 fine and he was charged with having 3 defective tyres.
One has to ask how the child got hold of the 'weapon' in the first place.
I was listening to an interview about this on the radio and essentially what they were saying was that it was an isolated set of circumstances that make a claim eligable and it shouldnt open any floodgates. Read more
I also think that the boy concerned will not be helped in his future life by constantly
being reminded of this - in a little while left alone the memory would recede.
>>
Exactly what SWMBO said....and she is somewhat qualified in that field.
My fan belt keeps screaming on the Eunos mx5 mk1.
I have had it tightened up by a couple of different garages but they don't seem to want to replace for me? I have been told that its very difficult because they have to strip out quite a bit of engine to do the job! they just don't want to know, or is something else worn out?
Does anyone know of a good mx5 engineer that would do this job for me at a reasonable price? I live in Surrey, Epsom area.
Many Thanks Read more
Many Thanks for all your replies
Medskipper
Hi,
I have a 53 Celica 1.8
The engine management light comes on intermittently. It might stay on for a few days, then off for a few days. I usually notice it coming on when I'm driving at a steady speed, e.g. on the motorway or a long A road.
The car runs fine. The only thing that might be affected is the fuel consumption which seems lower. I'm getting about 30mpg now.
I've taken the car to two Toyota dealers who both retrieved a P code from the ECU that indicate a POSSIBLE problem with the VVT controller. They costed it around £500+ to replace this unit. They seemed reluctant to give me any specific details of the fault, but from glacing over the counter at their notes, I think the P code was either P1349 or P1549.
I'm not confident that the fault has been accurately identified and don't want to spend this much when there is no guarantee it will fix it.
Can anyone shed any light on this for me?
Is this likely to be the fault?
Can I do any checks myself?
What does this controller do and if it is faulty, why doesn't it appear to affect the car?
Many Thanks,
Woody
Read more
Hi,
Did you ever resolve this problem? I have the exact same problem with mine at the moment....
A little advice needed.
Someone recently parked my car in an airport carpark. Despite the signs being quite clear, the driver didn?t see them at 5 am and left the car parked in what turned out to be a 10 minute bay for three days. In (weak) mitigation, a whole line of cars had tickets for having done the same thing, so clearly a common error.
Given the above, I would in some ways say the driver is bang to rights, and they should pay up. Thing is, NCP want £100, reduced to £50 if paid in 14 days, which seems excessive at 5 x the parking charge.
So, what should the driver do? NCP are clear this is a ?Parking Contravention Charge? resulting from an ?offence? or ?violation? of parking for longer than 10 mins in a restricted bay, so they are not trying it on in that way. They are clear it is a payment for breach of contract. The notice was served on the windscreen of the car, and the driver leaving the carpark was not recorded as the barriers were out of order.
So, should the driver pay or ignore it? As the registered keeper, am I under any obligation to act?
Advice, legal and moral, invited.
Read more
I would do several things in this instance. I would write to NCP stating, correctly, that you were not the driver of the vehicle and are therefore not responsible for the actions of someone else, and that you do not feel it appropriate to provide them with any further information regarding the incident. I would also point out that it is in their own interests to clearly indicate beyond doubt the restrictions on the said parking spaces in question, this would have the effect of reducing the instances of this situation and also increasing their parking revenue. State that in view of your suggestion which is free advice and to their advantage that they should consider the matter closed and not even bother to thank you. Anything else regarding what it would have cost you is irrelevant, you are not responsible in law or morally for the actions of someone else unless you are directing them. However you did receive a pecunious benefit from the situation so it might solve the moral dilema if you informed NCP that as a gesture you will donate an amount, say £25 to a charity of their choice. Concrete.
I have a problem where I keep getting the smell of petrol inside the car when the air vents are on and not recirculating. I just had the pollen filter changed in case it was that and also had the exhaust checked but it is still happening. Please can someone point me in the right direction. Read more
it's now down to having a really good inspection of all the fuel tank the filler neck the cap the pipes and fittings to check for any leaks.
Also lift up the rear seat, peel back the carpet that's already precut, then remove the plastic cover to expose the fuel tank sender unit to check the seal isn't leaking there.
I take it there are no tell tail damp patches on your driveway or wherever you leave the car parked up overnight?
hi there, i have a 1999 t reg peugeot 106 1.1 petrol, recently it has been struggling to start in the morning and it will not idle, when im pulling up to junctions etc the engine stalls.
it has had a new coolant temp sensor (green one)
and also a new idle control valve,
it has been fully serviced also.
had a diagnostic check carried out using peugeot pps diag equipment, no faults present
im completley stumped now, someone help me please Read more
ok thanks for your info, i will give this a try and let you know how i get on, cheers
Browse
Modern charging systems-those using "smart" alternators must use "calcium" batteries.Calcium batteries can be used with any sort of charging systems,even three brush dynamos.My Escort Diesel has just had it's battery replaced at 9 1/2 years-it hadn't failed but was definitely cranking more slowly and,as I was going on a long continental journey in it,changed it just in case.This car is not used regularly;goes out about every three weeks but never on short journeys.The one removed was a sealed unit(as is the new one),so it was never checked in all that time.Never had any bulbs replaced,no electrical problems and the A/C still works!!