Just a cautionary tale for anyone who has RAC membership through Club Toyota.

On Thursday morning I was coming home at midnight, travelling up the A1 through darkest Lincolnshire. At the same time a rather large fox decided to end it all by dashing in front of my car. Now, at the time I did not know it was foxy as to me it looked like a rather large yellow box or la abrador. No chance to swere or slow down so foxy and I had a collision. Cue horrible scraping sound from the front of my car. I stop at a nearby lay-by and get out to have a look. This part of thr A1 is unlit and of course there is no torch in the car so I cannot realy see what is wrong bit the bumper looks a bit poorly. I'm a bit worried about leaking fluids so time for the RAC.

Out with the mobile phone and onto the Club Toyota/RAC rescue line. This is apparenly a dedicated number for Club Toyota members to call the RAC. Only it was not. I got through to a message about getting out of the car etc and then a couple of options. The one for 'send someone, I have broken down' has a message stating 'this service is currently unavailable' Brilliant. For some reason it did not occur to me to phone directory enquiries to get the normal RAC number (bit shocked I suppose). Luckily I was next to a Highway Agency phone point so I asked them to call the RAC for me. When they finally worked out where I was - the phone ID number did not tally with the location their systems said I was phoning from (!) - out come the RAC flatbed, a Highways truck to look for whatever it was I hit and a couple of friendly policemen. It was the Highways guys who told me it was fox.

I redialled the contact number the next morning to check it was correct and, hey presto, no problems, straight through to them.

So, if you are in Club Toyota, always carry the main RAC number with you as well as your membership card as the number on the card cannot always be relied upon. (and for those who wonder why bother joining CT - you get full RAC membership thrown in with the annual sub of £59. Bargain)

Read more

aafter many hours last nite trying to solve the probelm with my corsa i have now noticed that it is not puting any fuel into the cylinder closest to drivers side.it was dry inside after taking plug out.cracked it over and all the other 3 misted up fuel n could see the pistons were wet with fuel.i am having sum trouble as i have changed the engine saw it running in scrapyard was ok.but its running lumpy and not started when hot??had ecu read maf sensor injector throtle and egr valve.replaced all these parts now with old engine and no better exactly the same.i no its not running rite because it not getin fuel in the chamber.but why?ive changed everything.injectors fuel filter all of it.can it be the ecu is telling it to do this?i brought it with the engine running like this,so changed it and now still doin it.but used same ecu as it has the immobilser in the key fob and wouldnt start with the engines ecu so put old one on.what can this be everyone ive asked dont no.had it pluged in down my local garage help please someone out there must no what there talking about Read more

Hi,
I found a local Mondeo Estate on Ebay that is of interest, first bid 1300 but it now 1500.

I contacted the seller and asked if he'd be interested in my Focus, he might be and we're meeting later today.

I value my Focus at 1500, so could potentially be a hassle free way of changing motors.

My Focus is by no means perfect, well maintained (FSH) but plenty of scratches, scrapes , dodgy aircon and remote cental locking.

Anyhow, I did an ebay Vehichle Status Check on Mondeo and it comes back with

"Data currently held on NMR indicates there may be a mileage discrepancy."

Obviously one interpretation of this is that it has been clocked, are there other possible explanations ?

How does the NMR work , any sensible precautions I should take ?

I'm not the paranoid type who runs away from any deal at the first sign of potential problem.

We are taking about two 8 year old cars here after all.

Thanks
David Read more

Anyone out there know if it's possible to replace the end bushes on the front anti-roll bar without taking the whole thing off the car (as suggested by Mr Haynes!)? The bushes look as if they're 'driven' on to the bar at each end and, with 140,000 miles on the clock I would think they're not gonna come off without a fight! Any advice would be very welcome. (The engine is a C14SE, if it's relevant). Read more

Hi,

Over a year a go my Clio 1.4 RT randomly cut out as I pulled up to a junction. After restarting the engine, the revs would drop and the engine cut off, it wouldn't hold. After my mechanic had it for about 3 weeks and replaced the idle control valve, which apparently blew up on a cold start and he had to clean and replace my old one, it was returned. He told me it was a problem with the ECU and that it wasn't worth fixing. Every morning, for over a year, on a cold start the revs wouldn't stick and it would cut out until the engine was warm. Almost every time I pulled up to a junction or traffic lights the revs would cut out. 3 months ago a mechanic who is a friend of mine took it in for some work needed for my MOT. He ran a diagnosis on it which showed up as, 'idle control valve open circuit'. He told me he would be able to fix it so he, again, replaced the idle control valve. It then wouldn't tick over at all! He replaced the old valve but the car would randomly rev up and wouldn't pass emitions test. I therefore had to declare it SORN as I couldn't tax it! He removed the ECU and sent it to Renault who reported no fault, informing him it would be the wiring. I’ve now been without a car for 3 1/2 months and he doesn't know what to do now. I can’t even use it for part-ex or scrap page scheme and I’m at my wits end!! Please does anyone know what I can do or try next?? The, KTS, (I think) the diagnosis computer shows 'Idle control valve open circuit' that’s all I know. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you
Adam Rice
Read more