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
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There has been considerable discussion about scrapping older "classic" cars to obtain the £2000 allowance. Currently only cars first licenced before 1972 are eligible for road tax exemption. This means that there are cars of up to 35 years old that have to pay the full £190 annual road tax. These same cars may in fact only do a few hundred miles a year and the owners may not feel it is therefore worth keeping them.

I have written to my MP to say that the older car industry is worth a lot of tax and keeps people in jobs. Who else can I complain to?

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Duplicate thread removed and replies transferred to the exact same thread in Technical Matters Read more