January 2010
Anyone used these guys? I know normally that we should all avoid fast fit type places but the Mrs car is due a service (fed up with it bleeping everytime I get in....) but am pretty skint. Has been main dealer serviced to date but is now at 60K and 4 half years old, so not much point following that through now.
These guys look a bit different as they dont sell tyres / exhausts etc - they just do servicing. They also do a nice little package where you get 2 services, aircon recharged, and 6 vallets plus MOT in a year for 290 quid.
Before anyone else suggests it I only have one local independant and he wants almost the same as main dealer to do a service plus he dosent give out nice coffee and clean all the kids crap out of the car
Friend has used them and is very happy, but would welcome anyone elses experiences - good or bad Read more
Lately I have had a couple of problems with my C3. Just after Christmas the battery warning light came on, so I had a new battery fitted. However, about a week later the warning light came back on, so I returned to the garage and they replaced the battery again.
They ran a check on the first replacement battery and told me that it checked out fine and that the alternator was OK too.
On Saturday the warning light returned, so I went back to the garage again and was told that the only thing left was a diagnostic check (which they were unequipped to do).
The strangest thing about this though is that my central locking is not working properly - it only locks the driver's side doors. Is that related to the battery light problem, or just a bizarre coincidence?
I have booked my car in to a local garage who said they would have a look at it, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it might be a main dealer job.
Any insight into what might be causing these problems would be greatly appreciated. Read more
I dont have the answer to your question but as it happens i purchased a 53 plate C3 Tdi LS and my issue may relate.
On a few occasions once i have unlocked the car the battery charge light starts flashing (before key is in the ignition) although it generally starts first time (but does sometimes struggle). Once the car has been running for half hour or more the light issue dissapears for a few days. I believe its a relatively new battery aswell.
The reason ive put this as a reply though is because my central locking is also affected. It has a problem unlocking remotely using the key-button on several occasions (especially when the car is cold), and if you unlock using the key-in-door it only unlocks the drivers door and does not operate the central locking (unlocking all doors and boot). Ive had the battery replaced in the key with no result.
Does this sound like the problem you were/are having? Did you find an answer? Did replacing the main battery affect the service/mileage clock as ive heard this can be an issue aswell.
Thanks in advance.
This has happened a few times since new. Now done about 4000 miles.
I think it generally happens after wet conditions.
The last "stick" happened after an overnight park and a visit to the car wash !
Drums release after a hefty pull to get the car moving, and then seem OK.
Anyone else with this problem ?
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I have been experiencing the exact same problems. For the whirring noise, they have apparently replaced two different parts, as I have taken it to the dealer on different occasions and yet it still makes a random whirring noise.
The handbrake on mine keeps sticking and making a clunk noise. It doesn't happen all the time but does quite a lot. It doesn't seem to matter what the weather is it happens in dry weather too! Has anyone got this fixed on theirs? As when I took it to the dealer over this problem they just said it was the frozen weather and that brakes were "dirty". I am taking it again but find it hard to believe that the brakes have got dirty twice in one year when other people I know with cars never experience this problem!
please help, nissan almera tino 1.8 with a random misfire when under load, seems to be alittle rought at lidle too, the engine management light is on.
we had it plugged into a computer for said computer to tell us what we allready knew - it has a random misfire - not much help there. Have changed plugs and all 4 coil packs as suggested by the garage with computer. still no joy.
any suggestions?
thanks
alexkd Read more
Could be timing chain stretched. This puts cam and crank sensors out of sync and can cause your symptons. What's it's mileage and service record like? Skipped oil changes are allegedly prime factors.
It's well documented here and on other interweb thingmy sites.
To check, you need to remove the cam cover and measure the protruberance of the chain tensioner. More than 10mm and that's your problem!
A snippet from an article I just read about diesels:
"Diesel engines function differently from petrol engines. They do not have complicated electronic fuel ignition systems. This eliminates the potential for failure, and improves reliability, reducing associated repair costs."
Now correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I am hearing diesels are now very much more unreliable than petrols. I've been searching for a while for a suitable 2.0 diesel, but there is so much bad stuff written about them that I just can't bring myself to actually buy one. Have had a couple of dozen petrol engined cars over the years with no problems whatsoever.
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Then again, I like to hear the turbo whistle and the waste gate.
I understand that a revoked license can be re-instated when you re-apply with the DVLA. I also understand that you can continue to drive a car for 12 minths after the revokation date, but is the an upper limit on time to when you will not be able to re-apply for the license to be re-instated?
I say this as I have been stopped tonight as my car showed up no insurance or MOT. The car is insured untill December 2010 and MOT expires in August 2010 so I am at a loss as to why their computers say different. Also, they checked me which was difficult as I had no id or anything to prove who I was, but also my date of birth didn't match up with thier records by a day! More alarmingly they said my license was revoked back in 1999!
I remember a long time ago I lost my paper license and applied for a new one which came through, but some time later I had a producer which I showed my old license apparantly. I had a letter from the DVLA who said I recently produced an old license and I should send back all the licenses issued to me within I think 28days or my license would be revoked. Unable to find any license and in fear of them not believing I had lost the latest license, I wrote a letter to them saying I had since lost the latest license but have in my possession license number ..... and if ok will continue to use this one. I thought if they think I still had a license in my possession, then they will not issue another license untill all issued licenses were returned. This obviously would have been impossible if they were lost.
I fully understand back then they were aware of people who had a couple of licenses and would use each one to avoid excessive points being applied to their licenses. But this is not the case with me, it is a genuine mistake and at the time I genuinely thought the license I had was the latest one issued. This was all back in 1999. I never heard anything back from DVLA so "stupidly" I guessed everything was ok and that was accepted. In hindsight now, I guess I should have written or got in contact again when I didn't receive any confirmation.
The Police say I am able to just re-apply for my license and go from there. But I don't understand why I have been able to drive cars for 11 years effectively without a driving license. I have been stopped for various reasons during that time and more recently I was stopped in a random Operation Tonic check where all my details were checked... and all was ok. This was only 5-6 weeks ago! There has been many situations where it should have come to light the problem with my license but all has checked out ok. When I put this to the Police, they told me that they couldn't have done thier jobs right and not done the correct checks!
I am being reported for driving without a license and as a consequence, no insurance. I was cautioned and am being reported for that and as my friend who was with me and had insurance to drive my car, we managed not having the car siezed. I wasn't given a producer and I wasn't asked to sign anything, but they told me I should bring my insurance certificate with me to court.
I am very upset about the whole thing and didn't know what to do with myself for a few hours.. I just can't believe (if this is true) that I have been able to drive for 11 years without a license. I just hope now DVLA will be able to help me tomorrow and re-instate my license, but I am worried about the length of time between now and 1999 that I may have to do another driving test :( The other disturbing thing is the issues with the my insurance and MOT! Not to mention my date of birth... what's going on?
Please, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Read more
Lynne, I regret to say that whilst the staff at DVLA tend to be friendly and helpful, as an organisation they're like Caesar's wife, above suspicion.
It's very rare for them to be in the wrong, even if they plainly are; get my drift? ;-)
Ive just been for a test drive this weekend in a 06 c-max 2.0 petrol auto,20,000mls. Years ago I had a auto fiesta that was nothing but trouble and was told by garage, gearbox was on its way out (at 25,000) and have stuck to a Renault ever since! But thinking times have changed I went for a drive in the c-max and thought it was great, paid my 500.00 deposit .. until I read loads of reviews that have honestly made me go grey with worry! Most of the reviews seem to be about the tdci? auto and models prior to 2006, (power loss at 70mph and gearboxes going costing 4,000!) but will I regret stumping up the rest of the money later this week? or should I give even this model a wide berth?? Thanks. Read more
Hi, everyone, thankyou for the comments, an update is, the dealers Im purchasing car from, know its made me a nervous wreck! so are giving me a years warranty as well, Also phoned my local garage ( he tells me if he had a choice; the c-max, as he gets more renaults through the door than fords) and also phoned a couple of main ford dealers (very cheeky, but need to pick some brains!) and they told me they have more manual problems than auto. But its the CVT? Im not sure about? and have tried to find out what the transmission is in this model, but no joy, all I can tell you is (this is not very technical, so sorry!) it has the automatic to the left and 2 options for gears on the right (although would never use them as havnt the foggiest what to do?!) so does anyone know (from my wonderful description!) if this sounds like the CVT or the 5 speed? (and apologies for my car ignorance! and thanks for all the help.)
Just being stupid but what is the tax band for an '04 reg BMW 330Ci please? I could not find anything on the net as I do not know the emissions. I presume it must be Band L @ £405 pa. can anyone confirm this please. Thank you. Read more
I looked at the car last weekend, and have just made a very reasonable offer to the owner. I am rapidly reaching the age..correction, have reached the age, where I do not want regrets later in life. The last 6 cyl BMW I owned was my ex MILs 15 years ago, and this one is far better! Hey ho.
I've noticed when someone on here suggests a squirt of WD 40, someone else will soon be along to say it's not a lubricant, it will rot your socks, it's the spawn of the devil, etc.
I reckon WD 40 is a good all-rounder.
It's not the best lubricant, but does stop the garage door squeaking.
It's not the best penetrative oil, but a squirt or two left for a few hours will make a nut easier to remove.
And it's certainly dried out any number of Minis with drowned electrics.
So what is WD 40 good for?
Absolutely nothing, or nearly everything?
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Good for joint pains, working like liniment. I have used it thus but wonder about dermatitis.
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About 25 years ago i bought a 14" Sony and paid extra for the version with a new fangled SCART socket. It is still going well and of course can accept a Freeview box etc.
It had a recall for the on/off switch shortly after it was launched and I have just had the same switch replaced. Not bad service IMO and the picture looks good to me. The only problem with it since the latest repair is that my daughter hears some sort of high pitched sound from it. Her problem not mine as I am oblivious to the sound.
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Well, sorry to dig up an old thread but I have just discovered that my VW dealer has a nice little offer on. 100 point service for 89.99 which sounds pretty good, but in addition they chuck in a years RAC cover valued at 136 quid.
Sounds like a safer option and cheaper to. Not sure if this is on at all VW dealers or just some.