January 2010
10,000 miles only, serviced every year. After not using the car for about ten days it wouldn't start so I called the AA - they diagnosed a faulty battery (only one year old) and started the car so I could take it back to Quick Fit under guarantee. After about one mile the engine died as I slowed for a junction and wouldn't re-start so I called the AA again. A different patrolman arrived and connected his battery but it wouldn't start so he sprayed Easy Start everywhere and then revved the engine right up causing loud "whoofing" mis-fires to come out of the exhaust. He got me to turn the engine over while he fiddled under the bonnet until it made a loud bang and he quickly withdrew his hand. It still wouldn't start properly so he towed me to my garage and told the owner that he thought that "the timing belt is jumping a tooth" and also that he had "tried Easy Start and it locks". The garage was too busy to take the car so he towed me back home but my question now is: if I had only had a faulty battery and had driven perfectly normally for about a mile, did this second AA man cause the jumped belt (not a common fault, surely?) by over revving a mis-firing engine or some other misdemeanour on his part, and if so what is the likely cost of repair and what are my chances of getting this back from the AA? Many thanks for any advice you can give me, Regards John. Read more
tinyurl.com/yfx9hxk
Well I hadn't seen it before, so I presume it's new. ;>) Read more
That was a cracking match as well - France are very strong.
I have had the FocuST for three months and nearly 7k miles now, I have noticed a slight wobble through the steering wheel at 75mph ish and a slight "pattering" at motorway speeds on a smooth surface.
I got around to having the wheels balanced and a four wheel alignment done last week by a very well renown tyre fitter/wholesaler, at the same time the rear wheels were put on the front after which the "pattering" became more pronounced and clearly eminating from the NSF corner.
I considered it must be tyre related so took it in to have both front (ex rear) tyres replaced, they only had a few 000 miles left in them anyway. The "cant get fitter" (though could be quicker;-) ) guys called me over to the balancing machine to show me that the alloy wheel that had been on the NSF (NSR before that) is not running true.
I guess the wheel must have been kerbed or potholed by the previous driver so now I need a new wheel.
Though why didnt the very well renown tyre fitter/wholesaler notice the distorted wheel when apparently balancing the wheels to a very precise degree?
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You think your wheel is bent look at these
www.alloywheelrepairs.net/WheelRepair.html
Almost a dilemma with the 2002 1.9D Punto - then a few rough calculations.
It`s done 60,000 miles as a home care car and does (the previously mentioned) 50 or so cold stop starts a day. It does around 53mpg doing this and a petrol car borrowed for the day did 29mpg.
Now it has faults for the first time. It`s going up to an injection specialist tomorrow to see whether its injectors or pump giving a problem. It`s IDE and a rotary pump - so that may be better news than if it were common rail. Last night the gears became difficult to select and from the feel of it - it`s the linkage - not the box.
But it crossed my mind - move it on or not?
The problem is that a new DPF diesel can`t do that exceptional stop start work and we have been warned off even contemplating it by a Fiat dealer.
That leaves a small petrol motor - but the constant cold running - of typically a few hundred yards - half an hour parked - means almost double the fuel used.
That would be around £2,800 extra on fuel over the next 8yrs + £6,000 cash to acquire a new Panda petrol (+PX)
Assuming in another 8yrs the new Panda itself will then be worth around £1,000/£1,500 (as is the Punto today) then it looks like it would cost just under £9,000 extra - as opposed to keeping the current Punto another 8yrs.
Less repairs of course. I`m sure those figures are a bit out - but the petrol/diesel figures on my wife`s home care work are spot on.
It seems the Punto is worth an open cheque book for the next 8yrs - as the losses on buying a petrol Panda would be truly massive - even if, say - £1,500 were figured into repairs for the Punto over the next 8yrs.
(This is the exceptionally (mechanically) cared for Punto by the way - serviced by me - oil changes at half intervals and with waterproof grease on the frames and under body seams - although it looks rough in the paint dept)
Thoughts? Read more
Oilrag: Interestingly - the petrol Panda has no serviceable fuel filter.
The fuel fliter isn't lsited as a service item by FIAT, but they do clog up eventually. On my Mk1 Punto, it clogged and then started leaking at 8 years old - SWMBO discovered it when she'd taken the car to Birmingham for three months on a work secondment.
The filter was fitted inline on the fuel feed from the tank, at the top of the rear wheel arch on the filler cap side, as I recall.
I always liked the integrated `Maserati` style of the GP - but the new front end on the Evo seems a real `dogs breakfast` to me.
Does anyone else think car design is becoming more ugly? Read more
I always liked the integrated `Maserati` style of the GP - but the new front
end on the Evo seems a real `dogs breakfast` to me.
>>
I own a Grande Punto and agree. I much prefer its 'old' Maserati-cloned front end to the Hyundai-cloned nose of the Evo. Apparently women potential buyers were put off by the aggressive look. Shame... I'm put off by the girly look.
I had an issue or 2 with my Peugeot and it went back to the garage I bought it from, they replaced injector seals, glow plugs, glow plug relays, brether unit and also topped up the diesel additive.
Since getting the car back I seem to lose power going uphill, seems ok on flat or downhill roads. Also seems sluggish to pull away.
I have read that poss a drive down the motorway at about 50mph in 3rd gear may start the regen process??? Is this tru and could this be the problem???
Thanks Read more
Hi, original problem was fumes coming into car when in traffic and also diesel additive minimum level, garage replaced injector seals, glow plugs, glow plug relays, breather kit, and topped up diesel additive.
Have emailed garage (Cargiant) last night and hope to get a reply tomorrow. Just not sure where I stand as only bought the car on 21st November and didn't take out warranty, but I know by law you get 3 months warranty anyway. They have cured the fault it went in for but I didn't have the problem of loss of power up hill, and I feel I shouldn't have to change out of 5th everytime get to an incline on the motorway.
This is the first time that I've used the website so a bit unsure of the forum function, but here goes.
I have a Vauxhall vectra (B) on a T plate 2.5 V6 SRi and it's been a great car for 10 years with only a few minor hiccups, However, I had the cambelt and waterpump replaced before Xmas and when I picked it up it ran really well. After leaving it over the Xmas period, it runs like stink and its missing on cylinders 1 and 4, all leads and plugs have been changed and the coil pack has also been replaced to no avail, I've now been told by the garage that I use, that its possibly the ECU. Haven't got a clue, any ideas???? I'd be grateful for your advice
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were the tensioners etc replaced at teh same time? Get the timing checked if you have doubts. Does the belt look to be running true?
Are you getting a spark at the iffy cylinders?
Does anyone know where the diesel spill /lleak off rubber plug goes as this fell of when i took the plastic inlet manifold of to do the injector seals and without this spill /leak of rubber plug will the car start ?
Its the same part thats on www.ebay.co.uk
Item number 260530139692
Also 200427408832
Post amended to remove the SHOUTING Read more
hi dieselnut theres no place where it can go on the end injector and this big rubber plug was under the plastic inlet manifold same position with injector 4 so am clueless where it goes ill have to check with the delaers to see if they can place where it goes this is my last resort b4 it goes into the main delaers for a dianostic
Has anyone had any experience of buying a used car from an internet dealer offering free delivery to your door ?
I've been looking at a number of sites (Outsidelane, Carsrusuk) which offer used cars at much reduced prices and they will deliver to your door.
The claim is that these cars are ex-lease and are either their own or obtained from other lease companies. They're 1 owner with full histories (usually).
They seem tooo good to be true but I can't find any info from other buyers on the web/forums.
Anyone know of them or other similar sites ???
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I bought a car from Cars r us in January this year and was really happy with the service. We had been looking for some time and found their prices extremely competitive, we were happy with the price they offered to part exchange our old car, delivery was free, the car arrived in very good condition and included full service history, spare keys etc. Only one previous owner. Will definitely buy from these guys again and have recommended them to friends and family.
Any body got any ideas on this.
Pulling badly to the left, straight road at 30 mph take hands of wheel and it heads for the kerb. At 70 mph it,s bad and constantly correcting on steering.
Car has been into local Fiat dealer who acknowledge it,s pulling to the left but cant see anything wrong.
I had the tracking done by local Align my car, wheels are balanced correctly and tyre pressures are correct.
Where do i go from here. Read more
every car ive had that does that WT pulls the wheel usually to the left as you start it
maybe the poster can check this on startup?
corsa's are the main culprits followed by siecento fiats
is this what you mean?
is it digital on the panda or an old fashioned volume control pot on the steering downshaft do you know?
questions...............questions.............. :-#)
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If the timing belt has jumped there is a possibility of serious damage to the engine, this would be expensive to fix (enything from £500 for very minor damage up to well into four figures). Cant say say how you cold get the AA to pay up, a starting point would be a damage assessment from a repairer and then a letter to AA perhaps.