Since the cold weather started in about December, the car has been making a whining noise when accelerating. The noise is quite high pitched, and sounds like a Scalextric toy car! The whining noise increases in pitch as the revs go up when I go through the gears. This only happens when the car is cold, and goes away after a mile.
The whining is not heard in reverse gear.

Any ideas? A slack belt, perhaps?

Thanks
Mike Read more

Hello, I wonder if any of you knowledgeable people can help?

My car (57 plate Volvo S80 D5 Auto) is being serviced today, and I have been called by the garage to say the coolant is weak. Not low, just weak. They offered to drain and replace the coolant to the correct strength, for the sum of £40 (which in the scheme of the servicing costs by Volvo, seems OK).

Now what doesn't appear OK is that a two year old car should have weak coolant. I can't think it would have degraded from new in only two years.

It therefore seems to me that there are 3 scenarios:

1. The strength of the coolant was incorrect when filled at the factory
2. It was topped up with water, weakening the mix by the previous owner (who were the Volvo dealership)
3. It was topped up with water by me, during my ownership.

Now I can discount 3, as I know I haven't done that. I therefore feel that the cost of the replacement should be borne by the dealer, as they sold me the car. I shall be discussing that with them when I collect it (although not busting a gut over it, as it is only £40 - but that £40 is better in my pocket than theirs).

Before I ask them to take off this cost from my bill, can anyone think of a reason that the coolant level would be weak, that may mean I have to wear the additional cost myself??

Thank you in anticipation.


Posting, as always, in the hope that it helps. Read more

Hallo,
My wife's clutch has "burnt out", car has done 7,000 miles (new in March 09) and she doesn't "ride" the clutch whilst driving.
This is her fifth oir sixth car and it has never happened before.
Should a new clutch be fitted under warranty or do Saab have a way out by saying it is a "wear and tear" item so we will have to pay.
I certainly feel it should be replaced free of charge as there is no way it should be failing after this kind of mileage.
Dealer is contacting Saab to try and get it paid for but is talking of a cost of £1,400 if they don't agree.
Am also slightly worried that they will come back and say Saab will contribute, say, 50% as I will still not be happy with a £700 bill on a 10 month old car.
Any advice or experience of this matter would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark .Y.
Read more

The look on your face, I mean. A letter in one of today's newspapers refers to the the "patronising superiority" on the faces of 4x4 drivers in current conditions. If you're a professional, chances are the look will be one of concentration, maybe anxiety in the case of some elderly folk, or relaxed if you're on a pleasure trip. I'm told I tend to have a "severe face" - no particular reason for that .. perhaps a sign of being focused?
How do you rate your expression when you're at the wheel, BRs? Read more

Hello all. Need a bit of advice

Changed a wheelbearing in my mk2 and now i seem to have a warped hub. I have now decided that the cheapest fix is to write off the new bearing and get another hub assembly from a breakers. I have found one, but its from a 1.8. Just wondering if anyone knows if they are compatible, or at least any 1.8 owners out there, do the 1.8's have 4 studs on the hub for the wheel nuts.

Thanks

Gavin Read more