I have scraped this car through the last three MOTs by fitting my wifes exhaust to my car and getting it as hot as hell before the emmisions test and even then it has failed at least once and needed a retest. I will probably have to give up this September when it is due again which is a shame as the engine is OK, it doesn't use oil and the oil stays relatively clean for 4000 between changes. It is however running rich as the sooty plugs will testify. Any ideas on dealing with this cheaply as I do not want to take it to a garage to have the ECU looked at or tested as it costs a mint and my car is worth about £200. The Lambda is quite new (@18 months) but I suspect the cat is naff as it would never get through emmisions with it fitted, as I have already said I normally pinch the wifes for an MOT.

I know that the Lambda senses the oxygen content of the exhaust gases and the ECU adjusts accordingly but what I would like to know is what it (ecu) adjusts and could this be the fault. Incidently, I have a code reader but this doesn't find any faults and the engine light doesn't come on. Read more

Hi guys. I have a pug 306 meridian and on Monday night broke down. Car started ok but after putting the heaters on and lights and car was in motion all the lights on the dashboard came on and the car died. AA inspected car and found a broken earth at the gear box. Problem sorted...... or so I thought. Following morning car refused to start again. AA called and replaced battery and multi function relay. All system was checked ie. fuel injectors, fuses etc..... still will not start. The momentum there but just doesn't seem to have the spark to do so. Booked in to a local garage tomorrow and desperate to know if anyone has had a similar problem and what was the solution. Really can't afford new car and I'm quite attached to it. Read more

Just read a thread in which the washer reservoir cap of a Nissan Note was likened to the foil top of a milk bottle.

This got me thinking about flimsy car parts, something that might just be capable of doing the job, but you look at and your heart sinks.

My nomination is the rear plastic bumper on the CC3.

An ice cream tub from the supermarket freezer is sturdier and looks like it would be more durable.

Any other examples of mass-produced, low-rent tat fitted to cars?



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Over the last few months I have noticed a lot of delivery mileage Morgans being advertised by dealers - something I don't really recall seeing in the past. I assume that the dealer network has to order a certain amount and presumably the buyers have not been coming forward to take them up before delivery from the factory. Must be a sign of the recession and, while I could not afford a new Morgan, I would be very sad to see the company and its craftsmen slide into history. Has anyone seen an '09 plate on one? Read more

I say help because I really think something untoward has happened here.

Background ? apologies for length and twists and turns?

I was handing my car back to the finance company as it was now 50% way through the agreement. The finance company were delayed in sending the forms to the correct address causing the road tax to expire. The car was therefore rightfully placed in the impound.

So far everything is as normal. A pain perhaps but nothing out of the ordinary.

I contact the DVLA impound where an employee ensures me that if I am handing the car back to the finance company they would deal with it, contact the finance company and sort the whole matter out. I had paid the impound fee and the tax expiration fee also and therefore the only question I repetitively asked was ?so you won?t crush my car? You?re sure you won?t crush my car? to which as already stated the reply was ?no no I takes ages before we go down that route, crushing is a last resort?.

Two weeks later I called the impound as I had hear nothing.

The lady who then answered confirmed that my car had actually been destroyed; after the silence having asked her to repeat that I told her about my previous conversation which stated my car would not be crushed. She replied that there was no log of me calling and therefore she did not believe I called. I restated that I did in which she pretty much said there was nothing on the computer and therefore it was my word against theirs.

Now I?ve played corporate pink fluffy dice games before?.get it in writing!

I know have an email confirming that I made mo phone call, there was no log of me calling and as such with no contact they were in their rights to crush my car?I have emails stating this.

On informing them that I have phone records proving a lengthy phone call to their number they again disputed it before eventually confirming that not only did they suddenly remember the phone call but they could recount exactly what they said to me! Their version was that they told me they were going to crush my car?.but in far more detailed response which I found amusing AND amazing to have gone from no memory to the most amazing recount of a phone call ever!!!

Where does this leave me:
In reality the DVLA are no longer replying to my emails that ask for a resolution.

They cannot explain why someone with a reasonably healthy bank account would hear that his car was going to be scrapped and it?s worth of £3000+ would be lost, not to mention the remaining balance owed to the finance company of £3000+ and simply let it happen.

The finance company continue to damage my credit history, add charges and contact me politely (as I have been very apologetic to them) whilst DVLA have stopped sending contradictive emails, offering inept work ethic and are now simply saying nothing.

Any advice? I really need this sorted ASAP as my lady and I would like to buy our first house this year!

Thanks,
Ryan

{some editing taken place in accordance with the forum T's & C's and no swearing policies} Read more