March 2010
Ive changed the head gasket on my car and now I need to know if the car will run if the timing is out by 180 degrees and also any help on how to time it up any help would be great
Regards Paul Read more
I’m looking to buy a Vauxhall Astra sporthatch 1.6 SXi easytronic in pearlescent sapphire black. 57/2008 and has done 15911 miles for sale at £7995 from a car supermarket.
After speaking to the salesman and being told the car is in superb condition and being a fair distance from the place, I decided to best get the AA to carry out a ‘comprehensive’ inspection, as I’m always wary when told things like this and I’m not great when it comes to cars.... Read more
Just a quick question!!
My front nearside passenger door will not open from either the inside or outside. I can hear and feel the central locking mechanism working inside the door but it will not open.
To check on the workings, i need to remove the door card to check whats what but as i cannot open the door, i am struggling to do even this.
Is there a trick to releasing the door to get to check on the workings?? Read more
Just a quick question!!
My front nearside passenger door will not open from either the inside or outside. I can hear and feel the central locking mechanism working inside the door but it will not open.
To check on the workings, i need to remove the door card to check whats what but as i cannot open the door, i am struggling to do even this.
Is there a trick to releasing the door to get to check on the workings?? - Had same problem with my Citroen xsara today (C5 is probably the same or similar) , front passenger door, and couldnt find any solution on internet forums that helped. The central locking and door lock seemed to work, the locking button was clicking back and forth, but neither handle inside or outside would open door. Stumbled across a way of getting door open. If its the front door, turn the key to the unlock position (anticlockwise) and turn it forcefully it should click at about the 9 o clock position. You should then be able to get door open. Hope none of my rear doors do the same! Hope this helps someone out there!!
Have others noticed that most shell filling stations in London no longer sell Shell Diesel Extra but ordinary Shell Diesel with the colour on the pump nozzle changed from black to blue or so. Is it in other to force Londoners to buy the expensive V-Power diesel? This ordinary diesel gives a much lower mpg compared to Diesel extra, at least for my car
I have noticed this is not so in other cities like Birmingham. Read more
Hi everyone. A friend of mine has just found out his '96 reg'd Vectra has failed it's MOT, so he's looking to get rid of it and buy a cheap diesel motor to bomb around in for a while. He hasn't got a great deal of money to play with, as he has just had a new addition to the family a few weeks back. What sort of diesels can be picked up for around 500 to a 1000 pounds, that will last longer than two weeks? (Not many I can imagine!)
Many thanks in advance : ) Read more
i know of someone in a similar position who has just bought a Vreg Peugeot estate 406 diesel.
he paid £500 for it + £200 for a service. although he needs to replace some parts of the suspension which will cost another 200 odd quid, it has no issues doing regular 500 mile round trips each weekend and will return the best part of 60mpg on a run. and has plenty of space that he needs being an estate. ...
I recently bought a bulk quantity of 5w/30 fully synthetic oil, aimed at Ford Zetecs etc, which is ACEA rated A1/B1/A5/B5.
I was hoping to also use this in the newer Vauxhalls as well, but according to their recent manuals it states that only oils of grade A3 should be used and A1/A5 oils are "strictly forbidden" and could cause damage.
It seems that the A1/A5 oil has a slightly lower viscosity and is aimed at fuel efficiency but can't find a definitive answer as to why it could be damaging.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, as my local motor factor wants almost double the amount for the A3 rated oil. Read more
Found a likely explanation.
It seems that Vauxhall and most other manufacturers require a HTHS (High temperature high shear) rating of more than 3.5, (a3/B3 rated oil), whereas the a1/B1/a5/B5 oils have a lower rating of of 2.9 to 3.5, which could cause oil pressure to drop and accelerated wear on an engine not designed for it.What colour should it be?
... Read more
a small quantity of diluted blue antifreeze may not be an issue but scum around expansion bottle may indicate the two didn't like mixing. If you are sure there is sufficient strength OaT pink stuff in there just top us with the ready mixed OaT from Halfords. However, it does sound like it could be time for a flush and full re-charge.
I mean I'm not paying for any cover seeing as my car is wrecked so why should I still pay each month?... Read more
You're lucky they have let you keep the insurance policy. I've heard of companies that cancel your insurance after a write off claim and still make you pay for the full year's insurance. This means if you get another car you have to start another policy.
i mean im not paying for any cover seeing as my car is wrecked so why should i still pay each month?
i know a lot of other people have done the same. can anyone shed any light on this? Read more
Has the claim be settled yet? Untill it is you cant put it on "hold"
I recently lent a friend my '02 Citroen C5, Petrol, to be driven on a long journey to Scotland. The 12V socket had an ipod plugged into it and after about 45 min of driving it refused to go above 35mph and eventually the battery light came on. Once the ipod was unplugged everything worked ok again?
Am I right in thinking the alternator should be charging the battery while the car is moving? Is this normal that this should affect the car?... Read more
The car went in to "limp home" mode. Its has some kind of engine or eengine management fault.
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When I got the report from the aa the main thing that really made my heart sink was the minor stone chipping and light scratching. Considering it's 2 years old, I wasn't sure if this was normal on all 4 areas (bonnet, both wings and bumper) for a car having done this much mileage/age and if it is, is it easy to get sorted as usually these paint problems seem to cost a lot (re-spraying panels, Vauxhall dealer quoted around £1000) or don't look that great
I have the same car bought brand new first one and probably only one parked outside my house bad storm of 2007 a piece of slate dropped off my roof landed on the roof and just for the pleasure of it bouced onto the bonnet (found slate on both)....