June 2010
Hi Everyone,
I would like some advise on the purchase of a used disel estate. My main requirements are:... Read more
I have read some great advice on this forum before about the common water-under-seat leak problems and possible battery drains, but after trying all the suggestions I still have a mystery drain on my battery.
First visible problem was water welling up on the floor carpet in the rear (driver-side). Checked plenum area (as suggested in previous posts), but drain holes are fine; no evidence that the battery compartment has ever flooded. Likewise, no problems with pollen filter. I do have sun-roof, so there's a chance water is coming in through there somehow; I checked the suggested inspection points but can see no blockages. (though I am mystified by the 'teats' in the front door slam panels, which apprently need squeezing, according to previous posts...? Or were they having us on?)
Have raised carpets on all sides; ECM module on passenger side is fine and dry (I have no operational electronic problems at all anyway). Did find water underneath rear driver-side, as expected, and a little underneat driver seat; cables that run through these areas appear to be fine though, no corrosion visible, wire shielding appears production-line intact.
The standing drain on my battery is 0.09A (yes, 90 mA); this seems too high, this will drain my 70Ah battery in 30 days. Am I being too picky? Is this normal? I read previously on a forum that the standing drain should be on the order of 5 mA (or 0.005 A)
So I started taking out fuses (even the two power-window fuses besides the relay panel). After taking out *all* fuses, I still have a drain of 50 mA [so, the 'normal' drain should have been about (90 - 50 =) 40 mA.]
Are there any systems that would still be draining the battery even with all fuses removed? Where else could there still be a drain, that may or may not be related to the water underneath the carpet?
How about the alarm system? I couldn't identify a fuse for that, but I know I have one in the car. Does this need re-setting after reconnecting the battery or something similar that would stop the permanent drain? Is there a way to entirely switch off the alarm system at a root?
Any advice very welcome! I'm at a dead end now...
D Read more
Double check the 'duck bill' water vents in the door jam for the sunroof drain. these need to be perfectly clear and water must freely flow out of the sun roof recess. Flsh water through until it run out clear and freely. As has been said the seal under the electonics box is a potential source of your leak. Regards Peter
Hi, I wonder if anyone could explain to me what would cause anti roll bar links to wear out so quickly.
... Read more
Maybe they are not the same as the Citroen ones then, they have ball joints at the ends.
Just took delivery of a nearly new 1.6 Focus with 11,890 miles. Ford direct had put 2 new tyres on the front as part of the Ford Direct 'make it like new' policy. Initially I took the car back as the front wheels clearly had significant un-balance. The guys at the dealer balanced the wheels and they were much better but still not acceptable.
At 65 mph the shimmy is worse, especially on smoother road surfaces.... Read more
I'm just glad its sorted, and I dont have to be hanging around their garage and on the phone for hours...And I'm now 100% happy with the car, having done over 1000 miles in it.
I have just received in the post a PCN from Enfield Council . The wording is as follows:
The PCN is being served by post on the basis of a record produced by an approved device. The vehicle indentified above was observed at (TIME) on (DATE) and the authority believes that a penalty charge is payable on the grounds of the following alleged parking contravention:... Read more
You cannot park with any part of the vehicle on the pavement anywhere in London unless there is a specific exemption*.
There is no basis for an appeal and you would not succeed if you took it to the regulator - they have good evidence and the minor errors on the ticket are trivial - so the best advice is not to appeal it and to pay up at the lower rate.
*Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1974
Over the past two years my Golfs exhaust emissions light has been on. When it first came on I took it to the VW dealer who looked at it, said they'd found a hose from the Secondary Air Pump which had almost come off so they put it back on and cleared the fault.
Within a day the light was back on. They suggested replacing the hoses to the pump so I went ahead at a cost of £80. Fault cleared and within a few days the light was back on.... Read more
hello way over from Winnipeg,Manitoba Canada I have been having the same problem about the air pump myself. my mechanic also said "dont worry about it, only used during enitial start". lol Im cheap so I have been driving along with a engine light on for over a year now. yes I have had it reset a couple times..and strangly at times it would light up like 5-20min after startup and drivearound. *shrugs* other than that, car runs like a champ. hitme back up at my e-mail vwkirby@hotmail.com
Hi all,
I hope you don't mind me asking for advice as a brand new poster! I've been googling for answers and Honest John keeps coming up so I was hoping I could ask your opinion on a couple of things.... Read more
This one's aimed at Lucy...and I appreciate i've left it late in this thread as the horse has bolted, the door's been closed and the stable cleaned up before I've got involved.
If someone commits a motoring misdemeanour and at the time of that offence has relevant points on their licence, then the Magistrates can take them in to account for sentencing purposes...but...surely if by the time it gets to court some points were no longer active...then they would not be available to be used for totting up purposes, because they were no longer current?...
I own a Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 16v Dynamic Sport 57' reg and have just been quoted £440 for a 36,000 mile service at my local Fiat dealer - Thames Fiat Slough. This seems fairly excessive to me, can anybody help?
Also I am worried that if I stray away from the main Fiat dealer network I will void the warranty for my car?... Read more
This really is excessive. The last warranty service I paid for on a Hyundai two years ago, which also included the cam belt change( the car was near its 50,000 mile limit), was £ 360. This is a bit rich for a glorified oil change, but dealers can be like that as, unless you're buying another car from them, they know after the warranty expires you won't be using them for servicing and want as much as they can get from you. I saved £ 150 last year on a major service on a Nissan which was post warranty by using a local idependent even though I got the usual begging letter about how important it was to use a main dealer. Same as in the autumn it will only need an oil and filter change that most reputable independents will do for £ 30.
I am thinking of buying one of these as a run around, I have noticed that it has rot on the cross member (under radiator) I want to budget for a repair.
Please Can anyone give me an approximate cost (independant garage) to supply & replacement of a front cross member ? thank you Read more
As with alot of jobs the part is relatively cheap but it takes alot of labour, I had one done about 6 years ago ( this is a common rust area on these cars but once done its good for another 10 years) and as I remember the part was about £70 and they billed 3 hours labour so I would say a good £250 minimum but they are pretty bullet proof cars so if the rest is good it may be worth the cost.
The above light comes on occasionally.
If it was the secondary air pump at fault would it come on after every cold start since the pump doesn't work (according to garage).... Read more
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Good point !...