August 2010
Hi,
Just a word of warning if your power steering is intermittently failing I suggest you get it seen to before your warranty expires.
Just recently my power steering started to play up and was told the steering rack had failed and needs replacing - it cost me £1300.
The car had just ran out of it's 3yr warranty with only 26k miles on clock
[Ford S-Max 2.0 TDCi Titanium (56 plate)]. I've heard similar stories that seem to point towards a faulty component but Ford Customer Services want nothing to do with it and will not assist financially.... Read more
I need to replace a faulty sensor next to the front number plate.
Jaguar Part Number C2C29376XXX but the dealer price is £51.05... Read more
I'm trying to work out which is the best smallish MPV that can take 6-7 people. I've got two kids, 1 and 3, and hope to have another in the future, so I need space for 3 kid's car seats. I live in town and have to park on the street, so while there's usually plenty of spaces I don't want a monster sized car (the only thing stopping me from looking at the full size MPVs, but I'd like the extra seats for friends / family when they visit. While most of the weekday driving is just in town to the shops, etc, we often do 1 - 3 hour trips at the weekend on Scottish motorways and A-roads.
Reliability is important (though I recognise that guaranteed reliability of some makes can be a myth, as can unreliability from other makes), safety is important. Fuel economy not so important, but I don't want to lose too much on depreciation, so it'll probably have to be a diesel.... Read more
Would be very grateful for an help or info into a problem that has persisted for the last year or more and cannot be solved.
Mazda 6 diesel, common rail, no dpf.
Car will start up, no lights and runs for about 30 seconds at idle, then it will suddenly throw itself into limp mode, running very roughly with the EML illuminated. Light can be put off with scanner, but will do the same thing again almost imediately.
However once the car is driven down the road a bit, constantly reseting the EML, it may then drive for up to 40 miles with no problems or check lights, as long as the car is driven and not sitting at traffic.etc.... Read more
Problem found.
Faulty ECU.
ECU was tested before and they said it was ok.
took it out again anyway and replaced it with 1 from another car (immobiliser aswell), and the car now runs fine.
I've a problem with the reversing light not working, tested bulb, checked contacts on bulb holder but I'm struggling to find the reversing light switch.
Also fusebox diagram in the manual supplied with the car doesn't match the fusebox in the passenger footwell, therefore I'm looking to find which number fuse I should be checking.... Read more
Not required for MOT.
Recently the car has exibited a grumbling drone at speeds below 30mph and only when coasting or as the car slows when turning. I have noticed that the noise is affected by steering and seemed to be coming from the offside.
Remembering that I had done the o/s wheel bearing about 18 months ago I thought it might be the o/s outer CV joint. I bought one and fitted it and also renewed the wheel bearing just in case. Driving the car, The noise is still there although very much reduced by at least 75%.... Read more
Glad you got it sorted anyway, those gearboxes are normally very reliable - but they are not of course designed to be run without oil! The turbo engine and gearbox are a much better set up, you will probably find it uses less fuel to.
I have received a repair quote of £260+VAT from a local garage for a small Hyundai Getz. It is a Condenser leak and nearly all the cost is for the Condenser part which is only available from the main dealer. Labour is only about £50
Local Garage tells me the 5 yr guarantee won't cover this, since it is probably a stone chip which damaged the condenser (a common problem) which comes under wear and tear, something I find it difficult to believe. ... Read more
With most manufacturers,a part fitted under warranty is only covered till the end of the warranty-if YOU pay for the part and fitting,then you get a 12 month guarantee.
I tried to remove the spark plugs of my 2002 Ford Ka yesterday with no luck.
I cleaned around the plugs first to ensure no debris enters the engine, then i tried turning the plugs lightly using a spark plug removal tool (t-shaped). I didnt want to apply to much pressue and cause any damage, but obviously these t-shaped spark plug tools dont apply that much torque.... Read more
The soaking usually works but if not and the plug shears off all you need to do is to drive a spline tool hard down the middle of the plug & then unwind. used to do so may it got boring. never removed a head yet for a siezed plug in a ford.
I changed the battery recently on my 2001 Sharan and noticed shortly afterwards that the Aircon was not working. It was a hot day and we tried switching the aircon on but didn't get any cold air. Later I noticed that when the ignition was switched on the climate control panel flashed for about 15 seconds, which the car book says indicates a malfunction. The car has not been used much for the past two years, often sitting in the garage all week and sometime for two weeks. Even when the car was used Aircon was not always on. Aircon had never given any trouble before, having had the car from new. Checked all the fuses which had an aircon sign against them and they were all ok. Tested the two gas filler points and gas hissed out. Have been running the car for the past 300 miles or so with the air con switched off. Ran the engine yesterday to warm it up to change the oil and got some burning smell from the left side of the engine (where the pumps/ drivebelt are. Couldn't see any obvious fault when I inspected the aircon components from under the car. Any help to diagnose and repair would be appreciated. Read more
No practical advice for the poster, but this problem simply re-inforces the false economy of not running the A/C system. All stems back 20 years or more when A/C was only found on luxury motors, and your dad would tell you that it increased the mpg by 10% or more.
Modern systems use nothing like as much power, and they prefer to be in constant use rather than left off for weeks at a time. The repair costs of an under used system will far exceed the cost of leaving them switched on....
Hi all
I have a Toyota Previa II 2.4i 16v 1991 which was running very ragged after 15 mins (or when warmed up). I was advised to get hold of a new coil and No. 1 HT lead, which I duly did and also I added a new battery. I fitted the battery first and then found that I couldn't get the car to start at all.... Read more
Many thanks for taking the time to give me this info.
I will do exactly what you have suggested and see what the outcome is. I have a Haynes manual on its way through chaptersmedia_uk on Amazon for around £10 (in case anyone is searching for a manual) which is great value and will allow me the luxury of knowing where things are at last....
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