November 2010
Hello,
Can anyone let me know the mileage for changing the timing belt on a petrol Berlingo, and an approximate idea of the cost? ... Read more
Hello all - I'd really appreciate your thoughts on this...
We bought my son a car last week from a "part time" car dealer - 600 quid, ran ok on test drive and seemed ok for the money. Needs some new tyres & brake pads which we knew about however, in the week since we bought it, the radiator failed, we took that on the chin so to speak and its been fixed, then one of the rear light clusters failed as there's water in there. And last night after hearing a knocking/banging sound the front wheel has wobbled almost off - thank goodness my son was only driving at 25 MPH as it was cold and icy last night he managed to get it to the side of the road and no one was hurt. As his mum I am furious that this bloke has sold us a potential death trap, however, I do reasonably see that it's entirely possible that it's something the seller may not have known about - we are not sure where we stand legally - do we simply ask for our money back, ask for a portion of it back to cover the necessary works or what - one of my main concerns is that if he is selling lots of dodgy old bangers onto first time drivers there's a very real danger of someone being hurt.
Anyway, what do you think? Thanks so much for reading! Read more
How can I find out whether my C5 1.6 HDI diesel 56 reg has a particulate filter? The VIN is VF7RE9HZC6757915 Read more
I have a squeek that started recently but cant put my finger on it.
I can hear it from the drivers seat and it gets faster with revs but when i listen in the engine bay I cant hear it.... Read more
I,m afraid I don't know much about Hdi engines, I have only just acquired my first one in 406 guise, my experience has been with the IDI variety. Its very difficult to diagnose a noise without actually hearing it, it could be a fuel injection or combustion noise but I think its more likely to be mechanical.
My daughter has the above model of BMW. The ABS warning light is on permanently. We have been informed the ABS unit is governed by a Teves mk. 60 DSC computer which has failed. We have been told that new from BMW the unit would be at least £800. Does anyone know of any cheaper alternatives. (Recon. or 2nd hand).
Boumph. Read more
that was quick!! only just got back on here----thanks for that can you expand on it a little I do have a reasonable grasp of the inner workings cheers Nic
All dials on dash - speedo etc are at zero and lights are off, but car working fine everything works, indicators, headlights etc. The lights on the center console for the Radio/Cd etc are all fine. We have checked fuses etc but they seem fine too?. Can anybody help?? Read more
I took my 55 Focus 2.0L Diesel in for it's MOT and service at the main dealer and when it was returned to me I smelt fumes in the cabin when driving. After two days and a couple of local journeys the smell hadn't gone.
I took it back and they have diagnosed a cracked fuel injector pipe and want to charge me over a grand to fix it!... Read more
Diesel fuel pipes downstream of the pump must be fairly robust. The union may have been been loosened/unfastened. How on earth has such a pipe designed for many bar of pressure, "fractured"? Birmingham screwdriver? (For Lucy - a big hammer:) Artful dodgers still abound. Try a diesel injection specialist to find out where the problem is.
I have been trying to find some information on how many people are charged each year with "tailgating". The reason I ask it that most weekends I drive along a stretch of road that has a 30/40mph mix plus a number of speed cameras. It used to be 40/60 but was reduced following an accident that, I suspect, the lower limit would not have prevented. In reality the speed limit is rather on the low side for the road. The problem is that because people could drive faster just as safely there is a lot of tailgating on this stretch of road. The people doing this drive anything from a black cab to a flatbed lorry. Whilst many 100's of people have been fined for speeding I have not heard of anybody being done for tailgating which is potentially much more dangerous along that stretch of road. Read more
I've noticed that tailgating is particularly bad where a lower speed limit has recently been introduced. It's as though impatient drivers think that because the limit is new, they have the right A) to break it, and B) to tailgate other drivers in order to try and get them to go faster too. This effect persists for months, or even a year or two after the limit has been introduced.
Just bought a new car and thought i might buy a private plate as i tend to keep cars for a good few yearsand would like to know if there are any scams or pitfalls i need to look out for when buying.Also what do i do about documents(log book,road tax etc) Read more
.Also what do i do about documents(log book,road tax etc)
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I am about to take on a very handsome old 1983 Datsun Bluebird (that is the Japanese RWD model, ie before Sunderland builds). It is a 1.8GL petrol model. It has been well cared for, has done only about 34,000 miles, but has had little use for the past 5 or 6 years. It is currently SORN'd, was last MOT'd 3 or 4 years ago. Bodywork is not quite perfect but is "as good as it gets" as it was kept in a dry but draughty lock up.
Obviously it will need a proper assessment as to what bits need sorting or replaced, but does anyone have any tips for the things that must be done so as to get it back into occasional but reliable use? I presume change of all the oils & fluids, probably brake pipes, tyres, hoses etc. Any tips?... Read more
Engine flushing is something OAPs do to make them feel good, and I don't know if the garages bother, they just smile and charge them for it. It should only be done if you are concerned that a build up of sludge (which we don't have any more since about 1980) is a problem.
Gearbox/diff good to go...
Browse
True pd. Last time I traded in an old car for £500 it appeared in Autotrader a week later on someone's driveway for £1,500. And that was about 6 years ago.
For a car to be going for just £600 from a dealer (whether from their driveway or a forecourt), I'd be surprised if it even starts and moves under its own power.