February 2011
The motor trade should beware buying "finance free" Fiats, Alfas, Land Rovers, Jags and Jeeps as Fiat's finance house FGA Capital, which handles new and late-used for these marques seems to have failed to record its credit agreements...
After failing to lodge records with vehicle check agencies Fiat finance house FGA Capital UK Ltd, which also provides finance for Land Rover, Jaguar and Chrysler-Jeep is using 34-year-old case law to sue dealers who innocently buy their "finance clear" second hand cars... Read more
I have a nissan micra V reg and it has two fan/drive belts can anyone tall me what they do one goes round the alternator but I'm unsure whate the other is for as it has a timming chain as far as I know for timing Read more
Power steering pump?
OK chaps. My pressure light came on while on the motorway to work about a month ago. I stopped and topped it up and it went off. No problem.
It came on again last week so I topped it up again. the oil light went off but then came on again a minute later. I took a level reading and I'd over filled it. I drained some oil out and the light went off and stayed off.... Read more
if I have a slight oil leak (and I mean very slight) would this cause the sensor to become faulty?
my steering is a bit notchy going from straight ahead to slightly to the right only. all other steering inputs are fine. any ideas anybody? Read more
Low on fluid, pump drive belt slipping, faulty pump, faulty rack control valve faulty. siezed universal joint - unless of course it has electric steering.
My In-laws had a visit from a local bobby 30th Dec 2010, he first spoke my Mother-in-law who was just coming out of the house. He asked her if she had been driving the named car that day. She confirmed that she did and he proceeded to caution her, telling her that that she had struck someone and failed to stop. Needless to say she was very frightened at the allegation and the way the officer had handled the situation. My mother-in law said that she didn't hit anybody and asked the officer to come inside to discuss it.
He gave the details, that a woman was struck by a wing mirror as she was trying to remove a car on the side of the road and was badly bruised. She didn't seek any medical attention at any time and no evidence was given to confirm any bruising.... Read more
The attitude of the cop suggests he might be a friend/relative of the person who made the complaint (the alleged 'clippee') - just coming round to put the frighteners on them?
They won't be convicted of a driving offence solely on the basis that person X went to plod and told them that person Y hit them, especially when there's no damage, injury or impartial evidence of them ever having interacted. Or could they? Has our justice system changed so much that you can be strung up on the say-so of another member of the public?...
Hi,
I wondered if anyone would be able to advise on a situation with my Saab 9-3.
3 weeks and 2 days ago the electronic steering lock decided to stick on and not come off when the key was inserted (common fault apparently). I called the AA who advised that it needed towing to a garage of my choice. I went on to the saab forums and found a specialist in my area. I called them and they told me to take it in for looking at.
This was 3 weeks ago, so as you can imagine things have not gone too smoothly! After 2 working days the garage advised that they would have to send the car to Saab for diagnosing as they did not have the correct computer to link my car up to - this story then changed when they found out that saab wanted £150 for this task - the garage advised me that they were going to "upgrade their diagnostic system" instead to save on the costs.
On the Thursday on the first week I was informed that they had diagnosed the fault and the Electronic steering lock was indeed faulty - at a cost of £300 + vat, with a further £100 for diagnosis and fitting (this was a verbal quote). I said that this was fine as I had bought a warranty from warranty direct. Warranty direct have since advised that this part is not covered under the warranty. ( I'm disputing this decision but that is a different story.)
The part needed to come from Saab in Sweden which meant a wait of just over a week for delivery. The part was fitted the day after it arrived (which was now a week and a day ago).
I was informed that the car would be ready on the saturday morning but when I turned up, it was still in bits. Annoying but these things happen. The lock was engaged which meant it was very difficult to remove. I called again on the Monday to be told it still wasn't ready.
I called on the Tuesday and was informed that "they were awaiting a code reader to sync the new part to the car".
Wednesday arrived and the garage informed me that they had got a guy in (an auto electrician) who was working on the problem. It turns out that the software he had needed updating and he could not get it until the next day.
Thursday afternoon arrives and the guy has not turned up - apparently he did turn up and stayed until 7pm trying to sync the part to the car with no success.
Friday I am told that the auto electrician has arranged a low loader to take the car to his workshop to get sorted out, as the part is still showing as "alien" to the car and is being rejected.
Called today and teh car is still at the auto electricians. "Call back Monday" I am told!!!!
Sorry for the long story, but best to get all the facts up in print.
Anyway, I am quite worried about the following :
- That the garage has replaced the wrong part (or ordered an incorrect replacement part - there are around 4 different part codes listed for this lock). If he didn't have the correct diagnosis equipment in the first place then how did he diagnose the fault?
- That the car will still not end up being fixed, and they will start to swap other more expensive parts of the ignition system.
- The cost of the repair - since the original verbal quotation an auto electrician has been involved, the car has been moved and I must be incurring further costs without being told.
Could someone advise on what my course of action should be from here? If the garage cannot fix the car (it is undriveable) does the law state that I still have to pay them? Who pays for the part they have fitted if there was nothing wrong with the original part?
I'm rather worried about this one - I feel trapped and the garage don't seem to have the knowledge to remedy the problem - although i've been polite and patient with them (They have been a saab specialist for 25 years, but it seems they deal in older saabs - they have also been amiable, although i'm sure that will change in the next few days!)
many thanks in advance Read more
Very difficult to judge as to whether they have mis-diagnosed, I dont think so. When components need matching or coding it doesn't always go smoothly and sometimes its very frustrating for the garage as well !
My friend had a volvo awd that at 7 months old the power steeing failed and the replacement would not talk to the car and Volvo's own diag kit could not program it iether. It actually took several weeks to sort whilst software was updated and parts sent from abroad ! and extra techs were sent to the dealer to try & rectyfy, very much the same senario.
Took my daughter out on a motorway lesson (first time after passing her test) and somehow we ended up looking at new cars. Citreon c1 was on the way home, but then I saw a twingo in the garage opposite and ended up buying it. £6k brand new, but with the punto swooped in it works out at 70/month.
I pay more than that for my mobiles! But is it any good? Read more
My Yaris is ultra reliable and has never cost me a penny. Shes 11yrs old now. Maybe the last of the reliable Toyotas??
My cousins Astra has a problem starting and it won't even bump start. It started fine this morning but a few hours later it would not start, so I dont know what could have happened in the space of a few hours. It was not driven by anyone else or lights/electrics left on etc.
I've had a quick search and it appears it could be something to do with the battery not being connected properly. I dont have any further details as she called me on the phone. Would using jump leads help in this situation - ie to find out if it is the battery terminals/connections? Read more
Thanks, I will give it a try.
i have traders policy and the sprinter was not yet on mid,my freind moved it off his drive to get his land rover out police swooped on him for no ins on van(have proved it was) but they rang his ins to ask if hed declared all his points,he hadnt,cover revoked,they are now tryng to do me for allowing him to use my van with no ins (3rd party by way of his ins and my ins) because his cover was revoked maybe a month later after theyd done there checks etc.
my argument is... Read more
The issue here is the friends undeclared points had not been reported to his insurance company. You indicate that he was insured under your traders policy. There are different levels of traders insurance, some insure all employees on any vehicle associated with the trade, others insure any vehicle in a trade to be driven by any person. What do you have. Regards Peter
hi again
im wanting to change the drivers airbag on my mk4 astra as it suffers from the worn out horn buttons, i know its physically easy enough to do but the question is if i relace it with another used airbag will i have the dashboard warning light to reset or will it be ok?... Read more
If you disconnect the battery before starting the job,then there should be no problem.hth
Browse
There is a lot to be said for that view, not least that we often see cases when the marker is lost with a change to or from private plates.
I do however think that there has to be a definitive trgister so if you have not recorded an interest you cannot legally enforce one.