March 2011
My first visit here so I'd appreciate the benefit of the joint wisdom that prevails.
Not regularly, but on several occasions over the last year or two, with the car running, the interior has suddenly filled with a foul odour - rotten eggs/fish type - which almost necessitates vacating the car. It lingers for days despite air fresheners and open windows. It doesn't build up it just suddenly emits like a schoolyard stink bomb has been dropped.... Read more
Hi John
My car started to be hard to start a couple of weeks ago. When it was running it was fine no missing or lose of power. Then this weekend it would'nt start at all. There is no smoke comming out the exhaust but there is fuel getting up past the the filter. To start with I thought is was heater plugs but because there is no smoke I now think its my pump but I thought there should be no real warning with it like being hard to start, I thought it should either go or not have u any advise for me.... Read more
John thanks alot I will do that I was starting to panick thinking I needed a knew pump, might still do but I will eliminate the relays first. That makes me feel more at ease, I think I will get rid of it once this was fixed little things are starting to go wrong and its only time before something major goes wrong.
Hi bought a 2002 A6 Avant 2.5TDI. Runs really well, starts from cold fine but is very difficult to start when warm specially when say the car has been run then left for an hour or so. Bought the diagnostic software and lead but no fault codes are listed.
Has anyone had the same experience or could advise on what the problem could be? Read more
I have the same fault on the same car and was wondering if the fault was now fixed ans what cured it?
Hi again. I am am loads of trouble with my 2002 ford focus just lately, probably because I mentioned selling it, she has now cost me nearly £500 since January!!
Anyway, after just having had my brake caliper un seized today, the lad who does the repair work on the car for me has rang to say that after depressing the clutch pedal the white plastic eyelet that attaches to the welded stud on the clutch pedal fell off into a few pieces landing in the footwell.... Read more
This is the push rod for the clutch master cylinder that has snapped.I would also check the pin on the clutch pedal to make sure the weld has not broken away.Not an unusual fault on this year of car.hth
the exhaust emmissions light has been coming on and off for a few weeks now. does anyone have any ideas?
i have found on this site that it could be the cam shaft sensor? any ideas how to test this?... Read more
My girlfriend also had a VW Fox which had this problem, Engine Management light kept coming off and going on over a period of a few weeks.
As it was still under warranty we took it to a VW dealer to look at, turns out the problem was a cracked cylinder head which VW replaced under warranty without any problems, just took them 2 weeks to source the part as it is a rare failure.
So maybe worth taking it to a VW dealer for them to check out!
Hello all, I have noticed an odd fault with the temperature. The gauge is no longer climbing, well it does move a little off bottom but only by a fraction about 8 miles into my journey to work. Normally its up at middle after about 3 miles.
I noticed this last night on my way home, I did a DIY oil change on Saturday but cant be sure if this problem is related or has been happening for a few weeks. The temp gauge isnt something I normally look at.... Read more
For reference the car is now fixed, the thermostat was indeed the problem. I can only assume the electronic readout was from a cylinder head thermometer that the car isn't alledged to have.
The thermostat is inside the thermostat housing meaning the whole thing needs to be replaced at a cost of £62 for the housing. On inspection of the old unit a rubber seal had come loose and jammed the thermostat open.
Any clues how to remove & fit rear bumper for Towbar emplacement? Read more
Note the method of bumper attachment has now changed on the latest face lift model.
the sides are still attached with torx screws but the fiddly expanding clip has been replaced by a normal torx screw.
The torx screws behind the rear lights have been replaced by clips which have to be lifted carefully with a screwdriver.
After unclipping these the bumper is still retained at the side by another clip which is not visible.
Apply a steady pulling motion to the bumper at the same time carefully pull the side of the bumper outwards from the side of the car and the clip will release.
Shogun went in for minor fan belt squeak. Garage resolved but noted that the Cam chain was loose and noisy. Advised not to drive it or face engine failure. Took advice and left it for investigation. garage found that cam chain tensioner was broken. They suggested new tensioner. Authorised that. They replalce the tensioner and returned car. £400.
I was very happy that we had escaped disaster... or so I thought. 3 months later cam chain jumps off bottom end and car stops with several broken valves and fingers up top.... Read more
Thanks for coming back and telling us the result. So many people don't bother to do that.
Hi I wondered if anybody has any suggestions regarding the above fault p0505 (idle control voltage high) have had this problem for a while .I have changed the throttle bodies twice and had the values adapted to the ecu but the fault still remained, next course of action was to have the ecu sent away for test was told fault on 5volt side authorised repair .On refitting the ecu I decided to put a code reader on before starting the engine so that all was lit was the dash lights the ecu still had p0505 fault still present which I found odd after the ecu was supposed to have been fixed and tested and also I would have thoght the engine had to be running to trigger the code.I reset the light and tried starting the car and it ran ok for about 5 minutes and then put the light on.Are these simtec 70 ecu worth repairing or would it be best to replace it with a new one . Any thoghts and replies regarding this fault are very much appreciated has I am lost with where to go next.The car has also been in the dealers who are not sure but think it could be the ecu.
Thanks Nigel Read more
Hi Nigel
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Cam belt changed at 46,000 miles on purchase of car. 5 months later and 4000 miles, water pump seized and shredded the cam belt causing £2000 of damage. claim against finance company was not up held as independent engineer reported that I should of heard a noise prior to the water pump seizing. Also the bearings would be put down to fair wear and tear. never heard any noise, I have heard that they can seize suddenly. The car was bought from alfa specialist and they insist that they would not normally change a water pump when changing the cam belt. I find this hard to believe as the water pump is driven by the cam belt, wouldn't any good garage recommend the change? any advice would be grateful. Read more
Maybe you were overtightening them.
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Why not try an 'Italian tuneup'. Go bombing up the motorway for 30 miles and then back. Get everything hot. It sometimes works wonders.