I was trying to replace the strut on my 1997 1.6 fiat bravo and while I was trying to get the wishbone ball joint out I pulled out the driveshaft from the gearbox and oil came out. This happened because stupid me released the bolts in the engine compartment that made the Strut loose. This meant than when I broke the ball joint free the shaft popped out. Mistake!! Once I placed the draftshaft back into the gearbox and put the inner boot back on the oil stopped leaking. I am worried incase I have damaged any seals in the gearbox but when I checked the manual it didn't mention a seal for the 1.6 model. Do I just use a cable tie to fasten the boot back on? Can I use a jubilee clip? Also can anyone give me advice in removing the outer CV joint? I am trying to replace the boot and it mentions I must use circlip pliers? Is there another way around this? Thanks Read more

Hi

we've got a 56 CRv; recently we've noticed the screenwash reservoir has been emptying rather rapidly, and there's been a continual drip on the underside of the car. So we took it into a [non Honda] garage, and they could find nothing wrong with the reservoir. Then the next day I noticed the carpet inside the car was dripping wet (not easily noticed - it's got three layers of carpet/mats), so we booked it into a Honda garage; told them what we thought it was and said the reservoir had been checked over. They had it for a day, apparently pressure tested the system, suggested everything was okay, and then told us we'd obviously split a bottle of water in the car (despite the top layers of carpet remaining dry) and the drip underneath was the aircon.

I then pointed out the liquid spelt of screenwash, and was tinted blue, so they now want the car for two days to check for leaks. Has anyone got any experience of this, specifically in a mark 2 CRv? Surely the Honda garage should be able to work out that [presumably] the pipe taking the screenwash from front to back has a) split or b) come apart somewhere. Does anyone know where it runs inside the car (it'll be somewhere on the drivers side) - to see if I can find it by lifting the carpets. And more to the point what should I say to Honda for wasting a day of our time and treating us like halfwits by ignoring what we said the problem was.

thanks

pete Read more

Hi

I just bought an Avensis 2002 2.0vvti car and the head gasket appears to have failed.

Its the old shape car (facelift version) 2002 and 125,000 miles so prob one of the last built of that shape.

Used lots of water (but not oil it seems)

The dealer (small indepedndent) is getting it sorted out and is OK about it.....

BUT - is this likely to happen to the car again if the job is done properly ?? ie. is it a design fault

The car has an excellent service history - I have all the invoices/stamps old MOTs etc in the book and the car is in otherwise immaculate and excellent condition given the mileage - I don't believe its been clocked.

I have not heard of this problem with these cars - does anyone else know if this is a "one-off" unlucky event or is this another "lemon" issue like the 1.8s vvti- drinking oil..

Is the car lilely to be OK to keep long-term (my intention) or should I be moving it on in a years or so time....

I had been lead to believe by the buyers guides on the web and my mechanic that these vehicles were bombproof (why so many minicabbers use them) Read more

Many years ago I read a book about two drivers taking a Ford Zephyr 'round the world,-a fascinating story. Can anyone who read it remember the name of the book? I'd love to revisit it.

P. Read more

HI All, I recently purchased an x reg Honda Accord 1.8i se which has now about 120k miles on the clock.

Recently i have noticed that while sitting in traffic the biting point has altered, as in normally the biting point comes in about halfway up the travel of the pedal, but occaisionaly will come in as soon as the pedal is slightly raised off the floor.... Read more