May 2011
We bought an Alfa in December last year for £2000 and within a few hours it started to make a knocking sound. The dealer agreed to replace the variator. Within 2 weeks the gearbox started crunching into gear and a diagnosis from a specialist told us it was the synchromesh, £700 to repair (but not essential) which we couldn't afford and the dealer refused to help (which we accepted).
Since getting the car we have had the anti roll bars repaired, the wishbones & brushes and replaced all the brakes so a fair bit of money spent...... Read more
Just had a quick look at HJs appraisal of Renault's ECO2 diesel and this horror leapt out:
It does this through a variety of technologies.... Read more
A business partner of mine, a very experienced marketing consultant, always maintains that if your business sells spades and they cost ten pounds, then somewhere on the front of your website you need to say: "We sell spades, they are ten pounds".
Unfortunately, this rather pragmatic approach to marketing is not a view shared in marketing departments the world over, where the laws of nature simply do not apply!
where is the connection point for my scanner please Read more
List of Rover plug locations... http://www.box.net/shared/o4n8qre10o
If yours is S reg I assume its 'Drivers side, on side of central column' whatever that means
Can anyone help please?
The oil sump drain plug for the Vectra has a star shaped profile in the centre for the removal tool bit. What is the profile and what size?... Read more
Excellent, thank you.
I have just recieved a nip letter saying I was speeding in a 50 zone but on the letter it shows my speed as 0mph. what should I do. Read more
It's a clerical error.
You have to comply with the "Request for Information" part of the Notice as to who was driving or you risk six points on a Section 172....
I amlooking for anewer car, and so far virtually every car that I have had seen I like seems to be from somebody trading from home.
Either there is no website/address on thelisting on autotrader, or if there is a website it says "viewing by appointment only".... Read more
Alternatively-the owner trades in their car when it starts to cause trouble knowing that the dealer generally won't pay close attention to it since he is more interested selling a new car.
Buying secondhand is always a gamble. I'd rather put the dealer's profit margin into a car repair fund. I Take Lucy's point about the security though.
Gentlemen, Most grateful for any ideas on the following.
I have an Audi A6 2.5 TDi 2002. The red animated 'oil can' low oil pressure warning light icon displays for several minutes about once a month and then resets. This happens when the car is warm, cold, fast or slow road speed or revs, although I have the impression that it happens when on a steep incline or when accelerating hard. Car is now at 100,000 miles but this fault has been there since 20,000 although it now happens more frequently. Audi main dealer has done 5 hours of diagnostics and 'in depth' checks but can't find any problem and I've been advised to 'monitor'. Maybe they don’t believe me but it's a bit un-nerving driving at motorway speeds with this light on. A new issue is that the water temp gauge drops to minimum in one step and then returns to its usual 90°C also in one step intermittently but not necessarily at the same time as the oil warning light so this may or may not be connected to the oil light fault. V6 Engine runs smoothly, sounds as good as a diesel ever does, no oil leaks at all, oil level is always at max on the dip stick, oil changed using correct grade regularly and oil is acceptably clean on a spot test, steady oil temp on gauge when running, fuel economy is as good as ever, all fluid levels are OK and no sign or smell of anything abnormally hot, turbocharger can be heard spinning down sweetly when engine is turned off. How does the sensor transmit to the ECU is it an analogue voltage or digital signal, could something be interfering with it? Read more
Thanks Peter, I think its a faulty sensor too and I've been watching it for 80,000 miles hoping it gets more faulty so as to definately identify it as the cause. The engine / gearbox code is BFC ----GHD. I had to insist that the dealer measured the oil pressure using a real bourdon tube pressure gauge but when I asked about it they said they had done it but were still a bit vague. Anything that can't be done with a laptop seems to be a problem. Thanks for the Audi forum tip. Regards Jon.
this trend for people to take out whats called a " Log book loan " against their car and then sell the car on to some poor unsuspecting buyer is rather below the belt ! With these companies its only a volantry code of practice to register the loan against the vehicle so many poor unsuspecting buyers can buy a s/hand car only to have it snatched back with no recompence !
Be-warned Read more
I have this very problem, purchased a vehicle in good faith and unaware of such issues. Have recieved a letter from collection agency and have spoken to them. The private dealer has assured me he has dealt with it but collection agency states otherwise and will seize the car.
What can I do? Cant afford to loose this car!!...
Does anyone know where the fusebox is on a Mark 1 Golf convertable? Read more
Hi again,i don`t suppose you know which fuse is the brake lights?Thanks.
Toyota Prius V Honda Insight
I've read HJs write ups on these two. There seems to be a "fag" paper between the two. Both Japanese, and manufacturers that always appear to come in the top 10 of surveys. Anyone own either vehicle, and can give their ownership experiences/reliability? Read more
>But absolutely, completely, totally, 150% useless in snow, apparently!
Odd. I have one as my fleet car. Seemed to do very well over the last couple of winters with snow tyres on....
Variators are very common but so is big end failure. If these engines are allowed to run below the minimum mark on the dip stick just once the big ends can fail at any time. usually the big end fail within 20-30 miles of an oil and filter change if they have covered more than 78000 miles.
Big end failure is sudden on these and cannot be predicted other than knowledge of the bottom end being so weak...