May 2011
Hi,
My car has gone in to have some juddering issues sorted out, the dealership has mentioned that VX Warranty will replace the Fly wheel, but also suggested that i could replace the rest of the clutch too at my cost.... Read more
Saw with interest the new part of HJ website about real fuel consumption. Average on a recent 1400 mile touring trip to france and belgium in an Epica 2.0 turbo diesel with 3 on board plus all our bagage was (I thought) an excellent 42mpg. drove at motorway speeds up to a true 85mph where allowed on motorways, so very pleasantly surprised. here in old blighty can generally get 45mpg by sticking to true 70mph on our motorways, that is close to what chevrolet claim, so not too bad for a large heavy car.
Secondary point, the road network i travelled on in northern france and belgium was in far better condition, and i only used the free motorways. Read more
The difference in fuel economy between 70 and 85 should be more than ~5%.
Sorry I wasn't totally clear, that was mixed driving overall. route was carmarthen -rickmansworth stop overnight-tunnel-a roads dual carriageways france then motorway lille-liege then 30miles country roads stop overnight then about 200 miles mixed driving through the ardennes stopped again overnight then retrace part of route back to calais and then m20 to london, left rickmanworth after another overnight m40 a40 a465 heads of the vallleys rd then final m4 to home. (hate paying the m4 toll bridge. Realise i should have stated mixed driving but very satisfied with fuel consuption. Got a friend here with the same car he claims 50mpg+ and he is a rep. (own business)...
The "O/D NOT ON" light has started to flash and wont go out when the o/d button is pressed.
I detect slight signs of the gearbox slipping (or am I being paranoid because of the light?)... Read more
When was the transmission fluid last changed?
I suspect it has never been changed but it looks satisfactorily red....
I need to replace the Lambda senor bank 1 . Can you advise how I can locate it on the car and also does it have to be a Honda only part? I can buy a replacement on Ebay for £27 but Honda want £276 so its quite a difference. Thank You, Liz. Read more
The one responsible for regulating the fuel trim is upstream of the cat. You can't miss it! It'll be somewhere on the downpipe between the exhaust manifold and the cat. Newer cars have a second diagnostic lambda sensor downstream of the cat. Yours might not have this.
I have an Audi 80 TDi estate on about 250K in good all round condition, 650 miles on a full tank. The following symptoms apply;
1. Engine over revs when changing up a gear, followed by a drop in revs for a moment in the new gear. Or to put it another way, on changing up you lift off the accelerator for a moment as the clutch goes in, but instead of the revs dropping, they surge, followed by a drop of revs as the clutch is let out. This happens pretty much all the time but there are good days and bad days.... Read more
Thanks for your prompt reply, I'll make a start this weekend following your excellent advice and let you know the outcome.
Cheers
I purchased a 1999 Vauxhall Vectra from a dealership in March. I drove the car for 28 days and racked up approximately 1000 miles on the clock when the engine began running on three cylinders.
I went back to the dealership and they have attempted a repair, replacing a couple of components, but it didnt work and the problem still exits. I returned the car again, but due to work i cannot keep messing around and have told them 3 days for the car to run or i want all my money back.
They didn't mention a warranty when they sold me the car and ive changed the cd player to my own.
Am i entitled to do this or if push comes to shove will the length of time and amount of miles i racked up mean this isnt possible? Read more
It has become a thin line between buying a car that age from an auction or from a small dealer. Probably the dealer gets them from auction and does only rudimentary checks gambling it will last for more than a month or so without major fault (which in most cases it will).
Given the cost is likely to be not much more than a months car hire it is not necessarily a bad bet.
Back from driving from the south of France to Yorkshire after a nice break.
I noticed quite a few speedchecks in France on the auto routes and the N roads.Not far from Calais after Chartres N road 110km to the 130 km roads hand held camara trying to catch drivers.Arriving in the the UK on the A1 again lots of camaras drivers slowing down speading up again.Do these camaras really make for safer driving or are they here just to make money? Read more
Hi Dutchie, Just back too, but not quite as far as you, Belgium, south of Luxembourg and just into that corner of france. noticed a police car following me on a 90km section of road, and fairly close behind me too, but kept my speed, helped by cruise control and my nokia sat nav which tells me in a loud voice when i exceed the speed limit by however much i set it to. after about 4 miles, they went past, waved, grinning like kids caught out in a prank! But lots more fixed and mobile cameras around now, and also noticed roadside checks approaching calais on sunday afternoon. incidentally, SURPRISED as french cars coming the other way flashing to warn of traps ahead!
car was very stable at high motorway speeds in france and Belgium, as usual plenty of people moving at 100mph + but stuck very close to the speed limit as the on the spot fines are eye-watering. Saturday hotel was closed but found alternative nearby so no drink driving either. Happy too with fuel economy, 1400 mile round trip 3 adults, full of baggage, 12 cases of wine on returning + shopping from french supermarket and got 42mpg, Dutchie, did you notice the cost of unleaded in france and belgium 1.76 euros OUCH, makes it look cheap here, but diesel 1.35 euros in calais and a bit cheaper in belgium in large towns. Best bet, as here was the supermarket chains for refuelling as i am sure you noticed....
My X5 is now more than 3 years old and needs a oil service inc microfilter,and rear+front pads.BMW's own dealers have quoted more than £1000 or £1400 if discs need replacing!
An independent BMW specialist has quoted £450.My question is now I do not have do stick with BMW for my now expired 3 year warranty,if I use an independent now will I have difficulty selling the car privately in the future or more importantly will I have trouble in part ex'ing my X5 for a new BMW in 2 years time? Read more
Just want to say thank you to everyone who helps everyone....and to honest john for thinking about starting this site :) Read more
Sorry, but I'm going to lock this thread.
Call me heavy-handed if you like (although we are much more easy-going than our predecessors pre-Feb. 2010, who would have locked the thread at the first sign of 'drift'), but I think that (a) it's run its course, (b) it has strayed a long way from its original object (see the first two posts, for which thank you Med and Dutchie)....
This is a tale a work colleague told me today in the office ,on Tuesday he was driving on the outer ring road of the city which is a dual carriageway and came up behind a Vauxhall Vectra on doing so he noticed attachments on both rear head rests and guessed that it could be an unmarked traffic car,as the lights went green the Vectra shoots off to what he reckoned was 60/70mph then slows down to approx 45mph, as said colleague cacthes up with Vectra he decided to stay behind him doing same speed,he said this then happened another three times over a series of roundabouts and straights almost as if the Vauxhall was baiting him,until it finally shot off out of sight,however he soon came upon the Vectra now sporting flashing blue lights at the rear with its driver having a chat with the the driver of a Corsa.
I am no expert but surely this baiting of drivers cannot be standard practice or even legal maybe,it seems to me a bad way of going about things not good for public relations and pretty dangerous unless of course this was just a rogue officer. Read more
A few years ago diving from Sheffield Meadowhall ,nighttime I was driving about 80mph.Overtaking a few cars went back on the outside lane car behind me following for about twenty minutes.Moved back to the inside lane to about 70 mph.Car overtook me flashed his blue lights once indicated left and carried on.He or she could have stopped me and had a word. I don't know if they where baiting just following maybe if I had gone faster I would have had a tickett.
The cars got a fault they should pay, what are their intentions put the old clutch plate that could be faulty back if you don't pay.