Before I take car to garage anyone any ideas what could cause a whining noise at 40mph then at 60mph. Noise sounds like fan belt on way out but not as loud and doesn't happen at start up.

Had wheel bearings at rear replaced few months back but this is not same noise and is not constant.... Read more

Sorry I posted this message in the 'Motoring discussion' forum just now, but just realised that maybe it should be in the 'Technical matters' forum! Please move or delete one of the posts if needed - thanks!

Hello all, I'm here after ages but used to visit daily for a few years! Hope you're all well. Thought it best to come back to the experts.

I need to buy 4 tyres ( 205/55 R16 , 91V ) for my Ford Focus 2006 (1.6 petrol hatchback). Have been doing loads of research, including looking at Which? and tyre review websites. The best performing brands in the Which? tests are: 1st: Continental, 2nd: Michelin, 3rd: Bridgestone. They also do well in other tests, so I've been looking at the following tyres:

Continental Sport Contact 2
Continental Premium Contact 2
Michelin Primacy HP
Bridgestone Turanza ER300

I was going to order one of the Continentals, but then came across lots of customer reviews saying that they wear out quickly. It seems that many people think that Continentals wear out quickly in general. As it's expensive to buy 4 tyres fully-fitted, I would be grateful for your input about your experiences with these and any other tyres. Which of the Continentals would you buy, if any, or what else do you suggest? Plus is it worth buying wheel alignment?

Also, I was going to order them from blackcircles.com, but please let me know if you have any other recommendations! Many thanks in advance for your advice. Read more

Posting this in the hope it will help others diagnose this - it is IMHO a desgin and durability issue with serious consequences but needless to say, Jaguar aren't interested.
This fault can manifest itself as -

Multiple fault messgages displayed which clear themselves after time or on restart (including engine check light, DSC not available, Cruise not available)
Handbrake fault and inability to release handbrake
Headlight or headlights not working
Speedo and guages "die" whilst driving accompanied by multiple warnings - some serious looking (but not correct) like "brake fluid low".

In my case these were traced to the earth points behind the headlights which had disintegrated due to corrosion.

The preventative measure is to check and grease the earth studs.

My local franchised dealer made a temporary repair and advised me they couldn't do a permament one.
Jag CS told me I have to take the car to another dealer soem distance away for a permanent repair at my expense, rather than my local franchised dealer.
The car was out of Jag Wanrranty (but within corrosion warranty) Jaguar refused to consider a corrosion warranty claim. Read more

Hi all im new to this and require some help.

I have a astra mk4 1.6 8v club 1998, i recently put it thru an mot about a month ago and taxed it and was really enjoying having a car on the road as i was without one for 2 months. Everything was going good apart from drinking alot of petrol.

i woke up one morning and was planning a day out with the wife and kids and had trouble starting it but after about 10 mins it started. was driving along and noticed it sounded alot deeper than normal, only to realise that over night some cheeky fu**er had stolen my bore exhaust. Was told that it would be fine to drive if i could put up with the noisse and rich smell of petrol so we decided to carry on driving it but noticed it was slightly sluggish due to the obvious no back pressure.

then after a couple of days of driving with no backbox it decided to lose its power. managed to get it up the hill in 1st gear then it started sounding like a tractor pulled up and popped the bonnet and the engine was juddering a hell of a lot. then it cut out and wouldnt start.. luckily we wasnt too far from home so pushed it and rolled it down hills.

ffollowing day managed to jump start it but still sounds like a tractor and engine juddering. checked spark plugsand cleaned. still the same., but noticed that when ticking over and pulling off ht leads the engine cut out apart from the 3rd one it wud run the same. is this normal? you can rev the balls off it when idle buttheres hardly any power to drive at all and when driving it just wants to stall. also there is a hissing noise coming from the throttle body when ticking over., is that normal?

PLEASE ANYBODY ANY IDEAS/SOLUTIONS?

Thanks sam

There is a screw through my tyre about 1cm from the shoulder. Is it too near to be patched?

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