July 2011
My 2010 Fiat Doblo is now a year old, so I am thinking about booking it in for a service. The service intervals are 18,000 miles, but even though I have only done 5,000 the Fiat dealer says it needs a yearly service to keep in under warranty.
However, the dealer wants £346 for a full service, whilst Fiat UK (via a phone call) say the dealer should offer a 'cost effective service' for cars that have done a low mileage. The dealer says they can't offer this for my car and will only do a full service.... Read more
Hi All - I need help desperately. I have a W reg Ford Focus Estate with the 1.8 TDCi engine. Has about 130,000 miles on it. Has been a marvelous car....until now.
About two weeks ago the engine started to feel a bit rough - esp at higher revs - felt like bad timing. Over the next few days the roughness got progressively worse to the point where it sounded very clicky so I took it to the local mechanic. Mechanic has had the car for over week now and so far has checked (1) engine oil for signs of steel bits (2) done engine oil flush/detergent/flush again (3) removed rocker cover to see if any sign of oil in the top end (4) removed the cam shaft to see the condition there and to test the theory that a cam follower was not working (5) removed the injectors and had them professionally tested.... Read more
Thanks to all for the advice. After taking the car to my local Ford dealer then to another trusted mechanic the advice was the issue was related to big-end bearings. Based on the value of the car I could not justify the cost to repair. Sold the car this weekend.....will move on with my life with a second-hand Mondeo. Thanks again everyone.
My car just overheated on me and I had to be 'recovered' back to my house. When I got out the car I left the engine running and looked at the radiator fans - the right hand one was not spinning. When I got home ran the car to the point where the fans kick in and again only the left ran.
The left fan can be freely spun when not in operation while the right cannot - it feels seized. Can I take this to mean the motor for the right fan has died? If not, what else may be causing this and how can I fix it?... Read more
Update: the fan moves. It was jammed or seized but now moves when I spin it by hand. However, I have run the car up to the point of fan initiation and still only the left hand fan works.
Ok, who is jealous of the residents of Aberystwyth?
www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8632538/Motoring...l... Read more
St Georges Cubs and Scouts in Nineteen Hundred and Frozen to Death, well I started work in 1964 so there is a clue. Starling pack and then Seagull Patrol. Happy Days, especially with free swimming before church parade. Free swimming for all every Sunday morning, including our Brownies and Girl Guides, we had some really good fun. Still see one or two ex members around town. Never forget the good times. Cheers Concrete
This is kind of motoring but it was possibly too silly to put in that section.
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It seems funny, but if you think about it it's not so funny... there is much truth in this sign
I was driving along a village high street, with cars parked on the other side of the road, and I saw a very large lorry travelling quite fast towards me. I slowed, from 30mph to just under 20mph, as I was slightly apprehensive being a new driver, having only passed my test a month ago. The oncoming lorry did not slow down, which I believe it should have done, as there were cars obstructing his side of the road. He moved inward, onto my side of the road, and I panicked and slowed right down, and I then realised he was not going to slow or stop, so I drove onto the curb slightly so that he could pass without hitting the right hand side of my car, whilst sounding the horn so that he would at least slow, and to warn any pedestrians (of which there were none). I parked up, and check the tyre, and there is now a large puncture and the tyre went flat within a minute.
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Sadly the fact that you have the right of way doesn't mean that the other vehicle will give way. Your best course of action would have been to stop and let him past. When you have more experience at judging distances and widths you may feel differently.
I presume you are paying a huge insurance premium so your prime concern at the moment should be to earn some your no claims bonus rather than risking a bump defending your right of way....
Can anyone see what the A7 achieves that the A5,6, and 8 don't? Read more
Hmmm, I like the A6 saloon but I must have more than a boot. ....
In my old A6 saloon [with its beautiful rear styling] if you fold down either of the 1/3 or 2/3 split rear seatbacks you DO get more than a boot......v useful for putting a bike in the back, or other long things.......
Out of curiosity, I wondered how far the sphere of HJ's extends? (Limeys living in sun kissed villas abroad don't count!). Only genuine Johnny Foreigner need apply. Read more
Must admit that when the falklands had been invaded (by their rightful owners) I did wonder how the Argies had got to Scotland without being noticed.
Former dual carriageway (or part) are now bus lane in and out of town. The few eagle eyed drivers who read the blue compliance signs will note INBOUND 7-30AM TO 9-30AM MONDAY TO FRIDAY. NO OTHER DAYS/TIMES. AND OUTBOUND 4-30PM TO 6-30PM MONDAY TO FRIDAY. NO OTHER DAYS/TIMES.
You may overtake on the left when- Traffic in both lanes is moving slowly and traffic in the left-hand lane is moving more quickly than the traffic in the right-hand lane.
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took exception and placed his rig 3/4 over clear outer lane, creating 5 mile queue.
Nothing wrong with what he did. There was nothing to stop people ahead or behind using the outer lane and thus shortening the queue....
Hi guys, i have just bought a 2001 fiesta 1.25 with 87000 miles. When the car is cold or has been sitting around it makes a tappetty sound when you rev it up and drive it. This last about 2-3 miles and then starts to quiet down vertually to nothing. Also the fan has just started coming on after 15 or so minutes but the temp guage is in the middle and the air con is switched off. Hope somebody can help. Thanks very much Read more
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New spark plugs after a year and less than 10,000 - they are taking the micky. I trust it's a petrol!