July 2011
I drove my Focus at high speed and the Engine Management System (EMS) light began to flash and the engine began to stutter. Without stopping the engine, I tried to drive off the motorway but the engine just died on the hard shoulder. I restarted the engine, the EMS light went out and I was able to drive 35 miles to a Ford dealership with no problems.
The dealership did a "diagnostic" on the car and found that the fuel filter (replaced in the previous 2 years) needed to be replaced and they did this. I drove a further 450 miles including motorway driving hassle free. On a later journey at high speed, the car gave a large stutter and the EMS light came on again although the engine did not cut out. I took the car to another dealership and they checked the filter but found no problems with it but replaced it yet again.... Read more
Hi, I bought my car with delivery miles on it in early 2009 for £5500. It now has 36,000 miles on the clock. So far I've had no problems with it and enjoy driving it. I need a realiable car for work
My initial plan was to keep it for as long as possible and trade it in when it starts costing me a lot in repairs, taking up one of those offers of minimum trade-in of £1000 which my local dealer offers regularly.... Read more
Today I heard a strange rattling or knocking noise from my front offside corner of my car as I was driving home. It hadn't been a long drive and wasn't very fast.
Steering didn't feel any different and when I stopped and looked there was a ring of spray around the inside of the wheel arch, although I couldn't see any liquid leaking anywhere around the centre of the wheel, just seemingly sprayed outwards in a ring around the wheel arch.... Read more
You had better check the gaitor ( bellows ) on the end of the steering rack to see if it is full of steering fluid. Do not dirve the car. Regards Peter
Violent assault on bexley cyclist.
Although the registered keeper of the car was easily traceable it seems that on the day in question the vehicle was left unlocked with the keys in the ignition, only for it to be taken without consent, but somehow later returned to the owner by person or persons unknown!
... Read more
Nothing is being achieved by this thread becoming a rant.
Doc's objective was to publicise the assault in the hope that the culprit can be traced and brought to justice....
In an article I read some time ago about particles, it said that particles are not all one size pm10's. They come in all sizes from PM1's upwards. It seems that the Eu has picked on PM10's as they are the most common size produced by diesels and what triggered that I imagine was someone seeing an old diesel engine under load pumping out clouds of black smoke. The good point of Pm10's is that they are large enough to be caught.
All engines produce particles, and in this article it said petrol cars produce more PM 5's these are half the size of Pm10's are more easily inhaled and most probably cause more health worries and there are no filters, so these are being pumped out into the air. Also lets not forget the Benzene in petrol engines. One of the most carsonagenic chemicals out there.... Read more
Conman - welcome to the forum, but you've already posted this on the thread about DPF deletion. No need to post twice, so I'll close this thread.
Ive just bought my 1993 vauxhall rascal, and when driving home was extremely worried around 55/60 on dual carriage way, the whole van seems to jitter around and steering feels realy loose and lite didn't feel like i had a lot of control over what direction we went in. Obviosly i wasnt expecting it to perfrom amazingly on dual carriage ways but it just seems a little to scary maybe im getting a little to nervous about it.
If there is a problem could it be caused by ever of two things 1. the previos owner was running alloys which may not have been apprpriate. 2. he's lowered the suspension at the back with little aluminium blocks which he assures me are easily removed to return it to normal.... Read more
Its almost certain to be a wheel or tyre problem. First check the pressures, over inflation can cause skittishness. If that's OK try swapping the front wheels with the back, its quite likely that they are either out of balance or one tyre is defective. Ply seperation will unbalance them at speed, look carefully for bulges in the tyres. Its unlikely to be tracking but just check the treads on the front for eveness of wear.
After replacing pads / shoes opened RR,RL,FR,FL bleed screws in sequence with adequate fluid in reservoir and good vertical length of clear pipe attached to nipples. Pedal soft when engine running. What process is required (to remove air)? Read more
Our get yourself an Easibleed (spelling?)
Sure, contrary to pc b/s, bikes aren't the answer to all travel woes. But do remember that you can get a really excellent bike, road, Mtb, folder or hybrid for about the price of 10+ fillups at the petrol station. Read more
I was out tonight trying my rather dubious sounding new 'Kendo' tyre. Looks the part (It is an early 80s bike) with the gumwalls but the tread compound doen't feel as reassuringly soft as the old Michelin. Perhaps I'm being a brand snob.
Nice little ride though, warm evening, but no sun beating off the tarmac-really felt like giving it some beans. Sadly, I've worked up a good thirst...
Is there anyone with knowledge of the Heathrow area that can give some advice on routes and journey times.
I have to be at the airport at 1830hrs on a Tuesday evening in three weeks time and I'm not sure how much time I should allow for traffic conditions.... Read more
75 minutes from Junction 15 if you get a clear run, add half an hour more for potential slow traffic at J12/11 and J8/9 and J6 and J5. Come off at J5 as someone else has suggested to avoid the M25 junction before Heathrow. I do this journey once or twice a week at the same time of the day as you'll be travelling and it invariably goes ok, it's very busy and I choose to chill in the inside line at 65 to 70 rather than mix it with the nutters trying to set PBs for the journey home from work in their BMs, Mercs and white vans ;-)
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Tomorrow at around 10:00 I will be at the junction of the A1/M25. I think I will be feeling like a coffee and a bite at that time. The service area is both souless and expensive. Does anyone know of a good cafe nearby? I would rather pay the petrol to detour a few miles than pay for the overpriced stuff. Read more
Well I think I will give the Galleria a miss. I tried it once. They charged for parking on a Sunday and I was underwelmed by a CostaLotta in the back of the large bookshop. Will google some of the cafes on the map but really looking for a personal recommendation.
Ethan I will try and get over your way sometime. I had fantastic "Fish and Chips" in a cafe at Westcliff a few years ago!
Browse
Thats why ive always seen it as a good idea to get a slightly older car in above average condition and below average miles for its age which has suffered the vast majority of its depreciation already. And the trick is, if you can be bothered with the fuss, to get rid of it before it starts causing you trouble which can generally be after 2-3 years in most cases. Put your third MOT on it and get rid. Another benefit to buying slighter older is anything it needed doing in its first 3 years was done on warranty, any recalls its had have already been done and enough will have been sold to make an informed decision on the merits of it.
Usually when a manufacturer updates its model the older one despite maybe being only 6 months older suddenly suffers a big drop in value. The moment the new Mondeo came out in late 2007 i saw 07 plate Mondeo's suddenly worth 25% less. Theres many flaws in purchasing a car with the sole aim of "saving money" like people will pay 20 grand to change their car to something which does 7mpg more, not realising they're gonna need to drive it for 50 years to recoup the "saving". You're always going to lose money on a car unless you buy something which later becomes a "modern classic" and desirable but you could be waiting around for some time. The best way to minimise the damage is to buy a car with impeccable service history, around 5-7 years old where most of its value has been lost, maintain it well and get rid of it inside around three years and do it again.