October 2011
Hi all, been lurking around HJ for awhile now, reading forum, reviews etc.. I am currently looking to change my 08 Auris SR180 for something larger due to an immanent increase in family size. My question for anyone who may have any experience in this area is which is better Qashqai or Octavia? (FIGHT!!!!) I am currently looking at a 11 reg Octavia vrs tdi estate 11k miles for £18k , and a Qashqai Tekna 4wd 2.0 dci 61 reg delivery mile for £22k, putting the money to one side which is best for getting bairns in and out of and for space for buggies etc?... Read more
I need help as I cannot find what’s wrong with my car it barely revs above 3000 rpm when under load or when driving although it revs to the limit when static, exhaust burns clean no excessive smoke or any noises from the engine, is very economical returning 55 mpg, It will only do 85mph downhill with the wind behind it. Its the Y17DTL engine with no air charger. I bought the car without road testing it and the guy refused to take it back saying it was sold as seen so I have no history of why this fault exists.I will list everything I have done to date so perhaps you can suggest some ideas!
1. Engine flushed and new oil air and fuel filters, removed the pick-up unit in the fuel tank and cleaned the plastic gauze (although not dirty and the bottom of the fuel tank was clean) siphoned fuel out at the filter head to confirm clear fuel feed to filter.... Read more
Hi, Yes I put injector cleaner through twice over 2 full tanks that over 1000miles, no difference. I have now replace all of the vacuum hoses but stil no difference.
Cheers
I have a problem with my blowers on my E300 TD. It is a 98 model and has the manual rotary controls. The issue I have is that it seems to have a mind of its own! No matter what speed I set the fans to they generally do not change from what can only be described as asthmatic, also they do not blow hot air. Then for no reason as far as I can determine, they will on occasion start to blow harder and then hot as well, once this happens I can adjust the heat and to a certain degree the fan speed too. What is the problem here?! Please help, I am at my wits end and coming up for winter I would dearly love to feel my hands while driving!
On a seperate note, the car also struggles to start when it is left facing uphill for a period of time, this could be 10 minutes or over night depending on the severity of the incline, this hasn't been to much of an issue as I have just ensured I park on the flat or downhill but recently it has become more difficult to start even on the flat. If I have a problem starting, if I can push it to face downhill, the car will eventually start. I have been told this is a common issue with this model but cannot seem to find a simple solution. I have replaced the glow plugs less than a year ago and I have also replaced the standard battery with a more powerful one to help when this happens but I really want to get this sorted and apart from these issues, the car is superb in every other way! Read more
Thank you for the response! The fans have stopped working completely now so I will be investigating this further soon!
As far as the starting issue is concerned, this has now been fixed. The first garage I took it to was not interested in all the research I had done and instead insisted in fitting non return valves and an additional pump. After a bill of £600, they had not solved the problem. In the end I took it to my normal mechanic and he identified the pre-filter (small filter that fits into the main filter housing) was broken and letting in air. We replaced this and the problem was solved!! At a cost of less than £100!
This is a 2.0 dti from a 52 plate vectra y20dth 160k, recently purchased but does have service history stamps with oil changes but was over due a change. Last service was 134k 14/02/08 with oil filter and fuel filter change.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GasVIdMt3Pg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM5S5UTUqHc&NR=1
Basically the noise is very metallic sounding and only happens when revving the engine and under load, when idling the engine seems fine. I've replaced the oil filter and oil, there was about 5 litres removed. Also removed the alternator belt and the same noise was heard.
My mechanic friend thinks it may be the bottom end, but before i try and replace the whole engine i would appreciate either confirmation or any other suggestions as to what the problem could be and how i would go about fixing it.
If i do need a replacement engine how much am i looking at to buy one? and does it have to be a like for like replacement ie y20dth or would another engine also work?
Thank you, any help is much appreciated
Andy Read more
I have a 2.2dti making the same noise. Ever got this sorted?
If anyone's interested - we ran a report in last week's Money section on converting a car to LPG. Details are here
www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/sep/30/lpg-conversio...r... Read more
I've always just carried the spare as well. Note is no problem as it's still hidden under the extra boot floorboards it comes with. The Xtrail boot is large enough anyway so it just lives in there. Once you have a bag or cover for the spare it's clean and not an issue.
Incidentally when I picked up the Note from conversion PJ gave me a proper bag to keep the brand new spare in. Was that nice or what!...
I have had my focus for a little under a year and no problems then out of the blue the engine seemed to be choaking or misfiring, the engine failure warning light stared to flash. Took it to a local garage, did the diagnostics and it turned out that the power was not getting to cylinder 1 and it was misfiring. Then found out that the spak plugs were full to the brim with water, they were emptied to find all 4 plugs rusted throughout. Luckily the mechanic managed to removed and replace the 4 plugs without further damage. 2 weeks on and its started to misfire again and the engine warning light has appeard. The mechanics though was that at some point the engine was jet washed and not cleard of the water, the engine has not been jet washed in the 11 months I have owned it. Does anyone know what is wrong with my car as the MOT is due at in November and it will fail if this problem is not sorted. Please help! Read more
HI NIC. heard about this problem in the past. my sister in law used to own a 2006 focus.
Ford at the time had issues with the windscreen washer jet....once you squirted the front windows water runs down the tubing and the water drips into the spark plug sockets...remember reading reports of owners paying hundreds to get plugs drilled and re-tapped........
where is the obd connector plug located on a ford fiesta 2002 1.25 Read more
passenger footwell, kick panel just infront of passenger door, there is a little oval plastic plate, remove and socket should be there !
Hi all - can anyone give me a steer on connecting a heated rear screen in my son's MX-5, please as, thanks to some knife-wielding idiot, he's had to have a new hood fitted and has gone for a glass HRW rather than the plastic version.
I'm OK with the dashboard end as that appears to be just a case of plugging a new switch into the appropriate socket that sits behind one of the blanking plates. However I have a choice of 4 existing sockets towards the rear of the car, plus 2 narrow sockets at the ends heater element on the new screen.
In addition to the dash switch, I believe I'll need a 30A relay and a fuse block but I'm not sure where these will plug into. I guess it would become obvious which goes where if I were to buy Mazda items but I'd like to save a few quid and use Halfords ones if poss but, because I'm not sure which connector(s) to use, I don't know which relay / fuse block to go for, i.e. 4-pin, 5-pin, etc. I'm also wondering what rating of cable I'll need for the job.
There's an existing female connector just behind the passenger seatbelt post, then there are 2 'spare' connectors by the battery in the boot; one white/opaque with wiring of 1-2 mm thickness attached and a black one with approx 4 mm thick wiring, presumably carrying a heavier current. I believe one of these two would be used when an electric aerial is fitted, however this car has a manual 'screw-in' aerial. Finally, there's a further black 'spare' connector just behind the carpet in the boot, close to the number plate.
Excuse the lengthy post - I'm sure this is an easy job once I know which of the car's connectors come into play, and would like the satisfaction of doing it myself if I can.
Many thanks Read more
Phil - I've discovered that there should be another fuse (10A mini-blade) for the defog, in the fuse board right up under the dash on the right-hand side wall (it's mentioned in the owner's handbook). Fuse bay No. 20 if I remember correctly. Might be worth checking out. Good luck.
I am having problems with the parking brake and rear calipers. One or both of my rear wheels seem to be binding slightly and I am trying to work out what is causing this. I have to pull my handbrake right up in order for the parking brake to kick in and even at that it does not operate efficiently. When I took the car for it's pre-MOT the mechanic said one of the calipers was seized but I forgot to ask him which part. If it was the sliders, parking brake lever or piston. Is there any way to determine this. What would be the best way to fault find what the problem is? Any information would be great.
Regards
Allan Read more
Squibsquib, forgive me but this thing with your Primera brakes seems never ending, is there a proper mechanic anywhere in your area who could sort your brakes out safely and competently, without using a screwdriver as a chisel.
You've got me worrying when i see a Primera behind me now.
Hi All.
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Moved to Technical.
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Decided against a new one as I didnt want to wait until next Feb / March. The options on that specific car on the skoda config page come to best part of 4500.
paint 440 xenon 750 leather 850 rear sensors 300 columbus 1530 maxidot 130 6cd changer 290 mdi 185 4475So whilst I agree that there are deals on the internet around 18k for a new one, its still would come to £22 - £23k so I think I got a deal that suits me (afterall its virtually a new car)