December 2011
I have just been given a 1996 Toyota Carina E 1.8 CD 77,000 from my grandfather for free.
He owned it from a couple of years old and has been serviced every year / 3000 miles (not by dealer, just basic mobile service)... Read more
My 59 plate Mazda 2 won't start when the temperatures are low (around minus 5 and below). This first happened last Winter. I assumed it was a flat battery (the car hadn't been driven over the weekend so I got a local garage to jump start it and no problems). However it then happened twice more, it wouldn't start very early in the morning but a few hours later, once the weather had warmed up a bit it started. its been into the Mazda dealer twice who say they can't find anything wrong with it. Their only solution was to let them have it overnight and they would try to start it in the morning (which they did, but I'm assuming the temperature wasn't sufficiently low for any problems to arise). Can anyone suggest what the problem could be? I'm worried that the problem will reoccur this Winter (its been serviced and the battery is fine) and as I know nothing about cars I don't know what to ask the garage to do.
Thanks... Read more
Thanks for replying. Its a petrol engine and it cranks over but won't start. I'm not sure about engine lights but I *think* there are none lit when I try to start it.
Well, I have sold my existing i30 as I figured it was time for an upgrade so have been agonising for a couple of days over the next car - a choice which I am going to have to make very quickly as I will be without wheels from next weekend.
Basically I have decided between another, newer Hyundai i30 given that my last experience with them was really positive and the dealership is fantastic. I can get a 10/60 plate for under £10k and possibly even an 11 plate with the balance of a mega warranty for piece of mind.... Read more
I have had a bit of time to root through all the stuff that the car came with now. The car was given its full 2 year/20k service in September this year and has covered only 1500 miles since. I don't think that the oil change is a necessity at this stage; particularly as I found that the previous owner was a nice chap who lived about 2 miles from me and who confirmed that the car was sound and that all servicing carried out properly and prommptly.
Tyres arriving this week so it will probably handle like a very different motor once they are on - am looking forward to that....
When i am slowing down and lighty press the brake pedal i was hearing a grinding noise at first but know its started to make a knocking noise. It only happens when at around 10MPH. The front brakes and pads have been recently changed. Anyone any ideas? Read more
What was the diagnosis of this problem?
The same thing is happening to my brothers car and it is proving dificult to diagnose. ...
Hello Folks,
I bought a 1998 Fourtrak last week. It looked tidy, there was evidence of recent welding, and I had a crawl underneath with a lamp and screwdriver, which indicated that there was some work to be done on the inner sills before the next MOT test, due in October 2012.... Read more
SORRY FOR THE RESURRECTION....BUT.... my old Daihatsu Fourtrak was...and in places,still is, in the same boat.
What 'kills' the Fourtrak, are the seatbelt mounting rules....
Hi all, am hoping you can help on behalf of a friend of mine, They have a 53/02 C3 1.4 petrol with 50k miles.
The car is intermittantly cutting out at junctions/roundabouts, the speedo (digital) has stopped working, and apparently the PAS is very heavy at all times (although I have not driven it).... Read more
An auto electrician would probably be a better bet than a garage - they usually know what they are doing.
The above car has done almost 50,000 miles (reg Feb '08) and I am concerned that I may be about to incur major repair costs - having become alarmed at discussion of dual mass flywheels and other issues? Should I consider replacement now? It seems very early for what should be a reasonably high quality vehicle.
... Read more
It's something I have pondered for a while. I remember perhaps 35 years or so ago a friend of my Dad's got a new Triumph Spitfire every two years. He exchanged the car and the financial setup of the time meant the HP payments were the same for the new car as the old. After a time the payments to change started creeping up and he stuck with the old car longer.
Hi, Iam currently on my 3rd accelerator pedal in 6 months due to the previous ones showning an engine management light on the dash and the car going into limp mode. The mechanic has told me on each occasion to get a new pedal which I have but the last 2 pedals have only lasted 2 weeks. Fair enough they are second hand pedals but they were both checked before being sent and were deemed ok.
The last resort is to buy a brand new pedal but if I do and the same problem occurs I will be no further forward. Does anyone have any ideas whatelse it could be as any help would be really really appreciated!... Read more
Have you tried the Vauxhall-only forum below?
My v reg 800 sterling, cost pennies to buy, and now has 108,000 on the clock, is the 2.5 KV6 and runs on lpg and hasn't missed a beat in 4 years and 40K.When i read of others with modern diesels, and the cost in general of modern cars, their dpf problems etc I despair. Any thoughts? Read more
Bringing the thread together....that's one problem that the Rover 800 never had - a handbrake which was affected by the radio.
I have never had, and hope never to have, a car whose handbrake has anything to do with the radio.
My TDCi has just had to have the fuel tank drained and lines cleared due to water in the diesel. Most of it will have been bought in Poole, Dorset. Has anybody else had a similar problem recently?
The Shell Garage, Darby's Corner Poole is currently being rebuilt with new tanks. Anybody know if there is a connection? Read more
Both have screw-in caps covered with locking flaps. The Focus does not go far and is garaged at home. The Mondeo goes to France etc, it stands on the drive at home. With both having the same problem, identified at the same time and both having to have the same work done to remedy I still think the problem stems from a local underground tank. Against, nobody else is coming formward and Trading Standards have not identified a problem.
Browse
A couple of years ago I bought an ancient 1.4 Corolla (98) It was advertised as a decent banger still driving as new. Low miles and good service history. Quick road test and I couldn't pay fast enough. In spite of being 12yrs old everything worked as it should. Electric windows, electric sunroof, rear demister- everything perfect. It starts instantly, and judging by the labels on the battery, it might be the original fitment. The car is so reliable that I don't even think about it not starting, or not reaching my destination. The only downside is that the bonnet paint is suffering from peeling laquer. And I like the car so much that I'm considering having the bonnet resprayed !