May 2012
Hi HJ. My Merc is parked in a garage when not in use. The First start of the day, temp above 22 degrees the car starts perfectly. When temp drops below 22, no start, 2nd try and perfect. The rest of the day no problems. The colder it gets it could take a 3rd try. ???? The fuel filter was changed a year ago. Can you help please . By the way I live in Howick, KZN, South Africa. The lowest temp where I live, the garage temp is +- 0 The oil filter was changed 1 year ago as well, I use magnatech oil. Thanks Dave Read more
I have a 1999 Ford Focus TDDi (diesel estate) with 171,000 on the clock.
I was driving on the motorway this morning and suddenly lost all power and the engine stopped. I called the AA (my membership lapsed 3 weeks ago so I had to re-join and pay a surcharge - it cost me a fortune) and they couldn't fix it on the roadside but said it was a suspected fuel pump problem and towed me home.
I had low fuel level (just under quarter full) but the gauge has always been very reliable and no warning light came on. I suspected I'd run out of fuel because of the hill - and that's what it felt like when the engine cut out, but much morre sudden.
On the hard shoulder the mechanic put a large can of diesel in my tank (expensive too) but engine still would not start. Then he sprayed something from an aerosol can (presumably fuel) into something just in front of the fusebox while I started the ignition. The engine started but ran on very low revs (despite me trying to rev hard) and only while he was spraying - it cut out as soon as he stopped spraying. The mechanic said fuel seemed to be getting through and couldn't explain the problem other than 'suspect fuel pump'.
The car's been extremely reliable and run very smoothly until today. Any ideas what the problem might be? Fuel pump broken? Fuel lines blocked? Injection?... Read more
I had the fuel pump fail on one of these engines shortly after a cambelt replacement.
I wondered if an impact driver was used on the valve drive train whilst the belt was on, that could've put a shock load on the pump resulting in its subsequent failure.
Yes it's ancient.I am replacing the ignition switch. last thing before removal is to shift a long metal bush that holds the lock/switch onto the steering column. Can't see anything holding the bush (it is about 7 cms long and appears to slide on a serated part of rthe column). The steering wheel sits on the top end of the bush.)Any ideas how to move it would be welcome. Also how do I remove the lock to finally reach the switch?.Cheers. Read more
This splined collar car be a right pig to remove.I have made up a clamp that fits snugly under the narrow lip .I can then get a puller to slide the collar off.It is only a push fit,but very tight.Once this is off,there is usually a hex drive bolt that clamps the steering lock to the column.Remove this bolt and the lock assy slides off.(remember to have the key turned in the ignition lock othterwise the lock mech will not clear the stering shaft.With all this off ,the switch is held on with one screw.hth
Many thanks. I was beginning to think that something else was holding the collar. I will do as you suggest. On the actual switch it looks as if the lock will have to be removed first . My replacement has a hole for a screw but the screw is buried below the lock. How does the lock dismantle?
My car developed a very noticeable rattle so I took it to the nearest garage and they tell me I need a new catalytic converter. However in order to replace this I need to get the front section of exhaust that contains two converters. The garage said tehy were surprised that it needed replacing as teh car has done less than 60k and has been fully maintained to schedule by the dealership.
I have booked it in at the dealership for them to confirm the diagnosis and see what solutions they offer. In order to aid the conversation, I was wondering:... Read more
How many of the BRs take their wife’s, girl friends, sister’s car in to the garage for it’s service ?
I came across another nasty case of shoddy dealing. This woman takes her car into a main dealer for servicing at the recommended intervals, but when the handbrake failed only 1000 miles after a service she took it into a trusted independent in another town. ... Read more
The first time that I came across deliberate bad practice in servicing, as opposed to careless, was in Zambia in the mid 60s. A friend took his Citroen car in for a service and watched the mechanics servicing other cars. Cars had multiple grease nipples then and the bearings had to be recharged regularly. The Hardy Spicer joints could be tricky to reach and keep the grease gun on.
The mechanic had a stick with a blob of grease on the end and was dabbing the nipples one by one, quickly. My informant checked his itemised bill carefully and rejected it because it included an item for servicing and topping up a differential. He pointed out that his car didn't have a differential being a Citroen and front wheel drive. ...
I have an Astra Mk5 1.4 Petrol. After i had cleaned the car i decided to check the levels, i normally do this once every few weeks so was surprised to see my coolant res empty. i topped it up and made a mental note to see if there were any leaks when running. i checked the oil level and managed to flick some on top on the coil pack. i wiped this away but in doing so i gently knocked a small hose on the top of the water pump, which just fell away. i noticed that the plastic hose connector had just sheared away but i had only tapped it. this led me to believe that this was the cause of the leak and had degraded over time. has anyone else had this problem? is it possible just to replace the connector or does it mean a new pump?
Many thanks in advance... Read more
I have an Auris hybrid t spirit with 17" wheels and 215/45 tyres is there any reason why I can't fit 15" wheels with 195/65 tyres which are fitted to some aurises, to give me a softer ride? Read more
You'll get more MPG as well as a softer ride.
Hi,
We purchased a Honda CR-V 2007 from a trader in December 2011 and 8 days later the engine management light came on.... Read more
If the car is going well, are you sure it isn't something wrong with the light or its sensor?
Went to my local dealer with my 3 year old car, just mot'd and full service history. they know the car and all about it. you would think i'd get a better deal eh? Not on your nelly. salesman said they would not put it on their forecourt but would trade it out.(trade in price was in line with what i expected) in my opinion car needs valeting and polishing. there are a couple of paint chips,1 on the bonnet and one on the offside front wing, but you have to look for them! didn't say anything but went away and compared the price od the car i wanted and if i drive 30 miles I can get a discount of almost £2700 on the new car i'm looking at. my dealer has lost the sale because he didn't think my car was good enough to put on his forecourt, and assumed that i would accept his offer as i have been a customer paying full price for services for 2 cars in 5 years. My question, Shall i tell him? Read more
Hi , From reading the various posts I'm still not sure whether you got a better deal at the second dealer than the first . The only real test is , did you part exchange your car with the second dealer ? If you did , how much less of your hard earned cash did you have to give the second dealer than the first . Regards Tony g
Car at first dealer £12685 px offered £4250 brand new car me ist owner.
Car at 2nd dealer £9999, (bulk purchase national chain,) px offered £4250. have accepted 2nd dealers offer. both got 5 years manufacturers warranty. both cars same spec!
Currently a Blackberry user, principally for the very good e-mail app. The only other apps I use with anything approaching regularity are Google maps and internet browser but even then probably less than once a week.
With RIM possibly going down the tubes and a need at some point in the future to replace my 9700, what are my alternatives? I know the default is the iPhone, but the poor battery life and general aversion to Apple products puts me off. They just seem to make life unnecessarily complicated. Can't decide if I like touch screen phones; everyone in my family who had one, has gone back to button phones. ... Read more
Nokia Lumia is excellent (there are 2 in my family now). And it runs on the Windows platform, which makes things quite familiar. High quality hardware, familiar operating system with good features, can't beat it. Impressive battery life if you're not on the internet permanently.
I have no idea why anyone bothers getting all dewy eyed over Apple products. There are better value, better built products out there for the non-fashion victims amongst us.
We had C230K - 1999. Similar odd startign problems - would turn over fien but not fire. We thought it was temp. related but after LOTS of toing and froing it was a faulty (physically) faulty relay in the boot by the spare wheel/battery. If was if ther car was parked on a slight tilt/twist that caused it.. Cost us weeks of bu$$ering about. I sugest you check that just in case....(fuel pump relay...)