May 2012
Yesterday whilst the other half was wandering around Grand Designs Live, I spent the time test driving four electric and hybrid cars; a Chevolet Volt (also sold in the UK as the Vauxhall Ampera), a Honda CR-Z hybrid, a Peugeot 508 RXH hybrid, and a Nissan Leaf.... Read more
I know the conventional wisdom is that unless you do >10,000 miles, you're better off with a petrol car, especially for short runs. However, I'm after an MPV like a scenic, if the initial car cost is the same, then all I can see are savings by getting a diesel, especially if I go for one without a DPF (or FAP as the french call them).
Are there any disadvantages to a diesel for daily short town runs, usually with 3-4 people in the car, and the occasional bi-monthly motorway run? Read more
We've now ruled out a scenic as it has under floor storage and our car seat has a base with a leg, so we're probably going to go for a megane 1.5 DCI diesel.
Recently after about 10 miles of traveling, my engine warning light comes on along with the coil light. I have had my car serviced regulaly since purchacing it in 2007. Any ideas would be appreciated. Read more
Is this a Ford or PSA 2.2? If Ford it may not have a DPF - my Jag had the Ford engine, but it was only the 2.2 Autos which received the DPF treatment in about 2007.
My first port of call would be a look at the EGR valve. 20 minute job to remove and have a look at. A code read will also identify if this is the problem,
I went to a trusted garage to get the aircon regased on my girlfriends car and been told the condenser is leaking and needs changing. I have moved house and no longer live near this garage.
I saw a few on sale for about £50 and would want to do it myself. Is that a big job to do? Will I need special removal tools or any sort? Read more
This is the easy model to do.But you will need to get the front of the car up in the air as the condensor comes out from below.No special tools reqd,but you will need a torx socket if the pipe mounting studs need to be removed.Don't forget there may still be gas pressure in the system which requires reclaiming into a recovery/charge station.hth
injection doc can you tell me if i can fit 2ltr cams to my 1.8 and if so will it make any difference to power ??? ... Read more
I seem to remember that fitting the 2,0/130ps intake manifold/throttle body was the simplest/most effective mod.
hi all can any 1 tell me if i can fit 2ltr cams to my 1.8 and if so will it make any difference to power ???
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I've never posted before but would really appreciate some advice/opinions on what has happened to my beloved X-reg Ford Fiesta 1.3 Finesse.
I booked in to Mr Clutch to get the clutch & hydraulic bearing replaced - it was taken in this morning. At lunchtime I had a call to say they had replaced the clutch OK, but would also need to replace a hydraulic line as the 'system wasn't re-pressurising due to a leak' (or similar.) It sounded legit so I agreed to it for an extra £55.... Read more
Not sure about the lights - I didn't see the dashboard when the mechanic tried the key.
Thanks for the response, I'd just like to go prepared tomorrow morning with some idea about what the problem is (petrified of being taken for a mug...)...
2005 Dispatch has a flat spot when accelerating in slow moving traffic. When this happens i get a quick plume of white smoke as the flat spot goes. Have changed fuel filter and added injector cleaner. No flat spot when changing gear in fast moving traffic. Any ideas please. Thank you Read more
..will give that a try sometime this weekend, i'm a plumber so no shortage of pipes and equipment. Thanks
So I sold my focus, wrote a geniune ad, now the buyer has rung me twice regarding problems he's now found with the car. He came today with his mechanic to pick it up, money is safe in my bank account, and the mechanic took it for a drive, he said there was an issue with the wheel bearings, so while on the drive we took it to two garages who test drove it and stated there were no wheel bearing problems. He's now rang me to say the brakes were juddery on the way home. He's not asking for any compensation for it, but he's just ringing me to tell me the problems. I have a feeling he's going to ask for compensation for the issues.
What legal recourse does he have over this? I thought buying privately was basically caveat emptor, since both he and his mechanic had test drives. Read more
As long as the advert didn't lie or mislead, such as by saying "mechanically perfect" or "mint condition" then there is no recourse. What is more, if he inspected/tested it and especially if he had a professional inspect it, then he has even fewer legs to stand on with respect to claims about things which would have been apparent in the inspection if they existsed at the time of sale.
For the same reason that airlines don't like talking about the absolute cost of kerosene-only the percentage rise in the cost of crude! If you enjoy a big tax break, you don't want to rock the boat.