August 2012
Why don't you name the Credit Hire Company? They are not all rogues and there are some extremely good and honest ones. You fail to mention that Insurance Companies account for 80% of referrals to PI companies and get a kick back for doing so Only 20% are referred by Accident Management Companies or drivers appoint their own solicitor to handle the claim. Is this column funded by an insurance company or do you work on a commission - seems to me you would be better spending your efforts and time investigating the insurance companies who actively deny the policy holder the right to choose where they have their car repaired by charging them 'An Admin Fee' if they choose to take their car to a bodyshop of their choice and not one of the insurance companies 'preferred bodyshops'. I wonder how many of your readers have checked their policy and found that little clause? Read more
My beloved corsa has now reached the time for it to go (wheel bearings gone again and glow plug issue to be resolved)!
Once I get it repaired it will be time for it to go.... Read more
Unless your annual mileage is very high you'll probably get better value for money from a petrol. As well as the Ibiza (or Polo or Fabia) 1.2 TSI, consider a Fiesta 1.4 or Toyota Yaris 1.3. All these have plenty of 'pull'.
Used French cars are more vulnerable to abuse or neglect by a previous owner, but a well-looked-after Clio 1.2 TCE could be worth thinking about.
Hi Just changed the injector seals on my 1.4 tdci i tried to start it and it would not start. i had bled the injectors before starting .... so i decided to tow it to start it this worked and car was running fine however the power train light flashed a couple times but went out and didnt come back..... went to start it this morning and nothing ... it turns over but it is not firing i also have a flashing power train light when i turn engine over ....... any ideas? Read more
The information centre , the print is very poor lighting it needs replacing have looked on ebay ,have found some clocks for sale, On the back of clock part number Vary's in numbers The one i am looking for are ( ford NR YM21 10849 ATD ) the last three letters VARY ARC,NMB,ETC what is the meaning of the last three letters thanks Read more
Moved to Technical.
My diesel at home is a Ford S-Max 2.0 TDCi with 6sp slushbox auto. 140bhp. It pulls a large heavy car with a surprising amount of verve and the wave of torque is marvellous coming up a hill on the motorway. I didn't buy that engine for economy or driveability; simply because the only petrol auto was a dreadful 2.3 iron lump that no-one wanted. Of course the facelifted model has far better gas engines.
I am currently away with the family and have rented a car - a Kia Rio saloon with what i believe is a 1.4 petrol engine and 4sp slushbox auto. I really want to like this car, and there are elements of it that are up there with the best including interior trim quality and design, exterior design and surprisingly the ride. What is dreadful is the performance. No kickdown of any description, and almost no power reserves. Lots noise but no oomph.... Read more
Even better with a tow bar :-D
Hi,
My aircon stopped working suddenly, had the gas checked and all fine. The small bolt in the front of the compressor is not turning when the engine running.
Could this be an electrical problem or is it definitely a mechanical failure of the compressor.
Thanks
Dave Read more
Hi, Have now had my aircon fixed under a mechanical breakdown policy. The fix was to just change to front pulley.
Seems to pump is fine, any ideas what may have caused the pulley to be the problem.
Thanks
Hi all
I have a Ford Galaxy petrol 1996 2.0 with Intermittent starting problem. Please can someone help its doing my head in Breakdown guy sprayed cold start into air intake and it started so he reckons that its fuel pump but others have said it could be relay/immobiliser lights all come on and engine always turns but sometimes will fire up others it just turns over and the fuel pump doesnt hum. The red light on the door is constantly on when it wont start Thanx Gary Read more
Looks like fuel pump relay fault.From memory ,I think it is relay #30,bottom right hand corner of cabin fuse box.hth
Reply to last post on this problem suggested replacing the roll bar drop links, which I did today - when I collected car, surprised to see that these were situated in the front of the vehicle. The knocking which continues comes from under the rear nearside. Any more suggestions please. Read more
the way i read the op,
is he took it to a garage as rear suspension is knocking.........
Hi
Heard DPF removal is now an MoT failure, but only for cars 2008 onwards. Is this correct.... Read more
I've know of a few Mazda's that have passed their MOT's with thier DPF's gutted. They all had it done from s******* who do some sort of 'smoke correction' test.
Tempted myself TBH, It will be time for me to update my car in around a year so I'll see then
My LDV Cub has an intermittent fault. It was rare to begin with but now more often that not it will start up and 'chug' on idle, almost like a petrol engine would if you took a plug lead off. There is also a smell like unburnt diesel. While it chugs it is VERY smoky (blue) but a good blip on the throttle and it is fine. It doesn't happen all of the time and its not confined to hot or cold starting. Someone suggested glow plugs but wouldn't this only affect cold starting?
Another unconnected problem I have is that a few weeks ago the dipstick tube snapped where in joins the engine so I have had to plug the hole and have no way of checking oil level now. I am leaning towards junking the engine for a secondhand one or is this an over-reaction?... Read more
Since my last post I havent used the van till this week and the problem with the smoking at low revs (not all the time) persists.
Spoke to my local trusted motor engineers who say a sticking valve is very unlikely and could be the egr valve gummed up or an injection problem....
Browse
My wife had another driver run into the back of her car at approx 20 mph. She was taken to hospital by ambulance and ended up being signed off work for 2 weeks with a possible cervical disc prolapse and seat belt injuries. Our car has £7000 of damage awaiting repair. Our insurers (Co-operative Insurance) very quickly referred the matter to Albany Assistance who despite being told that my wife cannot drive because of the injuries sustained continue to telephone to arrange for a hire car to be delivered. They also pushed hard for us to purchase a variety of insurance products including a Collision Damage Waiver which sounded like it had more loopholes in it than tin of spaghetti hoops!
Clearly there is no point in her accepting the hire car as it is no use to us until she can drive, in the meantime the other driver's insurers, Liverpool Victoria, have offered to provide a hire car free of charge. Once my wife can drive I will take them up on the offer in the interests of keeping the costs down. Also this will mean that it is not in their interest to hold up the repair of the car.