December 2012
I bought a Ford Fusion car from a motor dealer and unfortunately the engine and gearbox blew a week later. Insurance company wrote off car and agreed to pay full insured amount and asked for MoT certificate. Found out it had expired just over a month previously.
Are motor dealers permitted to:... Read more
I am looking at a Vector 9-3 Sport 2.0t - It's got all the dealer stamps, and it's immaculate. It's only £2,300 from a dealer.
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That's the engine which suffers oil sludge issues - as long as you change your oil between services as an extra precaution. it should be okay. Strangely Vauxhalls with the same engine are fine so it's probably an issue with oil cooler pipe routing in the SAAB installation or something along those lines - others have suggested the oil runs too hot thanks to the exhaust manifold design.
After months of getting wet riding my Triumph on my 50 mile commute and much deliberation about what car to buy after handing back my company Golf Match TSI I managed to get myself a full spec 2010 Lexus IS250 auto. As the man says probably the only car you wil even need, I do hope he is right. Will keep you posted on our relationship.
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mjf65, you won't regret it, I bought a new one in Sept. 2011, it's a super combination of V6 engine and auto box, still get that smug mode expression when zooming away from the lights, not as quick as a beemer, but as smooth as silk.
Did you buy from a Lexus dealer?, the one I use ( Carlisle ) is superb.
My 2007, 53,000mile 280cdi has just failed its MoT at my local M-B franchised dealer because in their words-
-The offside knuckle joint is worn... Read more
I cannot see how your garage did anything wrong ball joints can go from servicable to non servicable in a matter of a few hundred miles.New ball joints in 5years is hardly a catastrophe you make it sound from your headline the suspension has dramatically collapsed wait till you have a real problem such as the ABS ecu or gearbox problem then you will have something to complain about but having to replace a balljoint is just everday motoring.
My car's handbook says the car should be run on 98RON but it can run on 95RON. I've had the car since new. When I first filled up I used 95RON but found the engine to be a big sluggish. I switched to Shell 99RON (Optimax as it was and now V Power and which I understand cleans engines) and used it no problems since. Today I have found that my local Shell garage is closing down at the end of the week to be replaced by a BP garage. My nearest Shell garage will then be over 10 miles away across a Town that I don't normally travel through. My question therefore is what is my nearest equivalent in terms of the other brands. In my area I will have besides the BP garage a Texaco and a Sainsburys and I sometimes go by a Tesco or Asda. Read more
To part answer the OPs question - BP Ultimate and Tesco Momentum have a higher octane rating. Don't think Sainsburys do one and I'm not sure about Asda. As per others, the car should really be fine on 95RON so probably sensible to get it checked out.
Hi, just wondered if anyone can shed some light on a weird problem. I've asked everyone everywhere and no-one can help.
Whenever I open either of the front doors all the other doors lock by themselves. Then, when I close the door they all reopen. It happens when the door opens to a certain point - it triggers all the doors to lock. It's annoying because when they lock the interior light also goes out, so it means I can't have the use of the light coming on when I get out of the car.... Read more
French wiring is a law unto itself ! door looms are common as are interior light faults and the interior delay relay.
Find a good sparky....
My Volvo S40 is now nearly 7 years old, and has covered 75K miles. This year it will need a full brake overhaul and 4 new tyres, estimated cost around £1000. As the car is worth less than £4k, I have to decide whether or not to spend the cash and keep it, or change it.
I like the new V40, but am not prepared to buy a new one. I'm very tempted by the Citroen C4, having in the past had a Xantia 1.9D which covered 95K miles without a single fault. A brilliant car! ... Read more
Replacing the car every time it needs brakes is an expensive business.
the other night i was on the motorway and when took my foot of the accelerator pedal the engine took ages to slow down,this happend for the whole time,when i got into the town and stopped at a set of lights the engine stayed at about 1500 revs for about 5 secs then slowed to idle this happend for the whole journey and also there was lack of power.the car seems to drive o.k continousley for an hour then seems to lose power please can anyone help? Read more
Also see other thread in this forum by chas - lower down this page. Some of the replies seem relevant, particularly that by Screwloose in 2008.
No not the poster although those that know me might think so!!
Car is approaching 3 years old and with the cold weather the crank is quite slow to the point that I am thinking about replacing the battery, but they last longer than that don't they? Which makes me think it could be charging system (though lights are fine) or starter motor, both of which are under warrantee.... Read more
Hi All, sorry for the delay responding, have been away from the Broadband for a few days. Lovely!!
Battery is sealed no maintenance. Connections are ok. Will check the volatge at the weekend....
Hello All,
I have noticed some blowing coming from the oil fill cap and was unsure as to whether it is excessive or to be worried about? Theres 90K miles on the clock. Doesnt seem to be smoking just pulsing pressure as below... Read more


The legal limit for an unbraked trailer is 750kg gross, so any normal car and most micro-cars must have over-run operated brakes on all 4 wheels as their gross is over 750kg even though their kerbweight may be under that limit.
Recovery companies shouldn't use suspended lift for 4wd vehicles - they need to use a flatbed.