September 2013
The battery on my year 2000 XJ8 3.2L runs down to 20% of capacity and c.11.9 volts if left standing for two weeks after a run or charge, and the car on occasion has not started due to a low battery. Disconnected from the car the 100 AH battery, Bosch 12 months old, holds its charge and tests OK. An auto electrician found a current drain of only 0.2amps with the car locked, presumably for the alarm system. At 2000 rpm the alternator under load gives 118 amps at 14.1 volts. I now connect a mains battery charger for a few hours every week.
All the lights appear to switch off. The problem lies with the car, not the battery. Can anyone please suggest what the problem might be? Read more
A lady motorist recently recounted her experience as follows:
I visited a local car showroom. A salesman approached me and I told him that I was interested in a particular model. He said "Is your husband with you?" I said "No, why do you ask?" He replied "It would be better if he was...men understand cars". I walked out and purchased a vehicle elsewhere.... Read more
I think the 'men know cars' idea is a bit lame in this day and age.
It doesn't really apply as much now because frankly, most men under the age of 35 know foxtrot alpha about cars either.
Does anyone know if the variator lines up on the rear cambelt on a MGF VVC 1.8
clockwise or anti clockwise Read more
The better half has decided that we need a new tow car for our caravan (950kg max). I'm quite happy with my old Peugeot 405 GRD, but it's an image thing and she who must be obeyed has spoken. After some research I believe the Carens, the old model, may meet all our requirements. Can't seem to find any common problems, bar it's ugly and hasn't kept it's value.
Thanks,... Read more
Thanks for the info, I've found a couple local and will give them a good looking at, and here's a main dealer down the road from where I work, which is where I first noticed them.
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Have a mazda 6 2.2 R2AA diesel car with 3 bad injectors, i can source very good tested second hand injectors but if i fit them will my car run ok on them or will they need reprogrammed by Mazda to get car going? new injectors with dealer is £550 plus vat each so don't want to waste money getting second hand injectors if they need to be or can't be reprogrammed? any help would be great thanks Read more
My 2008 focus was taken into a garage to have the injector seals replaced as this is a common fault with the 1.6d engine. Taking the car into the garage the car was running well with no problems. The garage replaced the seals but said during the process it developed the knocking sound or if the knocking was there before you could not hear it because of the broken injector seal.
They have told me I need a new engine and the car only has a few miles left in it and have said it was 'wear and tear' and could of happened at any point. I find this very hard to believe and don't know what my options are as I believe they may have destroyed my engine.
My insurance have taken the car to be looked at but they have said I'm not covered as the car was not involved in an accident.
The garage won't accept liability, they told me the best thing to do is put it on ebay for spare parts... I'm now stuck with a £5000 car which needs £3000 spending on it for replacement parts and really can't afford it.
Help please! Anyone else had a similar problems? Read more
I do not think that a failed injector could prevent one hearing a knocking noise from the engine It. might make it run roughly, of course
Bought a 05 reg ford focus 1.6tdci with 84000miles from xxxx for £3795 . Lovely looking car strait all the way around nice solid paint stunning example very happy upon purchase. 2days later there is a very annoying tapping noise coming from the alternator pulley area of the engine. Sounds like running a stick along a corrugated fence the sound gets faster as you pick up revs. Thinking I've got some warranty I take the car back. The proprietor doesn't no a touch about engines all he does is sell cars. But he agrees to get the problem sorted under good will he said. i diagnosed the crank pulley myself. But the work would have tobe carried out by his friends garage locally. Car goes in and comes back seemingly fine with the noise taken away so my smiles back and off I go in the car. 3 months later car goes into limp mode my pal plugged it in for me coming up with air inlet sensor and air temperature sensor . I bite mite lip and get the parts for my pal to fit costing £235 job seemingly done. The Friday after taxed it for 12 months on the way home I have a serious loss of power and Big Bang and grinding noise coming from under the bonnet. I was a minute from my friends moms so I managed to roll in neutral to outside there. Checked all hoses were still on and they were so I removed them. Finding a turbo in smithereens. Goes home on foot finding turbos for this kkda engine around £450 I'm not happy. First thing I check is my service history. Apparently the car was supposed to have had a full oil and oil filter change. I phone my pal and ask him to check the oil which he says is bone dry now I'm thinking how as a car ptyed it's oil in 3 months 2000 miles impossible. I do abit of nose poking and find out my uncle noes a guy who works for this jay lawley garage and he described xxxx as dodgey. He said xxxx brings the cars in with the lights on the dashbords turned off and if not removes bulbs. Now I'm getting angry and thinking the cars killed itself by running the turbo dry and no oil can warning light has ever lit up on the dash to tell me about the fact. now I'm feeling like I've been had up return to xxx cars to xxxx agreeing to have the car back and giving a full refund but I'm still not happy 335 parts and 12 months tax this motor owes me so I tell him it's not good enough and I know about the arrangement he has to get the cars back out the door fast with the dash lights and diagnostics. I notice his units full of fords focus and mondeo a mainly and pick myself out a nice blue 55 reg focus 1.8tdci with 74000 miles up for £4250 he does the swap after some persistence and I go away again happy. 1 week later engine systems fault comes on to hAunt me once again but its only a fuel filter and its fixt and running smoothly now fingers crosst I don't have Togo back to xxxx ever again. Read more
It's staggering how many of you have completely missed the most important issue.
The garage/trader xxxx who is selling cars that are MOT failures is breaking the law. They should be reported and prosecution will follow, they cease trading, end of garage/trader, end of problem.
I too cannot see where it mentions MOT failures in the garbled mess that is the original post. Additionally, an engine management warning lamp being illuminated is not a reason for rejection ( official name for failure ) but would be worthy of an advisory notice....
Hi all,
Looking for some advice.
I drove into a car park yesterday and hit a kerb severely damaging my car.
Now history; have been going to said car park for years, and they have recently put in a manhole, around 300mm above the main entrance surrounded by tar and hgv kerbs, now as the left turn into the car park is on a small hill, my car being low, I never even noticed the new kerb area until bang.
Now do the car park not have a duty of care to put a bollard/s in front of new area for visibility purposes.
Do you think I could stick a letter into them to see if they accept liability?
Cheers
N Read more
The Mark 3 Cortina was one of the first cars with the 'coke bottle' styling which is the cause of the problem - this fixation among stylists that a car looks better with the glass area tapering down towards the back of the car. The Marks 1 and 2 Cortina were fine, particularly the estate; ikewise the Hillman Hunter was easy to see out of, the later Avenger much more difficult.
Honda and Volvo are the latest recruits to the fixation. The old Honda Civic was a better car all round than its post-2007 successor (obviously only in my subjective opinion) and had much better rear visibility. The Volvo V40, with its swept-up rear doors and letter-box rear window, is hopelss to see out of, and the V60, despite being an estate, is not much better.....
Hello,
I'm interested in the new S Cross that is coming on to the market at the end of this month, however, I fear I will have no leeway to negotiate a discount if I place an order just as the order book opens. I was wondering whether any forum members have experience ordering a car just as it becomes available and could advise on this matter. Is there any chance of achieving a discount at this stage or would I have to wait for (at least) a few months before dealers start offering discounts?... Read more
A quiescent current of 200mA is way too high. You should be getting closer to a tenth of this.
How did you measure it? Was it measured immediately after locking and with th ebonnet up?...