August 2017
I am firmly resolved never to buy another diesel. However, there are a number of diesel Golfs coming on the market which seem good value buys - few petrols.
I know about emissions issue but are their diesel engines horrendous money pits etc. Was I just unfortunate with C30 1.6 diesel ? I average around 10,000 miles a year and do get the engine to a good temperature very often. Just because I have had a bad experience don't want to miss out on possibly good buys. Or is it better to wait ? Read more
Hello, any advice welcome!
Occasionaly I am getting the engine waringin light coming on, failry high mileage MK1 1.6 Ford Focus. On start all lights go out, occasioanly the light will come on and does not go off until the car is parked and restarted. It seems to run fine, and there is no difference engine running wise before its on or - when it comes on. I have read that the light can come on for lots of reasons, the Haynes manual I have bought for this car is singularly useless on this and I have searched the site for any clues... I'm thinking of getting a fault scanner from ebay for about £20... Read more
Generally I need no excuse to buy a nerw tool - working on old bikes for many years. Cars I have never really bothered with, a bit different but fundaments are the same so far, quite enjoying it. I wish lying flat under a car did not make me dizzy - very odd!
Anyway thanks again Doc, now I have a bona fide excuse for my next tool purchase :-)...
I have just got this car it has full service history cam chain just has been replaced it runs fine and drives nice but I have noticed a slight knocking /tapping
Noise when I accelerate for example if I'm
In 5 th gear and put my foot down to over take the knocking noise appear it's not there in tick over any ideas would be a great help Read more
Thanks for the help
I'll get a new sensor and see if this fixes the problem cheers everyone
Hi all,
Im getting an orange warning light on my 58 reg Vectra 1.8i VVT.... Read more
Most modern cars have the cat attached to the manifold.
I know a couple in their thirties who decided a few years ago they needed a people carrier. This has nor been a success! The first was a grey import diesel Lucida that blew its engine after a year and was sold for peanuts. After that they got a Galaxy automatic diesel on HP. Now after an expensive year (injectors and other issues after the relatively short warranty expired) it is another non-runner. The engine shakes more than the Austin Cambridge I owned forty years ago did after a plug lead fell off! Also, purely executed previous bodywork repairs are showing through. They still insist they need a people carrier and it must be diesel for economy. So what model would you recommend for a £5k budget? I cannot really think of one and would personally suggest a petrol Mondeo! Another car I know that is for sale is a Granada limo but dare I suggest it as an alternative?
yep, we have a 5 y o 1.6 petrol zafira, bought new for 10k when they launched the Zafira Tourer.
In 5 years / 35k miles nothing mechanical has gone wrong, and the bland interior has stood up well to my 3 kids jumping, spilling and trying their best to break bits off. All that has failed has been the hands free set mic (because it got kicked and was hardly a Vauxhall fail) and one of the front vent vanes that got dislodged then Vauxhall themselves managed to dislodge into the dashboard innards when it was valeted. oh, and the cover of the rear 12v socket also bit the dust thanks to some small yet eager feet....
Noticing a lot more of these darkened number plates around which are surely illegal. Are the police pulling these cars over? I followed a 66 plate s3 the other day the plate was so dark it could only be read from about 2m! Can these plates be reported ? Read more
Followed an LGV this afternoon, company name was Bison, number plate was B15 ONN.
It's bizarre that leaner drivers are forbidden from learning on roads that encompass a large part of our transport infrastructure. It's about time motorways were included in lessons, not to mention tests.
Next we need to include night-time and bad weather driving. Read more
Yeah! Wonderful article
We have 2 cars, one being a 2004 04 Astra 1.6 auto with 65,000 miles on it, owned 44 months had a look underneath and some parts are rusting see pics, front exhaust pipe is blowing and air con is as efficient as it was. MOT due December and car cover 1500 miles a year.
The other is a 2004 54 Skoda Octavia Tdi with 123,000 on it owned 59 months, cambelt & water pump replaced 4 years 42,000 miles ago and tyres due 6000 miles time MOT due next month.... Read more
I know it does not look great but the rusting on the underside is a quick and cheap fix. There are two different strategies: A good quality rust converter or black waxoyl mixed with engine oil would make a world of difference.
Even some new cars in the showroom have rust around items such as driveshafts etc.
Are any types of quadricycle ie sub 400kg, legal on UK motorways?
I doubt it ,what with their low speed capabilities.... Read more
I know that some of the French quadricycle's can do more than 50mph, but I have no idea what the actual rules governing their access to motorways are. Presumably if a 48mph Renault twizy can go on a motorway, so should a 50+mph Aixam?. Unless it is also to do with the weight of the vehicle?.
I have looked at them in the past, and thought they would make a good city/town runaround. But at the end of the day, they are not very good value, they are not that economical, and they don't have to do that Euro ncap crash test (and I don't fancy having an accident in one). As a runaround, a C1/108/aygo make a lot more sense to me.
Hello.
I own a Audi A3 Sportback hybrid . Hope I am posting in the right section.
After realizing that I was having issues with the charger ( error e-140 and 470) as is not connecting to the car. this morning the car will turn on but not move at all in any gear.
So, I turn the car on and the needle goes up and a few seconds later goes down to cero, meaning that is not drive ready. I tried any gear and it does not move at all. tried changing all eterno settings and same thing. engine seems to be on since I have to turn off before I leave the car. I checked everything but can't find anything wrong, not symbol lights are on and parking brake off.
any ideas of what to do? or try?
My guess as of now, is that even thought it says the eterno battery is almost full I am thinking there is a misreading somewhere. So, I thought I will unplug the battery to see if the system resets and it works but I am afraid I will screw something up by doing this.
anyone have any idea of what is going on?
thank you so much. Read more
I wouldn't waste your time with your local independent garage either. I would doubt many if any would have the expertise on hybrids to solve your problem. Contact your nearest main dealer and go from there.
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Yes that was my point, that you get used to it because it's just....there. You don't have to do anything....