December 2017
I bought a new Suzuki Swift (new shape) in September - on my way to the shops today the engine oil change warning light came on.
I nipped in to the dealer who said the service guys had gone home for xmas but all that needed doing is to reset the oil change counter as it must have been set incorrectly and that the car was fine to drive until I could pop in between xmas and new year.... Read more
My wife came in today saying her Corsa D 1.2 petrol suddenly lost power and began running very roughly. The infamous flashing yellow Engine mgt light has come on. There was a smell of burning. I've restarted it and there is no smell but its misfiring and rough.
I've Googled and more than 90% of the advice is that it will be the coil pack and its an easy plug-in replacement. The car has done 85000 miles and had new plugs about 2000 miles ago so I am reasoning that a new coil pack is probably due anyway even if it proves not to be the cause of the immediate problem. So not entirely wasted expense.
I've taken the plunge and ordered a new pack from Eurocarparts for £70. I am just wondering whether, if its something else causing the issue, I might blow the new coil pack and be back to square one?
I havent taken the old oack out yet. Not having access to a code reader or meter can I tell if the old pack is faulty - will it smell of burnt electrics?
Any advice gratefully received, the new pack won't be here until next week. Read more
The new pack arrived today. Five minute job to swap it out. Runs OK and warning light is out. Elekie, as you said there was nothing to see on the old pack but the terminal on plug 2 was a bit rusty, while the rest are pristine, so I suspect it was a fault on coil 2. The rust may however be coincidental, maybe a consequence of condensation - there was a lot in the general plug area.
Hopefully it will stay sorted. Our old Corsa D had a hesitation and uneven running, so I thought I'd have a look at the plugs. Turned out a couple of the plugs were loose in the head, and the others were scarcely hand-tight. They'd been under-torqued when fitted at a previous service. A quick gap check and re-tighten sorted the symptoms completely.
Hi guys and gals
My cars failed its MOT on "excessive play in the front lower ball joints". The garage said they can replace for £251 parts £166 labour.... Read more
It appears to be quote a common fault - how many miles has it done? The ball joint is pressed into the arm - I would imagine that the dealer has quoted for new arms both sides, but it can be replaced separately. Take it to a local garage who will do it for much less - although they may say it's easier / cheaper in the long run to replace the whole arm anyway.
Ages since I've done this and I've got a faint recollection that on modern cars it's possible to mess up the electronics. Mines a 2013 Passat hers is a 2009 Fiesta. I would normally start mine, connect up (do I have to connect positive or negative first?) and go for it.
Any tips please? Read more
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Reason for this is if you connect to dead cars battery negative terminal your forcing current through the dead battery....
I'm looking for a mid size 5 door car, which i mainly drive with me and partner only. However now and again I have to take my 5'10 parents aswell. Im looking for a hatchback with the most legroom
If the car has sliding rear seats, that would help aswell... Read more
Impossible to answer without knowing how much legroom you need to drive. I'm 6'1" and by lifting the drivers seat higher than usual and adjusting the steering wheel position, I can also move my seat forward to liberate enough room for normal sized passengers in the rear of my Mk3 Octavia, while allowing me to drive. A modernish Golf with height adjustable seats will also enable this compromise.
My fiesta heated front screens, mirrors & rear screens will not switch on or work when temp drops to below 4 degrees. Last winter I put my car to my local garage but at the time the temp was above this and they were unable to find any fault. Luckily they also didn't charge. Now this winter the same has happened again! Can anyone suggest ideas for what my hubby can check or do for this please? Has anyone else had similar issue? This is the sort of temperature where I most need the heated screens to work so it is frustrating. Read more
As the question was posed 7 years ago, I suggest that you commence a new thread with your exact details poster. This thread will be made "Read Only"
Mod.
So someone posted this:-
"Avoid anything with an automated manual box too such as VAG’s DSG or Ford’s Powershift, they’re almost certain to be trouble in the longterm."... Read more
To be fair though you probably won't be buying anything as you seem to dislike most makes! LOL Who would you recommend?...
Hi,
I have a 2005 Micra 1.2 that runs its battery down over a period of a week if the car is not used. I have eliminated the battery as this has been replaced and the new one has been tested.
I have checked the current drain on the battery when the vehicle is parked and it appears to always be at least 200mA, I have read it should only be around 30mA. It seems to be a fault with the immobiliser as when fuse number 7 is removed (for the immobiliser) the current draw drops down to around 7mA.
I understand that there may have been a know fault with the immobiliser draining the battery on some early Micra K12's and that it can be solved by a software update? Does anyone know if this is true or what the possible fix is?
Simon. Read more
When are you checking the drain are you locking the car and waiting about 30 mins if you don't do this you will not get a correct reading. Check the fuse on the battery terminals check this carefully as they rust and give you a flat battery like fault.
If the car has an I-Key you must lock the car or the battery will drain as the car will never shut down....
What is the situation regarding petrol used in plant equipment like generators, and also off-road vehicles?
Obviously there's no such thing a red petrol (Well, pre-mix 2 stroke perhaps!) but is there a way of claiming back duty paid? Read more
I simply filled in the self assessment detailing business mileage and the approx amount of fuel used together with depreciation and maintenance.
Every little helps....
The marketing departments would tell us that the extra additives in super unleaded can help to clean valve stems but would it be fair to say it's not much use for engines that use direct injection into the cylinder?
What benefit is left then to using a higher octane fuel? ... Read more
DI's are associated with 'varnish' in the inlet tract which presumably comes from recirculated crankcase gases or exhaust, that in single point or port-inhection engines would be washed away by fuel vapour. It's not clear how or if 'better' fuel could help with that on a DI engine - although the exhaust gas might be a bit cleaner if the combustion is better.
However it might well benefit injectors. These are typically multi-hole, multi-injection these days and keeping them clean might be of benefit, Similarly the exhaust valves and EGR through more complete combustion....
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Thanks skidpan. I appreciate the clarification.