June 2019
I was in Manchester for the first time driving down a road and my satnav said 40, however once I had gotten Atleast 1 mile down the road I noticed a sign for 30, I had been behind
Someone the entire time. I believe they may have been one speed camera. Anyhow it’s been 15 days today so I asked my mum if any post had been for me to which she responded you had a white envelope, but now she’s unsure who it was from... first it was the dvla and then she said it was a parking notice (which I did get a while ago from a private car park) but she threw it out before I could even check -_-, I’m from West Yorkshire and to my knowledge they came in a browns envelope, can anyone shed any light on this matter, would I have gotten a reminder soon after? Read more
Hi all
After some advise. Bought a brand New MG ZS at the end of October 2018. I have now noticed many rust spots on the car for example all 4 sill jacking points are rusty various places under the bonnet.... Read more
"Also illuminating is how few people understand that they bought the car fom the finance company and redress is against them - usually a completely different entity from the manufacturer or dealer."
Sorry to bash on about this - and it's probably poor etiquette to quote my own post - but I think this could be more widely publicised, eg in 'Ask HJ'. ...
Hope I'm not going to get my head bitten off here! but my son has a 06 plate Fiesta 1.6 S 130K with cambelt history unknown so needs doing. I want to do this myself using timing belt kit inc tensioner and also water pump. . I have the tools and have a done a few belts over the years on other cars and misc other work but I'm clearly no mechanic. So I read horror stories of even garages messing up this job. If I make sure the camshafts are locked using the plate, the crank is pegged at TDC, The flywheel is locked with the tool that you fit where the starter goes before loosening the bottom pulley bolt, andI loosen/ tighten the crankshaft sprockets using a sprocket locking tool, that I use new stretch bolt, for crank, how can it go wrong? What are people doing on these engines such that that they mess it up? Read more
Nothing to add to skidpan's detailed summary other than I don't recall removing the plugs.
Its possible to do the work without removing the plugs but its f***** hard work turning the engine over against compression....
Hi
I have been having starting problems with my Rav4. I'll try and summarise what's happened and hopefully someone has some ideas on what it might be.... Read more
..its worth checking that water hasn't got int the junction box in the n/s/f kick panel.
Hi, we purchased a 64 plate Ford Focus with Arnold Clark just over three months ago., did not pay for extended warranty and Arnold Clark does 2 months as standard.
Yesterday the car would not go into gear, we asked a friend who is a mechanic to take a look and he says the fault is the clutch slave cylinder.... Read more
hi, to update. After some back and fore Arnold Clark changed the clutch slave cylinder and also replaced the clutch if we were willing to pay half the labour costs, which we agreed to, thanks to all who replied.
Hi,
I have a Ford Focus 1.6 petrol. I've owned it for over six years. I've never had to top up the Antifreeze/Coolant. However...
Three months ago I have a full cam-belt kit and water pump replacement done. One month ago I decided to check my oil and thought I'd check the rest of my car's fluids. I noticed my Antifreeze/Coolant was well below the minimum level. I thought this was due to the mechanics scrimping on topping up the Antifreeze/Coolant after they can done the replacement. I decided to fill up the Antifreeze/Coolant to over the maximum level. I drove it for a week and noticed it had gone down to below the maximum level. Now considering I haven't needed to top up my Antifreeze/Coolant in six years, and now the fluid keeps going down after the cam-belt/water pump change - I'm thinking something is wrong. I should say, through my tests, it seems to only go down when the car is being used. If I let the car sit for a week it doesn't go down.
Through what I can see there seems to be liquid dripping from underneath the Antifreeze/Coolant reservoir onto the engine mount. I know it's called the engine mount as the below video @ 1:35 the guy grabs (and says) the engine mount.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jpfCZJVCnw... Read more
<< the metal reservoir was much hotter than the plastic Focus tank, which gets merely warm. I could only hold my hand against it for about five seconds, so I guess it was about 60 - 80C >>
This difference will depend on the length of the connection between the cooling circuit and the overflow tank. My 205's tank is connected by several feet of hose, so it is unlikely to ever get more than warm.
I know the diesel debate has been well and truly covered several times over but.....
I am looking at buying 3 series. Will be last of the older shape so 18/68 reg.
320i and 320d are all around £20k. The 320d has always been the one to have due to superior torque and economy, but of course we have Diesel Gate.
Also not sure whether to go for drive which seem are around £1500 more and economy is affected or should I just put winter tyres on?
Other option I have is 420 grand coupe as it is a full hatch rather than saloon, but sits a bit lower I think.
Any one have any thoughts or experiences of the above I would appreciate your comments. Read more
Just an update.
After years of Alfa’s have decided time for a change.
After test driving a 420i Grand Coupe and 320i Msport I have decided on the 320i.
Hatch on the 420 would have been handy but the 320 is lighter a bit quicker and more economical. Also 320i is auto 420 was manual. Couldn’t get an auto in my budget.
After 300 mile trip to Northampton trip showed 42.5 mpg. Haven’t filled up to calculate accurately yet.
Even with Msport trim and run flats ride is surprisingly comfortable.
Anyone interested don’t believe all you hear. It is that good.
Not quite as interesting as my previous Alfa’s but even I concede they are not perfect, I can live with that. The dealers however are a different story and certainly don’t deserve any more of my hard earned
Thanks all for your advice.
Hi,
I have a 56 reg, Peugeot 407 2.0 hdi auto and recently the ABS & ESP warning lights apoear every time the ignition is switched on. This has happened before on an intermittent basis then nothing showed for over a month before this more permanent episode. ... Read more
That code is detailed here:
https://www.peugeotforums.com/forums/407-41/more-esp-abs-problems-88650/
I've not had to put oil in any car between services for decades, the ones I've had just don't seem to need it. Despite that, I still can't help checking them regularly.
Anyway, my son is home from university and has his little Aygo here. I checked it's tyres and fluids last night and the oil level is about halfway between the dipstick markers. Not urgent then, but it might benefit from a top up.
Now, while I can find info on the net as to how much oil in total it would need, I'm struggling to find out how much to top it up by. Is it just a case of trial and error? Like, for example, putting in a half litre of the recommended grade and checking it again?
Or is there a smarter way of establishing how much it needs?
It's not due a service until January so I'm thinking a bit of preventive medicine is in order rather than just leaving it until it's urgent. The chances of my son remembering to do anything about it are slim to none, and Slim just left town...
Thanks in advance for any advice !
Read more
Well, 0.25 L is indeed the answer ! Takes the level on the dipstick from half to just below max. So now we know. ;-)
Thai'd imply about 0.5L between MIN and MAX, so it looks like its proportional to the size of the engine, not surprising but unclear / questioned in the discussion.,
That assumes its linear, which seems reasonable, but will depend on the 3D shape of the sump headspace.
After seeing recent posts by SLO and ORB on their cars, I thought I would post about my experience of the Hyundai I20 1.2 SE I bought last year and owned for 10 months.
The reasons I bought this car were:... Read more
Hyundai / Kia group have never been able to master gearboxes and clutches, it’s the one area they have always had problems with on a variety of models
Very strange, since they have produced some good diesels. Surely they can learn from other manufacturers and design a decent gearbox and clutch.
This story's a little bit rum:
Does nothing get past Arron's mum?...