May 2020

Dunsten

My car Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost 2012 onwards model is making a tapping noise heaed from the engine bay.

Reg YD62ZGN... Read more

Ian D

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KCSRenault

Hello, I have a vauxhall 2.0 cdti Astra GTC,

I notice in the service book it says to change the oil every 12 months or 20,000 miles. ... Read more

Andrew-T

i .quote your info

These examples show viscosities at different temperatures:

Grade................0degC............10degC...... .........40degC...............100degC

0w-40...............665cst.............354cst........ ..........82cst................14cst
5w-40...............842cst............ 430cst..................91cst................14cst
10w-40.............874cst.............440cst .................91cst................14cst
15w-40...........1260cst.............595cst........... ......107cst................14cst ...

Steveieb

My partners Captur which is fitted with the new 1.3 petrol engine goes in for its first service next week at 8k miles.

The dealer says no oil change required until next year.... Read more

Andrew-T

These prejudices are strengthened by the feedback coming back from overseas markets, Andrew ,

I take your point, Steve, but conditions in the countries you mention are rather different from the UK, where you might need to venture into darkest Sutherland or somewhere to experience any serious difficulty. SWMBO and I drove a Morris 1100 around the western States and the Canadian Rockies back in the 60s, so I have experienced isolation, sometimes in bear country. I once went off an embanked dirt road in a dust cloud and might have been in deep trouble if a tow-truck had not happened along and dragged us out without asking for a backhander....

Roy Brown

Hi,I had a thread up here a few weeks ago where I had considered changing the engine in my Vw Jetta 1.9 Tdi. All went quite smooth for a first attempt, however I have now encountered a problem....

The car got a new clutch kit with flywheel about 1000 miles ago and I had no issues regarding the transmission. However now that I have everything back together and the replacement engine in, I went to reverse the car out of my garage and it wont go anywhere!!... Read more

gordonbennet

The grinding noise inky happens when I’m at the biting point on the clutch, doesn’t happen when off the clutch or on startup etc. Going to get an assistant now to try whilst I look around

From your previous post ''( 'if' I happened to put the clutch in back to front would it cause this issue?)'', i'm beginning to wonder if this might be where the problem lies, in the clutch/flywheel area, maybe if the clutch was fitted back to front the clutch driven plate is at the very edge of the spigot shaft splines at biting point...this is only a suggestion so don't go removing the gearbox to check, but similarly don't keep letting the thing grate and grind whilst diagnosing the problem...yes i know easier said than done.

What you have to establish is if there's suitable locking of the engine to the transmission all the way to the road wheels, and to make double sure that as Railroad suggested pertinently above that the drive shafts have locked fully home in the final drive....

sammy1

It is reported in the Frequently Asked Question column that a new owner is only getting 46mpg despite some 100 miles per day regular motorway miles.

What is the point of making a new car with two power units that will only achieve a miserable fuel consumption?... Read more

Engineer Andy

Indeed - the higher efficiency of the hybrid (atkinson-cycle or similar) petrol engine is offset to some degree by the extra weight of the hybrid batteries and other equipment used.

Far better for the long-distance driver to buy a good quality diesel-engined car, or at worst a decent petrol-engined only car with a low COD....

JohnB1976

I drive a 2002 Vauxhall Corsa. The battery's died twice in the last year but both times I was able to jump-start it using jump leads.

Recently the battery died again, probably through lack of use (because of the Covid-19 lockdown). However unlike the first two times there's no sound at all when I turn the key in the ignition.... Read more

bathtub tom

Can you not connect both jump leads direct to the battery terminals

The OP was perfectly correct in not making the last connection to a battery terminal in case of sparking igniting hydrogen gas....

Bromptonaut

In current scenario folks in our road are using their cars far less than normal.

One neighbour intended to go shopping last week found his 18 month old Toyota Hybrid wouldn't start. The AA came out and jump started it and he took it up to M16/19 and back. Turned out another neighbour had experienced similar issue with a 2yo Kia PHEV.... Read more

Galad

According to Mazda's website, the secondary mild hybrid battery could be damaged if the main battery is allowed to run flat.

omega3

I have a 2003 seat ibiza

is it possible to turn off the car alarm ?... Read more

elekie&a/c doctor

If it’s factory fitted , the sounder/ siren is likely to be in the air inlet plenum area , near the wiper motor and mechanism.

Lukas Stapleton

Hi,

My engine developed a ticking noise on idle I assume it is tappets but I never dealt with them before just seeing if anyone knows best way to check them and if they done them on a fiesta and know tolerance to check against please?... Read more

Lukas Stapleton

It is worse at idle when driving seems ok cant hear anything?

Could just be injectors but thought petrol engines not suppose to be loud....

martian outlander

Getting the service DPF light.

Took the additive tank off and it's empty - garage tried to fill but says its leaky!... Read more

martian outlander

thanks thats great info

I will take it off and have a look. was hoping to just swop the whole unit. there must be some sort of pump and sensor in the box?...