May 2021
Hi there I am getting misfire on cylinder 4 on Audi a1 1.2 tfsi. The car can drives ok in 1st and 2nd then struggles over 2000rpm in any gear after. If you keep the revs under this the car runs fine. If you put the boot down and lift the revs the EPC engine management light come on and car goes into limp mode. Switch off ignition and car comes out of limp mode and drives the same.
The 2 codes coming up are p030400(cylinder 4 misfire) & P130A00(cylinder disabled due to electrical fault) the Audi has been in 2 separate garages who cannot find the fault. Parts that have been replaced so far are 4 spark plugs, cabling, coil pack, fuel filter, crank sensor, fuel rail sensor. Has anybody had the same issue? Everything has been checked and double checked....would it be best to change the injector on cylinder 4? Read more
I just bought this car (2010 model, 1.2 litres, petrol, manual) and found the horn does not work as I was driving home with it (private sale). The MOT is from February, so I guess it was working then. I should have included it in my list of checks! Does anyone have a good place to start looking for the reason? Many thanks. Read more
Sir, I hope the beer fairy grants you a free beer in the near future.
Recently I had an identical issue with my Modus and your detailed and clear instructions saved the day. I managed to changed effortlessly the car's horn by following them....
The rear wiper parks under the roof spoiler. Can anyone tell me how to get it to park vertically so I can simply replace the wiper blade ?
I have found BMW instructions online on how to park the FRONT wipers vertically, but nothing that explains how to park the REAR wiper. The blade is completely inaccessible when parked normally.... Read more
Solved it myself. Follow the instructions for parking the front wipers and the rear wiper magically deploys and parks vertically at the same time, even though the rear wiper control hasn't been activated. Neither the manual nor the BMW video make this clear.......!
More to report after Nicola allowed us to cross the border.
... Read more
Don't get too excited, 14% charge equates to under 4 miles range on a Superb IV or about 50p worth of petrol.
Not 14% charge, 14% of the 430 miles was done on battery with zero miles when I set off. That is 60 miles, over a gallon.
Nuts and bolts: 2 (+1 soon) kids. Have survived 2 with a 1.8 petrol civic mk8 which is great to drive, super reliable Etc. but ultimately a pain even before the +1
... Read more
S Max ‘s and Tourans that look cheap for their age are often the automatics (powershift and DSG boxes), both should be avoided like the plague as it’s highly probable they will malfunction and it won’t be cheap to fix.
Friend with a tatty Renault van had it serviced, put new battery in and Garage suggested changing cam belt.
Declined as didn't want to spend money.... Read more
That made me happy, no belt change required but I wonder if VW still have the "fitted for life" page in the manual....
So Haynes have now published the manual for my car (Astra K), but as I now think will be the norm, it's available online only. Has anyone used one of these online manuals?
I don't think the paper manuals are what they used to be, but better than nothing. Are the online ones more detailed? And do you download the manual to your computer, tablet or phone, or do you have access via an online account from any device? Can't see the answer on their website. Read more
We’ve certainly moved on .
I havn't. I intend to give ground very slowly
Isn't "\move on" what officious policemen say, or is that only in the movies?...
In the Covid world I thought MPVs would be ideal for an overnight staycations.
However, while looking at manufactures' websites, it was surprising to see so many MPVs have been discontinued.
- Kia Carens no longer sold (they are not selling Sedona/Carnival in UK)
- VW Sharan no longer sold
- Vauxhall Zafira no longer sold
- Seat Alhambra no longer sold
- Toyota Sienna/Estima not available in UK (unless you import 10 year old JDM cars)
- Honda Stepwagon not available in UK
- After Mazda 5, Mazda never introduced any MPV
- After Grandis, Mitsubishi never sold any MPV
The ones which are still available
... Read more
“What about
BMW 2 Series Active
BMW 2 Grand Tourer
HJ still list Toyota Prius+ MPV as a current model in the reviews section”
Yeah, but they’re all horrid looking things and none are proper MPV’s.
Is there any typical problem about BMW 320d made in 2018 and 2019? Will 320d GT do much better job than normal 320d? Thank you! Read more
Thank you all for responses!
I’m considering buying my first car, it’s a big purchase for me but I need a runaround now. I’d obviously like something reliable and hopefully something that could be used without hassle for a few years. I’m considering the Fiat 500 Lounge, VW High Up! and Kia Picanto Vr7/Sr7. I’ve been checking MOT’s and some newer Fiats seem to have similar problems which is putting me off but I like the car. I just wondered if anyone could offer any opinions please?
Whatever car I get will be used, I’ve been looking at max 5/6 yrs old and under 30k miles.
I’m looking at doing 4/5000 miles max myself, predominantly city driving although will be on the motorway occasionally. I’d prefer 3 door and to have Bluetooth although that isn’t a deal breaker!
Thank you in advance. Read more
“ Do the VWs not rank as highly anymore? It’s really difficult to know what to look for when you’re a novice!”
While certain VW’s have suffered problems in recent years they’re still generally good cars. I had a Polo for 5yrs and rated it highly despite the occasional fault. There’s little to fear from a well looked after VW UP! Or it’s Skoda and Seat sisters. They’re nice enough all round but they’re not as stable at speed as a Polo for example. I’d happily recommend one but they’re not better made than a Kia, Ford or Hyundai these days. In fact I’d say the wee Fiat 500 was up there with it for quality. I’d love a Fiat 500 Abarth or a VW UP! GTi, both would be a hoot and I can see one taking the role of second car at some point.
I replaced almost everything
New ignition leads, coil , sparkplugs, fuel injector, fuel filter , timing chain, compression checked 12 bar on all cylinders