May 2025
Hi All
Just a quick one - I brought a new pre reg ‘69 plate in April 2020. It has been serviced and MOT when it should be, the one one being beginning of March 2025. This week the engine light came on and before I knew where I was there was an almighty bang, smoke and a big puddle of oil. Garage has said the connecting rod has gone through the engine/sump. Basically it’s a new engine… if I can find anyone to do it.
Now my questions are:
-should a connecting rod go on a 5 year old car?
-should the garage have picked anything up on the service/mot back in March? They did write on the paperwork whining noise heard - suspect auxiliary belt pulley. Needs further investigation.
They didn’t tell me this just wrote it on the MOT paperwork and handed it back to me. Stupidly I didn’t read it and just assumed all ok and it had passed
Thanks
Vicky Read more
Suggestion-get your driver to drop you off at Three Bridges station. There’s a train every 4 mins to Gatwick rail right inside the terminals. Avoids any traffic snarl ups in the horrible dark formal drop off zones too or the unappetising experience of queuing for a dreary bus at long stay. Read more
If London city can offer a free drop off zone , why can’t others ?
They can, but it's a nice little earner in a captive market
Hi Folks
My son has a 2015 Suzuki Swift 1.6 Sport. It has a full service history and has done about 56000 miles. Whilst he was visiting friends last weekend it developed difficulty selecting gears and the yellow oil light came on ( though my son is more likely notice difficulty changing gears than warning lights). ... Read more
Early swift models did suffer gearbox failures, but usually accompanied by excessive noise due to faulty bearings. Certainly needs investigation. Also possibly linkage problems on the sports models .
New RAV4 for 2026
www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/new-cars/2025-05/2026-to.../... Read more
6 generations of what was a niche-making model, only to look like a Freelander with body kit. Poor show.
Baffled by this as I see nothing at all within the looks of the new RAV4 which remind me of the Freelander?....
Hi all,
I wanted to get some honest feedback from people who actually care about cars and insurance.... Read more
Safe drivers with no claims are a lower risk and are charged less.
It is dressed up as a "no claim discount" to encourage the idea that it is a reward for safe driving and not making a claim. It is illusory like many discounts - it all depends where the "normal" price is set....
What is the likely cause?
I was on the longer driver today, about 2 hours after all, and noticed towards the latter 3rd of the journey the battery light was on, then went off after a couple of minutes, then came on again maybe 15 minutes later and stayed on until I got the to destination.
I really didn't want it to be the alternator having died again as I only got in not a year ago. I took a look under the hood as soon as I parked and put the voltmeter on with engine stopped and it read 12.9/13.0v. So fully charged right? I know you should let it rest a while to get a true reading but in time when it has been working normally and checked the voltage I didn't seen it deviated much above the suggested voltages for full charge In fact I have never read it as high as this, usually 12.6 or so but then again I don't usually drive that far and check. If the alternator hadn't worked at all I would be looking at much lower voltages right? It is a normal sealed batter btw, not lifepo4 or the like.
I ran the engine and saw the belt spinning so relieved to see it is still operational. I just read an article which advises to put the voltmeter on when the engine is running, which I haven't done yet, to look for a jump in voltage on the battery to indicate the battery is charging.
Likely causes?
I will also note that it is a new battery, bought only last year.
MOT test is tomorrow so fingers crossed it won't affect that! Have to try and solve it if is going to be an issue, only a few hours! Read more
Sounds just like my old 2007 Focus when the battery was on its last legs. It did (just) started but then all the dash lights came on, as you say like a Xmas tree. Slowly they went out although it was a nervous drive to Halfords to get a new battery.
Daughter #1 has just passed her test, so I’m looking for a car for her.
It’s got to be auto, and relatively(!) lower cost to insure. Budget c£1700.
I’ve homed in on first generation Škoda Fabia, 1.4.
Doing a bit of research, it’s coming up as a four speed auto, so pre-DSG. Anyone know which box this is? Read more
Pre Powershift automatic Ford Fiesta and Focus are generally robust things too. Mazda 2/3 auto again good news also. I’ll second the Astra auto also, I’ve never had any bother with any Vauxhall autos I’ve flogged relating to the gearbox.
I am umming and ahhing about this.
The one an hour away is what my mum uses and used them before no problems.
I am wondering if it is better to drive the hour or so back just for the MOT test. Are there advantages to that or should I pick any nearest to current location?
I know the official line is that all MOT centres will test perfectly equally but the word on the street seems to differ. Even besides the MOT they might be grumpy or any manner of other things that would make them disagreeable.... Read more
The main problem for me would if it failed at the remote garage. If they are majors it can’t be driven. There is no grace period and the failure is online immediately. So you either have to have it repaired in situ or towed to another garage for repair for anything beyond your own capabilities. Doing this an hour away is adding complication.
I would try to find a local MoT garage who could do work if it’s not a DIY job. Hopefully it will all turn out OK whatever you opt to do,
These examples are flying off the shelves
... Read more
I remember reading an article about the VW sausage in a motoring magazine many years ago, headlined something along the lines of "VW's most popular product"
I wonder If they will make it to the UK?...
Hey guys - we have recently had a Emissions Fault come up - P2O8E reductant pressure low.
I started by topping up the car with 7 litres of AdBlue, until almost full, however this has done nothing. ... Read more
Adblue tank pump problems are notorious on Peugeots and well documented on the forums.
Many people get them mapped out if not under any warranty.
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First bit of advice would be not to buy anything fitted with Peugeots 3cyl 1.2 Puretec wet belt motor. So no Vauxhall’s, Peugeot’s or Citroens with a 1.2 motor after 2018. It’s likely belt failure has caused this if it’s the Puretec.