July 2025
I took my Dacia for the annual MOT test. Unfortunately it failed and one of the reasons was that the front anti roll bar was missing.
... Read more
Son and daughter saw one of the above while out shopping.
Thought it was pretty well a copy of an MGZS hybrid. Read more
Just had a quick scan of the Autocar review. Unsurprisingly they weren't impressed much overall, though for folk in the real world who don't live near a certain long and winding race track the paltry 255 litre boot capacity might be of more concern that its road manners. Also seems that it isn't that efficient either with the claimed 47mpg being less than some non hybrid rivals, never mind the 55mpg claimed by MG for the ZS hybrid.
Though I guess if it is cheap enough?...
Hi All,
I have a strange ticking sound coming from the centre right of my engine. To watch and listen, please click the below ... Read more
Will do. Thanks.
The recent Logistics company thread has been removed and accounts locked due to suspected spamming.
Mod Read more
Hi Folks
I am thinking of buying a used model - my budget doesn't stretch far enough to buy a nearly new or a brand new one !... Read more
That your budget won't stretch to a new or nearly new car doesn't really help us, especially with the exclamation mark which could be a tongue in cheek way of saying your budget is well short of new/nearly new prices. What would help is knowing what your budget actually is, or at least the age of A3 you are looking at?
However, the fact that you are hearing a lot of owners are having issues with that model should be a good reason to choose something else. Though I would be interested to learn what issues are involved, because the only thing I'd expect to hear about on relatively young example would be concerning the DSG automatic transmission (which is complex, a bit fragile and doesn't tolerate abuse well). ...
Not sure of the model but it’s about a 2004 5 gear
tdi estate.
After sitting for a good while with battery disconnected,
everything’s fine except the driver’s door window is stuck up.
No response when activating the “down” switch. I’m stuck
in Latvia without a wiring or fuse diagram. Could some
kind soul point me at the fuse number and its whereabouts ?
ebt Read more
Just wanted to update you all. It was the motor that has suffered
some corrosion, internally. Local Latvian family run garage, who I use for
(pre-Mot) inspection took the motor apart, cleaned it
and replaced. Now working just fine. Cars will fail the Latvian equivalent of
an MOT if they can’t be lowered !
Total charge, 0.8 hour =48 minutes €27.
Well happy, as a replacement motor was not
immediately available and it’s about 28c here.
ebt…
Hi everyone,
I’m trying to find somewhere in Suffolk to change the automatic gearbox fluid and filter on a 2012 Lexus IS250.
Any recommendations? I would go to the main dealer but they will only do a drain not a full fluid change. Equally, I don’t want it hooked up to a flush machine.
Without wishing to sound like Bill Clinton (I think that was him?) there is a third way which a previous mechanic (wrong end of the country now) i used to go to did, which involves undoing one of the downstream ATF fluid lines, then running/cranking the engine, topping up the gearbox with fresh fluid as you go, that way you are only using the gearbox’s own pump to replace fluid, repeating till fresh fluid is coming out of the downstream pipe.
I know there is constant debate about ATF fluid changes. I have had it done on two previous cars without issue. The conclusion I have reached is that ideally, the fluid should be changed before it’s black and dirty. Change it too late and you risk removing the remaining friction that’s allowing forward progress or clogging up narrow passage ways with free’d up debris. Change it too early and the only argument is you’re wasting your money. So a goldie-locks interval must exist! I see that Lexus Europe recommends every 6 years under severe usage which includes town driving.
Anyhow, I know the risks. Any recommendations for a specialist in or near Suffolk?
Thanks
Read more
Thank you very much, I will contact them.
Hi could anyone advice or a small guide to changing the alternator on a xsara hatchback? I haven't done a alternator before but do general maintenance on cars. I'm trying to learn more each time a fault or issue comes up but this one's a bit daunting with having to remove the power steering pump and slackning the alternator drive belt from the pully etc. Is it a job worth attempting or could it potentially be a troublesome job which turns out to be more costly than me just taking to a garage. Any honest advice would be greatly appreciated as finding a guide or a Haynes manual guide appears so difficult for this car as all videos etc are either xsara Picasso or diesel variety. Afraid of not getting things back together or air trapped in power steering pump etc. Read more
Thanks Andrew just found one now can't believe how much some are being sold for now haha
I just had a new aftermarket exhaust fitted to my car by one of the big dealers after they reported the original was damaged. My neighbour pointed out to me that it looked very low as he spotted it while parking behind my car. Is this too low? It certainly looks like a high speedbump might make contact.
If so, what can I do? I paid a fortune for it because it is not covered in my extended warranty.... Read more
This is too low and potentially poorly supported. I would be astonished if any dealer would refuse to put this right if you take it back to them.
Good morning,
The air con on our 2016 Hyundai Tucson has stopped working. It runs warm and has developed a slight rattle type noise. My initial thought was to get it regassed. I took it to our local branch of ProTyres who very helpfully did a free check for me. It failed the vacuum test. So at least I didn't waste money on a regas. ... Read more
Thank you for your comments.
I will find an air con specialist....
A number of cheaper cars have provision for an anti-roll bar but not fitted on all versions - our Vauxhall Nova was a 1.2 Merit, almost the bottom trim/engine and had no anti-roll bars fitted - so I "upgraded" it by fitting those from a 1.4 SR.
Perhaps in the OP's case the MoT tester made a mistake, having seen fitting points with nothing fitted.