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• Vauxhall Astra G Petrol (1998 - 2004) - 1999 1.6 8V Engine idle problems 18 Sep 2008 (Forum)
  Engine was running better so i figured it must be fine but after about 15 mins when the engine got hot it started to idle very roughly. I fitted new spark plugs, HT Leads, Coil Pack, Air Filter, I cleaned out the air intake pipes throttle motor and replaced the EGR Valve but still have the same problem. When the temp gets to around 90 the engine management light comes on with fault code P0505 (engine clearly struggles with idle speed going up and down and exhaust backfiring lightly every once in awhile with abit of blackish smoke).
• Long distance commute - car choice 19 Jan 2008 (Forum)
  The M40 between 10 and 9 early morning is often very congested with traffic from the M1/A43 going down one exit to the A34 Oxford/Southampton road - lots of HGVs of course. Thoughtless, pennypinching road design leads to long queues at peak time to get onto the A34, backing up onto the motorway. Inevitably there are those who cruise lane 2 in the hope of cutting in at the last minute to save queueing. However if they cant they slow down and even stop causing a severe domino effect with sometimes heavy braking and stop start motoring.
• Volkswagen Golf III (1992 - 1997) - Golf TDI -'95 starting problem 18 Nov 2007 (Forum)
  Someone suggested I should check the injection timing as it may be too far retarded. I bought myself the VAG-COM software and lead, plugged it all in and discovered the timing was indeed too retarded. A couple of weeks ago I advanced the timing and set it within the specified limits and since then it has been starting faultlessly.
• No satnav, forgot map? Ring Dad! 27 Aug 2007 (Forum)
  He is philosophical about being bullied on the A1 by some truck drivers and some BMW drivers who are too important to obey the 40mph limit under the Scotch Corner flyover; he deploys the Citroen AX's perky 50 bhp to keep up with the traffic yet he is not so lead-footed as to crucify the expected MPG. He shows IMO maturity, and appropriate assertiveness and restraint in his driving. Today, he faced a navigation challenge; to leave college in Darlington and find his way to work in Newby Wiske.
• Aftermarket Xenons Illegal... 27 Aug 2007 (Forum)
  Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). These items are not checked at the MoT. However, failure to comply may lead to enforcement action by the police and may invalidate your insurance. Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.
• My scariest motoring experience to date 4 Jan 2006 (Forum)
  We left reasonably early to avoid the bad weather everyone was going on about but about 15 miles away from Cromer, it all got rather snowy. All was well until the road which leads down ("down" being the operative word here) into the town. I was driving SWMBO's car which is an automatic Nissan Almera and I've not driven a FWD car on the snow for years. "Look at that car in front" pipes up a small boy in the back.
• Cam Belt Badly Fitted? Vaux Frontera 9 Apr 2005 (Forum)
  A couple of nights later I was out and accidentally left the lights on for a couple of hours, when I returned to the car the electrics were absolutely dead which was unusual as I've left them on all day before and it's been fine. Anyhow after a jump lead start I set off home but could hear a lot of screeching from the fan belt chain so took it back to the garage the next day and they tightened it up and the problem was solved. All was fine over the weekend, did about 120 miles of motorway driving no problems although occasionally I did hear what sounded as if the plastic cam belt cover was coming into contact with the chain so planned to go back and get it looked at when the garage opened after easter.
• Synthetic oil or not? 1 Jan 2005 (Forum)
  Thought this interesting article by a leading R&D Chemist would open some eyes. A word of caution ? You get what you pay for! Below is an article written by John Rowland, Silkolene/Fuchs Chief R & D Chemist for 40 years. Quote: Costs of synthetics vary considerably.
• Pug 406 - Exactly how bad are they? 22 Nov 2004 (Forum)
  From the car-by-car then: * Light Build: Guessing this means supermarket knocks on the doors etc? * Radiators failing after 3 years. + Coolant loss leading to overheating (same problem, or does the latter relate more to hoses?) * Rear discs & parking brake trouble after 3 years: From my reading here in the backroom, this seems to be that the parking brake dies if you stop on it, and also seen that discs warp (specifically if you hold the car on the foot brake when it's hot?).
• Complacent dealers! 28 Jul 2004 (Forum)
  This says to me that a lot of firms dealing in cars, new and used, must be making so much money that they have no need to go chasing after business. As someone who is self-employed I chase EVERY lead, whether or not it looks worthwhile at the outset. A valuable lesson for those in the motor trade I suggest. As for the eventual replacement? A friend of my son's specializes in nearly-new Mondeos he obtains at auction.
• Luddites of the world unite 23 Apr 2004 (Forum)
  Yes, let's remember the great days of motoring, but let's also remember carrying a can of WD in the car for when it rained on my Mini, drying the HT leads in a low oven, setting the timing in the street, people regularly bump-starting cars down the street, overheated cars in every traffic jam, decokes at 50,000 miles, a bit of grit in the carburettor stranding me in Stoke (very personal one, I admit).
• I am an idiot Legal advice... 5 Mar 2004 (Forum)
  We discussed this for a time, and he said 'I am sure that it's nothing major, and that it will be easily fixed'. Imagining new leads, plugs, rotor etc. would do the trick I was inclined to agree. Being carless, and time poor I took it off his hands for £900 which was certainly generous, but I knew that, and that's OK. Of course, the problem is related to using a litre of oil every 75 miles (see thread in 'Technical'); and is 99% certainly a replacement engine job which will of course cost more than the car is worth - I'm not going to be repairing it on Southwark Bridge, ND - although if I do, perhaps you'll come to help next time you pass!
• Advice needed - Smokey Escort TD. 4 Jan 2004 (Forum)
  They are taking it back in again tomorrow, but i am seriously considering asking for my money back. Can i do it. I have owned it for just over 6 weeks and they have had it for a month of that! Im lead to believe under the sale of goods act you have to give them a chance to fix it, then if its still not right you can get your money back?? Help i dont wanna be stuck with this car if its gonna turn out to be carp!
• Road Users Alliance 27 Sep 2002 (Forum)
  xml=/motoring/2002/09/20/emnrite21.xml&sSheet=/motoring/2002/09/20/ixmot.html -- FOE PRESS RELEASE NEW 'ROAD USERS' GROUP: ANOTHER CAMPAIGN FOR MORE ROADS 17 Sep 2002 Claims by a new road users organisation to "provide a voice for all road users" have been dismissed as absurd by leading transport and environment groups. The Road Users Alliance, which was launched today, will "highlight the importance of roads" . The Road Users’ Alliance (RUA) claims it will "provide a voice for all road-users – from motorists to horse-riders, cyclists to road hauliers, utility companies to pedestrians" .
• A Challenge to Essex Police 21 Apr 2002 (Forum)
  I have attached a long list of the ways that the existence of speed cameras can affect driver behaviour adversely. Will you accept that many, if not most or even all, of these factors can indeed lead to the results we are now seeing? 5/ "Essex Police casualty reduction manager Brian Ladd said: "While the increase in road deaths is extremely disappointing, the downward trend in injuries is encouraging. " To be kind to Mr.
• Mazda 3 - Engine check light codes 15 Jan 2024 (Forum)
  - - - - Any of the causes of the fault may put the ECU into a 'safe mode' for the air-fuel mix and lead to poor running or mpg and even possibly other faults if not fixed. Needless to say, the test drive (25 miles, 2x 12.5 mile trips within 2 hrs) did not register the fault again, and so I'm keeping an eye on it.
• MPG Petrol & Diesel Figures/Car Economics 17 Nov 2021 (Forum)
  Obviously years and mileage vary plus specs available. I’ll focus on the Golf figures, as it’s been the leading candidate, but thinking about others now. I’m a new driver with limited car experience, so apologies if basic questions. I should also add, I expect to drive at least 10000 miles a year, possibly up to 15,000.
• all makes - Antifreeze- Blue vs Orange/Red 8 Oct 2021 (Forum)
  Tolerances are much finer & as little as 0.6mm of scale can reduce heat transfer by 40% often leading to overheating of the engine. The design of a modern engine relies on the high performance inhibitor package in an OAT based antifreeze / coolant to keep the system clear of scale sludge and gelling, while maintaining the PH balance of the solution.
• Compact SUV Possibly Hybrid - Please Clue Me Up 13 Aug 2021 (Forum)
  At the time I wanted a brand new, first time car for two learner teenagers. I set my criteria and my thread here lead me to buy a 1l Toyota Yaris with a fairly basic speck. The car stayed in the family and since 2003 it's never let us down. I've just handed that over to someone else to carry on motoring, but I've been happy driving this as needs be.
• Cataract Surgery 23 Jul 2019 (Forum)
  Regarding the things that had been suggested: Lying when I read the chart was a definite non starter, this would possibly lead to the wrong lens being fitted if surgery was approved. Lying about the pin holes not improving vision would ensure I did not get cataract surgery since it proved that my vision loss would be macular degeneration linked which would mean surgery would not improve my vision and mean I did not meet the criteria.