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• Jaguar XF 2.7D - Overheating Jaguar XF 2.7D 9 Feb 2012 (Forum)
  The engine water looks fine but it seems as though the burning sensation is coming from the rubber pipe leading into the engine water. I also noticed a ticking noise afterwards as though the engine is cooling down. As a new XF owner, I don't know of any good independent specialists so I'd greatly appreciate any views on what could be causing the trouble.
• Renault K7M - Oil Degradation 27 Jan 2012 (Forum)
  The oil in my engine appears to be suffering premature oxidation (indicated by low Interfacial Tension in contact with water).  I don't think the cause is overheating. This leads me to suspect that there is a coolant leak into the crankcase and the glycol based antifreeze is oxidising the oil. The coolant does require topping up occasionally. The problem is that I can't find any evidence of coolant in the oil (from Blotter spot tests and the crackle test).
• '03 Ford Focus TDCI - Sudden loss of power 22 Jul 2011 (Forum)
  Car towed to my local garage, who found the problem was a failed cam sensor.  Apparently a regular issue on this engine (Ford 1.8 TDCI), leading to same potential safety risk of sudden power loss as the VW piezo injector death frequently reported on here.  The sensor costs about 20 quid and is easily replaced by undoing the single bolt which attaches it to the cam cover.
• Volkswagen Polo III (1994 - 1999) - 97 1.4 8v Mis-fire. 16 May 2011 (Forum)
  Car had been running fine before a xmas break but on return after approx 3 miles started mis-fire. Changed plugs ,ht-leads dis cap and rotor. Also notice that front pipe with cat had small hole so that has also been replaced along with cat. Car starts fine but idles between 800-1200 rpm. feels very much like car running on three cylinders then back to four. very laboured up hills.
• Vauxhall Corsa B 1995 - 1.2 petrol - Blowing brake light bulbs 10 May 2011 (Forum)
  Has anyone any suggestions as to what might be the cause of the problem? I read somewhere that a poor contact could lead to reduced voltage which could damage a bulb though this would surprise me because AFAIK, dimmer switches operate by reducing the voltage to a bulb. I should add that the replacement bulb had been stored in my garage for many years.
• Ford Escort 1.8 TD 1997 - Excess black smoke and failed emissions test 27 Feb 2011 (Forum)
  Failed Latvian equivalent of the MOT today :-( I'd already installed a new air filter but it failed emissions and has excess black smoke when tested (ie, revved up high when being tested). I'm not a diesel specialist (what, no ht leads, distributor and plugs !! :-) Question is, what else can cause (I assume) unburnt diesel fuel ? I assume that's what the black smoke and failed emissions represents ? Could it be a dirty injector issue ?
• Audi A3 - 2001 Audi A3 1.6 MISFIRE! 24 Feb 2011 (Forum)
  Its has been on the diagnostics several times, so far ive changed the air flow meter, spark plugs, plug leads and coil pack and the problem still persists. I took it to an Audi specialist and he, like everyone else isn't entirely sure whats causing the misfire, however he seems fairly confident its the inlet and lower manfiold at a cost of £1000 to repair??
• Ford Monde 2.0 TDCI Estate (2005) - CAR WON'T START AT ALL 29 Dec 2010 (Forum)
  There is no noise from the starter motor and obviously the engine doesn't turn over. I tried jump leads from a friends 2.5ltr diesel car and even with that I got the same result. Just a loud click and nothing. Any ideas? I don't know if it's a sticking starter motor, the starter solenoid or something altogether different.
• Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec-SE 2000 - Fiesta running lumpy and down on power. 31 Oct 2010 (Forum)
  Car is idling slightly higher than usual. (100rpm) This morning I have changed the plugs, leads and air filter on the advice of my friend, all to no avail. The car is well looked after and all fluids are to the correct level. I have been reading similar problems on the internet which mention lambada sensors, MAF sensors, ECU's.
• Toyota Hiace 2.4D - Toyota Hiace temperature gauge problem, help! 16 Oct 2010 (Forum)
  I changed the temperature sensor transmitter for a new one, still the same, gauge not working. I earthed the lead to the sensor briefly to check the wiring and gauge, dial flew to the top so I know the wiring and gauge is okay. Bit perplexed now. I have noticed the heating is a bit crap, never gets really hot, just luke warm - would the next step be to change the thermostat and/or coolant and squeeze tubes etc when re-filling in case of airlocks?
• Ford Focus 1.8 2003 - Focus 1.8: Low compression cyl 1: do I sc*** it? 1 Jul 2010 (Forum)
  Engine warning light has been on for 2-3 weeks now. Garage has diagnosed it as misfire cylinder 1. Replaced coil pack, spark plugs and plug leads, problem is still there. Went to a Ford dealer who carried out a compression test and it appears cylinder 1 is low on pressure (150 compared to 225 average pressure on the other three). Ford suggests they take out the cylinder head to check for around £500.
• Nissan Primera III (1999 - 2002) - 00 1.8 Lambda sensor? 29 Jan 2010 (Forum)
  My rev counter is eratic on tic over and whilst driving, seems to be worse under 50miles an hour the overall performance is very poor engine management light is on continually had diagnostics twice first one was intermittent misfire and was suggested a valve was sticking new oil and additives were added to the engine but to no avail second diagnostic cam shaft sensor fault,replaced it, but no change,I have been told it could be the lambada sensor is not working I have disconnected the plug on the wiring harness while the engine was ticking over no difference was noted on engine tick over and rev counter was still operating eraticaly took it for a drive round the block no difference was noted, if the lambada was working correctly would I have noticed a difference after unplugging it.I hope sombody can advise me it has been going on for a long time and I have spent a lot of money on false leads.
• Hyundai i20 (2009) - Any thoughts on a Hyundai i20? 9 Nov 2009 (Forum)
  Please be aware that Hyundai Motor UK Ltd does not hold stock of these derivatives, therefore factory lead times apply. Please contact your local dealer for further information." What's going on Hyundai? My father is seriously considering spending the extra to get a 1.4 Honda Jazz, with 5* EuroNCAP and standard stability control...
• Renault Scenic (1999 - 2003) - 01 1.9 Brake pad stuck 1 Sep 2009 (Forum)
  It seems fine driving around town but when braking in stop start traffic on the motorway it pulls to the left, leading me to believe that i had partial breaking on the drivers side. My first thought was that one or both of the guide pins had siezed on the drivers side caliper slide, but on inspection this is not the case and both are moving freely.
• car insurance NCD 10 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  I stayed with the same insurance provider that I had been a named driver on but they said I had to start my no claims again from scratch as they didnt recognise the no claims as a named driver, which leads me to 2 questions....where has my no claims gone, and whats the point of having named driver insurance if you get sweet FA for it in the future??
• Peugeot 205 (1983 - 1997) - 88 1.9 immobiliser/ignition problem 7 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  Before taking a spark plug out can be trying to start for a few minutes with nothing. replaced HT leads, spark plugs, distributor cap, rotor arm, coil and the 3 low tension connectors. RAC call out a few months back tried a new timming module (the 5 or 7 pin small black part under the coil on an ali earth plate.)
• Central motorway barriers 20 May 2009 (Forum)
  With the increases in lorry sizes and weights that have been allowed, it seems these barriers are only keeping cars on their side of the carriageway and seem to be easily demolished by wagons and other large vehicles, leading to cross over accidents. ( Please, if you want to start a condolence thread then do so under your own guise - this is a thread about the barriers in place on our M Ways, their construction and their effectiveness. )
• Ford Fiesta (1995 - 1999) - 98 1.4 Intermittent misfire 29 Apr 2009 (Forum)
  She asked the mechanic to bear this fault in mind, but it was no different after the service. 2 days ago she limped into a motorway service area & called the AA. He changed the ignition coil & HT leads. The car ran perfectly for 70 miles, then did it again. I've had a good look at the rubber vacuum hoses - no fault found. Also wondered about dirty connections onto sensors/coils, but can't see anything obvious.
• Ford KA, KA2, KA3 (1996 - 2008) - 03 1.3 steam from engine 28 Apr 2009 (Forum)
  on arriving at work this morning my wife has found the engine at the rear to be billowing steam, the engine seams to be running fine, no engine malfunction light either.but have been expieriencing a short loss of power when pulling off when first starting car over the last couple of weeks, acctually, it started after having new lambda sensor fitted, but goes fine after that. when filling water up yesterday, i noticed some oil coming from the back of the head block, weve also had a small oil leak for some time, maybee from the sump, but oil levels are ok. we had the lambda sensor replaced last week, new coil , leads, and sparks in jan due to missfire. im hoping this may only be a hose thats gone, and not the head gasket. any ideas on possible cause ???? thanks in advance
• BMW 5-Series E39 (1996 - 2003) - 03 2.5 Flat Battery how to get into boot? 14 Apr 2009 (Forum)
  It is parked 'nose in' a very confined space and the key linkage on the boot appears to be non mechanical (ie boot lid will not release on key action ). Jump leads are not long enough to reach positive terminal under the bonnet at front of car. PS Battery is in boot. Questions 1 is he correct in assumption that key operated boot release is electric? 2 can you charge the battery (slowly!)