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• Renault Megane 1.9 science 2002 - Renault Megane Dci EGR valve 26 Dec 2016 (Forum)
  Hello, I have recently had my EGR valve removed and cleaned, when it was taken out if was rock solid with gunk and stuck shut and obviously had been for a long time. He car has been well serviced over its life regular oil changes every 5000 miles etc, but for e last five or six years it had been used purely as a town car going 60 miles an hour for a max of 30 mins each trip once a week and 30 miles an hour everywhere else.
• Lada 4x4 2013 - Car noises 27 May 2016 (Forum)
  After this river crossing I changed the oil of the following: gear box, transfer case, front and rear differential and greased again the drive shaft (propeller). Mechanics are puzzled with this situation because they point it to many causes, example: rear wheel bearing, drive shaft, shaft crosses, exhaust pipe, gear box, etc.
• Skoda Octavia 2012 1.4TSI 122 (petrol) - Water pump replacement, replace timing chain also? 18 Dec 2015 (Forum)
  Hi, I have a 2012 Skoda Octavia 1.4TSI 122, approx 30,000 miles, full Skoda service history and mid-service oil changes since 15,000 miles. The water pump has started to whistle a bit and, on taking it to the local Skoda main dealer, they said it needed replacing and, on my asking, offered 100% goodwill to fix it.
• citireon c2/ 2003 automatic - Citireon c2 gear box 28 Feb 2015 (Forum)
  Please advise me asap as the car parcked far from where i live because some mechanics said oh you have to change whole gear box which is nonsense However many thanks for your advise Kinds  
• Hyundai i30 Automatic - First Service 10 Dec 2014 (Forum)
  The handbook says to have it serviced 30,000 miles or 24months, it has done 18,500 miles so I have booked it in for the service next week, as we will be on holiday in January/February, what else do you recommend I ask the garage to check/change? Should I ask the garage to flush the engine before refilling it with fresh oil or is that absolutely not necessary? I have to say this is the best car I have owned, not the slighest problem, very comfortable and a pleasure to drive and I get 6 lt/100 km with mixed driving, but, the shortest journey we make is 30km so I think that helps.
• Porsche 911 997 - Station runs in my 997 13 Oct 2014 (Forum)
   I'm not concerned about theft or damage in the station car park as a few people have told me that it's fine for that, but am more concerned about the mechanical impact of the journey - it is one mile so the car will only be started, driven there, stopped, and same home later thus never getting warm. I have no issue doing more frequent oil changes & might get the stuff to do them at home, maybe every 5k or so, but am also considering a small cheap car like a £1k golf to do the run in. I have to re-emphasize that I'm not concerned about damage or anything, the car park is full of expensive cars.
• Rover Streetwise - Cooling System Headache 1 Dec 2013 (Forum)
  The 2nd trip of the day, it seems to be fine & everything works - its literally just on first use of the day ie to work.   Really confused - all oil & coolant looks fine and the head gasket was replaced summer last year. Anyone help?
• Nissan - Nissan timing chains !!! 29 Nov 2013 (Forum)
  The chain can become stretched & require an expensive (and some !) replacement. Anyone want further details on this - let me know. *You must* change that oil EVERY 6 months or 6000m whatever the book sez. Also, you remember I sed about my car failing the MOT cos the lights were way out man, well, it seems that there is/was a recall on these motors and apparently the mountings can (and do) melt, which would explain why my headlight aim was sooooooo way out.
• VW Beetle - What sort of milage have you seen on a VW Beetle 24 Jul 2012 (Forum)
  Hi everyone can anyone help me i have been driving my beetle for 4 years it is a V reg, 2lt engine, 141,000 miles,  i have to top it up with a little oil every 6 weeks approx. it has just had the cam sensor changed,  can anyone tell me what sort of milage you would expect or you have seen on this engine .... Also what are the common faults on this car at that age and mileage.. im thinking because of the milage i need to get rid of this beloved car and of course buy another one but im really broke and dont no whether to sell or repair it if anything goes on it,  and also if i should buy 4 new tyres or just part ex it?
• Mitsubishi Lancer (2009) 1.8MIVEC - Mechanical details (Cam, clutch etc 17 Jul 2012 (Forum)
  I am thinking specifically about the 1.8MIVEC engine. 1) Can anyone confirm that these are built in Japan, rather than Europe? 2) I believe that this engine is chain-cam. Can anyone confirm? (Mitsu recommend interim oil changes at 6k -- this is a pretty good indicator of a chain). 3) Do these cars have dual-mass flywheels? If the answers to these questions are all as I'm hoping, I may well acquire one of these. Yes I know they aren't the most interesting cars in the world but they're as good, if not better to drive than the newer Focuses are, and if the technology is basic I'm hoping that the Japanese build should ensure 5-6 good years out of a 3-year-old without the car costing a fortune.
• Renault Scenic - Frozen Gear Stick - Renault 13 Feb 2012 (Forum)
  It takes a minimum of 10 minutes or a maximum of 30 minutes to unfreeze the gearstick, by turning on the car and putting the aircon/heating at full blast. I sent the car to the Renault garage 3 times now and they tried different things (changing the gearbox oil/fluid, cleaning rust etc...). But unfortunately, I still experience this problem every winter. My questions to you are, 1. Have you ever come across this problem before, particularly with Renaults?
• 
  Is BP Ultimate as good as Shell VPower? 23 Jan 2012 (Ask HJ)
  My nearest petrol station is BP, and I have been running my Mercedes 190e 2.0 on Ultimate. Would I benefit by seeking out a Shell station and using...
• Ford Mondeo III LX strange power loss - Strange power loss!! 11 Dec 2011 (Forum)
  Problem nerver seems to occur on A and B roads but on motorways averaging 60-70 MPH Oil filter, fuel filter, air filter, coil and spark plugs all changed since purchase. I read a thread about a possible fuel sender board problem? and ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
• x18xe1 2000 vauxhall astra 1.8 - petrol filling up cylinders and inlet 28 Nov 2011 (Forum)
    I'm currently having problems with my 1.8 astra,  I recently got the engine replaced as piston failure occurred when driving down the motorway due to low oil, the mechanic said now after the new engine in when He reconnects the battery leads without the ignition on the fuel injectors are staying open and filling the cylinders and inlet manifold full of fuel.
• Ford Focus II (2004 - 2007) - 05 1.6 TDCI diesel strange smoke when warm 23 Feb 2011 (Forum)
  When the engine is warm and at speeds exceeding 50 miles,sometimes I get light blue smoke coming form the exhaust, but only if I take my foot off the accelerator.Then if I put the accelerator again,the smoke disapears.It is not happening every day. 1.Valve stem oil seals-NO-it is opposite situation. 2.Emission test done-OK. 3.Had it on the computer as well and nothing came up,except some turbo faults. 4.Turbo has been changed at 80 thousand miles. 5.Injectors tested-OK. 6.No warning lights on the dashboard.
• Ford Fiesta 1.25 - Servicing 18 Aug 2010 (Forum)
  One concern with going to an independent is that The Ford dealers claim that they will update the ECU software - is this a reason to stick to the main dealer? I should add that I normally do all my own basic servicing (oil, filter , brake pad changes etc) but normally with cars out of warranty and we usually reckon to keep cars for a fair number of years.    
• Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - 00 1.8 Removing side skirts 11 Feb 2010 (Forum)
  Obviously the bolts need to be removed first but it seems to be quite a lot of work to me. I need to remove them so I can jack the car up on the sills to do an oil change. I could just jack under the chasis but what if I got a puncture and needed to fit the spare tyre? The car jack only works under the sills. Surely there must be a simplier way. My previous focus ghia did not have plastic skirts covering the sills.
• Hyundai Getz (2002 - 2008) - Hyundai Getz service cost £350 9 Oct 2009 (Forum)
  My nearest dealer is quoting £350 for a 4 year service. They tell me it includes change of oil and filter/air filter/spark plugs/brake fluid / fuel filter and inspecting the rest as normal. The Issue is I also have a noise that can only be described a 'piston slap' in the engine.(more than tappets) I want to get this sorted under the 5 year warranty and as service is slightly overdue and have no other hyundai dealers nearby feel I have to go with this!
• Citroen Xsara (1997 - 2004) - 99 1.4 noise under trailing throttle 17 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  It is only present above about 35mph. The noise is a fixed frequency, i.e. it doesn't vary with speed changes. There is very slight play in the inner n/s cv joint, and the boot has a pin prick leak of oil. Is this joint lubed from the box? Could the cv joint be the cause of the noise? Is the box running low on lube?
• Need a home servicer for a feature 7 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  It's for Auto Express, and I'm after anyone who shuns the garages to service their car themselves. It'd be more minor service items like oil changes, replacing brake pads, spark plugs, things like that. Nothing your average Back Room chap couldn't cope with! If you're able to help, click on my link and email me with your name, age, profession, car and location.