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• VW Golf 1.9 tdi / 1.6 petrol approx 03 plate - Diesel or Petrol 11 Feb 2011 (Forum)
  Hi guys some advice needed. i used to own a Mazda5 diesel which I have had to get rid of due to change in jobs and lower milage may run me into DPF problems (although I had some minor ones before having read on this i have heard its a living nightmare on lower mileages) now having driven diesels for the past 15 years due to high mileage covered I think its fair to say i have an affection for them, now although my mileage wont justify it as an economical option i dont feel as comf***able in a petrol, what i wanted to know is if i purchase a non DPF diesel on an average ,mileage of approx 7000-8000 miles (mainly local driving) and get a 6 month oil change between services taking the usual precautions of leting it run idle a few minutes after journey completed etc should i avoid any major problems?
• Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - 01 1.6 Erratic idle, air con & almost cutting out 28 Jan 2010 (Forum)
  He plugged in a diagnostic machine a no faults were registered. He thought that it might be the Idle control valve so he replaced that but it didnt change anything, so he put the old one back in. I have just serviced it myself - changing plugs, oil and filter and air filter. Also if i have the aircon on the car will not over idle, the gurgling sound kind of dissapears and the car doesn't feellike it will stalll.
• Vauxhall Cavalier (1988 - 1995) - 94 1.8 misfire/judder when idle 12 Oct 2009 (Forum)
  hi new to forum recently bought a old cav as a winter hack while motorbike comes off the road for the winter.was running perfect when i bought it.parkesd it on the drive about a week later replaced rocker cover gasket as it was leaking,topped oil up with some 15w40 semi synthetic.started it up and now there is a horrible vibration when inside the car and the engine is slightly misfiring.removed plugs to find out which cylinder was misfiring seems to be no.4 as plug is a soot black colour where the other 3 are tan.replaced all plugs and leads but still with no joy.is it just co incedence that this occured when i changed rocker cover gasket.also cyl no.4 lifter is tappy which it wasnt before i changed gasket.the old gasket was a cork one and had to be scraped off,if a bit of old gasket flung intothe top of the engine.could this cause the misfire.or is it a sticky lifter as it had sat for 2 weeks before i bought it.i have put some hydralic lifter treatment in incase it is a sticky lifter but cant drive it as am not insured yet so can only rev it on the drive to work the treatment round. any help suiggestions greatly appreciated as unsure what it could be it is a 94 lreg cavalier 1.8 auto fitted with c18nz engine and it has the ignotion where there is no dizzy cap.thanks
• Renault Megane II (2002 - 2008) - 05 1.9dci starting and then cutting out 3 Oct 2008 (Forum)
  When I bought the car about 3000 miles ago it had a stamp in the book from a non-Renault Dealer, I changed the oil anyway and have also changed all the glow plugs. It did this once before about 2 months ago but it was facing up a very steep hill and it rained like a monsoon that night so shrugged it off Would cleaning the EGR valve have any benefit (I know I should have done this anyway /slaps wrist!)
• Mercedes Benz E-Class W210 (1995 - 2002) - 1997 2.0 gearbox trouble 25 Aug 2008 (Forum)
  Now they say that the box is slipping and that is blowing the mass sensor! They seem to be running some trial and error method here! I have changed the oil and filters with original parts three times to no avail. Latest fault codes read as follows: EGS Fault Memory 030, Altitude factor from motor electronics implausible. CAN 126, Sporadically Altitude factor from motor electronics implausible, CAN HFM Fault memory Stored faults 010 Hot - film air mass sensor B2/5 - // - My air mass was changed, that was the third time.
• Toyota Yaris (1999 - 2005) - Diesel Engine Noise at 30k miles 27 Aug 2007 (Forum)
  This noise sounds like a mechanical friction or bearing problem. Could it be timing chain/tensioner?? This problem only happens since the dealer changed the ECU to fix the engine light problem. I wonder if the new ECU is doing something funny. Or is it the car needed an oil change, its due soon...(Done 7k miles since last service). I was wondering if anyone had any experience of this kind noise or similar noise with the engine.
• Shock absorber failure on Vectra C 1 Mar 2005 (Forum)
  Is it worth calling Vauxhall customer services to ask them if they will cough up something towards the repair? 3. I know the standard advice is to change shocks in pairs - would that stand with my case? Would it be really necessary to change the other side too even though its currently showing no signs of leakage? Thanks in advance
• Audi A4 Coolant Loss 23 Jun 2004 (Forum)
  On inspeciton I foudn that it seemed to be boiling off at the top hose to the radiator was too hot to touch, but the radiator was cold. Having searched the net I replaced the expansion cap as a starting point but no change. These weekend I replaced the thermostat and things have changed a little. Instead of the temperature gauge sticking like glue to 90degrees it now goes up when I accelerate hard but then after a while returns to 90.
• vw polo cutting out 24 Dec 2003 (Forum)
  hi all thanks in advance for your help i have a 1993 L reg polo fox coupe 1.05 litre this occasionally dies in mid traffic with no warning (usually lifting the foot off the throttle or going down the gears (4 speed) from 30 to 70mph. more so after a run of 10 miles or more when things are hot, and possibly more on wet days..sometimes it will run for hundreds of miles without a hiccup performance is not special but seems to run smoothly enough when starting and running the hall effect unit on the end of the cam has been replaced complete with rotor cap etc , new plugs fitted coolant and antifreeze all changed in last 20k service and oil change carried out at 95K new air filter etc (2 months ago) new plugs, have checked under the bonnet for loose connections and sprayed cleaned fuse box passenger side. cleaned and sprayed all the plug together connections accesible. it has been suggested to me it might be a fuel filter problem or fuel pump however i dont know where the fuel filter is as i cant see one directly attachted to the single point injection mechanism under the air filter housing. i dont know if the fuel filter has ever been replaced , certainly not by me in 10K miles. can anyone help or throw some ideas?
• 2007 Mini one 1.4 - Bought faulty car from dealership. 16 Aug 2017 (Forum)
  When my dad arrived home, he took the speedometer off the car and found that the bulb for the engine management light had been surrounded by black silicon to prevent the light being visible. My dad then looked at the oil filter, which he believes has not been changed by the garage. When my dad called the dealer he then said that the oil pump was second hand and not brand new, which had been previously implied. Meanwhile my mum contacted the previous owner of the mini, who also bought the car from the dealership.
• Mini one 1.4 2007 - Advice on faulty car from dealership 16 Aug 2017 (Forum)
  When my dad arrived home, he took the speedometer off the car and found that the bulb for the engine management light had been surrounded by black silicon to prevent the light being visible. My dad then looked at the oil filter, which he believes has not been changed by the garage. When my dad called the dealer he then said that the oil pump was second hand and not brand new, which had been previously implied. Meanwhile my mum contacted the previous owner of the mini, who also bought the car from the dealership.
• Audi TT Coupe - Why is my coolant tank still boiling and losing? 7 Jul 2011 (Forum)
  2 weeks ago, I had my Head Gaskett changed, Waterpump, Thermo and Timing Belt changed, not to mention a full service and other wear and tear bits and bobs done. I had been at a McDonalds Drive Thru and white steam billowed out of the bonnet and lost a lot of coolant.
• Citroen Xsara Picasso 1.8 petrol. N68 2002 - Engine breathing PCV system failed 5 Jun 2019 (Forum)
  It has taken some while for us to find what was wrong with the engine breather system on out Picasso.  The engine was always turning the oil into a creamy gunge and sucking this mess into the engine throttle body. This causing burnt oil smoke being omitted, sometimes quite badly from the exhaust. After several trips to garages, Citroen specialists too, non could determine the fault.
• VW POLO 2000 6N2 1.0 ALD engine code - Polo emmisions fail 2 Jul 2014 (Forum)
  Made sure there are no exhaust leaks, un clogged all the crankcase breather pipe work and breahter box on the back of the block. Put in some redex also and changed the air filter.  Took it in and the at engine oil temp 100 the results were nigh on the same. Bit stuck as to what to do next - is it worth putting it on a fault code reader?? (would this cheap one from euros work - http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/tools/car-service-tools/diagnostic-tools/analysis-tools/?
• 2002 VW Passat 2.0L 130bhp AZM Engine (petrol), Cylinder 3 Misfire, out of ideas 4 Jul 2012 (Forum)
  I have completed the following checks and run out of ideas: 1) Cleared the codes and restarted engine. 2) Replaced the spark plugs with new ones. 3) Old spark plugs were in good condition with no oil, no deposits and the electrodes in good condition. 4) Checked HT lead condition and found no corrosion, a tight fitting cap and no damage to cable. 5) Earthed the HT lead and have strong spark when engine turns over. 6) Checked the injector electrical connections with a bulb tester and all is fine. 7) Removed the fuel rail and extracted cylinder 3 injector. 8) Performed a visual inspection of injector with all looking good and no blockages at the jets. 9) Tested the injector on the bench using a 12V battery to ensure it opens and closes correctly. 10) Replaced the injector in the rail and turned the engine over to check for blockages, with all injectors operating. 11) Swapped cylinder 3 and 4 injectors (misfire still on cylinder 3, no change) 12) Inspected fuel and air connections and ensured no leaks. 13) Checked the engine oil condition with no evidence of water contamination (head gasket) Any ideas would be most welcome
• Vauxhall Meriva A MPV (2003 - ) - 2003 1.6 - Egr valve? 12 Sep 2010 (Forum)
  I have to top-up oil every 2-3 weeks is this normal? Or anything to do with the valve? Also and i do know i have been conned when i bought it but when i first saw the car on the forecourt my brother took it for a test drive and the light was on then.
• Vauxhall Corsa C - Corsa chain tensioner 25 Jul 2010 (Forum)
  I am thinking they might not have done the tensioner/used non GM even though they said it was a GM kit. Also possibly the oil feed to the tensioner could be blocked? Feel like I am banging me head against a brick wall, Knew I should have done the job myself. Any ideas?
• Nissan Micra - Need advice on repairing my car! 29 Mar 2010 (Forum)
  Especially on what tools to use? Ok last thing! It's been a while since i had him serviced so want to change his oil but dont know where to start! Is it something i can do or will i have to take him somewhere to get it done? Also, what do you do with the oil afterwards? Thanks in advance! H  
• Renault - 94 2.5 Master T35D Leaking Diesel 12 Jul 2009 (Forum)
  Looking underneath isn't very helpful because the diesel is everywhere but it's mainly (when stationary) coming off the oil filter (definitely not oil!) and from what I assume is the fuel injector system, above where the throttle arm is. Looking at the engine from the top, there's no sign of leakage; it seems to be happening roughly halfway down the engine downwards.
• Young at heart 22 Jun 2009 (Forum)
  I just love it when he switches on the garage compressor because he then messes about with my wheely bits. Once a year I go to the doc for a check-over and oil change, even if I have only done 2k since last time. I have to go anyway because I am told the Government need to know about my condition. I keep hearing ?no advisories? - I don?t know what it means but my owner smiles so I suppose all is ok.