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• Honda Jazz - Jazz manual gearbox. 19 Jan 2018 (Forum)
  I've been reading about a weakness in the Jazz manual gearbox with some models (I think HJ mentions this too in his review of the Mk 2 Jazz). Apparently there was a requirement for a gearbox oil change within the first 12 months to get rid of accumulated swarf, and if this was not done internal components could suffer damage.  I wondered whether anyone had heard of this, and in particular whether any of our resident Jazz owners have had any issues or know anything about them.
• small or medium hatchback 17 Dec 2016 (Forum)
  This is probably the impossible dream Time to change our car again.. Looking for a stylish hatchback or maybe saloon with good mpg and fastish( ie as opposed to slowish ...0-60 11sec or less ) ..and all for under £3000 We have sort of drawn up a short list...the obvious diesels Golf ,Audi,Leon,Focus,Civic, I30, Mazda3 ...now before the petrol brigade bang on about diesel vs petrol I have to say ouf of the last 5 cars/4x4's we have had the diesels have been the most economical, most reliable...I even have for our dog an old astra 1.7dti van with 225,000 miles on the clock and its brilliant, never goes wrong, 60mpg ...as far as I understand as long as the diesel has been well maintained, regular oil, serviced etc it should be fine .anyway I digress..is there really any different between the ones I have listed in terms of reliability etc...
• Focus 1.8 TDCI 53 Plate - Noisy ticking sound and sluggish 27 Sep 2016 (Forum)
  Looking at forums my gut reaction is fuel injectors but does this ring a bell with anyone, could it be something else?. I am getting rid of the car now anyway as I'm upto 200k miles with a cam belt change imminent and now possible injector issues, just aint worth it. But would like to move the car on but as running rather than non-runner. Feedback ogf any sort greatly appreciated
• Any - Tough used petrol Estate options? 30 Oct 2015 (Forum)
  2.5 years ago I bought a 58 reg  Octavia Estate 1.9 tdi with the intention of running to maybe 130 to 140K. Overall it's great, does the job perfectly, it's got  FSH,  oil change every 6K a year with me  and I look after it. But I'm starting to have a few doubts at 70K  which are niggling me. A persistent transmission whine at 50mph is noticeable, quite a few rattles and squeaks, a bit of clutch judder when cold, plus reading of this BXE being a bit weak in the con rod/big end bearing department, turbos packing in, DMFs at a grand a go.
• seat Ibiza 2010 1.6 se 7spd dsg - Loud buzzing noise from dsg between 20-40mph 13 Sep 2014 (Forum)
  My daughters car has been making this noise for about a month,& it's so loud pedestrians look & stare. 2 weeks ago,it went in to Seat main dealer to have gearbox oil changed from synthetic to mineral. ( Global recall,it seems) She told them about the noise & they handed back the car ,saying it was ok.Needless to say,it isn't. A few days ago,it was fitted with a new set of tyres & had 4 wheel alignment check.
• Ford Fiesta - 6 year old Fiesta - to service or not to service 30 Nov 2013 (Forum)
  So my question is should I get it serviced by a main dealer still to keep the FSH or just change the oil myself and leave it at that? To note if its relevent, we only did about 6000 miles in it last year and same the year before. We'e likely to want to keep it for another 2 or 3 years and then probably upgrade it to something newer subject to finances.
• BMW 320d touring - car trader problems (after sales) 28 Aug 2013 (Forum)
  Now however my calls are ignored and mail not answered (for last month). I also have no log book. Contacted Dvla and they have told me they have no record of change of ownership and if I want it it will cost £25. I have started to get the work done and will endevour to claim through small claims court. Can anyone advise on anything else I can do. cheers  
• Nissan X Trail Sport 2.2 2001 - Nissan X Trail front coil spring replacement 8 Jun 2013 (Forum)
  I have recently bought a 2001 Nissan X Trail 2.2 Sport and took it to my local garage for a oil change. Whilst there they said it needed a new near side front coil spring so they replaced it for me. I then got a tow bar fitted at another garage and when I collected the car they told me that the new spring was unsafe to drive with as it was not original and had only 3 coils, where as the original Nissan spring has 5 coils.
• Ford Focus - Service 11 Jan 2013 (Forum)
  We are careful drivers but are not 'car people' so we haven't had either serviced in the nearly 2 years since we bought them. No oil change either - eek! I work for the local authority and had planned to use them for the MOT as I get a discount and it would be an independent assessment without incentive for repairs business if done by a local garage.
• mitsubishi space wagon GDI 2.4 2001 - mechanical problems 13 Feb 2011 (Forum)
  im in need of some advise, i brought the car a couple months ago she  runs fine but occasionaly she missfires and looses power on pull away. i have had advise from a few garages includin mitsubishi themselves and was told to give it a full engine flush and oil change, new spark plugs, new coil pack, air filter, red x and injection cleaner has been put in it but shes still missin occasionaly.  She has just had a diagnostic check and i was told that shes got a fault on the valve timing or a mechanical fault and that its missfiring on cylinder 3.
• Nissan X-trail DCI 2004 model - Used home made diesel... Need advice 11 Jan 2011 (Forum)
  I changed the fuel filter and it improved. Now the vehicle goes in to limp mode when driving along at around 2000rpm. when driving at a higher rpm the vehicle runs fine.
• Ford Mondeo Mk3 2.0 Duratec - Cylinder 1 misfire 25 Nov 2010 (Forum)
  I immediately changed the HT Leads, Sparks and Coil Pack to try and solve the misfire but to no avail. I decided to take the engine head off to see what the problem was. On removing the head there was a hole about the size of a pea in one of the exhaust valves on cylinder one.
• 
  What's wrong with my Nissan Almera's gearbox? 30 Aug 2010 (Ask HJ)
  My Nissan Almera has a very noisy gearbox. The car shakes when reversing, and to select reverse gear is very difficult. In neutral it doesn't make much...
• Citroen C5 (2001 - 2008) - 05 1.6 Noise from front RHS at all speeds 9 Oct 2009 (Forum)
  Recent Main dealer workshop checks exclude Brakes, H/brake ( acting on front wheels),Bearings, suspension, drive shaft. ( visual and external examination only) No oil / fluid leaks apparent. Gear changing is not affected and AFAIK, there is no apparent wear of clutch friction plates. Suspicion has fallen on the clutch / flywheel, internal thrust bearings et al., as this was replaced in its entirety under warranty in Mar '08.
• Mazda 626 (1997 - 1999) - Boringly reliable cars 26 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  It is a versatile hatch, very comfortable leather interior, nice panoramic glass roof, digital climate control. decent quality Clarion 6disc sound system, returns 36/40mpg and lives happily for hours with the repmobiles on our motorway system when so required. It cost me £995, and apart from a precautionary belt change (£92) and 4 new Michelin Energy's last year (£300)the annual service charge is around £85 for oil, filter, labour, VAT and MOT. I find it very strange that as someone who has been fortunate to own some wonderful cars over the past 35 years, I have come to love this car.
• Volkswagen Golf II (1983 - 1992) - 1991 1.6 - coughing & spluttering 31 Mar 2009 (Forum)
  My Haynes manual gives 4 possible causes so I'm interested to know if anyone has any preferences as to likely cause. Additional info: - the engine has a slightly high idle speed - I've changed the oil and filter every 6k - for the first 6 months I used Optimax almost exclusively, but for the last 6 months my girlfriend has used a variety of cheaper fuel. Would anyone suggest any of the following?
• Ford Mondeo II (1996 - 2000) - 00 1.8 diesel engine running on and white smoke 24 Feb 2009 (Forum)
  There are periods where the car behaves beautifully and other times it will have the above tantrum in a 'cluster' Filters, pump, injectors, timing and turbo all appear OK Oil has been changed and not over filled Accelerator 'arm' has been fixed (sticking a little) HELP!! Any ideas welcome. PS This morning white smoke poured out profusely - so much I couldn't use it - very smelly also - but no high revving - a conundrum...
• Peugeot 406 (1999 - 2004) - 2001 1.8 intermittant instrument readings 17 Feb 2009 (Forum)
  every now and again the speedo stops working, the fuel guage dies, and the whole dash will reset itself as if you turned the key on and off, and you get the oil level indicator and milage to next service on the lcd display. also get random 'brake fluid level low' caption on the radio/clock display and handbrake light flashes!! the interesting thing is that each of these faults appear to have a mind of their own and happen individually, and cannot be replicated!
• Peugeot 406 (1996 - 1998) - Rant on emmissions test for my 406TD 3 Jun 2008 (Forum)
  On the emissions test normally 2 or 3 increase in revs, not foot to the floor and it passes ok. This after checking engine hot, oil level and asking me when belt last changed. But not this morning, some ------, who turns out to be a rep for I believe --- their equipment supplier is lucky to still be alive. Straight after driving into the workshop before I noticed what was going on he had put the exhaust gas probe in and foot flat to the floor for 2-3 seconds, I thought the thing was going to take off.
• Diesel vs Petrol school runs in Midi MPV? 12 May 2008 (Forum)
  I've also heard a number of horror stories of particulate filters clogging and severe fuel dilution of oil after only 3k when a car has been subjected to such short journey abuse. Should I be concerned? Is a modern Diesel still a sensible(ish) choice for a school run car? TIA - Rufus.