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• Subaru Forester III (from 2008) - Forester Boxer Diesel 25 Jan 2010 (Forum)
  I have seen the quoted figures are these realistic? Obviously a bit more body roll than the V50 or MX5 but on the demo I drove i found the brakes needed a right good push. Is this normal. Does a dog crate for a springer/lab x (medium dog crate) fit in the boot. Servicing costs? I do about 25000m a year about 14000 of those for work going round farms.
• 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!
• Muppetry of the week 6 Oct 2009 (Forum)
  As if on cue, Range Rover swerves violently onto my side of the road, still going backwards, leaving me face to face with it in a rapidly vanishing gap. Fortunately, exceptionally heavy braking avoids a collision leaving me nothing more to do than lean on the horn and hint by way of polite sign language that I don't think much of his driving. Can you imagine filling out the insurance claim form?
• Speed bumps. 14 Sep 2009 (Forum)
  If a steady speed is maintained then there is no change in the level of pollution. Additional pollution will only be caused by those who choose to accelerate and then brake in between these bumps, but unfortunately there is no way to legislate against this kind of irresponsible driving. It is generally accepted that certain areas are in need of traffic-calming measures and any potential increase in fumes must be weighed against the benefits of a safer road for those in danger areas, such as children outside schools.
• Toyota Yaris (1999 - 2005) - 04 1.0 Squeaking from the front 26 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  I'm fairly sure that it stops when gaining speed although of course it becomes harder to tell. The issue doesn't seem to have any adverse affects to handling, braking, etc. but I am slighlty worried that it might be a syptom or become the cause of a more serious problem. Does anyone have any ideas what it may be? I'd like to have at least a rough idea what it might be before I take it into a garage!
• 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.
• FIAT Grande Punto (2006 - 2009) - First service costs - being ripped off? 1 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  I asked them what they were going to be doing for £194 as I think that is very expensive for a first service and they said they would change the oil/filter, air filter, clean brakes and replace the spark plugs. Why do plugs need changing after 8,000 miles? I have never had plugs changed every year and certainly not after that mileage. Does this sound right? I might ring another dealer on Monday!
• BMW 3-Series E46 (1998 - 2005) - 01 2.0D Display malfunction 25 Jul 2009 (Forum)
  Whilst driving these features cycle on and off for periods of several minutes for no obvious reason and with no apparent link to use of the lights or brakes etc. I suspect there may be something simple like a poor connection that I could rectify myself if I knew where to look. Perhaps some damp in a connector? Any help gratefully received, thanks in advance.
• Should she get rid of the Nissan? If so, what for. 10 Jul 2009 (Forum)
  Last MOT is needed welding on the rear ends of the sills - common problem I hear, and now needs work on the brakes and other bits and pieces. She's getting fed up with receiving bills. Any thoughts on whether its worth keeping for a bit longer. If not, what to replace it with. She likes the way it drives, so I have half suggested she looks at a Focus or a Mazda 3.
• Traffic lights - heavy rain and on amber 8 Jun 2009 (Forum)
  Was just approaching a big junction doing right turn and the car in front hesitated, I almost approached the line and the lights changed to amber I so stopped [nothing behind] but the wet roads and my new brake pads which are not yet bed in meant I was about 1 foot over the stop line. Now this is bad but better than going through on amber however what would have happened if the lights had a camera? Would I have gone done for this or do they have to proove you jumped the lights completly?
• Ford Fiesta (2000 - 2002) - 99 1.25 cambelt change 31 Mar 2009 (Forum)
  But my one doesn't have any tapped holes only three slots.This makes very difficult to hold.Is it possible to put the car in gear with the brakes on and try to undo the bolt this way without turning the crankshaft. This will also apply when refixing the pulley onto the shaft . I hope the pulley comes off easily because there isn't much room for a puller.
• Average speed cameras and the teflon chancer 24 Mar 2009 (Forum)
  Due to expand this summer, I was led to believe and perhaps as popular here as a slug in a salad - but... Don`t you just long for them? The guy who tends to do 50 on our 30 mph inner city ringroad and brakes hard for the cameras. Those 90/100mph (and more) outer lane teflon chancers . What else can you call them? I know if I go over the limit I get a ticket. It`s as though some form of alternative reality is operating as you see these cars cruising past at a good 100mph , seemingly with impunity.
• MOTs 5 Mar 2009 (Forum)
  Interested to hear from any MOT testers - booked my car in at my usual garage for MOT and a couple of repairs that I was told would need doing for the MOT at the service I had last month (rear spring and rear brake pipes corroded). So I booked in car for MOT and this work doing. Paperwork shows a fail on these items and then a pass after repair. Got me wondering why do it this way? Do garages like to "rack up" a certain number of fails for the records??
• Ford Focus II (2004 - 2007) - Best car, worst car 3 Mar 2009 (Forum)
  Spookily, the best car was a Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec, bought new in 2002, which, at 110,000 miles is still going strong - and is even on the original brake shoes. My wife drives it every day and it's still going strong. Worst car is my current, Focus, a 1.8tdci which has just had a new clutch/flywheel at only 18 months old and 18,000 miles. It's amazing how Ford appears to be going backwards in terms of reliability and quality.
• Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - 2001 1.6LX Seems less 'nippier' since a service 21 Jan 2009 (Forum)
  Is that right? I just think that it was much more responsive before.... I will need to change the front brake disc before the next mot. Is it safe to buys these disc+pads set from eBay? Thanks. {header amended to make less vague - ie, a brief description of question being asked}
• BMW 5-Series E39 (1996 - 2003) - 1999 523 BMW steptronic gearbox stuck in "park" 5 Jan 2009 (Forum)
  If you ever get stuck in park and wish a quick temporary fix, lift the gear gaiter out and then the surround, you will see an aluminum lever, with foot on brake and ignition on, this lever will also release the gearbox from park, you can then check fuses at your convienence. But you have to use both hands and one foot to do this, so if you only have one arm, this could be difficult.
• looking after subframes & sumps - pictures 25 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  The grease on the subframes (as pictured today) has been on two years - Castrol CL waterproof grease. I touched up the brake pipes - not really needed - last August. On the sump is high temperature Castrol HMP grease. http://tinyurl.com/68eybj http://tinyurl.com/5r8964 http://tinyurl.com/65e7bg http://tinyurl.com/6o2n3y All the little nuts/fasteners + alloy in the engine bay are touched with WD 40.
• Renault Scenic (2003 - 2009) - Coolant life 21 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  Last month it went the length of the Alps to Provence and back on half a litre of oil and still had the original exhaust system and rear brake linings). I have replaced it with a Renault Grand Scénic petrol 2.0 litre auto and am puzzled by the new service intervals. Now the book specifies a glycol based anti-freeze. The Mégane used glycol, and the coolant changed every 20,000 miles or 2 years.
• Third party insurance help please 23 Sep 2008 (Forum)
  It was a country road with no street lighting. The car was not visible until I was almost on top of it, I managed to hit the brakes and swerve a little but there was no time to avoid and I ploughed into it. I was injured also my passenger and my car is a write off. The driver of the car I hit was arrested for drink driving.
• Ford KA, KA2, KA3 (1996 - 2008) - Strange Ford service 13 Aug 2008 (Forum)
  And as for the tyre, it looks like they swapped the wheel with the spare. It makes me wonder how much of the service was really done. I noticed that the brakes and steering did not have the usual just serviced feel (I can't explain that, but I always notice a difference). Oh well. So much for an official Ford dealership.