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• Ford Fiesta (1995 - 1999) - 99 1.4 Zetec - gearchange problem 13 Dec 2007 (Forum)
  i pulled up to a junction normally down the gears, 4-3 then 3-2, then stopped at some lights, as i pulled off normally i went for third and it wouldnt go in. i got the car to the side of the road and called the robbing fellows 'rac' they hauled it back to my house and said it was unusual because they couldnt get it in any gear. normally the five speed box has been slick as any other car ive owned. i limped it back to my other address using 3rd and 4th because i couldnt get it across the gate, eg 2-3 and got my dad to have a look, he was suspecting engine mounts but it wasnt that after checking with jacks etc took it the local garage where he said it was either low on gearbox oil or selector box under gearstick was chuffed. he filled the gearbox up with 2 litres!!!
• Honest John’s Motoring Agony Column 09-09-2017 Part II 15 Sep 2017 (Forum)
  No water pump to replace, don't even need to take the fan/auxilliary drive belt off, though it makes sense to check the condition of it after 90k miles i changed mine for belt and braces, the substantial cambelt only drives the camshaft and its own tensioner nothing else, all timing marks are easily seen. 6x10mm bolts removes the plastic cam cover, turn engine over via crank pulley bolt to align timing marks, 2 bolts sees the tensioner off, 1 bolt holds the idler wheel in place, replace idler wheel and tensioner, slip cambelt on, check timing marks are still in line (making sure the belt is not slack on its long run), remove grenade style clip holding tensioner spring back, belt is now tensioned, check once again timing marks are correct and you can always turn the engine over via the crank pulley bolt two revolutions to double check, refit cover, make cup of tea and acknowledge yet another brilliant design by Mr T's excellent engineers. Landcruiser with 3 litre is same engine, I changed my own with a Gates full kit including new tensioner @ around £80, takes the aforesaid 1 hour first time, next time i reckon 40 minutes tops. All cambelt drives should be designed like this. I'd also dispute the auto box not being good, please try one for yourself, preferably in a 3 litre Hilux HL3 or Invincible spec.
• Nissan Patrol GR SE (1998) 2.8Td - Warm start problems on a Diesel Turbo 3 Aug 2012 (Forum)
  It appears to be lacking power in low revs which has been diagnosed as a possible Actuator issue (also called tail-gate?), a part I have not managed to source. It has now also developed a fault with starting problems when the motor is WARM.
• Do insurance companies write off cars too easily? 10 May 2011 (Forum)
  Unfortunately, two weeks ago, the car spun at a roundabout, hit the kerb, then demolished a metal gate and fence. No one was injured. The car was recovered to our house. To me the damage looked fixable. Last Friday, the insurance company declared it a 'Cat C' write off. We asked for it back, and it was delivered back on Tuesday this week.
• Local colour (a leaf out of oilrag's book) 1 Apr 2009 (Forum)
  Nearby at the top of Barlby Road, the hole that was made in the wall and fence to get at that train crash a few years back has been formalised as a locked gate... ready for next time (God forbid). A couple of hundred yards back down Barlby Road is Rootes Avenue, beside the Rootes Group offices - originally Sunbeam I think, built 1903 - where I went for parts in the seventies for my Singer Vogue.
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  Buying a high mileage Q5 diesel 4 Jun 2014 (Ask HJ)
  Hello, I have put a (refundable) deposit on an Audi Q5 3.0ltr Diesel S-Line. It is a LHD model, with 88k listed miles (130Kms), F(French)ASH and remains...
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  Waiting six months for my S-MAX 5 Apr 2011 (Ask HJ)
  Hello, we ordered an S-MAX in September 2010 and paid a deposit in 02-10-10 at GATES of Dunmow Essex. When we ordered it we were told it would be before...
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  Damage caused to vehicle by a bin in high winds - who should pay? 12 Jan 2023 (Ask HJ)
  My car has recently been struck by a bin. It was left at the roadside and was blown into the path of my car in high winds. It has caused severe damage...
• Ford Fiesta Saloon - Parking warning - Royal Albert Hall, Imp College 27 Jan 2011 (Forum)
  It's handy and it's close to the hall Be warned though, Westminster Council under-cover parking officers will be waiting for you. Everyone who has booked Imp College carpark has to queue to wait for the gates to be opened at 6pm (Prince Consort Road entrance), even if only for a few minutes. We did just this two weeks ago and wondered why a white van pulled in front of us, onto the pedestrian crossing and then parked, shortly to pull away again.
• Peugeot Expert Tepee (2007 - ) - 2001 2.0hdi - running problem 25 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  I am had the following done: Head removed Crack pressure test and skim Refit head New head set and head gasket New head bolts Full cambelt kit (gates) New water pump (had this done just incase) Oil and filter Anti freeze 4 new heater plugs Got it back and after a couple of miles down the road the engine management light came on and it went into safe mode.
• Whats your Crash CV 4 Apr 2005 (Forum)
  Fiat (same) Parked outside an office tight to steel bollard, thought "must remember thats there", didnt. New Wing and light. Sierra, reversing out of drive, rear door opened and ripped it off on the gate post. 90's Cavalier, Struck up rear at roundabout, new boot floor and hatch (nearly written off) Scenic, reversing out of drive, hit Mrs RF's Clio, no damage to Clio, rear door on Scenic sprung in.
• Insurance claim dilemma 21 May 2002 (Forum)
  By hitting the offside corner it pushed the bumper under and buckled the boot floor and offside rear wing which is part of the bodyshell. After judicious use of a tow rope and a gate post, the bumper was heaved back from the tyre and it passed its MOT next day with flying colours since only the reversing light was cracked. Trouble is what to now because, although the guilty party has held her hands up and her insurance company accepts full responsibility, the cost of repair is probably considerably more than the car is worth.
• General Motors press release 25 Mar 2006 (Forum)
  General Motors press release For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on. At COMDEX recently, Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated, "If GM had kept up with the technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."
• Alfa Romeo MiTo - Thoughts on Buying Privately 26 May 2019 (Forum)
  She couldn't supply an insurance certificate for me to verify the car was insured at that address because she'd cancelled the insurance when she got her new car, which was parked outside the gates. When I mentioned that I'd need to do an HPI check she told me the dealer she bought it from had done an HPI check when she bought the car two years ago. I looked through the documentation (there was loads of it plus a fully stamped service book) but no HPI report.
• Peugeot 307 2.0 hdi 110 bhp - Poor fuel economy - 37mpg motorway cruising 21 Jan 2017 (Forum)
  . - DPF has recently been jet washed out and not showing as blocked in PP2000 - DPF regent taking place average 600Km, last regen 400Km ago. Elios fluid level 60% - I can hear turbo kicking in and see waste gate arm moving when revved - I can see on PP2000 the EGR opening/closing as normal. I have now removed vac pipe from EGR and blocked pipe therefore stopping it opening. - tried thrashing it - I have just added bottle of Archoil AR6600 turbo, dpf & cat cleaner - doser valve is opening I have bought PP2000 so learning my way around it's functions.
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  I can't pair my iPhone with my Skoda hands-free kit - can you help? 23 Jun 2012 (Ask HJ)
  I have been having trouble getting the Bluetooth hands-free kit on my Skoda to accept my iPhone. Skoda confirmed that it wasn't compatible. I wasn't happy...
• Bikers in Paradise - 18 April 12 Apr 2010 (Forum)
  Tickets are £9.50 in advance from www.pwpark.com (or call 01992 470490) with a concession price of £6.00 for children and pensioners. Prices at the gate will be £16.00 and £11.00. Editors Notes 1. Photos available to support editorial. Please e-mail steve@pwpark.com for images 2.
• I Have a Question - Volume 294 [Read Only] 19 Jun 2009 (Forum)
  This chunk of land is enclosed on two sides by brick wall, which face in to my future garden and are, according to my solicitors, my responsibility regarding upkeep. One of the other two sides is a padlocked wooden gate upon which is mounted an information plaque regarding ownership of the plot and an emergency contact number (although there is no equipment inside and the plot is bare earth). The final side faces on to a neighbours driveway, and I don't know who has responsibility for that.
• Odd thing happened to me on way to work 12 Jul 2007 (Forum)
  I was going up the entry slip road to join the west bound carriageway at jct 13 and was behind a red transit works van of some sort. I was following at a safe distance, I wasn't tail gating him. As my car can accelerate quicker than this van I planned to go straight into the outside lane from the slip road. As we went up the slip road I looked over my shoulder to check the carriageway was clear for me to immediately change lane into the outside lane, I also checked both my mirrors to be sure-it was completely clear.
• Parking - how much space + related topic 20 Nov 2006 (Forum)
  I've been sketching things out and was allowing between 9 and 10 foot wide and 13 to 14 foot long if it was two individual bays, or about 16-17 foot wide and 14 foot long for a twin bay. Does this sound reasonable? What about gate openings - what is a good idea for a minimum opening to try and navigate through? Also, is planning permission likely to be needed for any of this? We may be about to become a conservation area but the land in question is tucked away to the rear of the houses and is not on a road which I think limits the impact of this.