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• rover 25 belt pretensioner 30 Sep 2006 (Forum)
  I have recently aquired a rover 25 2002 but the airbag light has started to stay on, the passenger seat belt is jammed, so i have taken the seat out after disconnecting the battery to find the pretensioner mechanism cable jammed. What i need to know is how do you know if the belt pretensioner has activated ? I am afraid to delve any deeper because there is a sticker on it which says no spanners or screwdrivers. any help greatly appreciated.
• hyundai - central locking not working 9 Sep 2006 (Forum)
  the central locking works when i put the key in doors. the key fob works - light comes on when press buttons. put a new battery in just in case the old one didnt have enough power for car to pick up signal. the car seems not to be picking up signal, even when standing next to it. does anyone know how i can fix this. would a diagnostic machine be able to reset something to fix the problem.
• Toyota Prius 16 Mar 2006 (Forum)
  Most users say the MPG figure achieved is less than 40 and there are still questions about those batteries and disposing of them. The only advantages in owning one are quietness in town and no congestion charge. VW have just introduced a revised 1.4 diesel Polo - the Bluemotion. It does mid 70s mpg and has a CO2 emissions level below that of a Prius.
• ford fiesta service after being sorn 29 Dec 2005 (Forum)
  My daughter has just decided that she wants to learn to drive. She has a fiesta on the drive that has been there since march the battery is flat so we purchased a new one. It needs servicing but we don't know which one to have. The brakes need servicing too and the tyres may need replacing due to perishing. What service level should i require.
• Megane 1996 PLIP key not working 1 Dec 2005 (Forum)
  My plip c/l packed up with the key I usually use a couple of weeks ago. I've been using the spare, and I assumed it was the batteries in the original key. Having replaced them, it still doesn't work. The little LED indicator on the side of the key comes on but doesn't activate the locking or immobiliser. This leaves me with the one key which leaves me slightly nervous.
• ford focus alternator 13 May 2005 (Forum)
  I run a 51 plate Focus 1.6 Zetec with 48000 miles. The alternator just packed up. First warning was battery light flicking on and off whilst driving, then the car failed completely on the road. Paid £200 to an independent garage to supply and fit new one. It was sourced from a Ford dealer. I am a bit miffed that it gave up at that age and mileage.
• 306 Remote Locking 4 May 2005 (Forum)
  It does lock and unlock I just thought the range may have been better and it would actually work in front ot the car. I've changed the batteries in the key but it's still the same. Any ideas please ? Regards Ian
• Peugeot 405 immobiliser fault 4 Mar 2005 (Forum)
  Hello all, After a recent battery change, the immobiliser wont accept the code to disarm it. My local garage have had it for the past week and are now saying there is nothing else they can do to resolve the problem. Is there anyone here who has heard of this fault and if so are you able to shed any light on the situation.
• freelander key fob t reg 23 Aug 2004 (Forum)
  hi sis in laws freelander has a problem, at first we that it was the battery in it but its not. you cant get in the car with the reomte central locking key fob, you have you use the key the car then thinks "hey up, im gettin knicked here" and sets alarm off, i think the key fob has forgooten the car or the car has forgotton the key fob. is there antwhere in manchester other than main dealer that can help, and is this a regular problem wit them
• Electrical Problem - Astra Mk III 9 Aug 2004 (Forum)
  I have an Astra Mk III Estate P 1996 and I have failed to get the Interior Courtesy Light going. Fuse OK, There is positive battery on the bulb and obviously when earthing the other end of bulb, it lights. None of the 4 door switches will light the lamp and nor will the Pull On, lighting switch. Rather than strip the thing of its linings looking for the wiring loom runs, has anyone any ideas about this type of problem from previous experience ??
• bump starting a car with a cat 7 Feb 2004 (Forum)
  I can accept this is if the engine is not firing, but it would do this anyway if being turned over by the starter. My query is for when the battery has been flattened overnight and you need to bump the car off. Cheers.
• V/W Polo problem 23 Nov 2003 (Forum)
  Hi there,im hoping somebody out there can give me an idea what the problem is with my V/W Polo 1.4cl auto 1998.On the odd occasion it wont start,after a couple of attempts it starts.I left work tonight,started first time.Drove about half a mile,and it just cut out. The battery light flashed up,after a few seconds it started again.This is the first time it has cut out on me.Has anyone got any ideas? Thanks Palamanda
• Urgent Help! Pug 306 Starting Problems 14 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  Hi, I have a peugeot 306 1.9 xldt the problem I am having is when I don't use the car for 1 day but use it the next day it will only start after several turns of the key, it won't start straight away. But once its started it runs well and starts ok. The battery has plenty of power and doesn't go flat whilst trying to start it. Please can you tell me what could be wrong? Pug306xldt
• 1997 Peugeot 106 revs drop/cuts out 25 Apr 2003 (Forum)
  Hi all, I have had a 1997 Peugeot 106 Independence XL for a year with no problems until now: When Im approacing lights, roundabouts etc. and slowing down the revs drop so low that the battery light either flicks on and off or the engine stalls. The car has always retstarted fine. When the problem occurs there is not juddering/jumping the engine just cuts. Idling is a little rough also.
• Omega replacement/compatible CD ? 2 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  The CD300 radio/CD is my Vauxhall has a CD jammed in it, and stays on after the ignition is off thus flattenning the battery (see other thread on that prob). Question here is: - Do vauxhall offer a swap/replace service ? - know a company who can repair/replace Vauxhall radios ? - are there 3rd party units that will fit the Omega dash and use the MFD Not looking for anything flash, just a basic radio/CD player rather than cd stack, GPS, mobile disco etc ;-) Thanks, Grant
• Rover 214 intermittant fault 1 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  Occasionally it dies whilst driving, sometimes ,it recovers, once or twice it has stalled and not re-started, however having been left for 5-10 mins it starts o.k. Today it wouldn't start from cold ( unusual, as it is more problematic while half warm) and the battery went down. I got it going with jump leads and a shot of easy start, but I haven't cured the fault. Any ideas ? Gratefully received .
• Rover having a laugh! 25 Feb 2002 (Forum)
  One of my remote plips has died on me - tried changing the batteries and using the reprogramming sequence, but the light doesn't come on when its pressed and it seems dead. Those dandy highwaymen at Rover want to charge me 50 quid (50 quid for a tiny circuit board and piece of plastic!)
• The dreaded 1.1 Fiesta 19 Dec 2001 (Forum)
  Our 1995N 1.1 Fiesta (73,000 miles) has developed a habit of starting OK, running for 2-300 yards, stopping, then refusing to start. This tends to happen when slowing down to negotiate a junction. There's plenty of life in the battery, but it won't fire. If you then tow it, it will start and run perfectly well. The breathers have been cleaned, it does some decent runs, and the oil is the correct grade. I suspect something is going awry with the engine management system.
• Security Codes 10 Mar 2001 (Forum)
  Hi, My son has removed the battery from his Nova , and when replaced has found that the radio requires a security code.(which he hasn`t got) He has tried to obtain this code from the previous owner and the local Vauxhall dealer , to no avail.
• 
  Are your readers aware of all the major issues with electric cars? 21 Mar 2011 (Ask HJ)
  Your column has correctly picked up on one of the fallacies of electric cars and you are the only writer that I can find that has told the truth about...