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  • Peugeot 208 - Do you think this is repairable? 11 Jun 2018 (Forum)
      I have damaged the vehicle in numerous places, but I think the main concern being where the 4x connectors were attached to the car. Each one has been pulled/dented/deep scratched. Doors still align, but doesn't look like you'll be able to 'suck' damage out!   As the damage is on the whole main side panel of the cars (no the doors, but the bit holding doors in place!) is this the sort of thing they repair.. or just write off?
  • Citroen Berlingo Multispace2004 - Rear N,S, tyre wear on outer edge 8 Jun 2015 (Forum)
    I know subframe aligmnent can be an issue on PSA vehicles. Would a standard 4 wheel alignment be able to detect if it is the subframe, or would that would need further diagnosis? Is it possible that worn/soft rear suspension is allowing the geometry to change? It's usually loaded with tools and has done approx 5000 miles of fairly hard towing since I've owned it Cheers!
  • Vauxhall Vectra C - Advice on adjusting main (full) beam. 30 Dec 2014 (Forum)
    The normal dipped beams are set perfectly, and can be adjusted internally depending on load.  However, the main beam alignment is terrible. When I opt for main beam on country roads I light up the TREETOPS!!!!! I can see the adjusters for the dipped beam part of the headlamp unit, but cannot see any adjustment for the main beam, which is of course the inner bulb unit and seperate to the dipped beam outer unit..
  • Mazda 6 sport 2.2 2010 - Wobbling sound from the rear of Mazda 6 2.2 sport 4 Jul 2013 (Forum)
    Hi, I've owned my car from 6k on the clock and it has always had a mild wheel wobble at 70mph. I've had all wheels balanced and subframe aligned, and now with 40k it is milder than it originally was. However, recently I have noticed a wobbling sound coming from the rear as soon as you go above 30mph. I've had the wheel bearings checked as this is what it sounds like but I was told the rear tyres have both worn unevenly.
  • Merc CLK 3.2 (yr 2000) - Elec window broken/stuck 16 Sep 2011 (Forum)
    Having tried to encourage it by pulling it up so I can leave the car secure, it's now out of align, and seems a but floppy/loose. Anyway it's still half way up and I think I will have to remove the door trim to sort it out, even temporarily. The door has an airbag, which does worry me, it it ok to carefully remove the door trim without of course detaching any wires?
  • Vauxhall Signum - Drumming sound from rear wheels 23 Jun 2011 (Forum)
    I think its coming from the rear wheels. I've just had new front tyres fitted and all 4 wheels aligned (they were quite badly out) the rear tyres, which are originals,  have been inspected and whilst tread is low, they are legal with no signs of damage. I don't hear the drumming on acceleration, catch it when lifting off the throttle, but it is most noticable when doing a constant 60 - 70mph.
  • Jaguar X-type 2.2 Diesel Estate - Tyre Deformation 6 Jan 2011 (Forum)
      All 4 tyres are affected, but fronts and rears were swapped 3000 miles ago so the cause could be at either end.  I am thinking of going to one of the alignment centres given on the website, or could the cause be something else? Vehicle: Jaguar X-type 2.2 Diesel Estate, June 2006, 63000 miles, dealer serviced, never crashed. Tyres: Michelin Primacy HP 225/45 17YR, all 4 fitted at 43000 miles
  • FIAT Punto - Punto died whilst driving 28 Dec 2010 (Forum)
    RAC called out and said they suspect timing belt! Could the belt have slipped and if so, is it easy to re-align (with a new belt)? Or is the problem simpler than that as in battery, coils etc. Help would be appreciated before I go down the route of trying to fix it myself or having it towed to a garage- depends upon my sense of humour today!
  • Vauxhall Corsa D (2006 - ) - steering wander 9 Sep 2008 (Forum)
    i have just purchased a corsa d 1.2 sxi having noticed that the steering wheel was out of alignment and the steering wandering from left to right. Took the car back to the dealership where we were advised the steering wheel had been centrilized . The cars still wandering from left to right and you cannot keep it on a straight line on the motorway the latest excuse from the dealer is its a characteristic of the new corsa .
  • Vauxhall Zafira B (2005 - ) - 2007 1.9cdti Constantly pulls to left 13 Feb 2008 (Forum)
    I bought a new Zafira 1.9cdti - its now 6 months old. One month ago it started to pull to the left, and despite bringing it to three tyre alignment centres - it is still pulling to the left - on all road types even flat, wide carriage ways. I also noticed that the steering wheel seems to be set at 5 to 12 rather than centred at 12.00 One mechanic advised me that he has had a number of Zafiras with this problem - and that it seems to be a 'glitch' with zafiras.
  • Citroen - C15 Van Bulb question 13 Sep 2007 (Forum)
    Hello The C15 I am currently (still) driving has n R2 bulb O/side and H4 N/side, advisory on the MOT last was change O/S bulb as alignment was out (it is, bulb is a tad wobbly inside), I duly bought a new R2, which lasted 5 minutes (probably/maybe bad handling on my part). To get to the nitty gritty. This is a bulb question, the H4 fitted is the same 'fitment' as the R2, but looks a very different bulb but fits the same headlamp hole, can I just buy any H4 (any bulb from any company), or do I have to specify which vehicle?
  • Nissan Almera - Terrible headlights 19 Oct 2006 (Forum)
    My bulbs are the normal old-fashioned headlight type (usually called bulb 472) - any suggestions how to make them better? Uprated bulbs? ....or is there a way of changing the beam alignment further than the electric thingy inside the car can manage?
  • Annoying things your council has done 22 Feb 2006 (Forum)
    . £800,000 on a roundabout improvement which seems to amount to a few new white lines...very pretty but what expensive paint. Local tyre dealers and wheel alignment places are overjoyed. Low slung sports cars have to avoid humps or lose sumps. I could go on, what has your lot done that gets you going...or not as may be the case.
  • 6 'Fan' belts shredded!! 1997 VW Polo 23 Nov 2005 (Forum)
    Three garages can't see any rubbing & are at a loss. £600 has not remedied the problem. Any ideas are more than welcome. Interestingly, alignment seems ok, but the alternator pulley has 6 grooves, whereas the belts & other pulleys only have 5!?!
  • Astra Cutting Out ! No apparent reason 15 Apr 2004 (Forum)
    Vague hunch from mechanic of Distributor? (red cap, 3 pin) NO OTHER PROBLEMS except this. (Started after visit to garage to re-align gears and new bush fitted to bottom of gear leaver) Please Please help, it does it in the middle of roundabout's and junctions. You never know when! Not good for blood pressure. Any help or advice gratefully received.
  • Escort steering problem. 9 Nov 2003 (Forum)
    Sometimes it is very marked but other times it is only slight; it is usually worse after making a full-lock turn and it can veer to the left or the right. I have had the wheel alignment checked and that is fine. I originally thought it may be a suspension problem, i.e. worn dampers, which had only become noticeable when new springs were fitted, but surely this would result in the car veering to one side only and would happen all the time.
  • Accident Damage from dealer 13 Oct 2003 (Forum)
    The other person admited liability and the car has been repaired. However when the garage put the car on their 4-wheel alignment machine they found that the back was massively out. It turns out that the rear axle was 'bent'. The mechanic and I came to the conclusion that this must have happened at a different time (before I had the car).
  • Fiat Panda 1000 1990 9 Nov 2002 (Forum)
    In the Haynes book it looks straight forward to replace with a spring compressor and ball joint splitter; is it so? What size ball joint splitter will I need? Will any of the alignments need resetting when it's reassembled? After 20+ years it's good to be doing something with cars again, but those days it was the cars that were rusty - now it's me. Thanks if anyone can advise, AT
  • Three cheers for Micheldever Tyre Services 19 Apr 2001 (Forum)
    I was expecting expertise, which indeed I got along with cheerful and efficient service, but the the best surprise was to find the prices to be nearly £40 per tyre less than my local Kwik Fit. I also had a comprehensive alignment check done for £18 and a camber correction done for a further £18. No wonder HJ keeps telling his readers about Micheldever. P.S. If you want to avoid a queue, 9.45 a.m. is a good time. I was in and out within half an hour.
  • Are odd tyres on my back axle affecting my roadholding? 17 Mar 2023 (Ask HJ)
    I have owned my approved used 70 plate Toyota Yaris Excel since just before Christmas. It doesn't hug the road as it should - tends to twitch to the left...
 

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