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• Ford KA, KA2, KA3 - Ford Ka really low MPG 22 Mar 2010 (Forum)
  My car is a 2008 Ka 1.3 Style climate with the Duratec 69 hP engine, so it should be averaging 35-40 MPG. admittedly it was a mixture of city/a road driving, quite a bit of braking involved, but surely 20-25 is very low? i have had the car from new ,and its covered just over 7,000 miles since new. it's never been driven hard, i keep the revs low, change gear as early as possible, very cautious with my acceleration/braking, so cannot see where this extremely poor MPG is coming from. however it has been used for lots of short journeys, but usually does see the motorway once a month.
• Honda CR-V III (2007 - ) - Replacement tyre time. 18 Jan 2010 (Forum)
  Despite being close to the bone, they performed very well in the recent bad weather, never losing traction (apart from one slide down an iced up hill when I "forgot" to come off the brakes ! - it sorted itself out once I took my foot off the brake !) - never losing traction or giving any "moments" - the upshot of this was that with real world experience of the Conti Contacts that came on the car as OE had performed well enough in all areas to be replaced with the same.
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  Retyrement 16 Jan 2010 (Ask HJ)
  I have an Audi A6 diesel 3 litre Allroad which has 19” wheels. Would it ride better on 17” wheels, and would it cope better in winter in snow and ice....
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  Shifting circumstances 9 Jan 2010 (Ask HJ)
  Is it reasonable to assume that a Honda i-shift is similar to the VW DSG system, which I have acquired on a new 1.4 Polo and have not found it easy to...
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  Pedal to the muddle 9 Jan 2010 (Ask HJ)
  After many years of driving I have on odd occasions stalled my car by getting my left foot on the brake as well as the clutch, which could be dangerous....
• Impersonating a Police officer? 9 Nov 2009 (Forum)
  There I was minding my own business in lane 3 doing just over 70, maybe 75 at most when an 04 reg Honda CRV joins the motorway at the junction, he proceeds to fly across lanes 1 and 2 and straight into lane 3, causing me to brake sharply, as I was braking I also flashed my headlights, to let him know I was there!!! He thrn pulled back into lane 2, let me past, then pulled back out behind me and flashed a set of blue strobes that were on a temp mounting on his dashboard!!!!!
• MG - BGT 1961 1.8 Unable to start the engine 9 Nov 2009 (Forum)
  After a few years left in the workshop unused, i decided to re mot it. Driving to the garage i tested the brakes to get them warmed up, when suddenly there was this thump thump noise, found out later it was the fan hitting the radiator, i must of put the brakes on really hard because the engine moved forward about 1/2 inch.
• Renault Scenic (2003 - 2009) - Repair and sell....or just sell? 15 Oct 2009 (Forum)
  I have a 2002 petrol automatic 1.8 Renault Scenic (5 door expression+ with 70000 miles). It has the well discussed problem where the brake servo hisses (needing a replacement of the sealed unit costing 200+ and 5 hours of labour to fix). The brake discs are worn and it needs some minor work that I can do myself - one worn tyre, some bulbs need replacing etc).
• Citroen C5 (2001 - 2008) - 05 1.6 Noise from front RHS at all speeds 9 Oct 2009 (Forum)
  Most apparent on overrun in second especially when engine is warm, but is "there" at all speeds and in all forward gears. 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.
• Volkswagen Golf V (2004 - 2008) - 05 1.6 Diagnostic Codes explanation 7 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  Any further explanation and idication of cost please (Dealer/non)? There was exhaust work at last Service. 17887 P1479 008, Brake vacuum system, Mechanical malfunction 18320 P1912 001, Brake Booster Pressure Sensor -G294-, Open / short to B+ 18528 P2096 002, Bank1, Lambda correction downstream of catalyst, lean exceeded I've always used a trusted Dealer for servicing so far and seems reasonable faults for age&milesage but see previous fix, below.
• Vauxhall Vectra B facelift (1999 - 2002) - 2001 - Car feels twitchy 25 Feb 2009 (Forum)
  The Vectra has been feeling a bit twitchy for a while now - sometimes in a straight line and sometimes when braking. Some of the points I have noticed are: The car was pulling to the left so I had the tracking adjusted about 2 months ago. It seems better but the steering wheel is sometimes offset slightly when straight ahead; sometimes it is about spot on.
• Turn those fog lights off! 22 Dec 2008 (Forum)
  Another minor pet hate is people in these modern cars with LED rear clusters who hold their car with the brake pedal at lights, use your flipping hand brake, I don't want your bright lights hurting my eyes thank you very much! Yes I caqn see you have a 4.6 litre Vogue, but we both know its leased and you are not keeping up your payments so stop driving like a pratt.
• Nissan Primera (1990 - 1996) - 1995 1.6LX strange noises whilst driving. 17 Sep 2008 (Forum)
  Any advice welcomed so I can perhaps investigate myself before passing the problem to the garage. Perhaps it is not a coincidence that the ABS warning light is on quite often, but the brakes themselves feel ok and don't judder, squeal or anything when applied. Thanks, Nick. slt
• Volkswagen Golf IV (1998 - 2004) - 01 2.0 Emissions light & ABS light on 3 Sep 2008 (Forum)
  It looks like someones tinkered with the engine before me, running a variable fuel manifold and theres a pipe from the small motor for cooling exhaust gases running into the air filter? Also the brakes judder when you're at high speed - it runs smoothly and good when idle when you press the brakes at high speed you feel juddering through the steering wheel. I've now been told that it's possible that the discs are worn and it'll need new pads & discs - this might also solve the abs problem as the juddering might be sending false signals to the new sensor.
• Vauxhall Astra G Petrol (1998 - 2004) - yr?? 1.6 8v kangarooing & stalling. 28 Mar 2008 (Forum)
  All ok with the car up to about one month ago, then the car started to act up as follows.After a couple of miles driving, while braking for a roundabout / traffic lights etc., the engine revs drop down to zero on the rev counter and the engine stalls. After restarting the engine (sometimes with a bit of difficulty) the car then seems to kangaroo for a while then it clears up and continues as normal.
• Vauxhall Corsa B (1993 - 2000) - Brake Master Cylinder - Isuzu type 7 Sep 2007 (Forum)
  Took car in for replacement Master Cylinder today. Garage then 'phoned to say as its the Isuzu type engine, they have to go to main dealers for replacement...
• Bizarre Accident Experience This Morning 14 Jul 2007 (Forum)
  Driving into work this morning I was involved in an accident. I see that the Escort size van that is two cars ahead of me is braking sharply and the car in front of me probably isn't going to stop. I look in the mirror and see a Renault too close for comfort on a wet road and behind him a transit that is going way too fast.
• 205 GTI 1.9 Plagued with problems 16 May 2007 (Forum)
  Its only got 72k on the clock with old MOT's to prove it. Its just plagued with lots of faults. List: 1) electrical problem. NO reverse lights, brake lights (i think they are the wrong bulbs) and when you press the brake when car is off, the off side side light comes on. also when the lights are on (side only) and the car is off. the whole dash instrument panel lights up like a x-mas tree. all gauges read. 2) exhurst spits gases out. petrol and oil smell. 3) engine rattel when at standing and you push the gas pedal (rev the engine).
• advice on purchase 19 Jun 2006 (Forum)
  One owner, history, good price at £2995. All looks straight, panel gaps good, engine pulls cleanly in all gears. Rear nearside brake makes a sort of wooshing noise, but pads look fine & MOT is just a week or so old. It's from a sort of 'dealer', basically selling from his driveway, so no warranty. I'm going to HPI check, and 'dealer' is going to have the electric window switch replaced (intermittent on passenger, non-operative on driver's), and have the brakes checked again.
• Avoiding Pothole damage 7 Apr 2006 (Forum)
  Swerving can create a situation where the front wheel and tire on the car can hit the edge of the pothole at an obtuse angle, which might do more damage than hitting it squarely. If safe, don't brake for a pothole. Heavy braking compresses the front suspension of the car and will have a tendency to force the tire and wheel down fully into the pothole, potentially causing greater damage. Reduce speed if you feel a sudden vibration or ride disturbance.