Refine by channel:  Forum (5074)    Ask HJ (1550)    News (284)    productReview (124)    Article (112)    FAQs (7)    Good Garages (4)  

Sort by: Relevance | Newest first | Oldest first

• Vwlkswagen VW Passat 1.8 Turbo - Passat will not start 29 Mar 2010 (Forum)
  Hi, Has anybody come across this problem before? My 1999 Passat will not start. This is an intermittent problem.  The battery and electrics are fine, alarm enables /disables and the key symbol on the dash goes out. The key is turned fully and nothing.  I have had the RAC out to the vehicle and they believe it is either the starter (replaced three years ago) or the ignition switch.
• DMF and Stop/Start Technology 24 Mar 2010 (Forum)
    Given the current trend for stop/start technology to reduce emissions, could this have a negative impact on DMF life?  i know that starter motors, batteries etc are beefed up to take account of the stop/start facility, but i doubt whether anybody has started fitting a more robust DMF.  Thoughts...?
• Ford S-MAX (2006 - ) - 07 1.8 Headlight Flicker 18 Feb 2010 (Forum)
  We have been to the garage they have replaced the altenator but this has made no difference, we are in the last month of our warranty and the garage have now drawn a blank and have suggested we buy a new battery but they are unsure if this will make a difference, Any suggestions? I also have this posted in the discussion section as I am new to the site and hadnt realised there was a seperate section for technical matters so if anyone could tell me how to delete a post from there that would also be great Thanks.
• Ford Fiesta (1995 - 1999) - 97 1.25 Remote central locking issues 21 Jan 2010 (Forum)
  Central locking is fine when I use the key in the doors. I've re-programmed the key a few times and replaced the batteries. Mine is an old 2 button key with the little glass eye on it. I'm pretty sure it's the fob the light does come on when I press the buttons but it doesn't tend to do anything unless I spend 10 minutes trying.
• Skoda Felicia (1995 - 2000) - 00 1.9 electrical fault 19 Nov 2009 (Forum)
  On switching on the ignition the amber glow plug light refuses to illuminate and the engine will not start. Battery is in good order and fully charged. I suspect that there is no power feeding to the glowplugs rather than glowplug failure as it is most unlikely that all the glowplugs will fail together. I have ,as far as I am able , checked all connections and have ascertained that no moisture is present.
• Vauxhall Vectra B facelift (1999 - 2002) - 00 1.8i engine 'hunting' 28 Oct 2009 (Forum)
  16v model Recently aquired this car and it 'hunts' quite badly whilst warming up but seems to tickover ok when warm.My initial thought was that the CO needed adjusting but I've been told that it's all controlled by the ECU and it was suggested that the EGR valve might need cleaning. The battery (I think) needs replacing could that be a factor? Can anyone tell me where the EGR valve is and how do I clean it? If I got it nice and hot before taking it in for an mot would it give a passable reading?
• Ford Mondeo III (2000 - 2007) - 04 2.0 TDCI - Starter motor problem 24 Oct 2009 (Forum)
  Car suddenly did not want to start, battery lights on, ignition working, just no turn over when key starts, think it might be starter motor. Tried starting 3-4 times no joy, lifted bonnet near the starter motor smoke appearing, think it must be burnt out.
• Triumph Dayt 900 - no power Scotty! 23 Jul 2009 (Forum)
  Anyway, ive got off my bum and started on it this month only to get to a point where power isnt getting to the starter motor, ignition light is nice n bright, but not even ticking to try and start. Ive reset my immobiliser (veto evo), whacked in a new battery (charged), disconnected the sparks for the first turning over, to get the new oil pumped around, Plenty of juice as the lights work and the alarm works etc. Suggestions please.. Im about to check the solinoid and also see if anything needs hitting with a rubber hammer to unseize..
• FIAT Punto II (1999 - 2006) - 00 1.2 non start 9 Jun 2009 (Forum)
  i have got a fiat punto 2000 on an 'X' it is a 1.2 8 valve. the problem i get is on the odd occasion after i have been out in it i stop the car and turn off the ignition perhaps to pop into a shop and when i return it fails to start it turns over very slowly as if the battery is flat (but i have had it checked)but once i have bump started it its perfectly ok and will go on for weeks without missing a beat starting every day no problem then just as before it will do it again for no apparent reason i wondered if anyone has had a similar problem or can shed any light on mine thank you kevin
• Nissan Micra (1983 - 1992) - 88 1.0 Anti-freeze Tester scales -Eth. Glycol, Met 6 May 2009 (Forum)
  Was topping-up the anti-freeze on my car (using standard Eth. Glycol). Tried an Anti-Freeze tester (glass tube with float) like the battery acid testers you get. The tester has scales for Methanol & Eth. Glycol. The Methanol scale is above the Eth. Glycol scale on the float. Then noticed the scales go in different directions, top to bottom or bottom to top.
• Vauxhall Vectra B (1995 - 1999) - 1998 2.0 air inj valve? petrol 12 Mar 2009 (Forum)
  VECTRA 2.0 16V PETROL ECOTEC. does anyone know what purpose the air injection valve serves. the hose that goes to it comes from some sort of circular black box which is mounted behind the battery. Also the hose has went really soft and has almost collapsed. the car has a lack of power and accelleration. there is also a slight humming or droning noise. I had a similar prob with an escort and cleaning a blocked breather cured the noise and improved the performance. i have been around the car and fixed some vaccuum conections and checked the obvious breathers. any one have any more ideas.
• Volkswagen Passat (1988 - 1997) - 96 1.9Tdi Airbag warning light on 8 Mar 2009 (Forum)
  Last weekend I had to remove the steering wheel including the airbag & disturb wiring around the dash & fuse board. (yes I did disconnect the Battery -ve connection) Driving the car today the airbag warning light has stayed on it lit briefly at ignition on went off and came on again. I plugged in my fault code scanner & got a DTC - code number 00588 my reader manual says 'airbag ignition circuit drivers side- N95' I removed the airbag & column shroud & checked the inline connector & the airbag connector all looked OK. still got fault. any ideas it due a MOT next week is this a fail?
• Peugeot - Expert - 1999 1.9D - wont start 3 Feb 2009 (Forum)
  I collected a Diesel expert van from a mate yesterday who has had it sitting around since just before Christmas. It started ok but he did say he had to jump start it yesterday as the battery had gone flat. It wont start this morning at all, turned over fine but just refuses to start. I am contemplating changing the glow plugs. I know my way around petrol engines but diesel is alien to me although i did change the glow plugs on a diesel fiesta a couple of years ago.
• Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - 02 1.8tdci severe cold start problems 9 Jan 2009 (Forum)
  I am experiencing severe cold start problems once the temperature drops to 1 degree or colder and the car has been sitting overnight. In the last month I have had service, new battery, glow plugs and fuel sensor valve fitted - all by Ford main dealer - and it's still happening ... they tell me that without a diagnostic code reading they dont know whats wrong ... Engine turns over and over and over and over and doesnt fire.
• Ford Mondeo III (2000 - 2007) - 05 2.0 tdci Jump leads wrong way round 14 Dec 2008 (Forum)
  Having to jump start the step daughter's Rover 25 today I Placed one end of the red lead on her positive terminal and the other end on my negative (it was going dark and the insulation on the leads runs down the back of the battery). I then put one end of the black lead on her negative and was just about to put the other end on my positive terminal when I realised my mistake, phew!. This made me ponder, what exactly would I have damaged on either car if I had connected them the wrong way round ?
• Volkswagen Polo III (1994 - 1999) - 1995 1.0 Car won't start after changing the stereo 16 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  The wires were in a terrible state and we couldnt wire the new one into them properly. so we put his old one back in but now it does not work. Anyway now the car will not start. The battery is not flat (put a multimeter on and reading was fine) and all fuses are in tact. The only way for the car to start is for us to 'bump' it. We are going out of our minds now - PLEASE HELP
• Rover 200 and 400 (1989 - 1996) - 1995 1.6 Dip beam not working. 15 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  Side lights and main beam working OK ( both main beams work in each headlight ). Continuity between dip beam bulb and fuses 10 & 11 (dip beam left & right ) is OK. Battery voltage measured when dip beam switch is on, between blue wire at switch and earth. No voltage measured at fuses 10 & 11 with switch on. Are there any relays for dip beam or is it controlled by Multi-function unit?
• Peugeot 406 (1996 - 1998) - 1997 2ltr Water damage 10 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  i was going to drain and replace the oil, take plugs out pour some oil into the plug holes and spin the engine over, the battery appears to be flat as the engine wont turn over by the key. If the engine is damaged could we claim from insurance?
• Renault Clio III (2005 - 2009) - 04 1.2 Will not start when hot 5 Oct 2008 (Forum)
  I have to leave the car to cool down (so there is just one bar on the temperature gauge) before it will start, could it be something that is either breaking down or a sensing problem when the engine is at operating temp. Any help or advice would be welcomed. The battery seems to be ok and all the warning lights extinguish including the immobilizer light, and the fact that it will start after cool down points in a temp direction, do you think?
• Volkswagen Passat (2001 - 2005) - 03 2.0 12v socket ignition feed required 3 Oct 2008 (Forum)
  I have a bluetooth speaker/handsfree kit plugged in and currently have to unplug/plug back in overnight to avoid battery drain. My previous cars did not have this problem since the sockets turned off! So the question is, how easy is it to change the wiring/feed? And if easy how would I go about it? OR in BR experience would the drain of such a device be so minimal that leaving it plugged in overnight would make no difference/be safe?