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• KIA Pride (1991 - 2000) - slow clock 10 Aug 2007 (Forum)
  I've also noticed the fuel level gauge reads substantially lower for the first few minutes of each journey, again leading me to suspect low voltage. I keep meaning to put a voltmeter across the battery, but it's one of those things I need to do after the car hasn't been used for a few days, just before I go out in it, and it gets forgotten about until I look at the clock and think damn! It's not a great problem, just one of those extremely irritating little things.
• Renault Reliability - A true tale 14 May 2007 (Forum)
  So 7 years and 59k miles of renault ownership caused the following unplanned mechanical disasters 1 defective seat belt switch - diagnosis and replacement £50 1 weeping oil pressure switch - changed at service £7 1 broken air filter housing - changed by me - £28 1 x battery £39 1 sticking rear seat belt, dismantled and cleaned by me - £FOC 4 x mots = 4 x passed flying colours Its provided 7 years of reliable, economical, comfortable, and sometimes fun motoring and still looks fresh and stylish.
• Rover 200, completely dead wont start 5 Apr 2007 (Forum)
  Its been sat in my garage for 3 months and two weeks ago tried to get it to go but it wouldnt. Turned the key and nothing. Replaced the battery and was no better. Green flag came out and diagnosed starter motor. Today I have replaced the starter motor and still nothing. The alarm light goes out on the dash, the fuel pump kicks in on ignition but turn the key to start and there is nothing except a click.
• Nissan Micra - disposing of? 12 Mar 2007 (Forum)
  Apart from the engine and a couple of minor dents on the body work, the car is in fairly good condition. The tyres were on for less that a year and the battery was only four months old. Does anyone have any ideas about the best way of disposing of it and getting some money back? Any help is appreciated. Thank you.
• Honda Accord immobiliser? 9 Mar 2007 (Forum)
  Basically, I'm suspecting the immobiliser. Trouble is, it there's a transponder in the key, it's not obvious how to change the battery (just a key with a rubber top bit, no obvious flaps to open. There is a plipper, but the spare key is without one, so can't be in there! I'm loathe to take it to Honda, as I suspect it'll be expensive!!
• polo wont start 21 Feb 2007 (Forum)
  after a month or so, the problem arrised again and eventualy the engine stopped all together, it will turn over but it wont fire. ive checked the fuel line and theres fuel getting as far as the single point injection unit. after there theres nothing at all. could it be the 's.p.i' or something to do with the 'e.c.u'? or could it be the battery? i would be very thankfull if any one could help or advise me on this matter as my legs are realy hurting from having to walk everywhere. thankyou.
• Mercedes C/CLK Liquid crystal display 15 Jan 2007 (Forum)
  Apparently on the left is another display that shows how far to go until re-fuelling but this is virtually blank all the time. Is there an easy fix or is it a dash out 10 hour job to replace a £5 part? nb the battery was duff, and I have replaced it, would this affect the display? everything else is fine ps there should be a light in the dash to say the airbag is disabled, but it does not light up when you press the button, is this a dash out 10 hour job.......
• Clio 2002 Starting Problem 20 Dec 2006 (Forum)
  The car attempts to start but doesn't fire up, it can then take upto 20 minutes for it to start, then it seems to run fine till it happens again. This seems to be an intermitant fault. The car has had a Battery check and also checks on the Starter Motor, it also had a full service last week so the spark plugs etc are all fine. Can anyone help or advise me we what to do? Renault want to charge £85.00 plus VAT for a diagnostic, but I am hoping someone on this site has had or knows about this problem and can tell me what it is.
• Passat V6 strange starting issue help? 30 Oct 2006 (Forum)
  The car runs great with no issues or fault codes stored etc but every now and again when I come to start it it fires OK but then cuts out and struggles to start i.e. turns over very slowly and queitly (Like a flat Battery but this is not the case) and to start it I will need to hold the throttle to the floor and keep turning it over until it fires, may take 2-3 attempts as soon as it has started it runs very rougth but when settled down runs great again with no issues???
• By bye, Barchetta 10 Sep 2006 (Forum)
  A sad day in Castello Barchetta. After 2 years of fault-free service, bar the replacement of the (original) battery, the Barchetta has been sold. There was just now way I could safely get Mrs B and BabyBarchetta in safely, as the cot kept flying off the boot rack at 60 mph, no matter how much gaffer tape I used :-) So that´s that.
• Mk4 Astra 1.7TD Van 6 Sep 2006 (Forum)
  He tried to reset the ECU (I asume it has one because of the engine management light) by leaving the battery unconnected for a while. This did not solve it. Is there anything else it could be? I know with my XUTD engine, it's usually down to a pipe having fallen off the turbo. Could it be this simple?
• Farewell, faithful friend 30 Aug 2006 (Forum)
  It has not missed a beat, been serviced at the village garage (thorough, honest abd reasonbly-priced), only unscheduled part was a new battery 2 years ago. Still got the same exhaust! 6 new tyres. Overall mpg about 35. The car is still a pleasure to drive on its sports suspension. Bought for £5700 selling for £1200 (it needs MOT, tax and a service).
• pug 306 hdi non starter 11 Aug 2006 (Forum)
  My local independant man came and took it away, he has changed a relay but that did nothing. He has now gone on 2 wks hols so has brought it back, it will start now but i have a battery on the floor with 2 leads direct onto the fuel pump, to connect when i need to move the car.there is no feed from the ignition to the fuel pump, neither the mechanic or myself have a wiring diagram.
• £700 to find a fault 21 Jul 2006 (Forum)
  My brother in law tried to jump start a 1999 Mazda 323 auto recently after is daughter left the interior light on and flattened the battery. It refused to start. Being a naive sort of fellow he got it to a Mazda main dealer, asked them if they knew what could be wrong. "Leave it with us" was the reply. They subsequently and supposedly took 15 hours to find the fault as a defective ECU.
• Hotrocks 14 May 2006 (Forum)
  The rock formations we are targeting are not everywhere in the world but it does give us some options for the future as long as battery technology keeps improving. Project is being run by a company called Geodynamics, check out their site it's all good stuff. My kids think the old man is becoming a tree hugger - Heaven forbid! Cheers Jim
• Heavy bill! 10 May 2006 (Forum)
  The service has identified quite a few items that need doing: The service itself was £168. The other items that apparently need doing are: Cam cover gasket = £42 New battery = £65 Something (?rubber boots??) on driveshaft = £255 Distributor = £427 Water pump & Cam belt = £311 These prices include parts, labour and VAT. I?m told that the highest priority items are the first 3 items, with the remaining 2 being less urgent.
• Fiesta '96(P) 1.8D takes ages to start! 10 Feb 2006 (Forum)
  I have only owned the car a month and in that time had it serviced, which included oil & filter change, air filter change, fuel filter change, cam belt change, brake fluid and engine coolant replacement and today changed the glow plugs. The car still seems to take a while to start, but only when starting from cold. I have had the battery checked and have been told it is in excellent condition. Any ideas what I could try to make it fire up a bit quicker? If its too involved then I'll just put up with it. After all its a 10 year old car that maybe I'm expecting too much of!
• Daewoo Matiz interior light stays on 12 Oct 2005 (Forum)
  The alarm is a standard Daewoo dealer fitted one, and the car has no previous history of problems like this. Which ever way I switch the switch on the interior light the battery is going to run flat. At the moment the car is safely in the garage with the interior light switched off. Any suggestions on what to try next or should I take it to a professional?
• 406 lx 1997, stalls at lights&rev prob 11 Oct 2005 (Forum)
  Would get to traffic lights, junctions, would cut out.. a light comes on dash intermittantly that looks like a battery with a fan in the middle. Yesterday, driving got worse, approached junction noticed rev counter dropping drastically so accelerated to avoid it stalling, the car backfired and stopped, black smoke from exhuast.
• VW Servicing 1 Sep 2005 (Forum)
  Offer includes: * Oil Filter change * Pollen Filter change * Full inspection of vehicle which includes brakes, batteries, tyres, exhausts, electrics, hoses and cooling system * Free replacement bulbs (except headlamps) * All fluid levels checked and topped-up free of charge 50% off MOT with full Service Which should I choose?