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• Renault Clio II (1998 - 2001) - 04 1.5 dci (100) repeated dips in power & electric 3 Dec 2009 (Forum)
  I can feel a slight dip in drive also. The car is a clio dci (100) with just under 70k on the clock. The battery seems fine - I've not had any problems starting the car. I've read of a few clio drivers having problems with the wiring harness but these issues seem to completely cut the engine or activate 'home safe' mode, which mine isn't doing.
• Land Rover Defender (1946 - ) - M25 traffic, an example 8 Oct 2009 (Forum)
  OK from a wheen of years ago We were travelling from oop North down to Sailsbury plain As part of a TA regiment So our designated route took us down the M1 and anticlockwise on the M25 and off on the M4 Our intrepid Battery Captain left first with his packet Me next with my packet and Capt A 15 min later I fell alseep and missed the M25, & the driver kept on driving & So I had the pleasure of negotiating the North Circular of a Friday afternoon Capt A went clockwise via the Dartford tunnel, well it was a more senic route Both more than a little apprehensive at arriving at our destination hours late , but as it appened within a few minutes of other Asked for the BK =Batt Capt Hes not here yet, we were told When he turned up he was spitting blood about the road works on the M25.
• Vauxhall Astra F (1991 - 1998) - 96 1.6 Auto - Died, now won't start 1 Oct 2009 (Forum)
  Obviously it is quite an old motor but it looked in great condition, was an older disabled ladies car and she seemed very genuine, so I was quite surprised that this has happened. She was on the motorway and it just lost power. Now won't start at all. Battery seems okay, the engine turns over (although sounds very spluttery). I realize that this is totally vague and no-one is gonna give a prognosis based on this info, but I was just hoping for a few pointers of what it could possibly be (common faults etc) and what to check.
• Ford Fiesta (2000 - 2002) - 02 1.3 Radio annoyances 4 Sep 2009 (Forum)
  Hey, I have recently got told by the auto sparky that my radio was draining my battery and got that sorted: so he took my radio out while the car was there. Now I want to fit in a new radio, the 6000 e.on CD version (double din), and have found that there is spare fittings in the back of the radio and I also have a plug that is the wrong orientation and fitting!!
• Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - 02 1.8tdci not starting? 4 Sep 2009 (Forum)
  It starts sometimes and doesnt other times. But if i was to leave it for say 12 hours it would start in the morning. Ive also had the battery changed so i know it cant be this Can anyone help? {header edited - no need to repeat make/model, year & engine info as the compulsory drop down boxes take care of that for you}
• Peugeot 306 (1993 - 2001) - 97 1.9 Suddenly Wont Start! 27 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  Bought a 1997 1.9 Peugeot 306 diesel last week for knocking about in, grand little runner and is frugal on the fuel, however this morning after fitting a new stereo (turned out to be broken) it won't start. I refitted the new stereo to no avail, I disconnected the battery in an attempt to reset the immobiliser to no avail, I checked all the fuses and they're all fine, for some reason the fuel gauge reads empty despite the fact I filled it last night! I was told that there was a small square button beside the steering wheel, but mine doesn't seem to have one.
• Peugeot 306 (1993 - 2001) - 97 2.0 xsi car won't start!! 5 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  I noticed aswell lastnight that when i was driving along the road my lights were flickering dim the bright abt every 10 secs. Anyone got any ideas, i was thinking maybe the alternator is knackered and battery is completely dead? Any help is much appreciated. Dez
• BMW 3-Series E46 Compact (2001 - ) - 01 2.0d Whats this fluid behind the bulkhead 16 Jun 2009 (Forum)
  Behind the bulkhead on the nearside is a clear plastic rectangular container with what appears to be clear liquid in it, the container is approximately battery sized, and the fluid level has been reducing steadily over the years. I have an idea that this is something to do with emissions, someone please put me out of my misery and tell me exactly what it is and whether it needs topping up if so how and who by, and most imortantly is it a diy job.....thats probably too much to hope for and i have a nasty feeling a big bill is forthcoming.
• The VERY simple electric vehicle - why not? 19 May 2009 (Forum)
  That would get many people out and about locally. A sort of sub French micro- car. More like a Peel 50. A simple lead acid battery array - nothing fancy. A new deal. Able to park in the City centre at no charge - except a `re-charge` parking meter style plug in re-chargers. I think there`s a gap. Something similar in size to a Peel50/mobility scooter - but simple.
• Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - 02 1.8 speedo stops working & engine cuts out 29 Jan 2009 (Forum)
  (Usually, after a minute or so everything returns to normal - sometimes after only a few seconds). This has been happening intermittently for some time now & I have had new battery, alternator, plugs, etc & even Ford diagnostics run on the engine cannot find a fault anywhere! Obviously there IS something wrong here - does ANYONE PLEASE have any ideas???!!!
• Volkswagen Polo III (1994 - 1999) - 96 1.4 Lumpy running 13 Jan 2009 (Forum)
  Due to a power steering leak I've not run my Polo for about 1 month now and the battery had gone flat when I went to start it today. No problem as I used jump leads to get it going. The problem is the engine is really running rough now and it definately not running on all 4 cylinders.
• Vauxhall Cavalier (1988 - 1995) - 1995 2.0 Knackered Alternator??? 23 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  Nursed the car home, switched off, tried starting it again, nothing, no lights, dead as, a dead thing! Having limited auto electrical knowledge, my first course of action was to change the battery. Put it on yesterday, put a multimeter across the terminals with the motor running. The voltage peaked at 18.8 volts!!!!!! Surely that's not right??? Also when I tried to take a reading with the heater, heated rear window, lights etc.
• Renault Kangoo Combi (1999 - 2004) - 2003 1.5 Immobiliser fault 19 Oct 2008 (Forum)
  t for us) , however the Renault technician said it would start with the red light on and low and behold it did but alas never to happen again. Have been told batteries in the keys have no connection to the chips to work the immobiliser, is this correct? If anyone out there could help my sanity may be restored I am now at the Basil Fawlty stage with the Austin 1100 and getting ready to give it a dam good thrashing!
• Nissan Patrol (1992 - ) - 96 4.2 disc skimming 17 Jun 2008 (Forum)
  I thought they were a tad pedantic , and as the last MOT / service with new front discs / pads and battery already came to over 500 sovs , I had to draw a line somewhere . Is there a problem with skimming these discs - it hasn't been done before , so they are unmolested .
• Vauxhall Astra G Diesel (1998 - 2004) - 1998 1.7TD Stalls then eventually turns on 2nd go 2 Jun 2008 (Forum)
  I have a 1998 Diesel Astra which has started playing up recently. On start it will take forever to turn and sometimes never turn and the battery will go flat and requires a jump start OR The majority of the time, the car will promptly start but within 10 seconds of the car having started the car, it will stopstall and then it's back to trying to turn the car over again.
• Renault Laguna (1994 - 2001) - 00 1.8,16v engine misfire 31 May 2008 (Forum)
  Renault Laguna 1.8,16v,bought the car knowing the clutch was slightly slipping and engine idle slightly low,since put a new clutch in the engine has been plagued by a misfire that would put any sa80 to shame,changed the lambda sensor(bosch),4 individual pencil packs(the german ones),new battery,oil and filters,compression test (all ok)had a diagnosis test and came back ok,its had timing belt and pulleys too but still the misfire continues to kangaroo hop down the road when under load between 1000/2000 and when throttling on when i a high gear a poping in the engine can be heard,been told it could be the throttle position switch or the ECU thats causing the problem,need to know as this car costing me a fortune and buggin me that i can't get to the bottom of it,any one with the similar problems that may be able to advise,much obliged.
• Rover 200 (1995 - 1999) - smokin' Rover 11 Apr 2008 (Forum)
  on my way home last night the battery warning light came on shortly followed by a burning smell. As I slowed to a halt a column of thick black smoke began to pour out around the edges of the bonnet. Having been in two car fires before I feared the worst, stopped, ignition off and leapt out pulling the bonnet release as I went to aid extinguisher access.
• Volkswagen Golf III (1992 - 1997) - 1997 MKIII, 2L GTI - turns over doesn't fire up 4 Apr 2008 (Forum)
  All the electrics are okay and the relevant warning lights are lit. My initial thoughts were spark plugs, alternator but these along with the battery, HT leads and distributor cap are all new and working fine. A new ignition coil has been fitted and not sorted the problem. The garage is stumped. They say there is no spark or fuel going to the engine.
• Peugeot 406 (1996 - 1998) - 98 1.8 petrol help with cooling fans 9 Jan 2008 (Forum)
  The fans never actually kick in fully, they just turn over in a feeble attempt to start up, but keep doing this for about 20 mins after ignition is switched off. This is resulting in a flat battery more often than I'd like. I'm guessing that either the sensor/relays are knackered or the fans themselves. Any advice or help would be gratefully received (preferably in Idiots Guide language.)
• Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - Oil cap left off 7 Nov 2007 (Forum)
  Collected my 02 Focus 1.6 from a local garage tonight, after it had been in for a service Drove home about 3 miles and decided to have a look under the bonnet, just to see that they had done the filter changes etc etc I found the engine oil cap completely removed, lying on the battery and slightly messy engine bay. Not oil everywhere, just on the surrounding area Now it was obviously dark so I couldn?t really see that well, but I?ve cleaned up as best I can, and topped up a little bit.