Refine by channel:  Forum (5074)    Ask HJ (1551)    News (341)    Article (10)    FAQs (7)    Good Garages (4)  

Sort by: Relevance | Newest first | Oldest first

• MOT failed after 150 miles---URGENT HELP 13 Jan 2014 (Forum)
  I bought the car based on the MOT. I trusted a service which obviously wasnt delivered at the high standard it should. Plus the battery needs changing. After 1 mile, the light on board was on. To have the repairs done if nothing else will be discovered to be wrong, I will have to pay around 500 pounds. The garage is to be blamed for the mechanical problems and the dealer for changing car parts.
• 
  Can you recommend a reliable garage in London? 16 Oct 2013 (Ask HJ)
  I’m a new driver and have recently bought a 2006 Mercedes-Benz A-Class. However, the car is suffering from alternator problems and needs a new MoT soon....
• 2008 Ford Focus 1.8 hatchback - overheating 15 Dec 2012 (Forum)
  To test if the fan still worked I allowed the engine to idle for 7 minutes without the a/c and the fan would kick in a bit longer than usual. I experimented by re-arranging the 3 relays located in the fusebox near the battery and as soon as I started the engine the fan kicked in already. I turned off the engine and I heard that beautiful jet engine sound. I think it might just be a defective fan relay. The car only has 65k total and its too early for an fan motor to be replaced..
• Peugeot 406 (1999 - 2004) - 01 2.2 HDI fuel cap open-error because it isn't. 19 Jul 2012 (Forum)
  Revived on leaving it for a minute, but stilll had engine management lit on dash & repeated the warning. Took battery off last night & , so far, all seems OK. It has had an van aaken box attached to it about 6 months ago, if that might influence things. Anyhow, hope regulars are well. Thanks as usual!
• 2005 Renault Laguna 1.9 DCi - Aircon not working 11 May 2012 (Forum)
  Part cost approx £80. Switch fitted, aircon ran but stopped after a few minutes. Disconnected/reconnected battery to try if that may re-set the system, aircon ran then stopped as above. He was told also that the orifice in a connector may be blocked by sludge? gassed down, checked connectors, re-gassed, no luck.
• kia sorento 2011 - kia sorento 2011 dash display gone haywire 16 Apr 2012 (Forum)
    All the gauges: revs, temp, speedo, fuel, were dead this morning on start up,  whilst other functions lit up that shouldn't have - fuel warning light light with almost full tank, headlights full beam when lights off. 4-wheel drive lock when not on, etc etc - these would change at random after a while and switch off, then others like battery and oil would come on for a while then go off. throughout this car operated and ran perfectly nornally , plus indicators lights and a/c central locking etc o'k.   took it into dealer 30 km away and after an hour of testing they reckoned the large control unit under dash to right of steering wheel needed replacing.
• Volkswagen Golf V - Security system has disabled my Golf 3 Mar 2012 (Forum)
  When I tried next time car started perfectly and everything worked, however when I had driven some miles and parked the car it would not start again. It was totally dead, again the remote wouldn't even open doors. It must have had power in the battery by that time. I can now start car easily if I jump start, and car works quite normally when engine running but will not do anything after car is switched off. Is this an alarm problem which disables car if you try and jump start it?
• Ford focus lx 1.6 petrol 51 reg 5 door. - mgnt light has come on and flashes when speed inc. 8 Jan 2012 (Forum)
  When I stopped I noticed the engine was making a chugging sound and there was a definate loss of power. When I stopped the car and switched the egnition on the oil pressure light and battery light were on with the engine management light. I checked the oil level and it looked low so I put about 0.5 litres of oil in. I was able to continue my journey but travelled in 4th gear at about 40-45 mph. the car was doing about 2rpm.
• Ford Focus Ghia 1.6 2006 - Check Engine Light and Alarm 30 Dec 2011 (Forum)
   It seems like the car is in a factory mode where the alarm is automatically disabled after a period to prevent false alarms and discharged battery during transort and storage.  I sure I can get this fixed relatively easily by a ford dealer but if anyone knows a home fix please advise.  
• BMW E30 - Electric cars are slow but can be ****** fast 10 Dec 2011 (Forum)
  It does the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.7 seconds but has a limited top speed of 201km/h. The VST BMW uses a 23kWh battery pack which is capable of reaching 180km before it needs a recharge (the Tesla Roadster does 394km per charge). The VST website also claims the car outputs 500kW (680hp) and a whopping 900Nm – maybe the car has been updated since the video below – but all this in a car weighing just 1150kg.
• Nissan Micra (1992 - 2003) - Need 2002 key-fob - anywhere less than £100? 9 Dec 2011 (Forum)
  The fobs have been used so much that the incredibly-poorly-made switches on the circuit-boards, inside the key-fobs, are all-but-broken, as well as the outer rubber pads being split. Over the years I?ve repaired the circuit boards and replaced the batteries, when necessary, but now I?ve had to resort to sellotape to keep the circuit boards together. I?ve read that a dealer could well charge over £100 for a new key-fob and re-programming. Can I buy this cheaper elsewhere or buy one or two second-hand, as the one, in the link above, is also about £100?
• Peugeot 406 2.01 GLX petrol X reg - car struggles to start in cold or damp weather 7 Nov 2011 (Forum)
  It could take me thirty minutes to get it started, and I don't have thirty minutes to spare first thing in the morning. I bought a new battery last winter which didn't help at all so it went off to the garage but the mechanic said he couldn't find anything wrong with it so I spent a horrible three months dreading every early morning start.
• Renault Clio II 1.4 16v - Clio won't start, sounds like faulty starter..help 23 Oct 2011 (Forum)
  I've got a mk2 2002 Clio 1400 16v, which won't start...it doesn't even turn over. Theres just a loud click. Theres power in the battery (reads over 12.5 volts) i also have all electrics. Tried jump starting it, rocking it in gear push starting it etc but nothing A few days ago, i removed the throttle body as it was causing an idling fault.
• renault megane auto - endless starting problems 7 Mar 2011 (Forum)
  I've had the RAC and garage go over the car on so many occassions. On their advice I've had a new battery, had the antifreeze changed, the coils have been replaced, all the connections and wiring has been checked. Then both RAC and garage decided it was the interuptor switch (the switch that stops an automatic starting in gear) I've had that replaced.
• TOYOTA Celica 00-06 1.8 bhp - Read some scary subjects about TOYOTA Celica 00-06 1 Jul 2010 (Forum)
    Premium Pack which includes the electric sunroof, leather seats, electric climate control and rear spoiler  It benefits from Full Service History all stamped for (some Toyota Main Dealer) which shows genuine mileage and that its been well looked after previously to us. It also has 2 keys, one with a brand new battery. It also comes with a selection of old MOT's. . A CELICA 1.8VVTI WITH PREMIUM AND SPORTS PACK AND EXTRAS!
• Touch screen tantalization - you know you want one 15 Jun 2010 (Forum)
  Then there was the newscaster standing in front of the touch screen weather display on a giant studio screen - doing Jane Fonda esque stretches - pinches and so on - operating the  weather forcast in the most labour intensive way possible. (Hotel TV in the Orient) You really wondered if that had a big car type battery built into the back -- carefully soldered in so you couldn`t change it. Or whether you would be sitting in front of your next new television operating the volume by wiping your finger licking chicken, digits over something that once resembled a clear screen.
• Renault Scenic (2003 - 2009) - 05 1.6 diesel. fails start in cold/starting probs 9 Feb 2010 (Forum)
  Ran it 300miles over weekend, come Monday morning, temp about -1C, very difficult to start. Tuesday morning, temp below -1C, no start at all. Engine dash 'stop', 'battery' and 'oil can' lights all flick on now when attempting start. Oil was topped up on Sat, but still says check oil level. After no start today was hauled back to garage today, they wonder if air in system/ but have also suggested supermarket fuel may be to blame - but last fillup was 30litres of Shell Diesel after which we did 125 miles fine!
• Peugeot 206 hatchback (1998 - 2006) - 04 1.4 Engine losing power 21 Dec 2009 (Forum)
  I was doing about 45 up a slight hill in 4th, when again I got this feeling like engine braking. This time though, it took me from about 45 right down to 20 and the handbrake and battery lights flashed on (for about a second). Although the weather is cold now, it was doing it when it was much warmer and my local Peugeot garrage don't have a clue why. It's not in any particular gear, or low revs, it's not when the engine is cold (the last incident was after 15mins at 70 on dual carriageway followed by 1/2 hr cross country!!)
• Chrysler Voyager (1997 - 2001) - 2000 2.5 immobiliser problems 23 Sep 2009 (Forum)
  4/ Taken to crysler today and ecu had stored code of fault on transponder but they say transponder checked out ok and can not do anything untill code is active- got new key and fob on order as they suggested this may be the problem as we only have one set and key is worn(so need a spare anyway £200) they also say that should think about replacing the screem module if still not fixed with new key ? 5/ Once happened at fuel station but got it going after dissconecting battery for a good 2 hours ? 6/ Can anyone explain to me how to check the heater wires as discussed in forum ?how do I get the unit out ?from inside the car ? Thanks in hope !
• F1 designer readies affordable electric sportster 26 Jan 2009 (Forum)
  Other technical details include two electric motors that together put out 290kW (389bhp) and 590lb ft of torque ? all in a car weighing only 1055kg, just 145kg more than a Lotus Elise - a lithium-ion battery pack good for a 230-mile range, and four-wheel drive. The P1-E will be made from composite body panels over a carbon fibre and aluminium chassis. Not a bad looking lump of carbon and all, if the concept designs are anything to go by.