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• Citroen C4 VTRI + Coupe - CITROEN C4 BSI UNIT BURNT OUT !!!!! 5 Mar 2012 (Forum)
  A man across the road ran over and got my children out of the car and lifted my bonnet to disconnect the battery. He was a mechanic and informed me that if it had been a few moments later the car would have gone on fire and even worse could have exploded on my drive with me, my 2 young children and my sister in the car or by the car!
• Any - Stop / Start Systems 10 Dec 2017 (Forum)
  Of course, do bear in mind that this is about stop/start in internal combustion (IC) engined cars. BEVs (battery electric vehicles) will have a 'natural' stop/start sytem in built by the fact that you stop a motor by cutting the power supply !! Also, this is my view as an Enginner in the Automotive Industry.
• BMW 1 Series - Where do I legally stand - Car Repairs 30 Mar 2016 (Forum)
  I came into the garage and sat down waiting there for a few hours with no word on my car, I noticed everything was put together inside the bonnet and the owner of the garage mentioned to me, the car was starting 30 mins before you came but now its not starting so we'll check if its a problem with the battery. I had my suspicions that something was up and they were aware of it as I was sitting there for a long time but they did not want to tell me. Just before closing time on the same day, they tried to start the vehicle to no avail.
• Ford Mondeo - Purchase nightmare! 28 May 2015 (Forum)
  The air-con does not work either and the remote key has to be used manually to unlock the car even with a new battery. Following my inspection of the vehicle I called ‘we sell car finance’ myself to discuss the matter. I was amicable with the woman who answered and insisted that I speak with the manager as the situation was unacceptable.
• Audi TT (51 Plate Reg 2002) - Second Hand Car Purc 7 Apr 2013 (Forum)
  (presumably disconnected to get at clutch assy) Immediately contacted dealer who was less that helpful, didnt offer to re-repair or compensate me for my loss. - After a daring drive home (same weekend) battery warning light on Display starts flashing, possibly a failed alternator or VREG. Car will now not start. Last straw, contact dealer requesting refund.   Reasonable time has been given (owned car for 2 months has the use of it for 9 days) Sent letter requesting refund as advised by trading standards.
• Audi TT (51 Plate Reg 2002) - Second Hand Car Purchase From Trader 6 Apr 2013 (Forum)
  (presumably disconnected to get at clutch assy) Immediately contacted dealer who was less that helpful, didnt offer to re-repair or compensate me for my loss. - After a daring drive home (same weekend) battery warning light on Display starts flashing, possibly a failed alternator or VREG. Car will now not start. Last straw, contact dealer requesting refund.   Reasonable time has been given (owned car for 2 months has the use of it for 9 days) Sent letter requesting refund as advised by trading standards.
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  Is the cover of the Toyota/Lexus Relax warranty better or worse than an extended warranty? 4 Jun 2021 (Ask HJ)
  I purchased a brand new Lexus NX on 17 March 2021, which includes a three-year warranty. I also purchased an extended warranty with the offer to buy the...
• Toyota MR2 - Used Car Taking Dealer To Court Help! 9 Jul 2016 (Forum)
  Here is what was stated in the original car advert: "Here we are delighted to offer you our 2002 toyota mr2 AUTO SMT Roadster which has only covered a relatively low 75,533 genuine/warranted miles, fully hpi clear ***convertible toy ** desirable sought after colour; black, service history which constists of 7 service stamps ** currently + previously lady owned (logbook) ** comes with all your usual MR2 roadster refinements, comes with 12 months AA breakdowncover, must be seen to be appreciated, viewing is highly essential, to acquire this MR2 please call our friendly staff today on *** for further info " Here is the outcome of the MOT: (please note I was only advised of the power steering leak NONE of these other dangerous things) Battery failed requires replacement. Clutch slipping requires replacement. Near side front suspension arm corroded requires replacement. Off side front suspension arm requires replacement. All four brake disks corroded and pitted require replacement.
• Peugeot 205 (1983 - 1997) - 1990 1.9 GTi starting problems 25 Nov 2010 (Forum)
  It would turn over the engine (unlike the normal failure mode listed above) but would just not fire. I then managed to flatten the battery by various attempts to get it going. I checked I had fuel in the tank, checked fuel was getting to the fuel rail, checked the spark from the plugs, seemed a little weak so i installed new leads and dizzy cap, but still she would fire but not start!!!
• Peugeot 206 hatchback (1998 - 2006) - High mile. What to do, keep or replace? 22 Jan 2009 (Forum)
  It got put off the road just after I had the front subframe replaced and had it MOT?s (thanks to a friend who is an ace welder). I reckon to put it back on the road it needs a new battery, new back box and then put through an MOT. I love this little thing, I?ve had it 8 years and put 130k miles on it without it missing a beat. So my choices are: One. Keep the 206, pay for what needs done and drive it until it dies.
• Car Supermarkets, £8k Midlands 4 Apr 2007 (Forum)
  Despite having a 1.6 engine, and being a facelift model, it was over £1000 cheaper than the Clio of the same age - and it's difficult to argue with something like that when it was a bigger and more comfortable car - loads of storage solutions and the only one with an armrest to calm your (my) driving style. Sadly, the flat battery coupled with the Megane rep for unreliability meant I walked away since the salesman showed little interest in actually getting it started for me to check the other electrics (radio, mirrors, wipers etc).
• A popular car in Iraq... 24 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  This is equivalent to almost 20 handgrenades going off together under the car. The two fuel tanks are also armoured, as well as the twin batteries. Interestingly the remainder of the engine including the radiator is not armoured on a B6 vehicle. A base model B6 Fieldmission weighs in at 3,520 kg empty so the suspension, brakes, tyres, rims and various body items are beefed up.
• Hometune Service? Good Value? 13 Nov 2002 (Forum)
  Clutch Fluid Level/Clutch Cable Condition Check/Adjust Check/Adjust 8. Engine Coolant Level Check/Adjust Check/Adjust 9. Anti-Freeze Strength Check Check 10. Battery Fluid Level Check/Adjust Check/Adjust 11. Power Steering Fluid Level Check/Adjust Check/Adjust 12. Drive Belts Condition Inspect Inspect 13. # Cam Belt History Check Check 14. Air Filter Check Replace Brakes/Steering/Drivetrain Standard Premier 15.
• seat leon mk3 1.6tdi - Seat leon electrical gremlins - anyone any thought 6 May 2021 (Forum)
  He swapped the abs sensor, checked wiring back to abs pump and all ok so he thought it might be the pump. Still suspecting electrics as more random warnings on on the way back I put a new battery on it and all warning lights went away. Blower still not working though Fast-forward a couple of weeks and the mrs driving it yesterday, put the rear wiper on, which didn't activate straight away, but when it did all the warning lights came back on again.
• First wheels 7 May 2007 (Forum)
  When I told him, more or less, he helped, and eventually we managed to push-start the device whose battery had seen better days. Things have changed a lot since 1959. I drove it to Chiswick where I then lived. Mike had warned me that apart from the lopsided stance and gait caused by the semi-detached rear axle, the worn and very peculiar independent front suspension sometimes caused a violent resonant oscillation of the front wheels, the cure for which was to go faster until it stopped.
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  Dealer said my tyres need changed due to cracks on the surface. Is this a con? 22 Jan 2021 (Ask HJ)
  I took my Mercedes E-Class for its MOT at my local Mercedes dealer. I received a strange phone call from the tyre department advising me that my rear two...
• 2024 Toyota Yaris or 2025 Suzuki Swift CVT - 2024 Toyota Yaris or 2025 Suzuki Swift CVT 8 Sep 2025 (Forum)
  The fuel consumption is excellent at roughly 64 mpg, but the rear doors do not open widely enough for relatives with mobility issues whom I sometimes transport and they find the back rather cramped. The online sales adviser warned me that the Yaris’s 12 volt battery needs occasional running or it can go flat, and he suggested leaving the car in ready mode for about thirty minutes weekly if it is not driven much. I tend to do very high mileages at particular times of year but have not been using the Yaris much recently, so I have followed his advice.
• Bentley Azure - Bentley dealer can't get it right 30 Aug 2016 (Forum)
  They insulted the car and were scathing about the paint and believe it or not found a small dent on the new radiator. The work was completed and when I collected the car I was told that the TPM was a dead battery to one wheel and that the unit was replaced but the rest were all fine. Although it looked fine I found a further chip to the drivers door as I was leaving and although the dealership refused to admit liability, after raising this with Bentley I was offered a smart repair which I refused as this would eventually show through after time.
• Mini Cooper S Coupe - Second hand car problems from purchase 30 Nov 2013 (Forum)
  Agreement was reached to purchase this vehicle but when it was due to be picked up (Friday 18 th October) I was alerted to the fact that under the bonnet the battery catches were broken. This also rang alarm bells as to how and why this had happened on a relatively new vehicle and after consideration I rejected the vehicle and asked that a similar vehicle was sourced.
• Poor service from motoring organisation 22 Nov 2005 (Forum)
  She tried calling the well know motoring organisation on her mobile, but she was left in a queue. Worried she would run out of either battery or phone credits she ended the call and phoned me at home. I then telephoned the motoring organisation on her behalf and the call was recorded at 7.05. They advised they were busy but someone would be there in about an hour to an hour and a half.