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• Toyota Avensis (2003 - 2008) - 2004 2.4 Engine Replacement 9 Sep 2009 (Forum)
  The diagnostics showed that cylinder 3 was damaged and further inspections indicated suspected crack(s) in the head. The stem valve seals were replaced and the smoke stopped but there is more damage in the bottom end. The car has since been looked at by another mechanic who has confirmed that it is not worth his effort to rebuild the engine.
• Ford KA, KA2, KA3 (1996 - 2008) - 02 1.3 MOT - Brake Pedal Travel 30 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  . - Checked disks (seem fine) and pads (at least 4mm tread left) - Cleaned rear brakes (inside of drums)s - Observed cylinders to be neither seized of leaking - Observed shoes to have 2/3 remaining tread - Re-set rear self adjuster to zero and heard them clicking when applying brakes after refitting drums Advisory notices were ?
• stopped by police taking pics of my car[Read Only] 7 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  Crikey, what must it be like in York or Harrogate? The cops/plastics must be run off their size 11's asking people why they are taking photos. Now, if I was hanging around a playground taking pics, or on a bench where a group of children were playing, I would understand. But they didn't ask for my details nor did they want to look at my pics.
• `Snake oil syndrome` and minor league engine oil 27 Apr 2009 (Forum)
  Given that ACEA specs seems linked with that - look very closely at the wording on the `cans`. I mean closely, with a lawyers eye. It`s long been accepted that the word `meets` is the only meaningfull term in the context of an oil spec and should be there on the can at the side of the spec. It seems that `in accordance with` was the best that corporate lawyers would agree to - but that became generally rumbled as actually being meaningless as time went on.
• Audi A4 B7 (2005 - 2008) - two clutches in 4,000 miles - I do NOT believe it! 11 Jul 2008 (Forum)
  I am flabbergasted that Audi are suggesting this is my fault, and adamant that I will not just cough up for repairs and carry on as if nothing has happened. I would be keen to hear the Forum's view on both the car?s problems and what should be my next step?
• Mitsubishi Grandis MPV (2004 - ) - never been as upset as this..... 28 Sep 2007 (Forum)
  Coupled with the fact that one is supposed to service the car every 9000 miles at a cost of £380 (except for the 54k service which is £740), I told the service guy how I hated owning this car and that I wished that the wife had wanted to buy an S-Max. I told him that all prices were hard to except and that Mitsubishi has lost my custom for good (except where I need to get this car serviced). As and when the wife wants to sell the car I will do so like a shot.
• Motoring Journos? Do us any favours? 13 Jul 2007 (Forum)
  It just seems like car makers are being driven into making cars so generic, they just end up average at everything. How on earth did we end up with 4x4's that look the part but wets its sump guard at the thought of a piece of grass? Am I the only person who wants to see more cars which have a true talent at the expense of being average ( though acceptable ) at other things?
• Peugeot Conrod Failure. New Engine fit 5 Jun 2007 (Forum)
  Heres the deal, been reading up on HJ, and i see i'm not the only person to have experience a conrod failure in what i thought were bullet proof Peugeot Diesel engines. Mines a 306 S reg, 86000 miles on the clock, a common era for this to happen, but low mileage. I've only had the car a year, it had 72000 on the clock when i bought it, and had allegedly been off the road for 8 months before hand.
• Worn brakes on car just bought 22 Apr 2007 (Forum)
  Unfortunately, while I was in another part of the place looking after the kids for them, they agreed to buy the car, a 1.6 petrol Citroen Picasso on a 53 plate, with 30k miles. Theydeal was not to be cancelled, especially after s-i-l handed over a building soc cheque. I pressed them to get it checked by someone of good reputation, which they did on Thursday. This mechanic, a very well thought of local man, (soon to leave Raunds to live in Spain) discovered that the front brakes were worn down so that there was hardly any pad material left and the disks had been damaged.
• My wife is car hunting alone! 15 Jan 2007 (Forum)
  200 miles away She called the dealer of car 1 and the fun started. ?The price on screen is £6,999 ? £6791 is a web price. It has no tax so we?ll throw that in, it?s only £40 a year so hardly a deal maker. Told them it was too high Rang back half an hour later ? we can do it for £6,600 We won?t do the trip to look until he gets to £6,500 and then start negotiations.
• The road safety act - new laws 1 Dec 2006 (Forum)
  Use of Mobile Phone Now endorsable with 3 points Dangerous Condition A second offence within 3 years will carry a minimum 6-month ban. Children?s Seat Belts Now applies to rear seats as well as front. Graduated Fixed Penalties for Goods Vehicles What it says. Can be given By VOSA staff as well as police. Retraining Courses Will become available for careless driving and speeding, with a discount on points or ban for those who take them.
• Bemused by Insurance Companies 17 Nov 2006 (Forum)
  A quick look on moneysupermarket found loads of insurance companies which offered cover at around the lower £400's mark which included protected NCD and changing to business insurance. I called my existing company back and spoke to a call centre in Deli and asked what I had to do cancel my policy. I enquired if they were interested in why I was cancelling and whether they would like to try and match my new quote.
• the joys of the small claims court 19 May 2004 (Forum)
  Will the ridiculousness of the counter-claim help my claim for the damages? I have an expert report saying that the damage to the car\'s alternator, wiring etc. was likely caused by the incorrect use of a battery charger (i.e. the leads the wrong way round) and in their defence statement, they did state that a battery charger was used.
• Stupid Barriers At Uni 23 Apr 2004 (Forum)
  Drove in this morning and that short road had two barriers at the front campus side with a sign saying \"NO ACCESS BETWEEN 0700 and 1730 - Please use *back entrance*\" \"Hmm\" - I said - \"that\'s rather annoying.\" (I thought something a little stronger) So, late for a lecture which I was going to be early for originally I had to drive to the back entrance. The problem here is that the back entrance is 5 miles away by driving out of the main entrance and then taking the main road.
• Second car choice - made complicated! 6 Apr 2004 (Forum)
  I don't want to have spend any money so it must be worth no more than I'll get for the SEAT - early '02 plate, 100 bhp TDi S, 10,000 miles, full history. 3. I'd like something that is at least mildly interesting to drive & reliable. 4. Doesn't have to be a diesel. I know that the sensible answer is to have my wife cart the kids around in the Skoda, equipped with two car seats while I go to work in something that never has a car seat in it and it might yet come to that, but it would be good if it didn't have to.
• Update - new Yaris & the Learner Driver 5 Nov 2003 (Forum)
  Although, the new magazine that the DVLA give out when you pass your test has am IAM course for £75 (-£10 discount for under 25's until 31st December) and completing that sucessfully also leads to insurers' discounts I believe?
• TV Road Tax Advert 23 Oct 2003 (Forum)
  Saves queuing at the post office every twelve months, and why not have an insurance disc in the windscreen ? a third party?s lack of insurance is more of a worry when he crashers into you than is his lack of tax disk? Ditto MoT, an MoT disk in the window would go someway to keeping unsafe cars off the road, something the road tax disc does not.
• Insurance 2 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  As the car will be kept in the family for daughter number 2 to learn in, she'll be looking at buying her own car by then, and that will either be a cheaper second hand model, or if she wins the lottery (!) a new car with free insurance available to over 21's. There's a possibility that she may go abroad within the next couple of years too, and so it didn't seem at all worthwhile trying to help her build up a NCD now. A couple of years extra age and experience are going to help a lot at this stage in her life.
• Brake problem. any thoughts wlecome.... 10 May 2003 (Forum)
  Anyhow, the car has a brake problem which I am hoping your wisdom will help me to solve in the shortest time. (by the way those who helped with me with my other AX?s gearbox, thanks, done what was said and its better now). On this one, I have to apply the brakes considerable harder than my other two AX to stop the car. First thought was worn pads, checked them, almost new.
• What to buy? 29 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  I've not driven any of these cars yet and I won't have time to test examples of them all. I have driven late 90's Vectras and Astras and hated them with a vengeance, so that gives you an idea of what I don't like.I'm also happy with the idea of a high-mile but newer car.So over to the Back Room... what can I expect for my money?