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• looking after subframes & sumps - pictures 25 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  The grease on the subframes (as pictured today) has been on two years - Castrol CL waterproof grease. I touched up the brake pipes - not really needed - last August. On the sump is high temperature Castrol HMP grease. http://tinyurl.com/68eybj http://tinyurl.com/5r8964 http://tinyurl.com/65e7bg http://tinyurl.com/6o2n3y All the little nuts/fasteners + alloy in the engine bay are touched with WD 40.
• Renault Scenic (2003 - 2009) - Coolant life 21 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  Last month it went the length of the Alps to Provence and back on half a litre of oil and still had the original exhaust system and rear brake linings). I have replaced it with a Renault Grand Scénic petrol 2.0 litre auto and am puzzled by the new service intervals. Now the book specifies a glycol based anti-freeze. The Mégane used glycol, and the coolant changed every 20,000 miles or 2 years.
• Third party insurance help please 23 Sep 2008 (Forum)
  It was a country road with no street lighting. The car was not visible until I was almost on top of it, I managed to hit the brakes and swerve a little but there was no time to avoid and I ploughed into it. I was injured also my passenger and my car is a write off. The driver of the car I hit was arrested for drink driving.
• Ford KA, KA2, KA3 (1996 - 2008) - Strange Ford service 13 Aug 2008 (Forum)
  And as for the tyre, it looks like they swapped the wheel with the spare. It makes me wonder how much of the service was really done. I noticed that the brakes and steering did not have the usual just serviced feel (I can't explain that, but I always notice a difference). Oh well. So much for an official Ford dealership.
• Citroen Xsara (1997 - 2004) - 01 2.0hdi What to check before a remap? 6 Jul 2008 (Forum)
  Its recently had a new clutch on it and soon to have its alternator belt done too, along with new brakes (pads and discs) and new suspension coils + shock absorbers in the last 6 months... oh and new tires all round! I believe the cambelt is the original, and its done 61k. Oil done in the last 5k, and most my driving is motorway based.
• Can speeding ever be safer? 3 Jun 2008 (Forum)
  But in every case, I was able to demonstrate how driving more slowly was the safer option. Simple, really: slower speed=increased time for reaction, smaller braking distances, less risk. The guys were unconvinced by this; I'm sticking to my guns and trusting in Mr Newton. Anyone have any opinions, examples...? cheers theterranaut
• Ford Fiesta (1989 - 1995) - 92 1.4 Making a squealing sound 14 May 2008 (Forum)
  Is okay when I am driving at speed but squeals alot when going around corners, roundabouts and at junctions when I am either slowing and then going faster again or stopping and then going off again. At first I thought it was the brakes but it seems linked with the accelerator. Have tried gently accelerating and going down on accelerator hard to see which one causes it but seems to be no pattern. Any ideas what problem it might be and if its something I can fix myself as have a Haynes Manual?
• Ford Mondeo IV (2007 - ) - TDCi 130 Cutting Out 1 Mar 2008 (Forum)
  We are waiting for a dealer to look at it but I want to know if it is a bigger problem. If this happens on a bend or at speed then it could be deadly as the steering and brakes go as well. I know you can still use them but they are very hard and if you are not prepared then it could cause a crash.
• Citroen Xsara (1997 - 2004) - HDi Engine not switching off with key 12 Nov 2007 (Forum)
  All the usual lights were illuminated in the dashboard when this was happening. The only way of killing it was to hold the foot brake and let out the clutch while the car was in gear. It started fine immediately afterwards but still refused to switch off conventionally. I repeated this cycle a couple of times and eventually, it seems to have came back to normal.
• Ford Mondeo III (2000 - 2007) - 03 TDCi - wobbling like a washing machine on spin 11 Nov 2007 (Forum)
  hi, i have owned this '03 mk3 mondeo tdci (reluctantly) for 4 weeks, apart from the rust problem i have found, it is also wobbling/juddering when you get up to speed on the motorway, i would say at around 60+mph it starts to get more noticable, i have had the front wheels balanced and there is no judder coming through the steering wheel or pedals when braking, it seems to come from the rear, the passanger, rear seats and parcel shelf start to wobble, like i say, it feels and sounds like being inside an unsteady washing machine on spin, has anyone else had this problem or know what it might be.
• Ford Dealer in USA 27 Sep 2007 (Forum)
  Loose suspension ball joint $362 That would also need wheel alignment $125 Pollen filter $49 Dirty coolant $118 Brakes very low $230 so far I am thinking hmm... maybe that does need doing (except the pollen filter - for $49 I don't mind ingesting a bit of pollen!) Then "wipers are squeaky - $29". That kind of made me wonder about the other items!
• Volkswagen Polo III (1994 - 1999) - noise when turning left 24 Aug 2007 (Forum)
  When turning left even slightly car makes a noise as if two things are grinding together. I was advised to change the brake pads which I did then my local garage suggested to change the wheel bearing on the passenger side which we did but the noise is still there. They said to me they could try replacing the hub on the passenger side.....we did all this to front passenger side.
• Should Fernando pay for Lewis' service? 17 Aug 2007 (Forum)
  Lewis rarely uses his car outside work, and come MOT time, there are a number of maintenance costs; new tyres, new brake pads and an oil change, totalling £300. As Fernando is in the car during most of its use, Lewis thinks he should shoulder half of the cost, but Fernando thinks as it's Lewis?s car, it?s his cost.
• Why do people get so upset at being overtaken? 13 Aug 2007 (Forum)
  So I do my usual stepwise overtaking to get past the queue -- without cutting in, and ONLY when I am not causing any other driver to have to swerve / brake / take any avoiding action. Yet you get these silly old duffers flashing / honking horns etc at you, just for trying to make progress. So what is it about the motorist's psyche that makes them so upset about being overtaken?
• Passat 54 notchy gears 6 Jun 2007 (Forum)
  My colleague is advising me that it is better but still there and he is being advised by the dealer that this is a normal issue with this type of engine. My car is going in to the dealer to get its brake fluid changed in a couple of weeks. I will get them to look at this issue at the same time. I do not want to be fobbed off with excuses as to what the problem maybe and that it is design intent and live with it.
• Not so classic MG V8 5 Jun 2007 (Forum)
  The body shell was pcompletely new, engine was a 4.2 litre V8 as fitted to Range Rovers (changed from the 3.5 litre originally fitted), gearbox was a 5 speed and the wheels, brakes and suspension were all upgraded to racing spec. Despite the car being completely new it still qualified for classic car tax i.e. £0 per annum, I assume because the guy still had the registration documents.
• Golf GTI Mk1 clutch pedal 4 Jun 2007 (Forum)
  A friend's inherited Golf GTI Mk1, a very nice example needing a bit of fettling, has its clutch pedal set an inch or two higher than the brake pedal. Recently widowed, she has kept the car and is hoping soon to pass her driving test (at the age of 60-odd). Her practice sessions, two of which I have supervised, do rather punish the clutch, and I wondered if it might be on its way out, the high pedal being a sign of terminal wear?
• Vectra-C Dashboard Access 23 May 2007 (Forum)
  I did have a look at accessing via the foot-well, but the moulded panels seem to go right back around the hand-brake and rear vents etc so that looks like a lot of effort that may not lead me to the control box anyway. Thanks
• VW Bora diesel, high mileage? 13 May 2007 (Forum)
  At this mileage/age I assume its clutch will need replacing. I hope to carry out the routine servicing together with normal maintenance, brakes, discs, suspension etc. All opinions and views welcome. Many thanks, Martin
• Speed limit raised M1 J8-J10 roadworks 7 May 2007 (Forum)
  Cameras calculate a vehicle's average speed through the roadworks and police said this was to encourage drivers to slow down rather than brake suddenly. The Highways Agency said speed limits to keep drivers and workers safe are regularly reviewed by traffic managers. During the works on the M1 the three lane system in each direction may be reduced to one at times during the night and there may also be periodic junction closures.