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• Disintegrating wheel arches on my fiesta 2 Jun 2005 (Forum)
  The story so far (brief version): Taking driving lessons, mate sold me his old car for 50 quid, car chassis is sound, rear valance and both wheel arches disintegrating, mot runs out next month. Q: how hard is it to fit new wheel arches to rear of my rustbucket, will it require the services of an expensive mechanic or can novices (like me)get to grips with the epic adventure.Or shall i just take it straight to scrapyard, have limited budget and no real experiences of car repairs.
• Dent repair 8 May 2005 (Forum)
  To cut a long story short, I had just dropped off my wife and friend at Manchester airport today and, as I was unloading the luggage, she brought a trolley over and left it without putting the brake on - result, trolley runs into side of beloved Xantia. This car has only picked up two minor dents in 11 years and now it has an extra five. They are at or just above the crease line on the rear wing, so they are very noticeable and very unsightly, although the biggest is only about an inch across, and the other four are very small, shallow depressions.
• VW/Seat v5 engine 14 Apr 2005 (Forum)
  What should I be looking out for, and what MPG can I expect? Does it have a camchain or a cambelt, and what is the best oil to run it on? I have tested the car and was enormously impressed with the amount of kit, the smoothness and torque of the engine and the pricetag (2000 X reg, 59k on clock £5,495 for a Toledo SE). From what I can tell this is the same or less than I can get a TDI Toledo or Leon for.
• Focus C-Max: good buy? 3 Apr 2005 (Forum)
  Recent forum threads have suggested that many modern diesels are very complicated if things go wrong, so, putting aside on-going mpg claims and disppointments, is the 1.8 petrol a decent engine instead? Any one got any experience of running one of these? I need the space and can't stomach the idea of paying around £17k for a similar-age used Volvo V70 (my original choice).
• What's a coil pack for Scenic? 3 Apr 2005 (Forum)
  My 2000 W reg Renault Scenic 1.6 Petrol Alize is running on 3 cylinders, which surprises me. Car only done 40k, recently serviced. Went to the dealer this morning, says it'll probably be the coil pack, whatever that is! He said it was a 1 hour job to change, but my question is this: Can a half skilled DIY mechanic do it, as I am loathed to give dealers money for simple fit and replace jobs?
• Nissan Almera motorway performance 3 Apr 2005 (Forum)
  Hi there, I've got my mind set on the Nissan Almera, as it seems to be a good first car buy (95-98 range) : - Cheap insurance (£860 from endsleigh with 0 ncd) - Cheap - Late 80's styling but practical , so theft chance low - Reliable from all reports read - Comfortable - On paper , 40MPG for petrol 1.4 My main curiosity is how the car runs on the motorway. Since these cars really are as rare as hens teeth where I am (Newcastle), I was wondering if anyone on here has much experience with them on the motorways. How is the noise levels, and ride quality?
• Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question 1 Apr 2005 (Forum)
  It's overtaking a car in the other lane so you hit the brakes and steer to the left to avoid it. With the skill of Fangio / the luck of the Irish, you avoid the oncoming car, however you run into the fence on the left which doesn't give way like they did in the A-Team, but causes huge damage to your car. The cars racing each other have both gone, you obviously didn't get their number plates and you've only got TPFT insurance.
• Automatic Choke Problems (Fiesta) 23 Mar 2005 (Forum)
  It clearly has a problem with the automatic choke not opening properly since in the mornings, when cold, it runs like a dog, however once it's warmed up it's fine and drives very well indeed. Whilst the car starts OK, as soon as you put any stress on the engine it really dies, hardly accelerates until eventually enough fuel gets through and off she goes.
• Diagnosing the source of smoke. Passat 20 Mar 2005 (Forum)
  I have a 2002 Passat PD130 with 90K miles. It is running fine and driving as it should in all respects except one. As I pull away from a standstill there is a brief puff of blue smoke, just visible in the mirror. If this was a petrol car, as all my cars have been until this one, you would say it was classic valve-stem oil seals, but I know that the diesel inlet pressure does not work that way...
• Diesel car Shuddering!! Audi 80 TDi 14 Mar 2005 (Forum)
  Hi all I have an Audi 80 TDI 90BHP. 1994. Basically the car runs fine most of the time but when im "cruising" in fourth and fifth (doing about 40mph in fourth an 50mph in fifth) the car seems to vibrate and shudder. It is usually solved by going into a lower gear and hitting 3000 revs plus.
• MOT - Discussion 10 Mar 2005 (Forum)
  Each town/district have a MOT test station(s) that is/are funded out of the MOT test fee and by the Road Fund License? A town/district MOT centre, run by civil servants or contracted out to a service provider with no commercial outlet or association with the automotive trade? Would this measure produce fewer failures due to non-incentivised staff (failures often equals parts and labour for the test station)?
• Help Please!! Rover 214i 15 Feb 2005 (Forum)
  Hi Not my car but my mate has an old shape 1995 Rover 214i and is having performance issues. He has just had the headgasket done and a new cam belt. The car has run fine for a couple of weeks and now is seriously down on power. I have drove the car and cannot get it past 4000revs...its like the rev limiter is kicking in although I dont think it has one!! We have replaced the plugs and air filter as they were due anyway but has made no difference.
• Halfords oil filter internals 10 Feb 2005 (Forum)
  There did appear to be a gap at the far end of the tube where the oil could flow into the centre, but it was difficult to see properly. The engine runs OK and the oil light goes out, but the oil could be flowing through the bypass valve for all I know. Anyone else noticed this, or have any comments? Rgds.
• Pollen filter on 98 model Passat 4 Feb 2005 (Forum)
  I have looked on the instruction supplied with the new filter and it says there are 3 clips I have to turn with a screwdriver to remove the top cover (by cover the picture displays the large plastic trim that runs along the base f the windscreen). My one doesn't have these clips and seems to be quite securly fastened somehow. I can see the filter but the gap I have isn't sufficient to remove and replace it.
• Computer related questions. Volume 40 28 Jan 2005 (Forum)
  My mate has asked me to try and sort out his staggeringly slow Dell, running XP, and install SP2 whilst I'm at it (my stupid suggestion). Having just glanced in the box, I find it has just 128mb/266mhz memory and that might also be shared with the graphics! There is no AGP slot, just a green one with a half card leading to video out.
• 106 for Punto 24 Jan 2005 (Forum)
  I can probably acquire the fiat for similar money to what I can get for the 106. I know there are no certainties at this end of the market, the 106 has cost very little to run for the last 4 years. I feel the Punto is a slightly safer car, possibly has the 'FIRE' engine?? and a more rust proof body. It will also be a bit more comfy and better to drive.The punto has a new clutch.
• Diesel or Petrol?? 15 Jan 2005 (Forum)
  Taking all things into account servicing,price difference, price at pumps etc, is there really any point in running a diesel now unless you are doing 20K or greater miles a year?. Curiuous as to what people think.I own a 2001 Passat 1.9TDi.There is now a 6p a litre difference at the pumps,the servicing costs are greater and the cars themselves are more expensive to buy.It appears that the only plus side is the lower Road Tax and in some cases, cheaper insurance.I am thinking of changing my car and looked at the new shaped Vectra.a 2.2 SRi petrol is about £1200 cheaper to buy than the 2.2Dti Sri diesel.I do around 15K miles a year.To me s things stand, the petrol seems the better option.
• Premium fuels and additives 11 Jan 2005 (Forum)
  Hi, While it seems that the general concensus on these forums is that BP Ultimate is the best diesel I reckon my Mondeo runs just as well on Shell and Texaco. I have been trying Millers Diesl Plus recently, not yet sure that it makes any difference however while filing up with BP Ultimate yesterday I though I detected a faint similarity in the odour from the BP Ult to that of neat Millers.
• Brake lights. Peugeot 406 HDi. 2 Jan 2005 (Forum)
  If i start the engine and then turn it off with my foot on the brake pedal the engine will continue to run until i release the brake pedal. Have replaced the switch behind the brake pedal but this has made no difference. Any ideas on what could be causing the problem or remedies appreciated.
• Oil Warning Light Problem Fiesta XR2i 15 Dec 2004 (Forum)
  Hi all, My Ford Fiesta XR2i 1991 (H Reg) has recently, within the last week, been illuminating the oil warning light on the dash when the engine is running. I am confused as to what the problem may be. The oil level is spot on where it should be, it is not burning oil as I reconditioned the cyclinder head in Aug with new stem seals and there is no smoke being burnt from the rear.