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• Bone Idle 306 13 May 2003 (Forum)
  My pug 306 1.4 S reg, won't start without throttle and stalls every two minutes when idleing. It had a recent 60,000 main dealer service It has had a new stepper motor and stills idles badly and stalls. The dealer say "the ignition coil has failed, resulting in the failure of the ECU" and qouted £850 to repair it Can a coil result in the damage of the ECU?
• V5 Car Description 8 May 2003 (Forum)
  I have an imported Alfa 156 and the description of the car model is not 156, but twin axle saloon or something, I sent the V5 back to the DVLA explaining that I expected the model to be a 156 Veloce thinking that they had translated the model badly from the certificate of conformity or something, but they sent my V5 back saying I should get a letter from Alfa UK stating that the correct descritpion of my car is 156 not twin axle saloon.. surely all 156's have a sensible description of the model on the V5 and i am not being silly wanting mine to say 156??
• BMW 323i Nikasil Question 3 May 2003 (Forum)
  I am contemplating the purchase of BMW 323i with build date of July 1998, on a 98 S-plate. I am unclear when engine blocks ceased to be manufactured with Nikasil liners, having found out: - March 1998 from www.lestac.co.uk - Feb 1998 from BMW customer services, who told me this car should have a steel-lined engine block. - Sept 1998 from this site, and the advice to avoid pre-1999 cars.
• How not to write a used car ad... 1 May 2003 (Forum)
  "1994 CITROEN XANTIA 1.8i LX 5dr Hatchback Blue.e/w,e/sun ruff,new engen,new tyres,new batere,new cliatch,new cambell,new stereo four speakers,s/l,alarm end remuve control,full servise hystory,two ownars,long mot,four monts roll tax. 5000 miles. . . . . " Assuming it should be 50000 instead of 5000 miles, if this was the kind of car you were after would you be more or less inclined to respond to the ad?
• Swearing and bad language 1 May 2003 (Forum)
  May I draw your attention to Mark\'s post in discussion. http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=12524 Swearing doesn\'t happen that often in Technical matters, but I have noticed an increase just lately. As Mark states in his post, \"It takes effort to edit one word out of a note, it takes little or no effort to delete a note/thread.
• 306 D Turbo 19 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  I have a 1998 S-Reg 306 D Turbo that has now covered 85,000 miles. It have done 5000miles without a hitch until last night when it wont start from cold. Turning it over it "hiccups" like it is about to start but just wont.
• Punto Coolant Problems 5 Feb 2003 (Forum)
  My wifes 97 1.2 Punto S has had the heater matrix changed (one of the many punto common problems it appears). It now makes lots of gurgling and sloshing noises which you can hear inside the car if stationary and rev. The coolant level keeps rising and will explode from the top up if you take the cap off even after a short journey.
• ABS warning light 16 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  Dear users, The warning light on my S-Reg 21,000 miles Daewoo Lanos has just come on today. The brake fluid is fine -no apparent leak- and was replaced 5 months ago by dealer, although it had not been done before judging by the service guide (when the same guide says it should be done every 2 years- I've had it 16 months.
• sticking clutch/gearbox 306 Dt (98S) 10 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  Anyone I have recently noticed my 306 (98 S) is taking a lot of effort to put in gear, any gear. Particular force required to get to 2nd (from either 1 or 3) and all areuncomfortably ropey. Have tried pushing the clutch pedal right into the floor which sometimes helps, and occasionally if I get the stick movement just so, a smoothish change happens.
• Dangerous A 37 29 Dec 2002 (Forum)
  Telegraph of 23rd Dec reports that Dorset Council is offering free advanced driving lessons to regular users of "A notorious 19 mile stretch of road where 10 people have been killed in the last 4 years". I wonder how many "Safety C*m*r*s" have been installed on this stretch, where they might be useful? They will probably be left on 40 mph limited Dual Carriageways and other safe places where there is money to be made! (Why won't the swear word filter let me write the words in clear?
• Insurance Policy Quotes - Maybe Helpful 22 Dec 2002 (Forum)
  - and have found TESCO significantly cheaper than ALL the rest (and I'd narrowed down initially with Which?'s advice on best buys for my category). Although necessarily generalizing, I'd suggest any new/renewers try their site. I've no idea how good they are as insurers, but I'd imagine their size/reputation should make them reasonable.
• Alloy wheel locking nuts - aaargh! 25 Sep 2002 (Forum)
  Hi I have a Renault Clio with alloy wheels that I bought about 9 months ago. When I took it for a service I discovered I actually have 2 sets of wheel...
• Wheel Weights 25 Sep 2002 (Forum)
  HJ - I got a C70 recently, great car with some nice touches particularly the superb alloys. Horror, as I see they have balanced the wheels by clipping...
• Accident 23 Apr 2002 (Forum)
  I had an accident with my new Ford Fiesta Zetec S which I accidentally banged into a sheep (yes it was killed, instantly I might add). The car has been repaired by the Ford garage which took it away. When it came back, it had a different make tyre, the bonnet wasn't straight and there is silver paint on the inside of the door to let other people know that it's had an accident instantly.
• USED PRICE 4 Apr 2002 (Forum)
  Hope HJ doesn't mind me asking this question in The Back Room but I noticed someone else posed a similar question earlier this week. I am trying to sell my Aug 01 (Y reg) blue Fiesta Zetec S with aircon, 6 CD stereo, heated front screen and electric mirrors. The car has covered 5000 miles and has 1 owner from new. What price should I realistically expect if I advertise the car privately, and what figure should I be looking for as a part-exchange.
• Black box humour 21 Feb 2002 (Forum)
  They were surprised to find in 49 of the 50 states the last words of drivers in 61.2 percent of fatal crashes were, "Oh, S**t!" Only the state of Alabama was different, where 96.4 percent of the final words were - "Hey Y'all, hold my beer and watch this!"
• coke in turbo bearings 25 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  re golf 1.9 tdi (90bhp) - '98 S honest john in agony column beg dec 01 recommended idling engine after long runs in order to keep oil circulating through the turbo while it cools. this to avoid the oil turning to coke in the turbo bearings when oil seals may give way. - temp.guage during driving and also when idling/cooling remains at '90' (degr.) so no indication here of 'cooling off' period. question: for how long - 30 sec.s, 30 min.s ?
• Changing Volvo 440 22 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  My dad has an "M" plate Volvo 440 2 litre auto, which has served him well. He would like to change it for a newer car. The Volvo 70's don't fit in his garage. He needs an auto, would like heated front seats. He will use the car for going to and from his static caravan about 170 miles 12-14 times a year. He does not like my Focus estate.
• Insane? 6 Dec 2001 (Forum)
  I have a cousin the same age as me (late 20's). We are both spending just over 20 grand this month, me on a very modest 2 bedroom house, him on a BMW 3 series (imported from Germany via the internet). Fair enough, his BMW will look good and turn heads and my new house won't, but in five years time my house will hopefully be worth what I paid for it and his BMW will be worth 5 grand-ish.
• Volvo 960 24V 15 Nov 2001 (Forum)
  Re Volvo 960 24V I am thinking of buying another Volvo - I have a 940GLE estate Early 90's 960 24v saloons appear a great bargin at £1500 to £2000. Driven steadly, on mainly motorway runs, what MPG might I get? I can get low 30s out of my 940. Do any readers own 204 BHP 24V 960s, what do they think, what should I look out for?