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• What value a "life" on my protected NCB? 11 Jan 2009 (Forum)
  I presume that even though the percentage NCB is protected the premium will go up for the next three years because of the claim and we are about to put a our 17 year old daughter on to the ploicy as a learner. Does anyone have any idea whether I would be better off in the long run if I paid the full cost of the repair myself and avoided an insurance claim?
• DVLA competition 11 Jan 2009 (Forum)
  A pure marketing ploy that I found irritating that no mention was made during the call that my details were to be passed on to a third party without my permission. Doublely so, as this is a government department. In future if the DVLA run any "competitions" they must provide in their message a warning that entering will or will not generate third party land fill dropping through your letter box. This is not done at present, so beware before you enter.
• KIA Rio (2005 - ) - So thats where all the screenwash is going..... 8 Jan 2009 (Forum)
  My Rio's rear washer supply pipe has presumably split, I think this runs (no pun intended) behind the interior door sill trim as the driver's side carpet is now nice and squishy. The car is under 2 years old, looking through the warranty booklet this may be an 'act of god' or not as it is written in legalise.
• BMW 3-Series E36 (1991 - 1998) - A 318se for free? 26 Dec 2008 (Forum)
  The problem with it is that it won't start, the engine needs cranking for ages for it to start and then it runs fine. Given that I drive old cars anyway (my current "good" car is a Mondeo circa 1996) and I need to replace our second car (ancient small Fiat), would it be wise for me to take on this 318se and get it repaired?
• Volkswagen Golf III (1992 - 1997) - 1996 1.4 Head and oil consumption problems 25 Dec 2008 (Forum)
  I have a petrol AEX engine which has a lot of "mayo" in the oil filler cap and has always (during the several months we've had it) run with a "tappet" type noise from the head. It seems to use too much oil and coolant and I expect there is a small leak internally across the cylinder head gasket. At some point in the future I want to take the head off and replace the gasket and check the state of the cam and related parts.
• Mercedes Benz C-Class W203 (2000 - 2007) - 04 2.0 Engine Management 21 Dec 2008 (Forum)
  As i pulled over put the car in neutral and tried to switch the car off but instead the engine just went on full throttle and would not cut off with ignition it revved up for a few mins and then switched off by itself as it cooled down i tried starting it. it starts and runs but lacks pulling power in low gears. turbo is working ok have some doubts on flyby wire system worried about car going into in its automatic mode of revving to the max without pressing of the throttle pedal. would like to know if you can help. look forward to your replies.
• Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - 2000 1.8 Do I need a new battery? 17 Dec 2008 (Forum)
  About 5-10 mins after setting off there is a clunk from the central locking, as if one of the deadlocks has finally received enough current to fully withdraw. This is on a diet of mostly short (2 to 3 mile) trips. Symptoms seem to improve after a longer run. Two questions 1. If it is the battery, what make should I get - I know it has to be calcium for the smart charging? 2. If it isn't the battery what is it? Thanks in advance
• Potential problems with low-mileage Focus. 16 Dec 2008 (Forum)
  Recently inherited Grandfather's '01 (Y) Focus 1.8 zetec petrol. 11,000 miles, garaged most of its life, FSH. Only done 500 miles pa since 2002. My concerns: 1. Doesn't run very smoothly and lots of condensation from exhaust. 2. Original tyres (2000 manufacture), too old? 3. Still on its original cam belt. 4. Disks are a bit rusty, brake fluid last changed 2005. 5. No ABS. 6.
• Ford Mondeo III (2000 - 2007) - 05 2.0 tdci Jump leads wrong way round 14 Dec 2008 (Forum)
  Having to jump start the step daughter's Rover 25 today I Placed one end of the red lead on her positive terminal and the other end on my negative (it was going dark and the insulation on the leads runs down the back of the battery). I then put one end of the black lead on her negative and was just about to put the other end on my positive terminal when I realised my mistake, phew!. This made me ponder, what exactly would I have damaged on either car if I had connected them the wrong way round ?
• Crackdown on 'souped-up pedicabs' 5 Dec 2008 (Forum)
  A number of the pedicabs, described as "death traps" by Westminster City Council, have been seized in the operation on Thursday evening. Police said about 80% of London's 1,000 pedicabs have been illegally adapted to run partially on car batteries, allowing them to reach speeds of 20mph. End quote. Ok, I can see these things are dangerous, but if they're 'death traps' presumably even the battery-less ones can't be that safe?
• Buying a car with an inordinately low mileage. 1 Dec 2008 (Forum)
  The main issue I can see with buying a pensioners shopping car is that in all its life, it may never have had a decent run at full operating temperature. On the other hand, if the mileage is so low (circa 10k), is this really an issue? Obviously an overhaul of the braking system (disks and fluid) would be in order, but supposing the car has been getting its annual service, are there any other pitfalls?
• Renault Megane (1996 - 1998) - 1996 1.6 - full revs at idle 18 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  I have had a problem with the map sensor hose and when checking for leaks, I popped the pipe off and the rev dropped to a normal idle speed but the engine was running lumpy but the car was drivable. Does anyone know what might be the problem, I am going to check all hoses for leaks but I fear it might be another drop off at Renaults for another rip-off expensive diagnostic again?
• Traffic lights unfairly favouring cars? 14 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  If there's no traffic, pushing the button turns the lights red instantly. If there's heavy traffic, nothing happens for nearly 4 minutes as the lights run through an entire cycle until they finally let you cross. Usually by this point you've legged it through a gap in the traffic along with everyone else. If there's moderate traffic, it waits until there's a huge gap in both directions and then turns the light red - again, at which point everyone has crossed anyway.
• Volvo V50 (2004 - ) - 05 2.0 diesel - Returning a car due to poor mpg 4 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  We have had it approx 6 weeks and it has been back to the garage twice incudiong once for a software upgrade (at this point in increased from 28 MPG to 35 MPG). I dont think the car is running correctly due to the fuel we are going through. Cheers
• Oldmobile Diesel: Why was it so bad. 2 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  A friend of mine in the States of British extraction has seen an Oldsmobile Diesel saloon with 80k genuine miles for the equivalent of about £1500. He says it runs sweetly and is a curiosity for him as it's unusual. Apparently though this engine 5.7 litre 125 hp is infamous for bad reliability and is touted as the car that caused the U.S market to show such resistance to Diesel passenger cars.
• Ford Fiesta (1995 - 1999) - 1996 1.3 Tightening pedals and rusted spark plug 2 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  Thought I would make one thread rather than two when I replaced the air filter today I noticed one of the plugs had rusted into the cylinder head. I decided the best thing do is leave well alone, the engine is running perfectly atm and it does not miss fire, but what happens when the plug fails? Is this a cylinder head off job and is this a huge job in terms of labour? Secondly the throttle pedal feels a little bit loose, it could do with tightening this up, is this an easy job to do myself?
• Skoda Octavia II (2004 - ) - 2007 1.9 Oil and filter change 29 Oct 2008 (Forum)
  . - The Picasso was a blooming good car, very little went wrong. The Octavia is set up with variable service intervals so I've no idea how long to run with the oil and filter, nor any history of what oil to use. It hasn't used any in 1500 miles. Any advice please?
• Peugeot 206 hatchback (1998 - 2006) - 02 2.0 GTi petrol - Anti Pollution Fault 14 Oct 2008 (Forum)
  Hi everyone, {no 'txt' talk please} Just been driving back from Brighton to Cardiff, and a warning message popped up saying 'ANTIPOLLUTION FAULT', and it now comes on everytime i start it, and stays on. Ive got a petrol 206 gti (138), Car seems to be running fine, although its a tad rough, but its been like that since i bought it. I was reading Nathan206's post http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=67310 but I'm assuming its not the same problem in regards to the diesel additive?
• MG - Midget - 1974 1275 Oil leaking out of head. 14 Oct 2008 (Forum)
  Hello Every one, I have just got my self a 1974 MG Midget with the 1275 engine, Which has been converted to run on unleaded petrol. But the head has an oil leak on the back of the head, There is a hole which looks like there should be a bolt in it, but i cant seem to find the bolt listed any where. As you look at the front of the car the hole is on the right side of the head and is on at a angle.
• Ford Fiesta (1995 - 1999) - Cat D - total loss, what to do? 10 Oct 2008 (Forum)
  Hi, Went to see a Fiesta today, looked pretty good, put down £60 deposit (he wanted 700, got it fo 660 + 6 months insurance, mot will run out in mid nov). Just done a RAC check and it comes back as a Cat D total loss, "VRM recorded as a total loss by an insurance company" and "D - Vehicle damaged but repairable - the insurer decided not to repair" I did say the sale depends on these checks.