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• 306 1.8 and NGK V-groove plugs 26 Mar 2005 (Forum)
  However, I decided to stick to the Pug schedule, and simply because the Champion plugs were out of stock, fitted NGK (which I always used to use) plugs, but this time, V-groove. We haven't put enough miles under the wheels to get a feeling for fuel consumption, but the idle lumpiness has completely gone, and so has the light throttle pinking. Mid range torque also appears to be more ample than before. I know plugs need a sharp edge for the spark to propagate easily, but I'd always dismissed V-groove plugs as a marketing ploy to get punters to part with more dosh.
• Italian Electrics 26 Oct 2004 (Forum)
  Then the alarm on the Alfa went off, and the neighbour came out to investigate. What was happening was the electric fuel filler cap was opening and shutting of it's own accord which was the noise I had heard. He had to operate the key fob five or six times before it stopped. When I commented he said a few loud prayers about Italian cars and reckoned all the electrics had started going haywire, the mirrors self adjusting of their own accord while he was driving and the boot lid releasing every now and again among many other things.
• Mitsubishi Colt playing up 25 Jul 2004 (Forum)
  Anyone familiar with the Colt? W reg year 2000 1.3litre 12Valve? fuel injected. Cold starting became a problem a few months ago (when the weather turned cold) It started ok and then when the acceleraror was pressed it felt like it was running on 3 cylinders. This happened until the engine got warmed up.
• 1997-2000 Mondeo 6 May 2004 (Forum)
  Amazingly our 140,000 mile 1993 Passat Estate went through the MoT again without any problems, so now it's got a new ticket it'll never be worth more (unless I fill the fuel tank). Time to stick it in the paper and get something a bit fresher. I've read the car-by-car breakdown and read the site here over the years and it seems I can get a 97-2000 Mondeo estate for our budget of £2500.
• n reg fiesta diesel starting nightmare 15 Dec 2003 (Forum)
  Started as soon as he did this and has been starting instantly (ie better than ever) since until this afternoon when i changed the fuel filter. It did start a few times initially but then died- turning fine but again no smoke at exhaust and unable to rev. I even put the old filter back on - it started but then died within about 20 seconds.
• Xantia TD starting 22 Nov 2003 (Forum)
  Again, all was well, but this morning I came to firing it up... and it wouldn't! The symptoms are similar to those experienced when you've run out of fuel. I start to turn the car over and it turns and turns and turns for about 20 - 30 seconds before it considers firing. This is then accompanied by some smoke (hard to tell colour). Sounds like glowplugs again I know, but when checked last week, the garage said they were functioning ok.
• Xantia Misfiring 3 Oct 2003 (Forum)
  ...that 1.8i 16v again! Changed fuel filter and used injection cleaner recently. The problem has improved but is still there. In addition I cannot get the twin radiator fans to kick in at the right temperature, although I know both fans work, as I put a probe between a terminal and earth to test them.
• Diesel - not so cheap ? 30 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  All the diesels costed in between £11.5 - 13k from on-line brokers, the 1.4 Corolla at just under £10K. The result - even with the superior fuel economy of the diesels, not one of them were actually cheaper to run, since even the A2 only saved £1K in 3 years - the others even less. The Corolla is at least £2k cheaper to buy than any of them.
• Thoughts on driving in France 25 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  Travel at 90-95mph and be overtaken by an equally efficient train on an adjacent track. Yes, there are tolls but the fuel is cheaper?a lot cheaper for a diesel driver. (Why is it that the rest of Europe pretty much unanimously agrees that diesel should be cheaper than petrol but we seem to think it dirty and worthy of additional taxes?)
• Kwik Fit Oil Change/Costs/Oil Choice 13 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  Any idea what oil they use as standard unless you "upgrade" The Kwik Fit Website (www.kwik-fit.com) states: "The Oil and Filter service that Kwik-Fit offer is known as Kwik-Lube This consists of: Draining the oil, Fitting a new oil filter,Refilling the oil sump with new Mobil Super Multigrade Oil" However when you look further into the "special offers" page, it states "Kwik-Lube" at £18.00 (great quality multigrade oil providing great value for money), and offers "Mobil Super S" at £26.00 (A premium quality engine oil delivering improved protection and performance) and "Mobil 1" at £34.00 (The worlds most advanced engine oil and race proven. Delivers the ultimate in protection and improved fuel economy) So it looks like the "Kwik Lube" service is the one to avoid - unless you want some cheap unknown oil in your car. Not driving a F1 car (only Fiat Brava 1.4) I assume that Mobil 1 is an overkill (car 4 years old) - so imagine that Mobil Super S is the one to use!
• Top 10 Anti Boredom Remedies 23 Jul 2003 (Forum)
  Seeing what the combined MPG is by swapping 5 & 6 half way through the journey. 8. Daring myself to go to the next petrol station when the fuel light has come on (using the onboard computer is banned here) 9. Counting the number of cars I recognise every day driving the opposite way to work. 10. Guessing when the car behind will turn off As you can see not very good and all quite sad.
• MPG wanted for 4-6k. 29 Jun 2002 (Forum)
  I've also have looked at Rover 200/400 diesels with less mileage. Also considered an ex fleet dual fuel(LPG) Vauxhall but dont know enough about oncosts of servicing/problems etc. No where seems to talk about them. Again opinions please. So there you have it - I need recommendations for a 23 year old with full no claims to spend 4-6k on a highly economical larger motorway crusier to keep for 2-3 years 60000 miles.
• Galaxy overdrive 14 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  The revs seem higher, it slows down more noticeably on overrun when I take my foot off the gas, kickdown goes straight into 3rd rather than non-overdrive top, and instant fuel consumption readout at motorway cruising is about 1-2mpg worse than before. I rang my usual Ford dealer for a spot of hands-on diagnosis whilst on the motorway but he feigned ignorance of what I was on about (or did it come naturally?).
• First Car (memories) 11 Nov 2001 (Forum)
  I took all to bits and put it back together that year (it needed a new flat head and piston rings and some gear box work(2ed gear synchro) and some pop rivet work on the body and a new clutch and the brakes needed work and the steering kit needed renewal and the fuel pump needed rebuilding and the water pump and the radiator (cause of the cracked head that had put it out of service was the botom mount radiator core falling to bits in the middle of nowhere... hose run from one side of water pump to the other... after run home bonnett lifted in the dusk to see the head glowing red... buckets of water dumped on same to keep engine from freezing up when turned off... after the steam cleared many crackes in the head but engine still running on about 2 pots!)
• Sierra - What no spark? 26 Oct 2001 (Forum)
  Problem: 1984 1.6 OHC Sierra has been standing for a couple of months and needs to be started to get it for MOT, but wont. Fuel is getting to the carb (pumping ok - pipe removed to confirm) and new/fresh petrol has been put in. No spark when plug is removed and engine turned over. Likewise no spark when HT lead is held (with protection!!)
• If Microsoft Built Cars 24 Oct 2001 (Forum)
  The oil, petrol and alternator warning lights would be replaced by a single general purpose warning light. Changing to a different brand of fuel would cause the engine to cut out everytime you turned left.
• Front lower arm replacement 9 Oct 2001 (Forum)
  Mondeo TD Estate. (yes that one again with the probable fuel filter issue a few days ago). (I caused this problem before the filter seems to have gone worng but they are not linked) In todays no blame culture I will say it was 50/50 but I dont really believe it !
• Front lower arm replacement 6 Oct 2001 (Forum)
  Mondeo TD Estate. (yes that one again with the probable fuel filter issue a few days ago). (I caused this problem before the filter seems to have gone worng but they are not linked) In todays no blame culture I will say it was 50/50 but I dont really believe it !
• Citroen Xantia HDI fault. 7 Sep 2001 (Forum)
  The original dealer is no longer trading and the matter is now being dealt with by XXXXXX , who have not so far been able to cure the problem , despite fitting two new fuel pumps. When connected to the diagnostic plug the machine reads no faults found. There does not appear to be any pattern to the fault i.e.. it happens at different speeds and with or without the caravan on tow .
• Unintentional Acceleration Syndrome 6 Jun 2001 (Forum)
  The problem is that any engine might suddenly increase revs at any time, either due to a minor fault, a hiccough, or because the ECU decides it needs to increase revs to protect the cat from unburned fuel. So any driving instructor or any car salesman who tells drivers to only use their right foot when driving an automatic is directly responsible for these accidents. The one and only way to retail full control of an automatic at all times is to use the left foot for the brake (or, if the driver is disabled, to have an extra hand control for the footbrake).