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• Coolant Thermostat / Temperature Gauge 19 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  Sorry, for the mamy postings but your help is greatly appreciated. My 1993 TD Astra (Isuzu), the temp gauge rarely goes above the blue, even on runs over 30mins. I guess my thermostat has failed, and being Vauxhall the failsafe is that they fail opened. I have been quoted 7.99 for a new one and contemplated using a paper type gasket with gasket sealant.
• mondeo tddi/tdci miss fire 11 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  Can any one help i have a 01 mondeo tddi which ocasionally miss fires,If you try to hold the revs at a steady 1750 to 1800 RPM you get a surging and if you listen to the exhaust you can hear the occasional miss,and the engine seems to run very roughly at this rpm.My ford dealer says there is nothing he can do but it does spoil what i consider to be a good car.I need a cure! (Moved from discussion. DD.)
• Best buy for £20k 31 Jul 2003 (Forum)
  I do 40000 miles per year, mainly motorway and A-Road. I will be keeping the car for 3 years/120000 miles (ouch!). Running and purchase costs will be funded by employer's car allowance, the ususal 12p per mile for fuel, plus tax relief etc. What do you forum-contributers think I should buy?...Answers on an email. Ta!
• Vectra Cam Chain 18 Jul 2003 (Forum)
  So far thanks to your wonderful knowledge you have solved the following ECU light problem - Air Mass meter changed Not starting in mornings - Have changed the spill back pipes. Now running nicely, except I'm concerned about the cam chain. Do i need to replace it or anything? The engine does kind of "buzz" above 3000rpm, is this normal for this engine or am i worrying over nothing??
• TRIGGER HAPPY POSTERS - PLEASE READ 15 Jul 2003 (Forum)
  The backroom seems to be running slowly at the moment. While this glitch is being sorted out, I ask that you please be patient and not repeatedly press the \"Post this message\" button. If you get a time out error message, chances are your message has been posted anyway, and all you simply need do is hit your Refresh button (which is button F5 if you\'re using Internet Explorer as your browser) -- Dynamic Dave Back Room Moderator mailto:dave_moderator@honestjohn.co.uk
• Citroen Picasso hdi diesel engine fault 14 Jul 2003 (Forum)
  My Picasso was reg' in Sept.'02 and has an intermittent fault which shows up after driving on the over run and coming to a roundabout the engine wont pick up for seconds just as you are pulling out into the traffic stream. Then it suddenly takes off like a bat out of hell.This seems to be happening to a good few people off another site but dealers seem unable to find any fault.
• abs sensor output 4 Jul 2003 (Forum)
  What should meter reading be doing and would you be turning roadwheels in turn by hand with engine running? I don\'t have access to an oscilloscope. Any knowledgeable help appreciated. Cheers, Mike.
• Which Diesel Fuel 26 May 2003 (Forum)
  I currently run a 98 Audi A4 2.5 Diesel Quattro Avant (93K miles)in which the engine has been vibrating slightly more at idle, I think the injectors may be slightly gummed & a shot of injector cleaner will be used at the next fill-up.
• Spare parts shortages 23 May 2003 (Forum)
  I've contributed to the thread on the Mercedes E-Class cooling hose problem (parts not available for weeks), also just read the HJ Car by Car; he says of the Nissan Primera II that 'spares shortages can put cars off road for three months'. My wife runs one of these and odd part we've needed has been available straight away, although we've never needed much. Are people experiencing delays in getting parts more generally?
• Astra Diesel (1999) 20 May 2003 (Forum)
  A friend's has just failed to start, and an air leak into the pump diagnosed. So far the garage has changed the fuel filter and all the leak-off pipes. It will start, and run, but not well. They have suggested a non-return valve in the pipe to the pump. I seem to recall a thread about this, and the use of transparent pipe to confirm the diagnosis. Of course, I could just be having a senior moment
• Emissions Test interpritation 1 May 2003 (Forum)
  Having just had a MOT, the results from the Emissions Test make no sense to me, except that the car passed (mercedes A140) Are all the test results OK (i.e running at optimum, rather than just enough to pass) Can someone have a quick look at the test result, and let me know!! cheers BET Test Result: Catalyst vehicle with closed loop control Fast Idle Test CO = 0.00 HC = 00010 LAMBDA = 1.00 Natural Idle Test CO = 0.00
• 0% finance deals 15 Apr 2003 (Forum)
  General sales figures well down on expectations? I'm talking particularly about the latest Skoda promotion running 'til 30 June. I've not been aware of deals of this type being offered before on the Octavia RS ? for me an object of some desire. The Fabia yes, etc. £15,100 OTR, deposit of £6,100 = £9K over 36 = £250pcm = well within my grasp!
• Honda Bore 19 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  Comparing it to my (now sold) 7 year old Beemer, the Beemer seems heavy, over-engineered, complex and very expensive to run. The thought of not being ripped-off any more by franchised dealers (in order to keep up the stamps) is such a relief!
• 1.8 T Passat Estate 28 Feb 2003 (Forum)
  I run an 18 month old Passat which has given me no trouble over 8000 miles but I am due to take the car abroad for some high mileage driving. I am a little worried about all the info on USA websites regarding faulty ignition coils on this model and wonder if some knowledgeable person could give me an opinion and advice.
• Distance req'd to fully charge battery 7 Feb 2003 (Forum)
  Had a flat battery last night which isn't unusual for a second hand car which has been sitting on a forecourt up until last weekend (and has sat unmoved during the last very cold week). On the basis that it starts again after the short run I gave it after a jump, what distance do I need to travel for it to be fully charged. If it's relevant it is a BMW 318ti. I always thought it was about 30 miles? Thanks in advance.
• High depreciation car 31 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  What is the cheapest way of running a 1yr old car with relatively high depreciation and looking to change in 2 or 3 years when the warranty is out? Say for example, a Citroen C5 diesel. I have looked and Personal Contract Hire and Personal Contract Purchase are similar prices to other cars that size, eg Laguna, Mondeo etc.
• Spark plug adjustment 309 1.4i 9 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  Friend has a 309 1.4 carb (Im posting the difference in case its relevant.) Mine (ok Mums ,and up for sale) - the i - runs badly from cold under any attempted hard acceleration. Misfires (I think.)The friend's Dad, who looks after her car, reckons that 'Peugeot say the spark plugs should be set at 32000 but Heatons [the garage] set the at 28000 and its better from cold.'
• Flooded Roads 6 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  For those of you that have not had to venture out, there is a LOT of surface water on the roads, with occasional LARGE puddles and water running across the road. I saw one car that had aquaplaned and skidded off the A12 early this afternoon. It doesn't look as if it is going to get any better by the morning so if you are back to work take extra care and maybe look at sticking to main roads rather than short-cutting across country.
• Merc SL (W107) Am I asking for trouble? 2 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  I imagine that the mpg is pretty poor especially on the 450's and I don't have a garage. I would have hoped that the running costs would be lessened by the fact that it is mostly motorway driving. Am I asking for trouble?
• I need a new car! 27 Dec 2002 (Forum)
  Group 10 insurance (I'm 19), tax for a 2.0, expensive parts and servicing mean I am going to have to get something smaller and newer for about £2500-3000. I need something cheap to run, low insurance and is reliable etc. I've seen a decent '99 Fiesta 1.25 Zetec and also Corsa's and Polo's, I'm not sure if they are going to be trouble or not. Has anyone got any suggestions or had any experience of those cars?