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• Peugeot / Citroen HPi engine issues 6 Aug 2008 (Forum)
  My 406 is fitted with this (2.0L petrol, low emissions) engine but it hasn't run properly all this year. The dealer says there's a problem with the unit that advances the valve timing (apparently it has VVT just like the Honda's). They change the unit but within a few wks it plays up again - misfire/hesitation under load.
• SEAT Leon II (2005 - ) - New Tyres 24 Jul 2008 (Forum)
  Hi all, the time has come for some new rubber but the array of options is staggering. Basically the car is a 2006 Leon 2 1.6 running on 225/45/R17's. Can anyone recommend me a good long lasting low noise tyre! I dont mind paying extra for a decent tyre. The ones that the dealer put on when i bought it have barely done 16000km!!!
• Renault - Trafic 1984 1.6 charge warning light 18 Jul 2008 (Forum)
  Despite looking rather tatty, it's actually in quite good condition having done less than 90000 miles from new. When I took it out on a test run, I noticed that the alternator/charge warning light comes on dimly and that turning on something which pulls a lot of current (heater blower, headlights) causes the light to go out. Can somebody tell me what's happening, and whether I can afford to ignore it or how to fix it?
• BMW 3-Series E90 (2005 - ) - "Bad" Fuel? 1 Jul 2008 (Forum)
  Driving past a different Shell station on Saturday I decided to refuel as there was no queue. I filled it with ostensibly the same Diesel Extra. Since then the engine has been running rough, performance has been down and the OBC indicated fuel consumption has dropped to 31mpg. Bad batch of fuel?
• Audi A4 (1995 - 2000) - 1997 1.6 suspension problem 23 Jun 2008 (Forum)
  Is this likely to be a simple worn shocks issue? The vehicle has done 90k, and the shocks look like the original ones. Is 11 years a fair run for these? I'd be grateful for any advice. :o)
• Mazda Mazda 6 (2002 - 2007) - 03 2.0 diesel - coolant use 9 Jun 2008 (Forum)
  I had a new engine fitted under warranty after 74K miles due to the total failure problems described here by myself and others. Anyway new engine is running well over the last 2K miles. However watching the coolant level it seems to be dropping slowly where I've had to add one litre over 2k miles. There's no obvious leaks and never any indication on the ground or around the engine of a coolant leak.
• Smallish automatic 3 Jun 2008 (Forum)
  They were thinking of switching from petrol to diesel but as they do less than 15k a year then I can't see the point and a switch at their years might be more prone to misfueling than one done when younger. Whatever they buy needs to be cheap to run, with a decent auto, reasonably safe and reliable. Any ideas on what vehicle to suggest? I was thinking the cmax or a jazz. Tax band would probably need to be C or below.
• Peugeot 306 (1993 - 2001) - 1998 1.9d radiator and cam belt 3 Jun 2008 (Forum)
  my coolant level has been running low very quickly recently and over the past couple of days it has gone from full to empty within minutes. is there anything else other than the radiator that is causing this. im planning on getting the radiator changed because of this problem. and at the same time was going to get a new cam belt as its been about 4 years and 70000 miles since this was changed. does the cam belt need changing this regularly or could i leave it for longer. could anyone estimate the cost of this kind of job. cheers
• Renault Megane CC (2003 - 2010) - Cat. D write off value of a 05 1.6 VVT petrol auto 5 May 2008 (Forum)
  It was previously a Cat D write off however it has been perfectly repaired and has an engineers report. Done approx 33000 miles. Runs beautifully and never had any problems. How much do you think i can get for it? My partner and I are looking to upgrade to a Eos hence the sale.
• Vauxhall - Vivaro - 03 1.9 - ECU light keeps coming on 4 May 2008 (Forum)
  I took the van to a vauxhall dealer who put in on the computer, and replaced the solenoid valve. The light stayed out for 24 hours, but the following day came back on again. The van is running very rough and using alot of diesel. The garage then replaced the ECU and pressure sensor, but this did not fix it either. Please can anyone give me any ideas what the problem may be. The garage have given up.
• Toyota Camry (1991 - 1995) - Panel beating courses in Brighton 24 Apr 2008 (Forum)
  To be honest I have never seen it advertised anywhere. To note, with the car mechanics course, it is run over 3 years, and can be a full time course or part time course. So there is a lot of training involved: of course this is expected. Thanks in advance. Gregory
• Mercedes Benz C-Class W202 (1993 - 2000) - 99 1.8 Cooling Fan 14 Apr 2008 (Forum)
  Removal of the relevant fuse prevents this happening and RAC guy advised to take this out when parked to prevent battery running down again. Sometimes the fan comes on when the engine is switched off and other times it doesn't. Any advice what this could be? Many thanks
• Citroen Xsara Picasso (2000 - 2010) - 2003 1.6 Dashboard/radio hazard lights Fault 1 Apr 2008 (Forum)
  Fault only happens at start up. it never happens mid journey i.e. power never goes when its been working and engine is running. Any ideas, i had a look at the interior fusebox and it looks a mess behind all the cable looms.
• Ford Mondeo III (2000 - 2007) - smokey exhaust problem following fill up 8 Mar 2008 (Forum)
  Last week i was running out of diesel and i can feel the car jerking by then i was 2 min away from the gas station so i managed to get the car to the gas station and feel the tank with some diesel. But couple of minutes i realise that when i start the engine there is a massive smoke coming out of the exhaust expecially in the mornings or when i have parked the car for a while and start it.
• FIAT Punto (1994 - 1999) - 97 1.1 8 valve head gasket change. 24 Feb 2008 (Forum)
  Removal of head confirmed that no skimming was required and the work was done. Car is now back in service and running fine. However, I now find that the garage did not use new stretch bolts when the head was replaced (owner was not charged for the bolts) Off-the-record advice please, as to if this should be a matter for concern ?
• E-sure renewal beaten by E-sure @ TescoCompare 5 Feb 2008 (Forum)
  Just nipped into TescoCompare website - Cheapest E-sure - same cover £40 less. The inmates seem to be running the "Premium Calculations" New customer off the street gets 18% less than an existing customer of 6 years (I was one of their 1st motor policy holders) - the renewal said NCB Discount 70% + 5% for being with them claim free for 6 years.
• Diesel - is the honeymoon over? 8 Jan 2008 (Forum)
  Here are my thoughts: * Concern over reliability of CR engines (misfueling etc) * Petrol engines becoming more & more efficient * More electric / hybrid cars on the market now * Diesel prices going up recently (accepted this has happened to normal petrol too though, I paid £1.13 per litre last week) One thing that makes me doubt that diesel has had it's day is that the price of 2nd hand diesels remains high despite concerns (on this board for example) about reliability. Usually, cars known for unreliability & high running costs don't hold their values as well i.e. Saabs, Masseratis.
• Renault Scenic (1996 - 1998) - 1.6 8v petrol - misfire only when hot 12 Nov 2007 (Forum)
  starts great from cold, starts missing when it gets hot, strong smell of petrol, wont pull skin off a rice pudding, once or twice it has kicked back in again to normal whilst driving along, once stopped and try to restart it does start only just but runs as if its firing only on two,when idling strong smell of petrol and it smells of burning rubber, please help. 1.6 petrol, 8 valve, changed plugs(ngk) and leads and lambda sensor, still no luck.
• Alfa Romeo 156 (1998 - 2005) - Battery 8 Nov 2007 (Forum)
  My battery is running flat after 3-4 days. AA man has been out twice now, he has told me that it is the battery, however, having changed the battery, still getting the same problem. AA man states it the battery beacuse it fails a load test.
• Help me choose a car! 24 Oct 2007 (Forum)
  Hi, It's my first time in here so be gentle! I've got to give my company car back at the end of the month and I need to buy a run-around. I get the train to work most days so won't be covering many miles in it. I used to have a Diesel Rover 75 which I loved but I'm not sure I can afford another now - my budget is £2.5 to £3K.