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• Any - Real Fuel Saving at Low Cost 4 Sep 2020 (Forum)
  If you externally charge up your 12 volt car battery, using say, an intelligent charger, just before making a long familiar journey, you can enjoy a significant fuel saving for the whole round trip, that will yield an indicated fuel economy similar to that achieved by HJ Real mpg readers running similarly sized but much more expensive hybrid engined cars such as the Toyota Yaris Hybrid. For example, improving fuel economy from 51 mpg to 59 mpg in June/July 2019 on a 94 mile round trip, with the car driven gently (no aggressive acceleration or braking) but cruising at around 65 mph on dual carriageways.
• 2009 Honda Crv 2.2 Diesel - *Slow Battery Drain + Sat Nav Fascia Glitch!* 26 Jun 2020 (Forum)
  Fast forward a few more days and the mechanic can see nothing wrong. He has checked the voltage, the alternator, had the sat Nav out, car running with CD playing to see if it acts out.. Every combination... But it has been fine with no obvious faults...The sat Nav fascia didn't even glitch! So it's left the mechanic quite perplexed in the 2 hours.
• VW Polo 2004 1.4L - 54 Plate VW Polo randomly cutting out 26 Oct 2019 (Forum)
  I left it turned off while I waited for the recovery mechanic, and thought I would try one last time - low and behold it started again and kept running with no issues, the engine sounds fine and after the mechanic got to me, there was no fault to diagnose - he drove behind me for about 25 minutes to check it didn't happen again and it didn't - so I got to work OK, parked up - tried turning it over again when there just in case and it's fine.
• Peugeot 307 - Peugeot 307 (2001 - 2007) - 03 110, Anti Pollution 4 Jul 2019 (Forum)
  I've done the following so far :-  - Added some Redex and DPF cleaner and taken it on a motorway run a few times @ 3000pm to try and give a kick. Did this for at least 20mins if not more and this seemed to help a little. The car can now get past 30mph on but still takes alot longer than normal. You have to max out on each gear before changing.
• Any - Airborne toxins from old cars... 21 Dec 2018 (Forum)
  Will the shape of this particular vehicle mean fumes from engine will not get inside when the window's open? Of course, I might have just had a fluke run of good luck with Transits! Second question: I'm looking to buy a cheap used car (I really don't want/need a Transit!) Maybe £1,500-ish. Are there any particular models of vehicle that might tend to be better for me for any reason (engine/exhaust design etc)?
• Please confirm my advice is sensible 5 Dec 2018 (Forum)
  Read well, checked MOT history and paid for a check to see it was cosher and all was fine. Seller was a lady and was happy to take him on a decent run and she let him drive round a deserted industrial area, again all fine. He made an offer, they negotiated and did a deal. He paid cash, insured it, taxed it and drove it away. very happy it seems.
• A generation of cars - 33yrs and 696,900 miles family motoring costs 30 Nov 2018 (Forum)
   The magic of Excel produced these figures, which I thought might amuse, if only myself.  Our annual mileage started at around 13,000, then up to over 40,000 (the exhausting school run days), now down to under 9,000.   Our three cars (two before 1993 when I bought my first Audi and semi-retired the TR7) are considered as a totality to keep figures simple).   Maintenance varied from under £150 (?
• Subaru Forester - The answer is a Subaru Forester... But tow weight? 6 Nov 2018 (Forum)
  The van is huge though and is useful having a vehicle that size so I am in a quandary over what is the best thing to do. We do need two vehicles but not hot on running three! Family car is an Astra estate that struggles for ground clearance so it is sell that or the van for the Forester long term. Obviously the Forester is older so...... But, we are in the middle of nowhere.
• Volvo S40 SE 1.8 Petrol 2005 - Car immobilised. Root cause of error codes? 25 Sep 2018 (Forum)
  Garage determined throttle position sensor faulty and replaced pedal+sensor Car uses 1/2 a litre of oil per tank of petrol. Drives well 35mpg. Last week I was on a 200 mile run and stopped off for a break. Reduced engine performance dash warning had been showing for months but I couldnt afford to have it looked at or was ignoring the problem... Car refused to start. No life from engine and a bunch of dash warnings: Power steering service required, park assist service required, reduced engine performance, immobilizer see manual, brake failure stop safely Recovery service called out who couldnt start it at first but then after a failed bump start (no engine activity) the car came to rest and after that it started as normal.
• Nissan Micra/Fiesta/Peugeot - Used cars 24 Sep 2018 (Forum)
  So about me and my needs...I'm a mum so don't mind anything Mumsy. Small and nippy as it is just literally for nipping kids about, shopping, school runs. Occasional motorway use but mainly just round town, A and B roads. Reliability is my main priority (ideally something that's going to last me longer than 5 month this time! Be even happier if it doesn't conk out on me this side of Christmas!
• Servicing and MOTs done on the same day or not 20 Nov 2017 (Forum)
  Luckily (or unluckily, depending upon your viewpoint) I'm not working at the moment (I'm racking my brain to find a new career other than Building Services Engineering), so I don't really 'need' a car at the moment, but given its previous high reliability and my current situation (I'm doing OK financially, but wouldn't want to have to buy a replacement car unneccessarily), I'm looking to hang on to the car until it becomes to expensive to run. Any thoughts on this subject would be welcome.
• Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCI - Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCI Injector Issue 3 Aug 2017 (Forum)
  They left the car overnight with a view to re-checking and inspecting the relevant wiring the next day (all seems fine with wiring). The next morning and the car is incredibly running well with no dash errors (!) - so it appears that the fault is intermittent / in its infancy. Understandably the garage have suggested we have all four injectors inspected @ £25 each to save potential future issues.
• Ford focus 1.6 tdci - Focus 1.6 tdci 2006 engine systems fault/cluster 17 May 2017 (Forum)
   Got a number of error codes  U1900, CAN Communication bus fault - receive error U2510, CAN Invalid data for vehicle security P0020, Intake Camshaft position actor circuit/open (bank 2) Advised by RAC whilst it's running take straight to garage so off I went to RAC approved garage who had my car 4 days, could not find a fault and suggested might need auto electrician but could be economical write off.  Now I'm not a wealthy person and I had literally made my final payment on this pos the previous month.
• Ford Mondeo Mk3 2.2TDCi - New EGR Valve fitted but glow plug light still lit 15 Feb 2017 (Forum)
  I've got a 56 plate Mk 3 Mondeo 2.2TDCi that has spent a year off the road, but has now been returned to running with a new clutch and various MoT requirements. About two weeks ago my EML came on, accompanied by clouds of blue grey smoke and some juddering initially, but with no apparent loss in performance once I got going.
• Peugeot 406 - Crankshaft pulley loose, key broken 25 Oct 2016 (Forum)
  I can only think the pully must have had some really crap liner that has worn away, in the few minutes the engine has run since the screeching. I can't immagine the crankshaft wearing away!  All the other items on the bely appear OK, and turn freely, steering pump. air-con (itself and its clutch), tensioner, and adjustable pulley. the tensioner feels a tad rough but no hint  on any of them of jamming!
• '54 Fiat Punto Dynamic 1.2 S-A (Dualogic) - Good money after bad? 29 Nov 2015 (Forum)
  All lights, air con etc have to be turned off for it to start. which led me to think it may be a voltage regulator issue. At this point the car was dying on a daily basis during her school run and the stress is now too much. I took it to a mechanic friend of mine who found a fried wiring loom seemingly going from the auto box to a control unit just behind the passenger side headlight. There has always been a horrid whining motor type noise on unlocking the car which ive never been able to trace.
• Car with no luck 28 Jan 2015 (Forum)
  In the last 2 years, I have had Windscreen Replaced x1, A/C Compressor Replaced x1, Hand brake issue x1, Car Park Incident x3(All hit and run victim)   I don’t think this would have managed to smash a bottle of champagne when it left the factory….   I started to think about replacing this car before another incident happens…..
• Any considered - Best car to buy at 3 years old 25 Nov 2014 (Forum)
  Cruising motorways will make up 95% of its miles so comfort first and hopefully half decent economy. I'm thinking if I run it from new and service it properly and continue to do that I'd like to get it to 10 years and 200,000 miles without any big repairs. My budget will be around £27,500 for buying it outright on the company.
• ENGINES - NATIONAL ENGINE CENTRE 1 Jun 2014 (Forum)
  WHAT YOU PAID FOR YOUR CAR IS IRRELEVANT ON THE DAY YOU NEED AN ENGINE, ALL THAT MATTERS IS WHATS THE CAR WORTH AS IT STANDS, WHAT IS IT GOING TO COST TO FIX AND WHAT ARE THE ONGOING RUNNING COSTS LIKELY TO BE. OBVIOUSLY THE OLDER THE CAR THE LESS LIKELY ITS WORTH FIXING? PLEASE TRY US IF YOU NEED AN ENGINE , NO MONEY UPFRONT AND WE ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS
• Vauxhall Astra G Petrol 1.6L X16XE 2001 - Unexplained intermittent engine failure/shutdown 16 Jan 2014 (Forum)
  Had yearly service done in March 13 where mechanic noted that timing belt hadn't been replaced since 09 service which was 21,000 miles ago. He felt "it would be ok for a while".so it wasn't changed. Car had run perfectly since purchase until 17 May. After being parked for one hour, engine turned over but failed to start. As i was in a huge car park I left it for half an hour and it started normally. However, engine stopped again after 20 minutes reaching normal operating temperature before it did so.