Refine by channel:  Forum (1189)    Ask HJ (364)    News (176)    Article (5)    productReview (3)    Good Garages (1)    FAQs (1)  

Sort by: Relevance | Newest first | Oldest first

• ford fiesta 1.25 with zetec type engine - ford fiesta not starting!!! 12 Feb 2011 (Forum)
  now its off it wont run again...and sometimes not even crank over all decides on its mood. no fuel pump charge on ignition on when its like this and strangely the air con light glows slighty with ignition on when the car is a non starter...yet when its a runner it dont........my head truly hurts!!!! please help! keith
• SEAT Ibiza III (2002 - 2008) - 02 1.2 Alternator belt problems 20 Oct 2008 (Forum)
  The alternator belt is squeeling loudly.I've removed and cleaned the belt and cleaned all the pulleys to remove any traces of oil or grease.I've rotated all the pulleys in an attempt to check the condition of the bearings (apart from the crankshaft pulley of course).The water pump,alternator,air con compressor and idler seem ok but the belt tensioner (which is rotated anti clockwise with a torx T-50 to remove the belt) seems to have excessive play.The bolt holding the tensioner pulley allows the pulley to slide in and out by about 1mm at the centre and allows 2 to 3 mm movement on the outside diameter.Rotating the bolt anti clockwise pushes the pulley againt a spring to refit/tension the belt.Rotating it clockwise by say half a turn requires much effort - I don't want to shear the bolt or damage any other component.Does anyone have any experience of this?
• Mitsubishi Colt 5-door (2004 - ) - How to Get the Best Deal From Mitsubishi Dealer 12 Oct 2008 (Forum)
  I have £5,500 to spend (which includes px for my car - have been quoted up to £3k PEX at local garage). Looking to get as new a Colt as pos with 5 doors and air con. It's been 5 years since I purchased my last car - and I'm rusty!! Can anyone give me any pointers to ensure I get the best deal I can. I have arranged with my local dealer to visit them on Saturday to test drive a few of the cars they have on offer.
• Bangernomics 20 Feb 2007 (Forum)
  Suits me, of course, and I can only be thankful for an economic system that has enabled me to buy a well-used but well-preserved Xedos for under £700. Everything works as it should, including the air-con, the engine runs like silk and the leather upholstery has years of life left in it. So has the rest of the car, I suspect, but I've probably tempted fate enough for one day...
• Audi A6 flat battery error 13 Feb 2007 (Forum)
  The Ecu came up ?OK? ( The Actual ECU diagnostic priority message ) with no reported faults but the Air con digital temp displays for NS/OS started flashing when turned on and continues for 4 mins. This problem does not appear to effect the A/C operation although it is too cold to check the freeze/compressor function.
• Golf 1.9tdi sport - noisy or neurotic? 9 Aug 2006 (Forum)
  Secondly, when I turn the engine off there is often a gdunkgdunkgdunk sound from the engine. I've never had a car with air con before - is this just the fan slowing down or something? I'm not really this stupid, honestly...just a tad over-protective of my new car maybe!
• Ford Focus Zetec vs Ghia - please help! 29 Jul 2006 (Forum)
  (Although reckon I could get it down a wee bit more). Otherwise they're pretty comparable - both have air con, rad/cass (although Zetec the guy says he'd put in a CD), would be MOTd new, 3 month warranty, the odd scratch, FSH and drive well. I personally prefer the Ghia but am I making a big mistake in terms of potential resale/driveability/running costs?
• Ford Focus Cambelt Change - Fair Price 17 Jan 2006 (Forum)
  (Having had a failed cambelt on a previous car before the recommended replacement mileage, I am not prepared to take any chances) Also, from what I can make out in the Service Guide, the Auxilliary Drive Belt should be changed (PAS pump/Air Con). Am I correct in thinking there are two seperate belts, (aux and cam belt)? The car will also need a new rocker cover gasket fitting. Anyway question is, what do you think a fair price (all inclusive parts & labour) would be at a franchised Ford dealer (Dagenham Motors) around the Byfleet area, and importantly, do I need any ancilliaries fitted with the cam belt, like tensioners etc...?
• Hypothetical questions (1 and 2) 11 Jan 2006 (Forum)
  I don't want to keep the Fiesta, because it is too low and there are other things I dislike, but assuming that all modern small cars can be had with air con, CD, heated electric mirrors etc what would you suggest I got that was similar in size to the Fiesta, had similar performance to the 1.25 Zetec, the drivers seat was a couple of inches higher and was basically NOT a Fiesta/Fusion/Corsa/Euroclone but was something a little different.
• Mercedes W124 advice welcome 18 May 2005 (Forum)
  A great car and so after very much thought and careful looking it was replaced last weekend with a 1995 E class diesel, one of the last of the hewn from granite models, as I understand it. It has had one owner, 78k warranted miles, auto/air con/leather and in all round good clean and sound condition. Just a hint of a fuel leak form the top of the fuel filter, for which it is going in to my local, trusted garage at the end of the week.
• Focus - squeaky - Alternator? 20 Nov 2004 (Forum)
  I've only really noticed now in the cold mornings but when I start the car, there's a constant squeak. Once it's warmed up, quiet as a mouse - runs sweet as a nut. I've heard the words alternator and air-con something or other mentioned - particular on the Focus and either something needs lining up, or tightening. Any ideas? Next "problem" (and I say this because they don't bother me but I wouldn't mind getting them sorted.
• Drive the Deal offers 23 Jul 2004 (Forum)
  (I was told when I was originally looking at the Yaris that demand was so high that there was no way they'd discount them) My only concern with changing really is that the new model spec levels are a bit rubbish. There is too much of a gap between the T3 and T-Spirit - I'd like either air-con or a sunroof, but you have to go to T-Spirit trim with quite a price premium for this, and DtD don't offer any options other than metallic paint.
• What car for 6 grand? 5 Jan 2004 (Forum)
  Bought for 3 grand, cost almost that much to keep it on the road in the first 12 months Jeep Grand Cherokee. 4.0 version expensive to run, possibly in my price range for monthly costings, was surprised to see so many sub £6000 in Autotrader So any thoughts/suggestions? Would love something fast and/or luxurious with leather/air con etc like the Jeep or a BMW/Audi to soften the blow of selling my beloved chipped S3 thanks!
• Xantia - strange noise 13 Mar 2002 (Forum)
  My 18000 mile, 1 yr old Xantia Hdi 110 sometimes makes a strange gruff 'buzzing' noise once its run a few miles (10 plus). The noise is not engine speed related - and is not either of the cooling/air con fans. (Yes I've checked the fans physically - I know the aircon comes on on 'demist' even if its not on at the switch!) Its definitely an electrical component, in my opinion - though I may be wrong.
• New Astra, any Problems?? 8 Oct 2001 (Forum)
  I'm taking delivery of a brand new (new shape) Astra. 1.6 SXI Has anybody had any problems that could have been avoided with a bit of pre-warning. eg reading in Honest Johns column that the Renault Scenics have their Air Con pumps near the front skirt vents, ie right in line for flying stones to smash the casing. Someone rectified this by putting mesh at the rear of the vent. You get my drift?? Cheers All, As a reward... my bestest joke, There was this woman who goes to the Doc's.
• Underpowered Motas vs Kyoto 15 Aug 2001 (Forum)
  I've just has the "pleasure" of a new Renault Laguna to drive approx 1000 miles over the past 3 days. Trouble is, Fiona in purchasing hired me a 1.6 16V. In a car of that size and with the air con and all the toys - it drove like an absolute dog and drank fuel like G.Lacey on the Natch last Saturday night after Somerset had pulled the rug out from under Warwickshire CCC!! Is this the failing of the Company Car Tax mechanism in place now that encourages small engined yet "rep" sized cars to in order to achieve the lowest feasible tax band.
• 
  Why are independent garages able to work on modern cars when they lack the specialist experience? 28 Sep 2013 (Ask HJ)
  Your correspondent in ‘Drain on Resources’ appears to be too simplistic in his views on independent garages and his preference to franchised dealerships....
• 
  7-year glitch 26 Sep 2009 (Ask HJ)
  We have owned a 2002 1.4 Jazz SE from new. The car has done 52,000 miles and is usually used by my wife for a 20 mile daily commute. Both my sons have...
• Mondeo Air Conditioning 25 Apr 2004 (Forum)
  The air con on my 2000 W reg Mark 2 Mondeo Zetec 2000cc had stopped working so recently, when it was in for a service, I asked them to have a look at it. They regassed it and put some sort of dye in the gas, which they said would show up if there were any leaks.
• 
  Buying a Dacia Duster - Which model is best? 26 Jun 2016 (Ask HJ)
  Which new petrol Dacia Duster should I go for with respect to resale in 3/5 years? (I do less than 6k a year mainly commute 16 miles total) a) 1.6 4x4...