Refine by channel:  Forum (2396)    News (823)    Ask HJ (688)    productReview (70)    Article (53)    FAQs (17)  

Sort by: Relevance | Newest first | Oldest first

• Toyota Previa 2.4i 16v 2001 - Toyota Previa No Spark from Coil 2 Aug 2010 (Forum)
  Hi all I have a Toyota Previa II 2.4i 16v 1991  which was running very ragged after 15 mins (or when warmed up). I was advised to get hold of a new coil and No. 1 HT lead, which I duly did and also I added a new battery. I fitted the battery first and then found that I couldn't get the car to start at all. Believing that the new power in the battery has possibly finished off the coil, I replaced the coil and HT lead and find that it still wont start.
• 
  Strained relationship 24 Apr 2010 (Ask HJ)
  Your website refers to the oil strainer problem leading to engine failure of VAG 2.0 TDIs. In the 3.5 years I have had my Skoda Superb 2.0TDI, I have had...
• Renault Scenic (1999 - 2003) - 99 1.6 Car shuddering and jolting in every gear 12 May 2009 (Forum)
  Even when going from 4th to 5th on the motorway the car still jumps and is not smooth. The only thing i can compare it too is when a HT lead is loose or split?? I have checked the leads and they appear to be in good order, the car has done 85,000 after a full engine rebuilt at 80,000 when the head gasget went. In the last 4 months the car has had a new exhaust front to back, a new oxigen sensor and a new catalistic converter all done in February this year.
• 
  Passed perfect 18 Apr 2009 (Ask HJ)
  Many thanks your very swift reassurances as to the legality of nearside overtaking, albeit in very specific circumstances. You have clarified the situation...
• Ford Escort (1993 - 2000) - 1997 1.8 Rear brake shoes won't stay in line 21 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  I have changed the offside shoes but when I refit the drum to the hub, the drum will only rotate freely through 180' before stopping with a clonk. When turning the drum the other way the same thing happens. I have figured out that the leading shoe is slipping downwards when I refit the drum, almost to the point that the top of the leading shoe has slid completely off the piston. I've checked, double checked and triple checked, and it appears I have assembled the brake shoes, springs, clips etc correctly.
• Ford Focus II (2004 - 2007) - 2003 1.8TDCi - reluctant to start when part warm 9 Jul 2008 (Forum)
  Fault stayed intermittent for 6 months till it got so bad it had to be towed in to dealer again as I could not live with it. This time they found it (by accident) - it was a chaffed lead under the gearbox, lead which fed the fuel delivery system making occasional contact. I am hoping to sue the Dealer or Ford for the £1919-22 they charged me . Am I alone on this one - can any one advise how I proceed.
• Vectra Alternator 25 Apr 2007 (Forum)
  The fuses are all fine, the Vectra starts okay but cuts out when the jump lead is removed. The battery does charge because if I leave it 'jumping' for while the car will run on it's own for a few minutes until the charge runs out. The Battery warning light was on but flared and went out, it now does not light up at ignition.
• Rover 420iS mystery 26 Oct 2006 (Forum)
  So far for this problem we have:- > > Replaced leads & plugs > Run a compression test-all OK > Run a scan on the firing-all OK > Replaced manifold inlet gasket-due to air leak > Replaced injector seals (8)-1 damaged causing air leak > Gas treatment > Ran a test on swapping injector 1 with 2 (possible spray > deficiency)-all OK > > Still no resolution!
• What stops cars starting? 12 Jan 2005 (Forum)
  Points that drift & need resetting every 500 miles (does that fall into maintenance?) Bad maintenance: old plugs; worn leads; cracked distributor caps; rusted rotors; pitted points, old battery. Failure to replace the timing belt. Over complicated design: My theory is that modern cars are more likely to give you a spectacular failure than simpler, older cars.
• Lupo 1.4 16V - oil deposits and idle. 19 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  I noticed that there is quite a bit of oil on the \'downstream\' side of the air filter, especially around the edges and leading toward the throttle body. Is this usual, or does it indicate a problem? There is a rubber pipe leading from this section of the airbox which I had assumed was the brake servo vacuum, but could it be an oil breather?
• Renault 19 1.7 - slow and jerky starting 19 Feb 2003 (Forum)
  Changing the HT leads helped briefly, but now the problems are back. Also, it can be very jerky, moving forward suddenly, even when smooth throttle is applied. It also sounds quite rough, a bit like a diesel, and has difficulty idling.
• Are small cars killers? 19 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  This from Junk Science, January 17, 2002 "Does CAFE Kill?: Leading Traffic Safety Researcher to Discuss Federal Fuel Economy Standards Program at CEI" - "Washington, D.C., January 15, 2002-As the debate over fuel economy standards heats up, one of the world's leading traffic safety researchers addresses the question-Does CAFE Kill?
• Jaguar S-Type diesel - Battery 18 May 2021 (Forum)
  It’s a fresh Yuasa, so in good condition, so the debate is to either wield an 8mm spanner and remove the earth lead or not. It’s parked on the street so a trickle charger isn’t an option, and it’s now too late to get a solar charger.
• Modern cars - Adam Smith Institute suggest MoT be scrapped..... 29 Jul 2018 (Forum)
  https://www.adamsmith.org/research/drivers-of-safety-the-outdated-practice-of-mot-testing Yippee!   This will go down like a lead balloon with some of the regulars here who delight in recommending mid twentieth century practices for twenty first century cars.
• Will you ever learn????? 14 Dec 2016 (Forum)
  As with previous lead up to Xmas like others my old Force, North Yorks has started a campaign addressed against the demon drink/drug drive. Less than a week into it they report so far 22 (TWENTY TWO) have been arrested.
• Audi A4 1.9 TDI 2003 - Alarm won't go off 2 Nov 2015 (Forum)
  Tried to limit the alarm using the switches in the door which control the motion sensors but no luck. Finally managed to locate the sounder in the boot and disconnect the leads. But would be grateful to know what is causing the problem
• Ford Focus Saloon 1.8 (2000) - Unusual Tax Disc Holder Removal Problem 2 Oct 2014 (Forum)
  The tax disc holder has a black lead attached to it which goes down the side of the dash. I've tried to pull it out; but it seem to be attached to something. Any idea what this is? I've phoned a Ford dealer and they said they had never heard of this.
• Car nicked - how they do it (warning) 9 May 2014 (Forum)
  https://uk.news.yahoo.com/thousands-cars-stolen-using-hi-tech-gadgets-011316589.html#KNbrz0v When I had a Landy and up here there was a spate of such thefts,.  I spoke to my Garage Mech and he showed me a lead I could easily take off my engine that disabled and was hard to sort out if not known.   dvd
• ford escort 1.8 td '98 - escort 1.8 td electrical problem 6 Dec 2013 (Forum)
  hi,  i,ve just replaced my steering column switches for the lights and wipers and forgot to pull the battery negative lead, now without the ignition on my indicators work and the heater fan works, but it blows fuses for the wipers and another 20 amp on number 33  
• VW GOLF - VW Golf mk 5 main shaft bearing 4 Sep 2012 (Forum)
  Hi - I've been told by my vw mechanic that my 51 plate Golf mk 5 is making a wirling noise that is coming from the main shaft bearing, and would need a gearbox remove and strip. Is this something to worry about or is the noise more of a nusicance? Will it lead to a failure? Thanks