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• 1.3CDTi Vaux Combo Van, 05 reg - Coolant loss mystery? 12 May 2015 (Forum)
    Needed it for work, so he topped up the water and brought it home.  Expansion tank was again empty - left the cap off when he filled it to the max mark and started the engine.  Bottle immediately emptied.  Left engine running and topped up again, but level stayed constant this time.  Assuming perhaps some form of airlock, which had cleared, he went to work in it again today, only to find expansion bottle empty again tonight.
• European parking fine - UK collection enforceable? 17 Jan 2015 (Forum)
  I photographed the parking sign and have now done a Google translate as follows: ----- Private Parking Area Parking only with parking permits located legibly in the foreground or in max 3 hours with the use of P-disc. Other signs and instructions from P-guards must be followed. For breach of rules imposing a monitoring charge of kr.650 per day. 1 days P-cards can be purchased from the savings bank. ----- So, I can see my mistake.
• Vauxhall Zafira B 1.9CDTI (2010) - Starnge Oil Levels 17 Sep 2014 (Forum)
  I have always checked my oil cold but during the last couple of weeks I have noticed the Oil level is way up on my dipstick (8.5cm). If I check the oil when hot it is just on the max mark of the dipstick. I was concerned it may be the DPF problem dumping diesel back in so I have spoken to a local garage who I know well. They suggested draining the oil and re-filling to the correct level  (which they did free of charge I might add so no incentive for them to mis-advise me).
• Toyota Avensis - Flimsy bodywork and paintwork 25 May 2014 (Forum)
  Any journey of more than 100 kms these days seems to wipe out entire insect colonies, leaving encrusted bodies, wings and blood over the whole of the front of the car and the mirrors. Colleagues who changed cars at the same time as me who opted for Zafira, Scenic and C-Max models all have cars which look almost showroom-new, despite similar mileages and mostly on-street parking.  The flimsy bodywork and poor quality, far too thin, paint finish are beginning to put me off the brand.
• Diesel Auto for under £4500, What would you buy? 25 Dec 2013 (Forum)
  Shes just looking for something abit bigger and classy! I want a diesel for economy and we have £4500 max to spend. Now i work for a Mercedes dealership and speaking to the tech guys i should avoid semi autos, even audis great DSG gearbox, and CVT gearboxs. My sisters Micra CVT needed a £2000 gearbox rebuild so i can understand that!
• Buying advice for a newbie (& an old one at that!) 19 Dec 2013 (Forum)
  About me: - Married, two young children (under 4) (buggy goes everywhere at the moment) plus small (mostly functioning) dog. - Commute 12 miles round trip per day. - Weekend short journeys max 50 mile round trips - Every other month 150mile round trip Looking for: - Reliable, realitively cheap to run OR cheap total cost of ownership (stuck between diesel / petrol dilemma), as I dont think I have the budget to keep trading up.
• 
  Speeding and speed limits 25 Nov 2012 (Ask HJ)
  I was recently driving a 3.5-tonne Luton van in Cambridgeshire, when I was caught doing 57mph in a 60mph zone (national speed limit on a single carriageway)....
• Mazda 6 - Gear trouble and leaking gearbox 10 Nov 2011 (Forum)
  action=view&current=P1000644.jpg">http://s55.photobucket.com/albums/g136/mikej2005/P1000644.jpg Same shot from further back - looking at back of passenger glovebox :  http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g136/mikej2005/P1000645.jpg These are the two fluids collected - the brown liquid was dripping fairly quickly, but has since slowed :  http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g136/mikej2005/P1000646.jpg Any ideas ? The combined (I presume) brake and clutch fluid reservoir is just under the max mark so no obvious loss of clutch fluid so far. Could leaking gear oil cause problems in selecting gears and what could cause gear oil to leak - a dodgy seal/gasket or anything more serious ?
• B Category Driving Licence 26 Apr 2011 (Forum)
  (Exceptions for a trailer under 750kgs where GW can be 4250kgs as long as the towing vehicle does not exceed 3500kgs.) I checked the cars ability to tow (1500kgs) and the caravan max weight (950kgs) so all was ok in my mind. It was only after caravanning for a while I noted the exact rules. (I am complying thankfully). Recently being a father of two, the tow car has changed from my Astra to the wifes Galaxy for the space and we now just come under the limit with a Gross Weight of 3455kgs.
• Mondeo 1.8 SCi Fuel Consumption 20 Nov 2010 (Forum)
  My nephew works for another dealer and when I got this car he said that there were a number of this model in and out of the workshop for the same reason. The type of mileage is mainly motorway driving to a max of 80mph. I work 13 miles from home and start work at 05:00, so I very rarely need to change gear once I am on the move. More or less the same for the home journey, although I do get a bit of stationary traffic once I am almost home.
• Volkswagen Golf III 1.9 AAZ - Golf III illogical engine warmup 6 Nov 2010 (Forum)
    It is a mechanical idle adjustment: there is minimum (which I adjusted) and maximum stop screws, and the main adjustment where you adjust the cable on a solenoid that moves between min and max, i suppose, dependantly of outside temperature (electronically controlled).   The thing I don't understand is what's the reason to keep the engine at low rpm when cold; it would seem logical to me that it should be just the opposite: the engine should lower the rpm when it's warmed up!
• 2005 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 16v - Leaking Head Gasket? 24 Jul 2010 (Forum)
  Funny thing is it doesn't use a drop of coolant, can't see a film of oil in the header tank, can't really check if the oil level is going up as the last muppet filled it above the max mark on the last service but oil in the sump is not creamy at all. I'm aware of other issues with this car (cue the typical GM c*** remarks) but not head gaskets. Just wanted to catch it before it does any lasting damage.
• Oil pressure light - Shogun 10 Jun 2010 (Forum)
  There is no oil pressure gauge on the car, just a warning light. Oil level on the dipstick is about one third down from the max mark. Any thoughts guys? Many thanks, John
• Renault Scenic (2003 - 2009) - 05 1.6 diesel. fails start in cold/starting probs 9 Feb 2010 (Forum)
  Refitted, together with replacement fuel filter unit, all reprogrammed (2 weeks in garage, mega money). 1 week ago (max 800 miles later), noted oil or fuel leak and LOTs of white smoke on starting, plus juddering at low speeds (below 30mph). Back to garage, (replaced gland on oil valve on engine top) and found possible loose fuel hose, tightened with aim of fixing any reason for air in system.
• Honda Civic UK (2001 - 2005) - 01 1.4 gearbox/air con/headlight probs. 22 Jan 2010 (Forum)
  Recently bough an 01 Civic 1.4 "Max", seemed a decent car but it quickly developed gearbox problems (noise in neutral, goes when dipping clutch), was mis-diagnosed as a clutch which was replaced at our expense then the gearbox was repaired under extended warranty (they found swarf in the box and I believe did the usual bearings).
• Peugeot 307 SW (2002 - 2008) - 02 2.0 Engine Cuts Out 13 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  She left it for a while and then managed three miles at normal speed and it then happened again and she was recovered. I took it out last night and it happened twice so I MoT style max revved it and it travelled for about 6 miles with no trouble. This morning I cleaned the air filter and drained the fuel filter. I then revved it again and took it out. It went for about three miles before cutting out.
• Windscreen Chip repair kits 9 Jul 2009 (Forum)
  Guys, I have recently purchased a secondhand car due to being made redundant and having to give back my company car. I'm hopeful I will only have this car for 3-4 months max and then I'll get another job with a company car. Anyway, I was cleaning the car today and noticed a small chip in the windscreen, it's no more than 1 cm long and probably 1mm, maybe 2mm deep. I only have the car TPF&T insured due to it's value and therefore have no windscreen cover.
• Bangernomics - What are the rules of engagement? 4 Jun 2009 (Forum)
  m hopeful of getting another job within the next 3-4 months that will also come with a car but between now and then I need to get a cheap car for running around and going to interviews in. I?ve never spent much cash on my own car, £750 max, and ideally I wouldn?t want to spend more than that this time. The rules I have in place are most have at least 6 months on its ticket, ideally be taxed and easy to sell on when I want to get rid of it.
• Nissan Micra (1992 - 2003) - 01 1.0 Oil warning light 6 Oct 2008 (Forum)
  The car then started up and drove without problems. A lot quieter, with smoother gear change. Maybe less power when you get to max revs. in 5th. Maybesome vibration when pulling away at low revs in 2nd. But I don't know if I am imagining this. Have I got away without permanent damage? I suppose only time will tell... Incidentally, when I bought the car, I measured the oil using the measure-wipe-measure dipstick technique and there was plenty of oil in the car.
• Help an American Buy a Car 7 Aug 2008 (Forum)
  We live in Scotland and will probably use the car to go on holidays around the highlands, etc camping. Our budget is flexible, but I would say £4k-£5k max and to be honest I would prefer less as we can really only afford £150 per month in all costs related to a car (car payment, petrol, insurance, etc). I would really be looking for something with great fuel mileage and a low insurance bracket, as being new to the UK driving scene, my insurance will be extortionate.