May 2005
Hi all, this time asking for my mum.
She has an '03 Fiat Punto 1.2 5million. Last night she was driving home from work when the power steering failed for no apparent reason. She managed to get the car home and when she turned the car off and restarted it the steering came back. She says that it just went when she was driving up quite a main road.
Not long after she got the car the power steering warning light came on, the steering remained though. She took it back to the dealership who said that it was just an electrical fault and not to worry about it.
So basically does anyone know what this could be caused by? She doesn't do much mileage in it, say about 10 miles a day round trip to work. Should she take it back to the dealership, as it is still in warranty (only by another year i think)? Is power steering covered by the waranty? She would much rather take it to our local mechanic who we've used for 15+ years rather than the dealership if she can help it.
Thanks in advance everyone! Read more
Now that I'm a master criminal of the first order, OK it was 3 points and a £60 fine for speeding over 30 mph, do I now have a criminal record? It may sound daft, but all these forms that you now have to complete these days and the fact that I work in public service area, what gets put in the box when it asks about a criminal record? I know that you have to inform your insurance company, they said OK but it won't affect you as it's happening to so many other people these days. Good for Churchill.
Any sensible comment would be welcome, and it may settle a pub debate..
Slight tweak to a historical subject line ! Read more
Cliff, yes, I really should have asked WHY local dug up and posted to this thread. Curiosity killed the feline predator. Edited to add my 1987 motto: Yesterday I couldn't spell engineer, now I are one.
Hi there,
Just a general knowledge question.
Say im driving and my camblet snaps how will i know?
Does it make any sound..does the car loose power?
when the cambelt snaps will the car not start at all?
Sorry for sounding a little stoopid but aint really got much motoring knowledge.
Any info appreciated.
Regards Read more
16 Valve,and diesel Astra's and Cavalier's DO suffer if the cambelt breaks, bent valves, holed pistons and broken cam followers, very expensive as i have found out twice.
My Punto is due for the MOT soon (2001 model) however one of the rear lights has a crack which I repaired with transparent reinforced gaffer tape, originally to stop the rainwater getting in and collecting in the light unit.
Does anyone know if it will be classed as an MOT failure in it's current state even though the crack is covered up with quite sturdy repair tape? The tape allows the stop light to be visible by the way.
Trying to predict the outcome if I will need to purchase a light unit or find one secondhand. The plastic seems really thin on these Fiat items and the way they stick out prominent from the body on the three door model makes them vulnerable to knocks and scrapes.
Thanks Read more
To repair the crack, check out tip 3 in the following post.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=10...8
Hi
I have heard about these forte products, i am specifically referring to FORTÉ ADVANCED FORMULA MOTOR FLUSH (oil flush) and FORTE ADVANCED FORMULA GAS TREATMENT (petrol tank cleaner). I have heard they are the very best products to use for a car and can help it very much, I am wondering if this is true?
I can obtain the stuff and can use for this oil change, but I have heard a roumer but not sure if true, apprantly if the motor flush is used incorrectly then this can cause severe engine failure, apprantly the sump has to be removed to ensure it is fully clean and any clumps of oil or simiar have to be removed, i have also heard that this cleaning stuff can remain in the engine with some bad bits and can do no favours?
Is this true or not?
If there is a recommened way to use this product can anyone please advice... or just put in the stuff and run for 35 mins fast idle and then drain and do normal oil change...?
I also have seen a mechanic use the gas treatment, but he used to bottles of it and the tank was already on its reserve, started it up and revved the guts out of the car, loads of white smoke came out, apprantly it cleaned the engine very well, is this true, or was too much forte used and is that bad for the car?
Sorry for going on a bit, any tips would be great...many thanks.
Read more
Sorry, FP: the software is being particularly stupid and one of your posts got hidden accidentally, and I can't get it back. First it wouldn't hide anything, then it hid a whole lot at once.
I don't think the original post from 'our friend' a year ago was advertising, as others have commented similarly. Again the software deleted it without my intending it to. Why he over-reacted a year later I have no idea.
My wipers were very squeaky so I bought some new ones. Hasnt made the slightest difference. Still squeaking away whenever it rains. Any go any idea's how to cure this problem?
Regards,
dave Read more
"Does this product actually 'clean' the glass or does it, like a lot of so-called glass cleaners leave some sort of film behind? Is cleaned glass bead-free after using Autoglym's glass polish as the word 'polish' does not bode too well to my ears."
I know what you mean - that was an initial worry for me, but the opposite seems true! There isn't a sign of residue or beading that I've noticed. It's remarkably easy to clean off. You THINK it's going to leave streaks and 'gum' but it doesn't! - just wipes clean off and leaves the glass sparkling!
'Polish' is a bit of a misnomer - to me, it's a cleaner.
Graeme
What is the rule of thumb for adjusting a cars value if it is over the accepted average miles?
Should a full history negate the need to do this?
Cheers,
TG
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Remember, fun is the key, but remain seated at all times or you may die. SHABBA! Read more
Spam should now be hidden.
I am interested in which would be the best diesel
to choose on a golf or A3. The 2 litre is more expensive but delivers more power and torque in most cases. The 1.9 has been around for ages now so any problems should have been solved. I recently heard the 2.0 described as unrefined, surprising considering it is new. Is the 2 litre worth the £1000 premium it demands on the A3? Fuel consumption appears to be similar, does anyone have any experience of these engines? Thanks. Read more
I'm now running an A3 2.0 TDi Sportback and never even considered the 1.9 because you can't have it with the DSG (which IMHO is a definate requirement for the 2.0 litre diesel, unless you really do like changing gear often)! The 2.0 is very refined and very quiet - it can't be heard once cruising.
Hi lads, I bought a Ford FOcus in metallic black which had some bad stone chips on the bonnet. So I got hold of a touch up pen and made a really bad job of the repair - now the chips look like patches of slightly different coloured paint...
I think I probably need a bonnet respray. Any idea what the rough cost of this would be? I was hoping for maybe £150-£250 but have no real idea....
What do you think? Cheers Rich Read more
Try using a good cuting polish this will leave the touchup paint in the chips and renove the excess paint from around them!
I think it has now been established that using the gears in a manual car to slow down is out of date and is a driving test failure. Something to do with it being cheaper to replace a brake pad than a clutch plate.
I don't drive manuals these days but when I drive rental cars which are manual, I still slow down through the gears because I feel it gives me more control, especially if I need to speed up again quickly. It how I was taught in the early 1980s as well.
Anyway, there was a post here recently which said that the whole transmission system was subject to far greater stresses if the through the gears method is used. Maybe, maybe not.
However, even though I drive an auto, I still use the 'box to slow down, although the effect on my car (mildly turbo'ed) is less than in a manual.
Is this good or bad practice from a wear on the components perspective.
I don't care whether it is effective or not. I've been driving for 23 years and the chances of me changing habits now is limited.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive? Read more
I know they come without indicators, but had no idea that BMW >> had done away with the clutch as well!
H'm. Hints at a strange, 2-legged approach to slowing down ... or coasting ... or something.
I'll stick with the idea of arriving in the gear in which I expect to drive on.
Oz (as was)
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Just to modify the "record" the city feature does work at higher speeds. At least it does on V,W,X and Y registration examples of the 1.9D & 1.9JTD.