February 2006

Question Scenic wiper blades

BobbyG on 27 February 2006

Anyone changed their wiper blades on a new shape Scenic? Dealer wants about £40 for the front set. Havent been to Halfords yet to compare prices etc but not sure if the Scenic would be more difficult than normal as they have those very long curved blades?

Read more

PeterRed on 2 March 2006

If you want cheaper wiper blades, check out

www.autoexpress.co.uk/product_test/43861/windscree...l

Forum Nissan Figaro - opinions/experiences?

bbroomlea{P} on 27 February 2006

Hi

I was MGF shopping at the weekend with a budget of around £3.5K and came across a Nissan Figaro. Girlfriend fell in love with it and must admit it does stand out and look kind if good in a wierd way.

Understand its based on an old micra so assume reliability wise its ok.

Does anyone have any thoughs or has anyone owned one? and what should i look for?

Also were they all jap cars and then been imported over the years or were they sold here as well?

Seriously considering buying one to run for a couple of years and then go for a TF when the prices are a little bit lower.
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pivwani on 15 January 2016

I agree with the above. It's a chic car that doesn't fit with the rest of design in that era. It is pretty reliable too with an engine from a micra with a Turbo fitted. They are really popular with autograss racing.

Question Renault Servicing

Matt08 on 27 February 2006

Am due to get my Scenic serviced for the first time (18,000 service) and was just wondering in anyone with a Renault has gone to the dealer or has gone elsewhere.

I have phoned 3 dealers, Solihull, Birmingham and Leicester and the difference in price is £45 for the same job. Has anyone found this out as well or have they taken it to another type of garage, ie Nationwide Autocentre, etc.

Renault have confirmed that it does not need to go to them, but needs to be done at a VAT registered garage and use genuine parts - highest price I have had for the service which is basically an oil change, a pollen filter change and a general look over the car is £205! Anyone in the Birminghma area had a similar experience?

Cheers! Read more

Bill Payer on 6 March 2006

£11 PER LITRE ,£12 for five litre in Makro fully synthetic.

Does it say Synthetic on the front, yet the back says semi-synth?

Fully Synth oil in Makro is about £25.

Question Fiat Barchetta 1998: Noisy engine!

Richard in France on 27 February 2006

I know that the 1.8 16V Barchetta engine from 1997-1999 suffers from dodgy VVT components which can make it sound like a diesel - mine, unfortunately, has this problem! I also know that "it's just a noise, and doesn't damage the engine", but I can't live with it! My issue is that I want to fix the problem but need to know where to start! My local French FIAT-LANCIA-ALFA garage is, to put it bluntly, cr*p. (They already destroyed the head and master clutch cylinder on my Integrale EVO by using 1. the wrong head gasket and 2. DOT 4 fluid in the hydraulic system). What do I need to be buying, and what do I need to ask my new mechanic to be doing? OR CAN I DIY THE THING?

Thanks in advance! Read more

Question Fiat Barchetta 1998 - boot release stuck

Richard in France on 27 February 2006

I have a Fiat Barchette (early 1998) and have a problem - the boot release (which is by cable from a lever in the car) has stopped working. It is EITHER because the cable has broken (not at the lever end as I can still see it and pull it with pliers), OR the boot release mechanism at the BOOT end is jammed. The problem is - HOW DO I GET INTO THE BOOT NOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM??!!

Can you help?

Thanks in advance. Read more

Angelo Barchetta on 24 August 2014

Dear Richard, had you success to drink a bottle of wine locked into the trunk? I have same problem, had you find the way to acces to trunk space? Thanks in advanced, Angelo

Question Car300 Stereo - Vauxhall Corsa

Panzer on 27 February 2006

I have removed the CAR300 stereo from my Corsa, as the battery went dead and it went into SAFE mode. I thought I knew the code, had 3 attempts, then left it. I put the stereo back in but now it won't allow me to enter any codes. Just stuck on 7 SAFE. Is this normal, do I need to do something else? Read more

Panzer on 28 February 2006

Ok, thank you for your answers

Forum new for old

Duncan on 27 February 2006

I am setting up in business and want to keep initial start up cost low including the purchase of a couple of cars. They need to be decent- possibly an x type jag. Can someone recommend a vehicle that would match the bill, so if i put cheap private plates on it would be difficult to determine the age (ie a vehicle that has changed v little since 2002).
hope this makes sence and i would appreciate any advice
thanks
Duncan Read more

DrS on 2 March 2006

"I suspect Duncan's business is involved in the high hourly rate professional area.......
Surely an estate car would be better for that sort of thing?
;-)

Forum Corolla D4D 1.4l - your opinions please

roscoman on 27 February 2006

Hi,

Anyone got any views on the above car. I currently run a Seat Leon 110 tdi, which is a good car, but recently had a corolla 1.4 petrol for a loan while my own was being serviced.
I was mightily impressed with the way the car was put together - this was a car with 98k on it, and not a squeak or rattle anywhere!

Anyhow, I'm now considering buying the 1.4 D4D version, and want to know what other people think of it. Its rated at 89bhp, is this low by todays standards?

Has anyone tried a tuning box on a D4D engine - they are to be got on ebay - would this make it a better drive?

I would assume reliability and resale would be strong on these cars - what do others think?

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blue_haddock on 27 February 2006

I've done a few miles in the 1.4 D4D Corolla and whilst it's not the quickest car on the market it wasn't bad. I would avoid the MMT version though.

Question mondeo heater stays cold

wombler on 27 February 2006

Hi, I have a 96 1.8 petrol mondeo. The heater does not warm up and the temp gauge does not move even on 30 mile journey. The car has been sittin for around 3 months and has just been put back into use. Would the problem be that the thermostat is stuck - but then this wouldnt explain the temp hand not moving. Any help would be much appreciated.

I have also heard that there is an electrical switch somewhere near the wiper motor that may be the problem - is there any truth in this?

cheers
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Falkirk Bairn on 6 March 2006

I had a similar no heat problem but not a Mondeo.

The valve situated at the bulhead where 2 pipes go in/out to the heater matrix was stuck.

Moved it manually and the heater was on or off - I had to get the rotary swich inside fixed as the cables had come off. I think it was the result of not having moved the switch over the summer and then because it had partially siezed the cable came off.

Fixed the cable and has been 100% since

Forum how much at auction

nathnamdo on 27 February 2006

Hi, I was thinking of buying a 02 reg passat SE with under 70000 miles in good condition. Does anyone know how much I would expect to pay roughly for this car at auction? Read more

Jonathan {p} on 27 February 2006

New = New Price
Ret = Retail price (forecourt)
Cln = Clean condition
Avg = Average conditin
Blw = Below average condition
Trd = Trade price, ie what you should expect to pay. This is based on previously achieved sales.