March 2007
Hey Guys.
This is my first post on here.... here goes.
I have a 03 reg 307 hdi 110 bhp.
It was serviced 10000 miles ago at a local garage, However for about 2 weeks it has started to become sluggish (really sluggish.....) there is literally no power, until the turbo kicks in, and woosh away i go.
Today the wife was driving the car and the " anit pollution system fault" light flashed, and then a "Unblock Diesel Filter" message appeared too, both only stayed on for a few seconds. This was accompanied by a total lack of power. The power returned seconds later, and has been ok for the rest of the day.
Ive heard that here is a "Cerium" / "Sirium" dosing system on the car.... could this be the fault ?
Ive tried a fuel additive, with cerium in it..... didnt seem to do anything !! :-(
I need to get a quick fix, as i've just sold the car, and its being picked up soon..... I dont want to call upon my main dealer just yet..... "last time" the Pug went a knacker .... shattered fly wheel!!!! it cost me a fortune !!!
Come on Experts what can you tell me ?!
Cheers. Read more
Backroomers,
I have been advised my local main dealer that my OSR brake caliper has been seizing on and has now worn the brake pads down to a very low level. Not disputing this as the brake pad sensor had already triggered the warning light.
The discs were on the way out anyway so I'll be needing pads and discs but the dealer insists that they always change calipers as an axle set. He kept going on about new and older calipers on the same axle as potentially having differing "strengths" which may upset the brake balance.
Now I've heard about and understand changing say shock absorbers, brake pads, discs etc... but does this really apply to brake calipers? Is the dealer selling me down the river bearing in mind these calipers are priced at £180 each?
The Bandit.
Read more
Does anybody know what size of allen key I will need
to remove the two caliper bolts
You'd be better off having a hexagonal bit that you can turn with a torque wrench.
--
L\'escargot.
I notice that whenever someone queries the efficacy of various fuel and oil additives the sceptics seem to outnumber the enthusiasts and I feel that a lot of the objections are on principle but not necessarily on experience. I notice from time to time HJ (whom God preserve) in his ST column recommends certain treatments so presumably some do work and I guess he would not be included in "the one born every minute" class that some people seem to regard users of these additives as being in.
Having been given a jar of Forte's "Advanced" diesel treatment and quite willing to try it and see what happens I would still be interested to hear the views of anyone who has actually used it and come to a conclusion one way or another.
I would much prefer to hear opinions from users (if any) rather than speculate on the psychological effects of the firm's advertising, or placebo effects, or the fact that it claims to be good so it can't be. Read more
Please see my answer to DD for latest thought and thanks for all your comments!
The sunroof leaked in my wifes '99 Fiesta and the resultant water on the seat has left a stain.
Proprietry cleaning products have done nothing to shift it so I am wondering if there is a solution.
It really looks terrible and implies a stain of a far more dubious nature so we are keen to get it removed.
Any ideas? Read more
Good luck, I think a valeting company will do it, they should be able to soak the whole seat and then suck the water back out and leave it to dry naturally, this approach normally works.
Blue
I have a Peugeot 407 2.0 HDI, the handbook refers to dealer for cambelt change intervals. The car has done 57k, and I am told by my local dealer that the change is due at 160k miles. This seems very high, and I would like to hear from any views on the forum as to known failures as I am aware this engine is also used in some Fords. Read more
If Peugeot say the cambelt should be changed at 160K miles
or however many years have passed which ever comes first &
it breaks before that then in my opinion Peugeot should if
the car has a full Peugeot service history be picking up
the bill.
I tend to agree. However, the "get out" which seems to be used by most of the manufacturers is a recommendation buried in the service book somewhere that the belt should be changed sooner for "extreme operating conditions" or something similarly worded. In short, you'll never be able to prove how you used the car, and therefore whether it failed prematurely, or you chose to ignore the service advice.
I would want it done at 70k-80k tops.Just not worth the hassle.
Cheers
DP
Hi,
The cigar lighter on the aforementioned car isn't working. I put in a 15amp mini blade fuse, however although all the rest of the blades are mini blades the gap for the cigar blade is bigger. I tried to put a standard fuse in but it just wouldn't go. It looks as if there is 3 holes for the fuse to go but i have never seen nor heard of a three bladed fuse. can any one help? Perhaps a normal size should fit but i cant seem to make it. When i do put a mini blade fuse in, it works for a day or two then blows, I am only trying to use a mobile phone charger through it, ideally if it works i would need to use a laptop charger through it as well. I tried to put a bigger amp mini fuse (20 amp) and it just blew straight away.
Any ideas or just confirm what sort of fuse i am meant to be using would be great.
Thanks
James
Brought up to date with drop down menu filing Read more
Many thanks
You have solved a prob that the Ford main dealer said couldnt be solved! They insisted that there should be a double fuse the wasnt available!
Ciggie lighter is now working fine
All the best
Alan
I've got a 2001 VW Polo 1.4TDI and over the last couple of weeks the rear windscreen wiper comes on all of it's own accord. The front windscreen did the same as well today as well. Does anyone have any idea what might cause this and what can i do to fix it? Cheers Stewart
Read more
yes, i have haunted windscreen wipers also on my 1.4 polo. They come on and can't be turned off. The slightest bump can set them off.
They come on and stay on permenantly, (front and back), changing the switches does not turn them off/intermittent, however, turning to "fast wipe" does speed up the front motor....
Hi, First post so be gentle :)
In Honest John's summary of 'Bad' things with the Renault Megane Hatch Dynamique 1.9dCi, it lists an issue that are uncannily like the problems that we are have encountered that has turned a £17k car into a worthless one in just over 3 years.
The Question is this; If the Renault Megane has a known issue, as shown below, then shouldn't Renault rectify these issues unequivocally?
I'll paste Honest John's 'Bad' summary of the 1.9DCi here:
On 1.5 and 1.9DCIs EGR valve should open to allow carbon dioxide, which acts as a cooling gas) into the combustion chambers when the engine is under load (>30% boost). This allows the combustion chamber temperature to drop and thus the temperature of the exhaust gases. If it sticks in the closed position the exhaust gas temperature will rise causing a) the turbo bearings to fail and b) engine oil into the induction system. This will cause the engine to go on running until it has consumed all its oil and then it will go bang.Problems with EGR valves in Renault dCi engines are often the cause of rough running when the valve is stuck in the open position as well. In several cases turbos have blown but the EGR valve has not been replaced. Inevitably the new turbo unit will not last long.
And here are the problems with our worthless car (spot the similarities with the above):
Car purchased Sept 2003
April 2006. Excessive oil consumption (3 ltrs every 2000 miles), decline in engine power. Vehicle mileage 54,210 miles. *Vehicle still under Warranty - turbo replaced.
Warranty expires September 2006
November 2006. Excessive oil consumption (3 ltrs every 2000 miles), Significant Brake Failure, decline in engine power. Vehicle mileage 64,571. - Vacuum Pump replaced
March 2007. Excessive oil consumption (3 ltrs every 2000 miles), Significant Brake Failure, decline in engine power, swarf discovered in engine compartment. Vacuum Pump failure...again!
March 2007. Remedy suggested; New Engine.
Renault UK have offered a ?goodwill gesture? of 30% for the replacement engine citing that ?they would expect an engine to have a serviceable life of 100,000 miles?. As the car has covered
69,000 miles it is their contention that the offer of 30% goodwill represents a ?fair? recompense for my inconvenience.
I dispute this statement as it does not account for the fact I am expected to source the remaining 70% costs, nearly £5,000, at a time that I would not reasonably be expected to do so.
£5,000 is the approximate value of our car if it was working!
Does anyone have an idea on where I stand with Renault on this? I am writing to the Finance Company, Renaults own, stating the The Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973 as the car is not fit for purpose but I know that this is going to take time that we can ill afford to be without transport.
Thanks
Mark Read more
I'm all for making a fuss to get things moving, but having followed the Watchdog programme re Clio bonnets and having seen Renaults response (or lack of) I guess they will not do much.
I very nearly bought a Megane Estate DCi a few years ago and from reading this thread I am glad I didn't. GOOD LUCK!
Need some guidance and advice from the backroom.
Had the most unfornate day of having a accident where I ran over a dog (I didn't even seen or reliase that he was out)
Basicly I didn't notice any dog in the area at the time, was driving up the road to the private parking area behind my house and felt the car go up (bump, bump) type thing and heard a loud howl. I ran over a dog and I didn't even see or know it was around.
I had my brother with me at the time and he didn't seen him coming either, so I can only guess that the dog bolted behind a parked car (scared by the noise of my diesel car)
Anyways, dog had injurys to both front legs (1 was limp and may be broken) other had cuts and grazes on it. Called owner (from dog tag) and not too impressed - told him get the dog to the vet asap (he was looking for it at the time when I called as he escaped from the house)
After this happend I went to the local police station to report it and gave all details releating to the issue.
Motoring related side of things - who is to blame and what comeback can there be. What if there is any damaged to my car resulting of the accident? Would I have to fork out the vet bills? BTW I only had this car for 2 months so its a new Citroen C2 with guards all on the underside (no damage I hope - but got to check it all over later). Read more
IIRC, not so, roadkill can only be taken home and eaten when found already dead,
Not any more. You hit it; you can legally pick it up.
Car will need new rear pads soon - pads are £33 from SEAT.
What sort of price are good aftermarket pads, and can anyone recommend a particular brand? Read more
I fitted a set of Halfords own brand pads to the
Mondeo just prior to the MOT last year. I'd been too
busy to do my pre MOT checks n good time, and
left it until the day before. Noticed the front pads were
well past their best, and with the test (and work) on
Monday, I had to go to Halfords. The Ferodo bits were
out of stock, leaving only their own brand parts at something
daft like £14.99 for a set of four.
Fitted them initially as a stopgap with a view to changing
them for a better known make. Never got around to it,
and 10 months and over 20,000 miles later they're only about
half worn and the brakes feel fine.
Cheers
DP,
Years ago I fitted a set of Halfords brake pads to the front of a Metro CVT auto, they lasted all of 2 weeks before they where metal to metal again.
Replaced them with Ferodo & 18 months later when I sold the car they where still working & had loads of life left in them, will only ever fit Ferodo pads now.
Browse
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Hi everyone on here. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who posted on here. I had a problem with depollution warning light coming on and the engine management light coming on. After reading all the posts I decided to check the magnets in the filler cap and I found that there weren't any. So I nipped into my garage found a couple of magnets popped them into the spaces, went for a little drive stopped on the drive, got out took the filler cap off for a few moments and then replaced the filler cap thus emulating a fill up of diesel . When I replaced it I'm sure I heard an electrical bleep which I have never heard before. I then started the car as normal and hey presto no engine management light or depollution warning when I started it up. It runs as sweet as a nut now so all is good. From reading the threads I can see that a few people say after filling up they had the problem. I wonder if people have dropped their filler cap and the magnets have dropped out? Replacing the magnets worked for me, I just thought I would share my experience, it might help somebody or even save them a fortune trying fix a problem at a garage who might be tempted to fit a new ecu etc to fix a very simple and probably very common problem. Thanks again everyone you have saved me hundreds of pounds in garage bills I should imagine.