December 2007
Hello All,
The Mondeo was serviced a few weeks ago, normally exemplary service from the dealer, I subsequently did perhaps 100 miles over a week or so then checked the oil prior to a 250 mile round trip and found it to be well over "max" on the dip stick.
I did not have time to call into the dealer prior to the trip though telephoned them explaining that I had a longish journey to make, they stated that all would be OK though said that they would prefer to correct the level at my convenience.
Subsequently I have not had time to call into the dealer (30 mins away) and have done perhaps another 3-400 miles.
Between "min" and "max" on the dipstick is about 15-20mm and the level is currently about 5-7mm over "max".
Should I be worried? Should I get it corrected?
Regards.
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Weird one this - I borrowed my wife's Ka this afternoon. On opening the drivers' door I noticed some rust smears on the door rubbers down by the sill. When I had a look underneath the door there are a couple of 1p sized rust patches on the underside of the door. To add to the worry this part of the door seems to have almost no paint on it, just a light spraying over the undercoat. I have never noticed this before as you have to look from underneath to see it. Out of curiousity, I checked the passenger door and it is fine ( and also has full paint cover )
We have owned the car from new ( March 04 ) and it has only had light use ( 16k mls ) and it has never been in an accident.
My concern is that it is now out of warranty by 9 months. I will of course invite our local Ford dealer where we bought it to comment, but what do others think are my chances of getting this attended to without incurring too much cost ?
Are there any useful ( polite ) phrases I should use ?
I know it "only" cost us £5k but it strikes me that this is a bit early to see this sort of problem ? Read more
Well .......I've been to our new "all singing all dancing" new gin palace of a Ford dealership. They were as predicted, not terribly helpful, other than to explain that bodyshop enquiries are all dealt with at their "sister" branch which is 20 miles away. I guess they must have been having a pre-Christmas rush or something because the salesmen, who usually give a cheery greeting, all seemed terribly busy with urgent paperwork !
Thought about going to the other branch, but then decided I can't be bothered. It looks a pretty easy fix anyway. Now let's see....wet 'n dry, rust stuff, primer, paint and some engine oil...right, Where's me overalls .......?
PS - My wife still thinks my son was making it up about the "pour oil into the doors thing" ! Quote......... "Don't be silly darling....Daddy wouldn't do that to my car !"
Hi,
My mazda6 keeps getting what appears to be a flat battery. Its happened three times now and its always after my wife has done a very short journey (<3miles) and had the headlights on and air con to demist the windows. Its done this even though the previous journey was fairly long so i would have thought the battery would be fairly well charged. When i put the battery on charge, the charger shows the battery to be fully charged after just 10mins.
Basically is my battery just knackered? Its 5 years old.
I hope somebody can give me some advice
T, Mr Read more
i changed the battery so only time will tell if that fixes the problem. The car does seem more eager to start though.
I have a 1998 Megane Scenic 1.9dti and a while ago, on the way to work, the temp gauge went crazy and stuck on max. Checked it over before going into work for the day and it all seemed fine, thought it must have been a dodgy gauge/sender. That evening, totally flat battery. RAC man came and eventually got enough juice into the battery to start it but it was draining continually. Pulled a fuse out and halted the drain, got home and checked what this fuse was and it was the diesel preheat circuit. Have been driving without the fuse in and it starts ok in the summer but now it is getting colder it won't! Keep having to put it in to start then pull it out, not very cool!
My problem is that I can't find the relay, I can find the preheat control unit but (according to Haynes) the relay is mounted separately nearby, but it isn't. I've traced the glowplug cables as best I can (with a clampmeter) and they seem to go to the back of the block, by the turbo).
I'm guessing that it must be a dodgy relay for it to be draining when the ignition is turned off and assume that this is affecting the temp gauge (I have changed the temp senders by the way). I reckon if it was the preheat control unit it would stop draining when the ignition is turned off? Read more
I seem to have the same problem as well. The temp gauge just goes all the way up in about 1/10 second when it feels like it. Car stil runs nicely. I've found a few people with the problem on different forums but not final fixes?
Hi, I'm a real no-hoper with cars, so any help greatly appreciated:
My Fiesta has been overheating when driven further than 4 or 5 miles. The radiator stays cold even when the car is overheating. Also, the heater does not get really hot, just warm, even on full heat setting. The hoses to/from the expansion tank seem to be getting hot (although I don't know which is which!).
I've been told by the RAC that it is the water pump, although I've also been told it could be the thermostat. Bearing in mind what I have said, which is more likely?
Thanks in advance for any help. Read more
My Ford Fiesta 199 1.25 engine has had a heating problem for about 2 years, the heater blows hot air, even at the cold setting. I have replaced the heater control valve 3 times, first two times with an e-bay one and 3rd time with one from a local parts supplier. Each time the car would run for anything from a week to a month with no heater problem but of late I am almost being cooked because the air conditioning does not work either, it has a leak that will cost a fortune to fix. In desperation I got a circuit board from a car breakers yard and fitted that and it made no difference. Someone suggested that if the thermostat failed in the closed position, the heater would stay on, I have bought a new thermostat but it's going to be a pig to replace it. Can anyone give me a clue as to what the problem could be ?
If you flash your lights at someone to warn them of your presence (as advised in the Highway Code), and they mistake it as "I'm letting you out", and you crash into them as they pull in front of you, can it be said to be your fault?
Just wondering, since everyone seems to use flashing lights as the universal signal of "I'm giving way to you".
slt Read more
For those of a curious disposition, there's a shot in the Terrorflag today of two buxom gels flashing their headlights at the Heir to the Throne...
It's years since I last phoned my bank, but my wife wanted to phone her bank the other day. The number they provide is a call centre number. They absolutely refuse to provide a number that will enable her to phone her branch directly.
How many of the big banks will actually let you make a telephone call to your own branch? Read more
Both sound good to me; no noticeable difference. And to clarify- am I right in thinking Nicam was just a method of transmitting high quality audio on 'normal' analogue broadcasts, and isn't used on Freeview?
Another recent thread linked to a site offering new base model Mitsubishi Colts at £5999. Looking a little harder showed this to be 'after minimum part exchange of £1500'.
I've noticed many similar 'deals' in the past and have usually dismissed them as a gimmick, assuming that the price includes a healthy profit margin - even if the punter's old banger is sold for £100 scrap......
Has anyone actually bought a car under a similar promotion? Did it feel 'genuine' (for want of a better word)?
If it's just a 'con', could you extract the same price from the dealer - even without the p/x? Read more
I know of someone who had they car written off and wanted a car in a similar offer. The Dealer wasn't interested when no PX was offered. So they left it two weeks later they had a phone call "are you still looking for a car" yes they said as public transport was starting to be a pain and they got their pay out quickly.
Dealers ears prick up "oh so you have deposit" well yes and no ...."yes we have a deposit but your offer said you old car as a deposit so we we hoping to use that"(they got what I feel was a low price for a very nice Golf)
Well the dealer said ok we'll take your payout as a deposit, slightly stunned they said you haven't once asked what are old car was, how much we got for it or how you expect us to pay for it.
So the guy says look i'm interested but can I talk to the sales manager please ?
"i am ..do you want a car or not?" and at that point no sale was made and another dealer benefited.
I'm not sure if there a con or not but are a good marketing ploy.
my sons 51 reg polo 1.4 twin cam engine type AUA has done 33000 mls as far as i know is still on original cambelt vw reccomend changing belt at 60k but i understand there are some issues re plastic tensioners are they all plastic? can i tell with the top belt cover off? is the engine belt/fail safe? if i have to replace it do they do a metal one like my old golf mk 3? thanks in anticipation.
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These 1.4 16v engines have 2 timing belts and 2 sets of guides and tensioners,so taking off the top cover is only going to reveal the top cambelt.Best advice is to change the lot and the water pump also.(the plastic impellor always falls off on these]hth
Im toying with the idea of buying a brand new car, to keep 15-20 years ( legislation permitting ).
My budget will be no more than £10k, economy is very important as is emissions.
It must be big enough to cope with family life at a stretch ( 2 kids ). Id also prefer a 5dr what with car seats etc being so bulky.
Obviously the car will do some serious mileage and im used to fairly bullit-proof reliability as I get with my Suzuki van. Im interested in generally good dealers, but depriciation and image count for nothing. Air con would be nice but not a deal breaker.
The car that has sprung to mind at this point is the Kia Rio GS diesel. Im not in any hurry to do this as there may be something new and exciting coming next year.
Just after some ideas as the new car market isnt my strong point. Read more
we grandparents can be quite eccentric - if Gran, bless her, has in mind that her splendid boy shld have a "new" car, then best not risk displeasing her in this instance, perhaps.
Browse
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I had my car overfilled during a main dealer service once. I phoned them up about it, and they asked me to bring it in to drain the excess. Took the car in, sat in the waiting room.... after a while the service receptionist comes through and says "There's been a problem with your car"... their greasemonkey had managed to shear the head off the drain plug! Ended up forking out for a new sump (fitted free) :-(.
Started getting it serviced at an independent garage after that :-)