Hi,

Any pointers would be good. Sorry for the long windedness.

Have had the car from new, always been a fab car to drive and an excellent slave for the daily commute. About 66000 miles I am experiencing dire fuel consumption. It's diesel and 1.3. I have always used the same fuel garage (bar the odd time when I am out of town). I have done Liverpool to Aberdeen (some 375 miles once i get through the town) on 3/4 tank from brimmed. I have a lead foot so can do 85mph when average speed cameras allow. Based on this I reckon I get about 125miles to 1/4 tank which tallys with my old commute distances v consumption (again motorways). I don't know how to work out mpg, so sorry. Noticed before Christmas on motorway (again!) to Hull (130milesish) I used half a tank! WT*! Had a steel spare on so thought it might be different tyre pressures, cold wet/snowy roads etc. Sorted tyre pressues out (nothing major) and then had a couple of weeks off work for Christmas, so didn't really think much else of it. I know prices are going up but I felt like I'm putting more and more in each week until finally today. I filled up last night dead on full from light on (not brimmed). Have travelled 40.6 miles today mostly motorway and used 1/4 of a tank. I'm serious! Where's it going? Car is serviced, well maintained (has to be) MOT straight pass last JUne inc the emissions thing they do now. I am a girl but have an awareness of cars and some of the various things in them - I've had to to stop people taking the p155 (e.g blown turbo or duff turbo sensor/valve?! saved myself a couple thou). Surely to god I would notice a leak like that. I wondered does the ECU do anything with fuel (DH talks about the mix on his old escort when he was younger I know this is fuel v air - won't entertain cars now you can't tinker). I wonder because I have had a series of minor and inconsistent electric blips. Some times my left indicator lights don't blink right (or at all), sometimes the car won't lock and sometimes (don't laugh) when I change the speed of the heater the light behind the temp dial dims and not just for a flicker. No EML.

As I say sorry for longwindedness and I'm not a ditz but I'm baffled - I know that kind of fuel consumption is not just bad driving. Please don't advise dealer, they wanted to put a new turbo unit in it last time the EML came on, I didn't even bother getting the actual quote (it was the sensor valve or something about £80) and the other Vaux dealer nearby tried to send me out from an MOT with a brand new split tyre and snapped timing chain on my last car what it went in with in the first place!.

Give me any clues you can please! Thanks.