Car advice

[beefybake]

On 24/05/2020 at 16:08, Thistle_do_nicely said:

Would guess A-P Jnr has a fairly old motor? You could well be Sir Loadsamoney and he's cutting about in a nice new Golf or something of course!

Should add I'm not trying to argue with that post as it's eminently sensible, but I wouldn't personally feel too concerned about driving mine (15 plate, <42000 miles on it) for a few weeks past the normal MOT date without getting it checked.

Taken to an extreme though if I was still cutting about in my first car (Ye Olde Ford Fiesta) and it had >100,000 miles on it or something then it'd be a different story and I'd be very uncomfortable driving it past its usual MOT date.

Could maybe stretch it a bit if you have an indestructible shitbox like certain older Volkswagen Jetta's or something like that, too.

edit: and of course now I think I've jinxed it so I'll probably get it done as normal, ha

My 2002 Golf TDI has just passed lunar ( 238855 ) mileage, and the MOT comes due on the 1st August.

I'll probably let the MOT extension occur, assuming that that arrangement is in still in place come then.

Why ?   I keep on top of the servicing, oil changes etc, identify advisory items and would-be fails prior

to the MOT's.  And don't let weird knocks and noises unattended.

So , if all seems fine, I'll go for the extension.

 

 

 

 

Edited June 7, 2020 by beefybake

[RandomGuy.]

4 minutes ago, beefybake said:

My 2002 Golf TDI has just passed lunar ( 238855 ) mileage, and the MOT comes due on the 1st August.

I'll probably let the MOT extension occur, assuming that that arrangement is in still in place come then.

Why ?   I keep on top of the servicing, oil changes etc, identify advisory items and would-be fails prior

to the MOT's.  And don't let weird knocks and noises unattended.

So , if all seems fine, I'll go for the extension.

Theres already talk the extension will end this month, but that might just be trade talk.

I'd be amazed if it was still on the go in August.

[beefybake]

2 hours ago, RandomGuy. said:

Theres already talk the extension will end this month, but that might just be trade talk.

I'd be amazed if it was still on the go in August.

From what I can see the talk does seem to be completely from car trade lobbyists.

The government just says nothing other than that the situation is under constant review.

Assuming there were no further significant flare ups of Covid-19  ( I happen to think there will be ),

I'd say that a more sensible , and graduated , ending to the MOT extension scheme would be ...

bit by bit reducing extensions from 6 months, to 4 months, to 3 months etc... as circumstances indicate.

 

 

[Gaz FFC]

On 07/06/2020 at 14:11, RandomGuy. said:

I had to drive a car, that cut out whenever you let it idle, through Perth, and the battery was fucked so it needed a jump start every time it died.

My own fault but it cut out at a set of lights. Sat with the hazards on while I get the battery kit out the boot.

Did the driver who came up behind me go into the right hand lane, through the lights and back into the left lane? Or did they drive up behind the car with hazards flashing and bonnet open and sit with the horn blazing?

It will soon be 7 years old.

I don't actually use the bugger but if it was free to update then I'd be in.

[supermik]

My astra van started conking out whilst driving last week. After 10 mins it would start again, go for a few miles then cut out again. It done it 7 times on the way home on Thursday. Diagnosed as a faulty crankshaft sensor. Got a replacement one yesterday. Bugger of a job to change it when I only had a couple of little axle stands. It was hidden at the back of the engine and impossible to see, I could only touch it with the top of my fingers. Managed to get the retaining bolt off with a small pocket ratchet set and swapped the sensor over. Trying to get the bolt back in was the biggest problem though, fingertips dont bend backwards and sideways. Took over an hour of blind working just to get the bolt lined up and refitted.

All good now and well worth the hassle as it could have been a bit pricey for a garage to do it.

[D.A.F.C]

Read somewhere if you car has issues starting then jump start and then remove the cables. If it cant restart then it's the battery if it starts then cuts out then alternator.
Is it this simple?
Dont have a problem but someone i know did.
Was thinking as well that I can remember checking one with a meter and it should jump up to 14v when the engine is running.
Could you see the same thing if you had lights on and they were dim but increase in brightness. This would mean the alternator is sending some power back to the battery?
I guess you could test the output of the alternator if you can access?

[bobbykdy]

48 minutes ago, D.A.F.C said:

Read somewhere if you car has issues starting then jump start and then remove the cables. If it cant restart then it's the battery if it starts then cuts out then alternator.
Is it this simple?
Dont have a problem but someone i know did.
Was thinking as well that I can remember checking one with a meter and it should jump up to 14v when the engine is running.
Could you see the same thing if you had lights on and they were dim but increase in brightness. This would mean the alternator is sending some power back to the battery?
I guess you could test the output of the alternator if you can access?

 

This will tell you which if either it is.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/am-tech-battery-alternator-tester-553777100?type=shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjw57b3BRBlEiwA1ImytkCN2dPR7cDgNiN4X3BcmhwEA8XdZ4KImQV2Fdz9avnn8dfnuUTKaxoCgYQQAvD_BwE

 

 

[marty_j]

Hope someone can help?
I have had grinding noise in rear brake(s) for a few days
Booked into garage tomorrow
However today when driving brake pedal going to floor (spongy) air noise coming out of pedal. Turned round and went home
Went back out and pool of fluid at rear offside wheel.
Stated car again and brake faulty light on (although I’m shit at cars I kinda worked that out)
It’s going to garage tomorrow
Obviously its fucked but any ideas what it might be (calliper, brake line?)

[RandomGuy.]

2 minutes ago, marty_j said:

Hope someone can help?
I have had grinding noise in rear brake(s) for a few days
Booked into garage tomorrow
However today when driving brake pedal going to floor (spongy) air noise coming out of pedal. Turned round and went home
Went back out and pool of fluid at rear offside wheel.
Stated car again and brake faulty light on (although I’m shit at cars I kinda worked that out)
It’s going to garage tomorrow
Obviously its fucked but any ideas what it might be (calliper, brake line?)

 Warning light will be because your fluid level is low.

What kind of car do you have and is disks or drums on the back?

Sounds like you've worn the pads/shoes down so far that you've popped a piston out the caliper/cylinder, and the fluid is now just pouring out.

At a minimum it sounds like you'll need disks, pads and a caliper, or shoes and a cylinder.

[marty_j]

 Warning light will be because your fluid level is low.
What kind of car do you have and is disks or drums on the back?
Sounds like you've worn the pads/shoes down so far that you've popped a piston out the caliper/cylinder, and the fluid is now just pouring out.
At a minimum it sounds like you'll need disks, pads and a caliper, or shoes and a cylinder.

It’s a 56 plate Citroen C3 Desire
Aye it hasn’t been obviously grinding for a while I knew they needed done but MOT was due end of May and of course got 6 month’s leeway Otherwise would have been sorted then.
Car hardly doing any miles at minute either normally 1000 + a month
I’m an idiot
Is it a “big” job?

[RandomGuy.]

2 minutes ago, marty_j said:

It’s a 56 plate Citroen C3 Desire
Aye it hasn’t been obviously grinding for a while I knew they needed done but MOT was due end of May and of course got 6 month’s leeway Otherwise would have been sorted then.
Car hardly doing any miles at minute either normally 1000 + a month
I’m an idiot
Is it a “big” job?

Its an easy job to fix, if the brake fluid isn't completely emptied.

I think, and I'm just guessing, you have brake drums. So it should be relatively cheap as you should get away with just shoes and a cylinder. Should really just be one hours labour.

It would be more expensive, and a longer job, if you have disks and calipers.

[ICTJohnboy]

28 minutes ago, marty_j said:

Hope someone can help?
I have had grinding noise in rear brake(s) for a few days
Booked into garage tomorrow
However today when driving brake pedal going to floor (spongy) air noise coming out of pedal. Turned round and went home
Went back out and pool of fluid at rear offside wheel.
Stated car again and brake faulty light on (although I’m shit at cars I kinda worked that out)
It’s going to garage tomorrow
Obviously its fucked but any ideas what it might be (calliper, brake line?)

 

Do you have any steep hills to go down on your way to the garage?

[marty_j]

I dropped it there before
Cagey as f**k

[marty_j]

Its an easy job to fix, if the brake fluid isn't completely emptied.
I think, and I'm just guessing, you have brake drums. So it should be relatively cheap as you should get away with just shoes and a cylinder. Should really just be one hours labour.
It would be more expensive, and a longer job, if you have disks and calipers.

Yeah it was shoes and a cylinder
Front shoes needed done too
250 quid which wasn’t as bad as I thought

[Andy Dufresne]

Broken drivers front spring on my car replaced today,£20 for the spring from Ebay and my father in law and his pal changed it today for the grand price of a bottle of whisky.

[pub car king]

250 for new discs, pads, shoes and cylinders. As well as a fluid change presumably and fitting is quite reasonable.

[marty_j]

250 for new discs, pads, shoes and cylinders. As well as a fluid change presumably and fitting is quite reasonable.

Abs faulty light came on today first run since getting car back???

[Lambie's Pigeon Feed]

I'm approaching middle age but I'm about to buy a car for the first time and would love some advice as I'm unsure what to get.

Budget is £10k max ideally less, half of that is a car loan, it's a car I expect to run into the ground. Looking for a big hatchback that can accommodate a dog and camping gear. Mainly for trips to beach and long drives to the countryside, limited city driving despite loving in a city.

I figure I need to go to a dealer (ideally not Arnold Clark) as I dont know what I'm looking for with a private sale.

I was thinking Focus or Leon (or something of similar size I dont have my heart set on anything), in that price range I'd hope for sub 10k miles and less than 3 years old.

Specifically on the Focus, 1.0 EcoBoost engines seem to be all the rage, anyone got any experience? Instinctively sounds too wee.

EcoBoost 1.0

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202002267758238?advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&make=FORD&radius=30&model=FOCUS&price-to=9000&postcode=g611hy&sort=year-desc&year-from=2016&page=1 

Or Diesel 1.5?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202003108218216?advertising-location=at_cars&year-from=2016&price-to=9000&postcode=G61 1hy&model=FOCUS&sort=year-desc&page=1&radius=30&make=FORD&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New 

[Honest Saints Fan]

My lease is ending on my Mazda 2 and it is time to upgrade to fit the family in it. I'm hopefully going to look at Kia Sportage and a Volvo XC40 in the next couple weeks. Any opinions? My knowledge of cars is basically the colour.

[RandomGuy.]

19 minutes ago, Lambie's Pigeon Feed said:

I'm approaching middle age but I'm about to buy a car for the first time and would love some advice as I'm unsure what to get.

Budget is £10k max ideally less, half of that is a car loan, it's a car I expect to run into the ground. Looking for a big hatchback that can accommodate a dog and camping gear. Mainly for trips to beach and long drives to the countryside, limited city driving despite loving in a city.

I figure I need to go to a dealer (ideally not Arnold Clark) as I dont know what I'm looking for with a private sale.

I was thinking Focus or Leon (or something of similar size I dont have my heart set on anything), in that price range I'd hope for sub 10k miles and less than 3 years old.

Specifically on the Focus, 1.0 EcoBoost engines seem to be all the rage, anyone got any experience? Instinctively sounds too wee.

EcoBoost 1.0

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202002267758238?advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&make=FORD&radius=30&model=FOCUS&price-to=9000&postcode=g611hy&sort=year-desc&year-from=2016&page=1 

Or Diesel 1.5?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202003108218216?advertising-location=at_cars&year-from=2016&price-to=9000&postcode=G61 1hy&model=FOCUS&sort=year-desc&page=1&radius=30&make=FORD&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New 

I've got an Octavia, and the boot is absolutely fucking massive in it, think it's not far off most estate cars in terms of space. So fits the big hatchback part.

I got a 63 with 65k miles for under £10k a couple of years ago, and in 10k miles have only had to fit tyres and brakes.

I've only driven a 2.0 petrol though so cant comment on MPG or how it drives for smaller engines or diesels, but worth mentioning for the space you can get in them.