Question:
I own a 1996 Vauxhall Vectra. I have just installed a Kenwood CD player and it worked fine for five hours or so - now it just keeps cutting out as if it losses power. I reset it and it will work for a minute then cut of again. Can anybody advise me what the problem might be?
Answer:
It does sound like you might have a bad earth connection. Check that first. How are you connecting to the power source? Is it directly to the battery or via a relay and the fuse box? If you are connecting into the car electrics the ignition might need to be switched on for the power to work?
Question:
I had a month left on the warranty of a car I just bought. However, it has just run out and I had to buy a new coil pack this morning. Should the garage have known about this?
Answer:
A coil could go at any time and so your garage would most likely not have known. You could approach them and politely ask for help with replacement costs, in return for your future business.
Question:
I own a 2001 Saab 93 2.0. When I check the oil the dipstick sometimes has a yellow film on the end. I am told this can be moisture from either condensation or the head gasket, in which case I guess the bill would be £1,000. The car is left outside during the week. The temperature is normal and there are no leaks of water.
Answer:
It rather depends on how much residue you have. If the head gasket has blown, leaving it much longer could cause further problems. You really need a professional mechanic%u2019s opinion. Saab engines usually last a very long time so you might be lucky!
Question:
My wife's Renault Clio's heater has packed. The fan is not working - I tried fuses without success. Any ideas?
Answer:
If the fan is not turning then you may well need a replacement unit. If the fan works but you get no hot air, the thermostat in the water system is the most likely cause.
Question:
I have a 1.8 diesel Fiesta. When I start it first thing in the morning the engine turns over several times before it finally starts. It sometimes really struggles to start.
Answer:
When was the last time you had it serviced? Diesels obviously are harder to start than petrol units so ensure your glow plug light is off before turning the key. Might be worth giving the battery an extra bit of charge too.
Question:
My 1999 Peugeot 406 has a problem with the central locking. Al the doors open with the remote control, apart from the rear offside passenger door. With the inner door panel removed the rods can be seen to move but the door will not open. The lock cannot be removed as there is no access to the three screws holding the internals in place. Peugeot have been of no help whatsoever, stating it may need the door to be forced open to repair the fault.
Answer:
This is a tricky one! I think Peugeot are just covering themselves saying you might need a new door. There could well be some damage if the door is forced but not enough to warrant a new one. Without access to the lock screws there may not be another option.
Question:
I have an old Ford Fiesta. The engine turns over but won't fire up unless I pour petrol directly into the carb.
Answer:
Pouring petrol directly into the carbs is not a good idea %u2013 especially when the engine is hot! A good engine tune or carb clean out may be all you need.
Question:
I run an R-registered Audi A4 with climate control. Basically, I cannot get any heat, the air only blows cold. I've checked the pipes under the bonnet and they are hot. I've pumped water into the system to check the circulation and water does come out the other end. Could it be a blockage?
Answer:
The most common cause is likely to be the thermostat in the cooling system. It%u2019s easy to remove and test yourself, if you follow manual instructions. They are cheap to replace too.
Question:
I just had my radiator replaced on my car and when I press on the accelerator the car acts like it does not want to go. Last night it would not start at all - what could this be?
Answer:
Well, it certainly isn%u2019t the radiator. You will have to check the manual or find professional advice.
Question:
I have a Land Rover discovery 3.9V8i. After buying it, the engine started to overheat. I pulled over and let the engine cool down and it was cool enough for me to get home. The next morning I checked the water level and it had all gone - including the radiator water! The only other thing was there was a puddle under the engine. Is this anything to do with it?
Answer:
Loss of water and big puddles add up to a leaky cooling system. The good news is that once you have located the leak it will be cheaper to sort out than a head gasket problem.
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My 1999 Peugeot 406 has a problem with the central locking. Al the doors open with the remote control, apart from the rear offside passenger door. With the inner door panel removed the rods can be seen to move but the door will not open. The lock cannot be removed as there is no access to the three screws holding the internals in place. Peugeot have been of no help whatsoever, stating it may need the door to be forced open to repair the fault.
Answer:
This is a tricky one! I think Peugeot are just covering themselves saying you might need a new door. There could well be some damage if the door is forced but not enough to warrant a new one. Without access to the lock screws there may not be another option.
Question:
I have an old Ford Fiesta. The engine turns over but won't fire up unless I pour petrol directly into the carb.
Answer:
Pouring petrol directly into the carbs is not a good idea %u2013 especially when the engine is hot! A good engine tune or carb clean out may be all you need.
Question:
I run an R-registered Audi A4 with climate control. Basically, I cannot get any heat, the air only blows cold. I've checked the pipes under the bonnet and they are hot. I've pumped water into the system to check the circulation and water does come out the other end. Could it be a blockage?
Answer:
The most common cause is likely to be the thermostat in the cooling system. It%u2019s easy to remove and test yourself, if you follow manual instructions. They are cheap to replace too.
Question:
I just had my radiator replaced on my car and when I press on the accelerator the car acts like it does not want to go. Last night it would not start at all - what could this be?
Answer:
Well, it certainly isn%u2019t the radiator. You will have to check the manual or find professional advice.
Question:
I have a Land Rover discovery 3.9V8i. After buying it, the engine started to overheat. I pulled over and let the engine cool down and it was cool enough for me to get home. The next morning I checked the water level and it had all gone - including the radiator water! The only other thing was there was a puddle under the engine. Is this anything to do with it?
Answer:
Loss of water and big puddles add up to a leaky cooling system. The good news is that once you have located the leak it will be cheaper to sort out than a head gasket problem.
next page
Produced with the support of Green Flag
