Luke M

What would happen?

I'm talking a car from the 90s without any fancy electronics to stop it happening. I take it the driveshaft would be ripped out - would the force be enough to take the engine out too?

Hi,

I'm over on the mainland on holiday and as usual, the funny looks and complete ignorance to northern Irish notes is getting to me. Despite it being the same currency!!

My question is can I just walk into a bank or bureau de change and ask for English notes in exchange without being charged?

Just wondering if it's worth taking our old washing machine to a scrap metal merchants?

Scrap seems to be quite high, got £225 for our Volvo last week.

Just wondering if there is anywhere apart from the dealer and ebay that I could pick up these sensors?? £30 + VAT from Renault isn't bad, but it's got to the point where the Mégane needs all four. Is it worth buying used ones, or are new ones likely to last much longer?

Thought about getting the system turned off, but it's alerted me to a puncture that I wouldn't have known about - twice!

Hi,

Our Wii was chipped a while back, and now doesn't read new discs, only the copied discs that it was chipped for. Is there any way of simply removing the chip and undo-ing the work?

Thanks.

Hi Guys,

Just wondering a rough cost of getting a car shipped from the USA over to the UK?

I have relatives in Boston, MA so it would be from there.

Also any legal charges? Importation tax etc?

Any information appreciated!

Hi Guys,

After 20k + miles of happy motoring in the Mégane we have the inevitable first issue.

Stop start traffic on the way home this evening, sitting idling and it cut out. Tried to start, wouldn't start, took 3 times. Then SERVICE - CHECK INJECTION permanently displayed on the dash. The throttle has turned extra sensitive, a slight touch sends it flying. Opposite of limp-home mode!!!???

Now it's taking 3-4 times to start, and the message is staying up.

Any ideas? 2.0 VVT Petrol, just serviced by Renault 600 miles ago!

Thanks.

Hi guys,

My Vel Satis was towed down to the mechanics yesterday evening to get the turbo replaced. It started fine with jump leads just before I left, as it has been standing for a while due to it being undriveable. Once at the mechanics, I stuck the power pack back on the battery but this time it's refusing to start.

I insert the card, the steering unlocks, all lights come on, hit the start button, then there is just one click and it doesn't even attempt to start. The car is sitting outside the mechanics feeling sorry for itself.

Could it be something as simple as dirty battery terminals, or something hideously expensive (again)?

It's a 2.2 dCi Manual, 2003 model.

Thanks!

Hi Guys,

Sold my car on ebay about two weeks ago. I provided a real honest opinion of the car, very long and a clearly defined "Bad Points" section so as to be sure the buyer is not being fooled in any way.

The buyer has just got in touch saying the gear box has packed up and that his mechanic says I must have known it was going to go before I sold it. This is a quotation directly from my advert:

"When driving off, a light appears, then disappears again. I've had a look in the manual and it indicated either an automatic gearbox faut, an injection fault, or an immobiliser fault. Asked the mechanic he said don't worry as it goes straight off again."

Despite being an ebay auction, the buyer still took the car out for a test drive and checked over the car before handing over any money.

Just wondering what could come of this? I do feel bad, but at the end of the day I had no idea this would happen, and have already spent the money he paid on another car.

Hi guys,

Bought a year 2000 Renault Grand Espace 3.0 V6 Auto. at auction a few weeks ago. Only cost me £440 so why bother paying for a service, might as well give it a go myself!

Never serviced a car myself, but I'm guessing oil and fiter change, air filter and spark plugs. However this being a V6 engine, is there anything else I should note?

The car has 99k miles on it, last service in the book was at 74k so it deserves an oil change at least (looks pretty black).

Haynes don't make a manual for this Espace which is a pain, any one have any experience of servicing a V6 Espace?

Cheers.

Hi,

I'd like to make a desktop background of a selection of around 15 images, how do I make them into one image?

Thanks.

Hi,

When I use certain programs on my laptop (microsoft office works, word, etc) it asks me to enter my 25 digit product key. I have taken the product key from the sticker underneath the laptop but it keeps saying it is incorrect. I now only have 5 more times to enter it.

Any ideas what to do?

Thanks

Hi,

I've got a Renault Vel Satis and a Renault 25, now it's time to complete the chain with a Safrane.

I went to view one this evening. It's £250 and is a 1994 2.2Vi RT Executive model.

It's got a fantastic leather interior, 97000 miles and seems pretty well looked after. However, there are a few issues. No MOT. The current owner is an MOT tester and I'm wondering why he hasn't MOTd it himself? Surely he'd know what needs done, but he says he hasn't had time to check, but has still given it an MOT wash underneath!!????

Also, during the test drive, when stopping it cut out. The fuel gauge was sitting on zero, but it was fine while driving, and always started perfectly after cutting out? (would this happen if lack of fuel was the problem?)

Also voice synthesizer doesn't work, and the power steering light is on.

Normally I wouldn't touch it, but it's a rare model and seems great otherwise. However, I don't have the money to do loads for an MOT.

But hey, is there really a perfect Safrane out there?

Thanks.

Hi,

I bought a Volvo at auction last night. I got the registration certificate which I have to fill in my details, however, it has not been signed by the previous keeper, as he is deceased. Can I just send it in with my signature or will it not be accepted?

Thanks.

Just been watching Top gear...where they completely ruined a Renault Avantime by "modifying it".

But what happened to it afterwards? Did they sell it? Scrap it? Is somebody now driving HY02 EZX?

I've got a 2003 Renault Mégane 2.0 VVT Dynamique. I've had it for a year now and over the past month or so, when it starts, it doesn't build up enough revs, and cuts out unless i give the throttle a push. It started this around 4 months ago, and it would happen 1/10 starts, but now it's more like 8/10.

I'm worried that it might get to the point where it just won't start?

When I first got the car it started perfectly, this has only recently become an issue.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Hi,

Bought a Citroen C5 Exclusive SE V6 and the drivers heated seat doesn't work, but the passenger side does. I've changed the fuses, no luck.

Also, when the car is locked using the lock button inside the car, only the rear passenger side door actually locks!!!? Even though all doors lock properly using the remote.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Hi guys,

I've found a Renault Safrane for sale for only £150. Everything is good except for the cooling - and it has 9 months MOT. The seller has given the following description of the problem - any ideas? Expenisve fix?

"There is a problem with the cooling. The temperature shot up on the way to football the other Saturday. Pulled over immediately, the car took a litre of water to top up the bottle and on we went, running warmer than usual but nothing deadly. The folllowing day I spotted that the seal had failed on the expansion bottle cap and, when hot, water was bubbling back up through this so I replaced the cap. The car then ran fine, although still warmer than previously. This morning on the way to work the temperature shot up to full about 5 miles from home so pulled over immediately. Water level absolutely fine and all pipes to and from the rad nice and hot so no obvious blockage however, it appears the the system is not pressurising properly as I was able to remove the cap with ease whilst the engine was still showing as red hot. I should add there is no steam, the engine block is not overly hot to the touch, there are no strange smells and the bonnet is cold, there are none of the usual signs of over heating. This afternoon I checked the water before leaving work, again fine. About 5 miles from work the same problem - my first thought was a head gasket but as you can see from the picture of the oil cap, it's not that either (no mayonnaise) I am absolutely stumped as to what the problem could be and, frankly, I don't have the inclination to spend any more time or money trying to resolve the issue. I start work very early and need total reliability from my car. For what it's worth it starts first time and drives really well, pulling nice and hard."

Thanks.

Hi guys,

OK this is going to sound odd but has anybody got a good condition Ford Mondeo for sale - it must be year 1993 or 1994 - L or M reg.

We had one when I was a kid, now that I'm 18 I want one myself to use when I need more space than my Renault Mégane can offer.

I live in Northern ireland, but am heading to Stanraer on 12th Feb and driving down to Birmingham, so anywhere on that line is good.

Let me know :)

Cheers.

Hi,

My mum has a 2002 Peugeot 206 1.1 LX. She's had it for four years and it's been great. But the Engine Management Light came on 5 days ago. I checked under the bonnet and the coolant tank was bone dry, so I topped it up. It's now going through a tank every two days, but not overheating when it's got none left.

I've checked the oil for signs of water but it looks perfectly normal (checked oil cap and dipstick)

Any idea what's going on?

Thanks