The cars got the hump

[Willow]

For the firsst time in ..... weeks I am legitimately here. I've been on the bike yipee! Only a short jaunt, and roads I had been comfortably riding to work seemed like steep hills. Came home and debated whether to shop on line or go out (school shirts and odds and ends) in the end I decided to go out. 3 miles down the road car decided it was going to have an electronic stomp. So came home with reduced acceleration and am waiting for AA. Apparently they have to visit if I want to claim on my breakdown insurance. So shopping on line after all

I think the car has the hump because I took my bikey friend out.

 

[Mr Pig]

car decided it was going to have an electronic stomp.

French or Italian car?

 

[Willow]

French or Italian car?

Astra with 24k miles on the clock, already had a new alternator and new brake stuff and obviously out of warranty.

AA man been said something had upset it, nothing wrong reset electronics. I've been out again and same thing happened. I have AA breakdown repair cover but to use it you have to call them. I phoned them back and was told to call in the morning and they'll tow me in then cost should be covered (depending on what it is I guess). Stupid thing is I can drive it to the garage albeit on low acceleration (default mode?). Re-arranged tomorrow mornings diary - still perhaps AA man will take my bike down for me and I can cycle back - very up hill though..

 

[Mr Pig]

Astra with 24k miles on the clock.

That's terrible. Modern cars are rubbish.

Just so happens that I've just climbed out of a recovery truck myself. Timing chain on my car has let go, probably totalling the engine! Car's ten years old though so at least it has an excuse.

Is your car on finance? If it is then look into just telling them to stick it and stopping the payments. The manufacturer will try to get out of doing anything but if you find ways to put enough pressure on them they'll probably take action. To be honest though, the kind of issues that you're describing can sometimes be almost impossible to trace. You might be best just getting shot of the car.

 

[fossyant]

Willow, diesel or petrol...it's gone into limp mode as the engine management has sensed something - if diesel, then it will be to do with protecting the turbo.

My sister's micra flashed it's engine management light - got it checked out and it was because of lack of use - got re-set. I've had mine flash on because of crap petrol....some dodgy garage in N.Wales near Flint (or Fflint in Welsh) - car juddering on M'way....

I tend to put the good petrol in now - Ultimate/ Supreme etc as it's used so little, I'm happy to pay for the extra cleaning agents in the fuel.

Mr Pig - what make is your's for a timing CHAIN to go - or is it belt ?

 

[Mr Pig]

Mr Pig - what make is your's for a timing CHAIN to go?

P11 Primera GT, like this except red... and f***ed! ;0)

Timing chain has been rattling for ages, getting worse, but they cost a fortune to replace. It's over £300 just for the parts! I thought it would let go soon, and it did. So now I need to decide whether to fix it or put in in the wheelie bin. Never liked the thing much anyway, maybe that'll help me decide ;0)

 

[Speicher]

Fossyant, what would you describe as low mileage, with reference to using better petrol? (with cleaning properties)

I do about 5,000 miles a year.

 

[Willow]

That's terrible. Modern cars are rubbish.

Just so happens that I've just climbed out of a recovery truck myself. Timing chain on my car has let go, probably totalling the engine! Car's ten years old though so at least it has an excuse.

Is your car on finance? If it is then look into just telling them to stick it and stopping the payments. The manufacturer will try to get out of doing anything but if you find ways to put enough pressure on them they'll probably take action. To be honest though, the kind of issues that you're describing can sometimes be almost impossible to trace. You might be best just getting shot of the car.

No bought outright and wrote to Vauxhaull after service only one month out of warranty and staff needed doing .. like they cared!

 

[Willow]

Willow, diesel or petrol...it's gone into limp mode as the engine management has sensed something - if diesel, then it will be to do with protecting the turbo.

My sister's micra flashed it's engine management light - got it checked out and it was because of lack of use - got re-set. I've had mine flash on because of crap petrol....some dodgy garage in N.Wales near Flint (or Fflint in Welsh) - car juddering on M'way....

I tend to put the good petrol in now - Ultimate/ Supreme etc as it's used so little, I'm happy to pay for the extra cleaning agents in the fuel.

Mr Pig - what make is your's for a timing CHAIN to go - or is it belt ?

diesel,

 

[fossyant]

Ah forgot Mr Pig - fello Nissan man....- you should have known with a P11 - rattling chain - sort it ASAP...... (NPOC Member here and P12 er.......) TBH, a good independent would do it for a reasonable fee, but considering Alfa's, VW's have a habbit of doing in belts very quickly.....

Mine has been with me since 10 months old and had 6 monthly synthetic oil changes (something Prims like), although it's not been done for over a year at the moment, but has done about 3000 miles ............this weeks job whilst I am off !


Speicher - Low mileage - well mine has gone from 18k p.a. to just about 2-3k per annum - I try and put in the Shell V power stuff when I can, or stick to Esso Supreme, rather than supermarket stuff - just keeps the injectors and stuff clean - but my car does sit for 5 days, then gets some use at weekends. The miles are clocked up going down to N.Wales...during the summer, normal weekly miles are less than 30....

It's thrown wobblies this year through none use - new battery and air con re-gasses - hence the system is run 100% of the time now - when used

If your car is used daily, then not an issue really.

 

[fossyant]

Hi Willow - diesel - they will do this to protect the turbo.....could be a sensor, rather than anything bad - let's hope so !

 

[tyred]

This is why I hate modern cars.

 

[Mr Pig]

This is why I hate modern cars.

I agree. My father-in-law keeps bending my ear about getting a newer car, he just can't get his head round the fact that older ones are much simpler and cheaper to run.

 

[Night Train]

I also have the old vs new debate.

I generally go for older cars as they are easier to maintain and cheaper to keep most of the time. However, I was pursuaded to get a new car due to my 20,000 miles a year. At one time I had two Skoda Estelles and a spare engine to keep me going but the reliability of an older car eventually got to me and I bought new.

My car has only let me own once since 2001 and that was due to a dodgy biodiesel supply. I do like my new car as it is reliable, efficient and easy to live with as a work horse. I also know that it will pass it's MOT each year without major work or welding and that ABS, ESC and airbags will help loads in the event of a crash.

 

[tyred]

I've covered 28,000 miles in the past year or so in a 1996 Peugeot 205. Total expenditure on repairs (excluding normal service items like the timing belt and oil filters which all cars need) has been £7 (thermostat, fitted myself) £10 (patch a hole in exhaust, local exhaust centre) £10 (flexible brake pipe, fitted myself), £9 CV joint boot (fitted myself) and a driver's side window winder (£5 from local scrapyard and fitted myself). Factor in the total lack of depreciation and I think I can run my elderly 205 considerably cheaper than any new car. There is the added benefit that it has a very simple Magnetti Marelli (SP?) fuel injection system so I have no reason to visit a Peugeot rip off merchant main dealer.

I recently aquired another one for spare parts after I needed a bootlid and back bumper after being rear ended at a pedestrian crossing. It cost £30 from a neighbour. So I now have a spare engine and gearbox and many other bits and pieces if I need them.