Car Servicing/Maintaince

[Milltown Row2]

Santa Fe (2004) for sale, 150,000 miles on it, diesel, manual. New clutch and 6 months MOT.  Looking £1900

[Hardy]

Her indoors's Citroen C4 is pinking fairly badly under load. I assume this is over-advanced timing. In the old days I'd have attacked this myself with the strobe light and distributor adjustment. Is there any DIY solution for electronic ignition or do I have to pay a few hundred quid to get a computer plugged in and a setting adjusted?

[Denn Forever]

Have you checked the timing with the strobe light?  Electronic ignition just replaces the points with a more reliable spark.  Adjust the timing by rotating the distributor as normal.

[Hardy]

Begod! I didn't know that - thought it'd be an electronic timing adjustment of some kind. Thanks.

[GJL]

Have you checked the timing with the strobe light?  Electronic ignition just replaces the points with a more reliable spark.  Adjust the timing by rotating the distributor as normal.

. Jeysus

[Last Man]

Have you checked the timing with the strobe light?  Electronic ignition just replaces the points with a more reliable spark.  Adjust the timing by rotating the distributor as normal.

What u drivin DF, an Orion??

[Milltown Row2]

any thoughts on this car? Wife looking a smaller car

Alfa Romeo 147 1.6 TS Lusso 5dr Hatchback
2003 Reg, Hatchback
Private seller, distance: 13 miles
69,800 miles
Manual
1.6L
Petrol

[GJL]

I would a avoid alfas big time. They do not have a good reputation for reliability at all. Some great value to be had in the second hand market if you are prepared to buy petrol. Get her a golf.

[qubdub]

wouldn't touch an alfa, even brand new. Also hear the parts are expensive. Like the man says get her a golf. 13 yr old diesel just sailed through the mot there on monday

[theskull1]

New Vauxhall (Astra GTC) 1.7 cdti engine.....any opinions?

Honda early flywheel replacement. Ford/Volvo/Mazda rising oil level (diesel contamination). Always told stay away from French makes. VW 2.0 nowhere near as good as the 1.9 and the 1.6 is terrible.

Choices aren't great......

[johnneycool]

any thoughts on this car? Wife looking a smaller car

Alfa Romeo 147 1.6 TS Lusso 5dr Hatchback
2003 Reg, Hatchback
Private seller, distance: 13 miles
69,800 miles
Manual
1.6L
Petrol

My friend had a brand new Alfa and said it was in the garage several times for major repairs to gear box, clutch etc in the 2 years he had it and changed to a Mazda 6 a few months back.
He'd never touch one again although he said they were a lovely drive.

[gerrykeegan]

any thoughts on this car? Wife looking a smaller car

Alfa Romeo 147 1.6 TS Lusso 5dr Hatchback
2003 Reg, Hatchback
Private seller, distance: 13 miles
69,800 miles
Manual
1.6L
Petrol

I had that very car, I think it was 2001 reg. Just died one day. There were so many problems with it they just scrapped it.

[Milltown Row2]

what about the C4 Vt Coupe? It's 2005, petrol with 87,000 miles on it selling at £1300

I'm rubbish at buying cars

[macdanger2]

Have a look at honestjohn.co.uk for car reviews going well back into the 90s, it's pretty good and gives a rundown of common problems on various cars.

[laoislad]

I'm getting a vibration in the pedals and floor when I go above 110km/hr
No vibration in steering wheel so I'm assuming it isn't a wheel balancing problem.
Also when I put the foot down to pass a car on the motorway it gets slightly worse and it feels like the engine is labouring.
Any ideas?