Maintenance advice!!

[IVORTHE DRIVER]

Hi Sonia.

Quick simple check for head gasket failure...take off the oil filler cap and check for white sludge on it or check the radiator filler cap for traces of oil..one or the other could indicate problems. Head gasket failure vary rarely causes leaks visible from under bonnet, normally occur internally as thats the weakest point on the gasket

Fumes sound more like a blocked or leaking crankcase filter causing fumes to filter back through the vents into car, not good!

Second opinion definitely recomended

Ivor

[jont]

Unless of course you have a Rover K-series engine

I know you meant it as an amusing quip, but even so it isn't necessarily so ... if the version of the engine is for low power applications, as per its original design brief, then there don't appear to be problems. For the versions adapted to higher power outputs, it is possible to relocate the thermostat such that it opens earlier and reduces the risk of thermal shock when it does open, and/or the head gasket material can be replaced with something much more resilient, and/or one can bear this in mind when starting from cold, (by not placing the engine under significant load until it is fully up to temperature).

There are other issues with the K-series such as some heads being soft and also the liner heights not being checked properly when the head gasket is replaced such that it will then fail again rapidly. /49k miles on a high output K-series with no issues - although it's no longer my problem if it does fail...

[jont]

I've split the discussion about my next car off to here to stop Sonia's thread getting cluttered.

[x-Sonia-x]

I've split the discussion about my next car off to here to stop Sonia's thread getting cluttered.

thank you jont

Well i havent had any time to take the car to get a quote, have been working every single day for over 2 weeks. Today it wouldnt start at all, so ive just called the AA, the problem is the fuel injection system has packed up. Its been towed away, am hoping it will be covered by the AA maintenance warranty i have

[x-Sonia-x]

goodbye!!!....at last this awful car is history!! the jobs that needed doing outweighed the value of the car so the decision was made not to bother wasting anymore time or money on it. I remember selling my escort and feeling really sad...the only emotion i felt today was total relief.

Its hard being car-less ...on the bright side im waiting for news on a Focus which is 5 years old, and only done 10K miles....fingers crossed this will be mine

Ive learned many valuable lessons in owning this C3 and i just wanted to say a massive thank you to each and every one of you who has taken time to give me advice on it xx

hopefully my next car will not give me so much grief

[IVORTHE DRIVER]

Hi,

Focus....nice car, have fun

Ivor

[martine]

Good decision I feel.

Focus...I can recommend them and I don't just mean the 'hot' ST. I've also had a Focus 1.8 petrol for over 10 years and it's now done 160,000m and still starts and drives fine - I've now transfered ownership to my eldest daughter. I've just purchased a 1.6 petrol to replace it for wife, 3rd daughter to learn on etc.

Good cars, cheap to run (not ST!), reliable and cheap to fix and handle surprisingly well.

[x-Sonia-x]

Focus....nice car, have fun

ive hired a car for the weekend and its a....Focus Titanium, absolutely stunning in the most beautiful blue....i so wont want to give this car back

My offer of the other focus didnt materialize as the lady changed her mind and has decided not to sell ....so im after advice again.

i have 3 options....to lease a brand new focus....to look around for a second hand one...and the third option is my niece has an 04 citroen C3 for sale, she bought it from new and has used it only as a commuter car to get to the station and back. Its done 28K and never had any problems. Of course the downside is its exactly the same as my old one....which in the end i hated...and its even red!!!

SO do i pay £2K for a car that has had one owner and low mileage etc....or take my chances elswhere??...and the other thing is as im without a car i need to make an immediate decision as my hire car goes back on Monday. My gut instinct tells me to steer clear of the C3 for obvious reasons...but it is a car i could have right now

Anyones thoughts would be much appreciated

[fungus]

Depending on your budget you could also consider the new Ford Fiesta. I bought one in November to replace my Ibiza 1.9tdi, which I was very happy with, but due to the non availiability of the 1.2tsi, (no dealers within a radius of abou 50 miles could get one before Jan/Feb), I looked at the new Fiesta. The dealer got an ex mobility 1.4 Zetec with 3700 miles on the clock, 15 months old, saving me about £3K over the new price. It's a lovely car. The only gripe I have is that 1st and reverse sometimes do not engage properly.

[waremark]

Only you can decide how much money you can spend on a car. However, after all the stress your old car caused you I expect you would be much happier with a much newer car with a cast iron warranty.

I don't know how you use your own car, but I would agree with Nigel that you probably do not need something as big or expensive as a Focus. I love my daughter's Fiesta 1.2 Zetec - which also has an occasionally obstructive first gear.

[IVORTHE DRIVER]

Hi,

Yep I go along with that, if you have no need for a bigger car look at the Fiesta, the 1.25 is very frugal on fuel but can be a bit harsh at speed, the DTi version is superb, quiet (for a diesal) good on fuel,suprisingly quick and nearly as roomy as a Focus anyway also they handle really well, will cruise at motoway speed all day and for a small car it is very comfortable, add to that cheap ins/tax, you cant loose.....IGNORE THE CITREON!!!

iVOR

[x-Sonia-x]

...IGNORE THE CITREON!!!

ohhhhh dear ....i went over this morning and bought it ...am i feeling ive shot myself in the foot....hmmm maybe

ok this is my reasoning....its done 25K not 28K, has never had any work done even the tyres are as new. My niece was the only person to own it so i know where it has been. It cost me £2K (she was offered £2,700 privately) which isnt alot of money for a car but its paid for without the worry of monthly payouts.

my long term plan is to keep it for 3-6 months, if i have any problems, if things start to go then i will sell it, or in other words i will keep it for as long as all is going well. At that time i will then get my first brand new car, and yes it wont be the focus, its much too big for me, a fiesta will do me fine. I love the fiesta titanium...so im looking at that at the moment. From now on im going to save £200 per month as a big deposit for the car...and to prove that it wont cripple me financially should i decide to lease one.

fingers crossed this Citroen will not be like my other one

[fungus]

...IGNORE THE CITREON!!!

ohhhhh dear ....i went over this morning and bought it ...am i feeling ive shot myself in the foot....hmmm maybe

ok this is my reasoning....its done 25K not 28K, has never had any work done even the tyres are as new. My niece was the only person to own it so i know where it has been. It cost me £2K (she was offered £2,700 privately) which isnt alot of money for a car but its paid for without the worry of monthly payouts.

my long term plan is to keep it for 3-6 months, if i have any problems, if things start to go then i will sell it, or in other words i will keep it for as long as all is going well. At that time i will then get my first brand new car, and yes it wont be the focus, its much too big for me, a fiesta will do me fine. I love the fiesta titanium...so im looking at that at the moment. From now on im going to save £200 per month as a big deposit for the car...and to prove that it wont cripple me financially should i decide to lease one.

fingers crossed this Citroen will not be like my other one

If you only intend to keep the car for a few months, and your neice has had no problems, and she is the only owner, then I would imagine that it will probably be ok.

If you've had a bad experience of a product it will tend to put you off that particular manufacturer.

We had a Miele dishwasher that was a problem, (it had several breakdowns). Although it was out of warrenty, Domestic & General replaced it with a new machine as it was obviously a rogue. The new machine has given several trouble free years of service, as have the other Miele appliances that we have. If it had been the first Miele appliance that we'd bought, maybe we wouldn't have bought another. However, our Miele washing machine had given very good service and only gave up when the pump gave out at eighteen years old, and at nearly £300 for a new pump, and that was to fit myself, we decided to replace it.

The rogue dishwasher has not put us off Miele pruducts.

[IVORTHE DRIVER]

Hi,

Dont worry I hate Vauxhalls as well as Citreons

As you know its only other owner you should be safe enough, if not at that price at least its a good trade in prospect.

Ivor

[Renny]

Some people like Citroens, and have no problems with theirs, others have problems like you had with your previous one. I'd get your new one serviced by a good independent, getting the oil changed is important if all it has done is short journeys.

Good Luck, hope you enjoy it.