car problems...

[Brian Ellis]

Oh for the days when cars came with a starting handle! Many's the time that a hand-crank has started a reluctant engine - and many's the time when idiots broke their thumbs cranking an engine that sneezed because they didn't know how to hold the starting handle! When the Austin/Morris Mini came out in 1958/9 (the first car with a transversal engine) the universal question was how you started it with a handle. Even the Beetle came with one (but you had to remember to stick it in its arse!)

[VJ]

I'll just leave it now; as much as I would like to work on the car (is still a dream of mine), I don't have the time to fiddle with it, can't get to the parts (I'm now at work, 200 km away, and will only be back in the weekend, when all is closed), and if I can't start somewhere it would be a real issue...
BTW, just talked to my brother, and he is now on his 3rd battery on a Volvo V40 (10 years old). Last time round, he had what the garage called a full battery crash: it did nothing, could not be charged, it was really dead (despite having started just shortly before). So given the 5-4-5 years of my battery, it most likely is the cause.

degrub: the 850 is not a T5, just a more normal 2.0 liter, 20 valves, with automatic gearbox (sedan model). But I really like that car (I learned to drive with it too): it is built like a tank, but still has no issues keeping up with traffic (esp. when one puts the gearbox in sport mode). The car still drives just like when it was new.


Jörg

[VJ]

The 850 started making a strange friction-like noise (not consistently though), accompanied with fluctuations in the RPM, vibrations in the gas pedal and seemingly hotter oil temperature (but still long way from red zone); no warning lights were lit... I really didn't trust it, so went to the dealer.
When starting the car there to see what was going on, it made a really freaky noise, after which it could no longer be started and the dashboard was lit like a Christmas tree... Apparently, the compressor of the air-conditioning blocked, that freaky noise was a belt, coiling wrong due to the blocked compressor. The car needs a new compressor for the airco, new belt and maybe some other minor parts (= half day work). I called my parents to enlighten them; they gave the go-ahead, so it ought to be ready by Wednesday.

Meanwhile, I had called the VW dealer, to ask if they could help me out on a Saturday with my car. This was possible, so after going home from the Volvo dealer by bus (which incidentally also stalled at one bus stop !!!!!) I attempted to start my car. This was no issue (but of course, it had been sitting inside for a week, with nothing consuming power - I even kept the alarm off). At the VW dealer, they ran the car self test, and measured the battery: it gave out 9.5 V . Amazing it could start on that (it did a couple of successful starts at the dealers, never showed any sign of trouble)...
They replaced the battery, and all seem normals...


Jörg

[Brian Ellis]

If you have that effect on every car you touch, kepp away from them!

[VJ]

Yes, well...
I haven't had much luck with cars so far... The Polo is my second car; my first one also was a Polo, bought brand new, which I sold back to the garage after 2 years of non-stop problems...

I'm a bit worried what might be next; the windscreen is most likely the next cost, due to damages from small pebbles and iceblocks (an iceblock falling from a streetlamp hit the windscreen while I was driving 90 kph...). So far the windscreen hasn't started cracking, so it is not that urgent (I'm waiting for the dealer closeby to reopen after his relocation).


Jörg

[Fat Tone]

Doesn't your insurance cover that? Here if a chip can be repaired it is done for free. If it is replaced it should just cost your 'glass' excess, typically £50 to £70.

[Brian Ellis]

Yes, well...
I haven't had much luck with cars so far... The Polo is my second car; my first one also was a Polo, bought brand new, which I sold back to the garage after 2 years of non-stop problems...

I'm a bit worried what might be next; the windscreen is most likely the next cost, due to damages from small pebbles and iceblocks (an iceblock falling from a streetlamp hit the windscreen while I was driving 90 kph...). So far the windscreen hasn't started cracking, so it is not that urgent (I'm waiting for the dealer closeby to reopen after his relocation).


Jörg

Buy Japanese if you prefer comfort, good guarantees and, above all, reliability! My present car is guaranteed for 7 years, except for the bodywork which is 6 years, and the electric traction system and battery, which is 8 years. In over 29 years of Toyotas and 10 years of Hondas, the only time I've been let down and had to stop (other than a flat tyre) was during a deluge, when the wiper motor failed. Not quite let down: I was motoring through Lausanne one day when I lost some power and a clanking noise came from the front. As it happened, I was about 100 m from the main Toyota distributor's service workshop (I did not buy from there, but from a reseller) and I gently clanked my way up the hill. I explained what had happened to the foreman and he listened to the engine and said something like ouch, that does not sound good; the piston is hitting an exhaust valve which is stuck open. He said that he expected the dry liner was OK, in which case he would replace the piston-con-rod-big end assembly and the whole cylinder head assembly. It was my turn to say ouch as I thought how much it would cost (it was three months out of guarantee). He offered me a small replacement car, free of charge, as the repair would take a week. I received a phone call a few days later. My car was ready. I trundled along to pick it up, cheque book at the ready. "How much?", asked I. 5 francs: "uh????" Yes, 5 francs! I asked why, and he said that was for cleaning rags: the importers had informed him that mine was the third engine of that type (a 2.3 l 6 cyl in-line job) that had done this and Toyota had changed the valve guide design. All the parts and labour were at Toyota's expense, even though it was not under guarantee. I was glad to pay the 5 francs, believe me!

Try that with a European make!

[VJ]

You are right regarding reliability, but for comfort, French cars are the best. :-)

Volkswagen has a service they call mobility warranty, and it also includes replacement car or overnight cost in the event of long repairs... Never needed it though.

On my previous car, repairs outside the warranty also have been fixed for free due to known faults.

Main reason I got a VW initially is that I want an automatic gearbox, and the toyota and honda models of 8 or so years ago with this were expensive: it was only offered on full option models. Later the VW dealer gave of a good price on that first VW provided I bought a new one there.

Jörg

[VJ]

Doesn't your insurance cover that? Here if a chip can be repaired it is done for free. If it is replaced it should just cost your 'glass' excess, typically £50 to £70.

Insurance requires me to go to Carglass, who said that they will not be able to fix it (due to to small a chip, they are willing to try, but chances are that *if it works* it will still leave a matte spot that might even be worse), and that they will not replace the windscreen because it most likely will not worsen over time.
Fact is that it is vey annoyting, smack in the middle of my field of view.


But guess it will not be the windscreen, but the navigation: for the second time in 2 weeks time, it refused destinations (even destinations that have worked in the past). It still knows it location, but just refuses to start the routing for most destinations.
I have tried swapping navigation cd's, but to no avail...


Jörg

[VJ]

Rats... the same starting problem has re-emerged... The battery is only a week old, and again it happend that the car won't start (but tries to) a couple of times... :-(

The car has to go to the garage for servicing anyway, but I hope they mange to isolate and solve the issue... I hate a car you can't depend on...
(again using my parents car for the time being, as I have a number of distances to cover and stops to make; whereas they only drive around very locally)

Jorg
Jorg

[Umfriend]

Buy a Renault next time.

[Fat Tone]

Don't be daft - look at what happened to their engines in the F1 yesterday! And you'll only be first away from the lights if you only fuel it to the end of the street

[VJ]

Just called the dealers... They suggested using the spare key for a while: they think the anti-theft transponder might be the culprit (it locks out the fuel pump, which indeed could explain why it attempts to start, but doesn't turn over).

Only thing: there is an indicator on the dashboard if the transponder were to kick in, and it doesn't light up...
(the car reported no errors on my previous visit - when they replaced the battery - so that might also hint at that issue: transponder kicking in is not an error)


Jörg

[Umfriend]

Don't be daft - look at what happened to their engines in the F1 yesterday! And you'll only be first away from the lights if you only fuel it to the end of the street

Oh, wasn't aware we were discussing F1 cars for personal use, my bad.
Wrt normal cars, my Renault 19, bought new, is now 12.5 years of age with over 150Km. Aside from two batteries, a water pump and other regular wear&tear it has been running great and still is.

[Brian Ellis]

Buy a Renault next time.

WRONG!

Buy Japanese for reliability.