Hammett

Sorry forgot to mention it's not the brakes, although I've had the brake switch fail before in the past with same dash warning.

Hi, Strange one this. Got in car today to start it (cold start, 1 degC), noticed I'd left one of the small interior light on. Tried to start car, turned over for a few seconds but didn't start. Tried again, still didn't start. After a few more attempts noticed the battery started going. (Slow turn over). So got out my jump starter and connected it up. Turned key, started straight away. Then noticed that the coil light started flashing after about 20-30 seconds. Since then car has started fine all day, but still the coil light starts flashing and doesn't turn off, car runs normally. I'd noticed during the week (cold morning) that the car struggled a little to start so went and got battery tested, tests came back fine. Battery is nearly 2 years old. I did have a new starter motor fitted a few months back and had noticed a few weeks back that it would make a screeching noise just after starting the engine, not sure if this is linked, but it hasn't made that noise for over a week or so. Does anyone know what other faults the flashing coil light could indicate. Going to check for codes tomorrow. One strange thing has just happened though, went to shop, got back in car and fuel warning came on, strange as it has a quarter of a tank left. Miles left in tank was registering 15 with the computer. Over the next 10 minutes this increased back up to around 100 miles as it should be. Anyone any ideas, thanks in advance. Car is 110 elegance BTW.

Well mine still running 12,000 miles after first noticing the leak. I ended up putting in some k seal which fixed my temp guage fluctuating a couple of degrees under 90deg. I find there seems to be a sweet spot in the amount of coolant I put in, if too much then pressure builds up quicker and leaks. Another issue with k seal is that I think it's buggered up the coolant level sensor which doesn't help, going to give it a scrape with screwdriver to see if it helps. Just had a basic service (didn't do timing belt) so probably just drive it now till it finally gives up.

Cheers for the help guys, I'll give it a go. Love this forum

Hi, Have had a good look around but can't find a definitive way to replace the driver door handle cable. I have a new cable and have stripped down the door, just need to disconnect the old cable from the lock end. Is there a knack for getting this off or instructions anyone could help me with? Thanks in advance.

Well just over 6000 miles later it's till running, had to top coolant up a couple of times. Have been driving it at 60 on way to work and back. But need to find out why it leaks when I give it the beans so getting getting pressure test tomorrow, fingers crossed they find something.

When you say fuse box under the bonnet, do you mean the ones above the battery? Also how do you push a car in gear, do you mean just a rocking it to rote the flywheel. Currently having problems every now and then getting car to start, turn key, get click but nothing. Usually after keeping key rotated or after a few attempts car will start. Today spent half an hour in asda car park constantly trying to start it until it eventually started. Am hoping a tiny push in gear will sort it. Then again it could be the starter motor! :peek:

Sorry to revive this one. I too am having this problem, my car has done 235k miles and is due timing belt change in 5k. Is it worth getting the head gasket replaced? I have been told that due to the age (2002) and mileage that a new gasket would probably but too much stress on the bottom of the engine! As timing belt is due it would only be another couple of 3 hundred pounds more to do. Failing that I may have to get rid, shame as rest of car is spotless and still looks great. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

Exactly my thoughts. Gotta bear in mind though it has done 234,000 miles.

Both.

More baffled now. Have had the header tank replaced but it's still leaking, it would appear to be coming from under the coolant tank somewhere, one of the metal pipes looked wet after taking it for a nippy test drive. It seems to be collecting on a plastic shelf above the wheel arch and moving all the way along that shelf to about 6 inches before front of the car. But the water travels down parts of the chassis along to the inside of the wheel then drips there and splashes the surrounding wheel arch. Have been told it could be early signs of head gasket going, but oil and water look ok. Not sure if I should cut my losses at the moment. I doesn't leak if I cruise along to work at 60 for 25 miles, only if I go 65mph+. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Can't really see anything, that part of the car is so packed with pipes etc. Where are they located? Garage couldn't find leak either, they suspect the header tank as there is a bit of crystalisation near overflow. Will get new tank, but suspect head gasket is causing increase in pressure. If it still leaks after that think I may need to look at another car!

Had it in the garage, suspect head gasket, going to try new coolant header tank first, but if it still leaks I think that maybe it for the car :( Have been told even if I do get the head gasket done it would probably put too much of a strain on the bottom of the engine. Will see what happens, looking on autotrader in anticipation for a similar workhorse, probably vw next.

Going to try new coolant header tank first. If it still leaks then I suspect head gasket, in that case I'll probably be scrapping it, shame as it's been a great car for nearly 10 minutes and bodywise is still in very good condition.

My coolant bottle seems to hold the pressure for quite a long time, but I think that's normal. Something I did fail to mention is that ever since the limp mode started my temp guage seems to dip ever so slightly (maybe 2-3 degrees sometimes) maybe down to the fact I generally have air con all the time and fans are generally on with it, but defintely always used to stay at 90 all the time. CTS maybe?

Checked return pipe yesterday and seemed to be flowing well. KenONeill, I think you're right there, my mistake. (also same standard 110 elegance). Not really experienced enough to try the mr muscle fix though. I'll see what the garage says. Thanks for the feedback(s).

Hi, Been tearing my hair out with this one for a while. Have been having an issue were car will go into limp mode if at around 3000rpm in third (very common problem I know). Thinking firstly maybe sticky vanes. Have tried putting diesel additives in a couple of times and booting it, seems to fix for a short time. Since about christmas I've been slowly losing coolant very slowly, topped it up thought no more about it. A couple of months ago I was particularly heavy footed on the way to work (25 mile journey) and just before pulling into the car park the coolant warning light came on. After about an hour I noticed that there was a puddle of coolant underneath the driver foot well. I've since noticed that leaking will occur if I cruise anywhere over 70mph on the motorway on the way to work. Have also noticed very small dark specks floating in the coolant reservoir. I've been told that it could be a leak from the water pump, head gasket on the way out or simply just need a new coolant reservoir (this is where I think it's leaking from but can't be sure, not even with UV light at night). As the coolant leak seems to occur at around 3000rpm in 5th I was wondering if these issues could be linked? Possibly EGR valve causing pressurisation of the coolant system and the tiny dark specks. My knowledge is very limited and I'm just guessing. Was going to take it into the dealers but lost quite alot of trust with them now, so going to take to a local reputable garage and see what they say. Anyone had the same issues or any ideas?

Think it's due next service so probably done just over 50,000 miles in last 2-3 years, mainly motorway driving.

Sorry to revive an old thread, I too have noted a leak under the drivers side, appears to be from under the coolant reservoir somewhere. It has only occured twice in last couple of months when I've been heavy footed on the motorway, I find if I cruise along at 70-75 it's ok and doesn't leak. Thought it may be same issue, but if it's only happening when peddle happy I'm not so sure. Is more pressure put into the system when going faster? Thanks in advance.

Sorry to resurrect this one but did you ever get to the bottom of it? I noticed over last 6 months (from when it was cold) that I was losing very small amounts of coolant, topped it up a couple of time over that 6 months. Today, after a rather heavy footed journey into work, I got off the motorway and within 5 mins the coolant light came on. Checked under the car a couple of hours later and there was puddle under the driver’s side jacking point (same as yours). Anyway, topped up the coolant before leaving work and drove home at 60 (25 miles journey) without aircon just to be sure it wasn't condensation. This time after a couple of hours idle there is a much smaller puddle, still dripping, albeit, very slowly. Checked the coolant reservoir and virtually same level as when I filled it.

Can't beat a good bodge, you'd be proud of how I bodged the driver side wiper after I crossthreaded the spindle then snapped off the wiper nut. Involved tap and die and some alradite! Fortunately both bodges are now getting fixed by the garage today.

I sealed it temporarily with blutack, gaffer tape and string and it no longer goes into limp mode when accelerating uphill, finger crossed that, redex and a bit of heavy right foot has sorted it. Thanks.

Hi, I've recently had a couple of times where the car has gone into limp mode whilst accelerating, generally just over 3000rpm and going up hill (110 TDI 2002). I tried a some redex and some lively driving to see if that would make a difference, seemed to, car accelerates better now. I then decided to look around the engine bay. The car had been in for a service recently and had new brake fluid, I noticed the brake fluid reservoir cap wasn't tightened properly and had been rubbing against the big pipe at the top left of the engine cover as you look at it (see attached pic and yellow arrow), sorry I'm not very familiar with what pipe it is (boost maybe?), seems to come from air intake. Is it possible that a small hole in this pipe would cause the engine to go into limp mode? I'm hoping this and not a sticky vane issue with the turbo! Hope you can help, car going back in to garage tomorrow for new wiper linkage but would like to see if they'll replace the pipe too. Thanks in advance.

Should I mention the steering to them, just not happy with it resting left down? Just don't want to shell out around £50 getting the geo/tracking looked at in town.

Had ball joints done just over a year ago, just don't know if I should expect them to look at the steering, just not sure whether to syphon the extra oil out now as I've had to do before when getting it back from a service.