JamieH86

I had this... technically, I still have! Queen's Greatest Hits has been stuck for three years come January. No garage has ever had any joy. Never been so inclined to pay for repairs as we've got a cheap BlueTooth adapter instead.

Well a cheapo FM/Bluetooth device arrived today from eBay and it works a dream.

Thanks. It might be a massive cliche but I have had "Queen Greatest Hits" stuck in the CD player for coming up to three years now and as most radio stations insist on playing modern music, this might be a lifesaving device.

My melon is well twisted now... sorry if I sound thicker than a whale omelette, but do you just plug that into the lighter socket and it connects to the speakers?

Does anyone know where to get mats that will accommodate a floor-pedal for the accelerator? Everything I can find is for the more usual ... well, not sure what the technical term is, but "not floor-pedal" will do (i.e. matching the brake and clutch). I am loathe to have to chop a mat up to fit!

I had a similar issue last year, also after heavy rain. The ESP and skid lights came on and the power kept failing to certain things on turning left, such as the wipers (meaning I had to stop and restart the engine after every roundabout in the rain). The headlight dash light and illumination also failed, though the lamps themselves stayed on. The next day... fine. And fine since. I did push in all the fuses and relays in case one was loose, and perhaps it was just rain in the wrong place?

Hi Ken, many thanks for the reply. Ever considered that internet forums aren't for you?

Hi all - a couple of weeks ago, the orange engine management light came on (the manual calls it the 'control system for exhaust gases'); it's the one in the shape of an engine block: I had only gone down the road to the shop; when I went home, it was off again and has been off since, so I haven't thought anything more of it. Tonight driving, which I don't do as often as I did owing to working from home, it came on again and on one particularly steep hill start at a set of lights, either the car was underpowered or the clutch happened to slip at that time; either way, the revs were up high but not the corresponding movement of the car. Any ideas? The manual says could be a fault in the exhaust system somewhere. Car info: 1.9 diesel estate (not sure estate is relevant!)

Not to hijack this thread but is there a definitive cambelt change interval guide? I can't seem to find one the same as the last. Mine (2005 1.9 tdi) was done 2.5 years (and about 45k miles) ago which seems to be within limits as far as I can tell?

Only 215000 or so for me!

We lived in France with a 1.9 TDI from 2005, with 213k. We drove to Poland in it twice (about a 2000 mile return trip) without issue. On one occasion during the 2019 heatwave, the highest temperature the car thermometer reached was 42 degrees... windows open this was fine! So if the car is well serviced age doesn't really mean much. Re-registering a UK car in France though will be much harder thanks to Brexit if you move, and has got to be done.

I think the basic rule is sound; if you're mainly making short, local journeys buy petrol. If you're travelling longer distances regularly, particularly via motorway perhaps, go diesel.

My car never came with a remote fob, just a key. If I turn it once in the driver's door it unlocks that door; turning it twice (literally put key in, turn, back to start, turn) unlocks everything.

The most I got for a full tank out of my 1.9 TDI 2005 estate was 730 miles. The light came on around 690 and the needle was pretty low at 730, so rather than push it I topped up. Economy has been poorer this year due to working from home and less driving. Lowest mileage for a tank before the light came on was around 550 miles, which personally I find disappointing! Needless to say it's at its best in the summer and immediately post-service (the occasion of my 730 miler). But all round for a large car it's very good economy.

Sounds similar to mine. "Bushes and Discs" should be a book of hilarious MOT anecdotes.

Sorry I though you were looking for a diesel clean generally (I mentioned the smoke test to show how effective it was).

I would get the Redex pre-MOT diesel clean. I got some from the car section of a big Tesco. It's also in Wilkinsons etc. I had an MOT today and used this stuff for the preceding 50 miles, and the smoke test result (0.22 l/m) was lower than the car did on its first MOT (2008!).

Well I'm a Redex convert now! Not only did they not apply 3.0 l/m to the test, they didn't use 0.8. Instead it was tested at 0.6 but came out at 0.22, which is the lowest I've ever seen it.

No idea why I said underwater! Underground, of course. Not especially cold... but colder than after it's had the sun on it of a day.

You're probably right, and yet it "feels" like some places sell crapper fuel, that is less efficient by MPG. I always top up in the morning; apparently fuel in cold underwater tanks is more viscous, meaning you get more in your tank (as the pump measures litres per second regardless of consistency).

To be fair there's never any smoke out of the exhaust... but I'll do that anyway. Luckily the mechanic is picking the car up for the MOT and has to go 20 miles or so to the test. I'll tell him to do it in 2nd!

It always gets tested against 0.8, so no joy there! When it failed the last MOT, the average reading was 2.3! That was an average of two; they didn't bother with the third check. After driving at 40 in second for 15 minutes, it passed with an average of 0.5, so quite a big drop. That was without any fuel products. This time round I'm not using the car daily like I was. I filled up about 7 weeks ago and have still got 3/4 tank left, so I've added the Redex and will do a couple more 'Italian tune ups' before the MOT on Monday.

Well it's been for an Italian tune up. No idea about emissions yet but afterwards I only had to look at the accelerator and it was away... so that's an improvement anyway!

Yes it's got at least one service for every year of its life, oil and filters were changed four months ago. I have just had it re registered to UK plates and when I spoke to the DVLA they said they'd accept the last MOT (French). They did, and I have a V5C. But the DVSA it turns out don't... so now it is registered and taxed but not MOTed, legally... limiting my options for taking it for a run!

For the most part in the last two years I lived in France in the country, so most roads are 50mph - not a lot of motorway driving or going faster than that. Unusual to maintain above 20 on the rev counter for long.