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Car Mechanics is packed with essential advice on maintaining and repairing popular makes and models, it's an invaluable motoring resource that can appeal to the DIY car enthusiast at home and the more experienced motoring trade alike.
Happy Monday, folks! As usual, we'd love for you to show or tell us below what you've done with your vehicles this weekend.
I'm on a road trip with a friend, and thankfully have not had to do any roadside repairs. The hire car lottery came up a bit short this time, but the scenery has been amazing! ^JB
🎤✨ Hear from Kevan Wooden, Andy Crook, and Peter Melville and many more industry leaders at the Top Garage Theatre on 2-3 October 2024 - FREE to attend, FREE to park, and FREE training and development await.
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OCTOBER 2024 edition on sale from
September 20th to October 17th, 2024.
Car Mechanics magazine is available from high street stores including WHSmith and the bigger supermarkets: Asda, Morrisons, Tesco and some Sainsbury's stores. Plus local retailers.
Or buy a copy online here:
https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/issue/list/publication/CME
Or take out a subscription here:
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TURBOCHARGERS & SUPERCHARGERS – Force-feeding an engine with air can aid power and fuel efficiency but it introduces complexity and increased costs, should something go wrong, as Rob Marshall discovers.
PETER SIMPSON COLUMN – Peter knows that one car has got to go, but he's struggling to decide which.
CM INSIDER – The Aftermarket Event at Farnborough; win a Jefferson Tools trolley jack.
TALES FROM THE WORKSHOP – Real life repairs advice from our resident garage proprietor.
PROJECT VW CARAVELLE, Part 4 – 2.0 TDI timing belt and water pump swap.
This feature is sponsored by the febi bilstein group.
https://partsfinder.bilsteingroup.com/en/index
PROJECT BMW 335i, Part 7 – Sorting a few headlight problems including the washer system.
This feature is sponsored by Machine Mart.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/
DOOR DISASTERS – our Ford Focus Mk2 has a non-working driver's electric window and a replacement door mirror is required.
DEALER'S DIARY – Peter Simpson provides us with an insight into the automotive sales trading world – and beyond.
BUYING + OWNING – Hyundai ix20 (2010-2019).
AUDI A6 OIL PUMP & HEX DRIVE. CM reader details how he changed an oil pump on a 2009 2.0 TDI A6.
SERVICE BAY – 2014 Peugeot 108 1.0 petrol.
This feature is sponsored by LIQUI MOLY
https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/gb/
HELP! Q&A – 10 pages of your toughest mechanical queries answered by our technical expert Steve Rothwell.
SPARE A THOUGHT – Alan Anderson looks at the availability of parts today after COVID-19 disruptions.
DIAGNOSTICS DOCTOR Q&A – 3 pages of your diagnostics dilemmas answered.
ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTICS – 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
This feature is sponsored by Topdon.
https://www.topdondiagnostics.co.uk/
FESTIVAL OF THE UNEXCEPTIONAL – Rob Marshall takes in the event that happened on July 27th.
OUR CARS – Alan Anderson changes rear brakes on his 2006 Vauxhall Meriva, while Rob Hawkins updates us on his 1998 Mazda MX-5.
This feature is sponsored by febi bilstein and Blue Print.
https://partsfinder.bilsteingroup.com
FREE ADS – Sell your car or parts here!
IN MY HUMBLE OPINION – Mike Humble is mourning again at the loss of his old parts shop haunts.
The B8 Audi A4 features in our buying guide in this month’s magazine, and despite hitting showrooms in 2008, it’s still looking pretty fresh today. This generation of A4 can be had for as little as £1500 now, and if you know what you’re looking for, you can get a lot of car for your money. Our guide walks you through engine and original equipment options, common issues, and some options for upgrades. And you’ll also get an idea on parts costs, and other expenses. See it all on pages 50-53!
Any A4 owners here? Let us know your experiences.
Do any of you use the M6 Toll on a regular basis? Then you’ll probably be aware that it is the most expensive road to cross in the UK. Over 50,000 drivers spend £9.70 each day to travel across all three zones. But even if you only use one or two zones of the M6 Toll, you’re still paying more than the next most expensive road, which is the Mersey Tunnel, at £4.20 per crossing. But it’s the Dartford Crossing, with its £2.50 toll, that earns the most revenue each year – £216 million!
Good evening! We hope you had a great weekend. Tell us below what you got up to with your spanners over the last few days!
I have to sit this one out, as I was laid up with a cold (the joys of back to school season), and it rained quite a bit over here. So, over to you! ^JB
Some people think of working on cars like Porsches and their minds fill with fears of specialist tools and procedures that only experts can handle. True, there may be some tasks that are better left to the experts, but a Porsche, at the end of the day, is just another car. And as we show in this month’s magazine, tackling jobs like brakes is simple and straightforward. We’ve got a Cayman S getting new pads and discs, and you’ll see from our guide that, with a little attention to detail, it’s a job any competent DIY-er can handle in a couple of hours. See it all on pages 54-58!
It's time for your stories! Tell us, have you ever been offered a free car? What was it, and did you take it?
Are you a fan of drive-thru fast food? Then you are going to be better served in some places than you are in others. You’ll find the highest concentration of drive-thrus in Glasgow, which has a total of 42 drive-thrus. Kingston-upon-Hull comes in second with 16, while both Aberdeen and Milton Keynes have 14. If you live in Brighton and Hove, you’ll be struggling, though, as one solitary McDonalds drive-thru serves the whole area!
Hey folks! Show us below what you've been tinkering with this weekend.
I mentioned my issue with headlamp alignment last week, and sure enough, when I had a look at the level sensors, the arms were the issue. The ball and socket joint on both front and rear were pretty much seized. I managed to loosen them up a bit with some rust penetrant, and then popped the balls out of socket, sanded off the corrosion, and put a little water-displacing grease on them. I'm not really sure how much movement they should normally have, but I know they shouldn't be seized! ^JB
Our Caravelle is back on the lift in this month’s magazine for a gearbox oil filter change and some new rear dampers. The gearbox oil and filter change is certainly made easier with a lift, but requires careful attention to detail. This is particularly important when checking the oil level, as you will need diagnostic equipment to monitor the temperature. The rear dampers and spring pads were simple enough to replace, and the springs now rest on a polybush mount, which will be much more durable. See the full update on pages 26-30!
🚗🔧 Calling all aftermarket pros! Meet top exhibitors showcasing the latest tools and tech including Castrol, Distrigo Parts Distribution, Delphi, Autel, Topdon, Road Runner, Motul and many more!
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Have any of you bought a car from an online retailer? ‘cinch’, one of the bigger retailers, is now opening up a few supermarket-style stores, which seems to be an indication that people still aren’t quite ready to buy a car without seeing and driving it first. cinch encourages people to see their stock online first, and then book a test drive. When the purchase is agreed, the car is delivered to your home or to a collection centre. As usual with car supermarkets, prices are non-negotiable, and there is a 14-day money back guarantee. cinch says they are the ‘faff-free way to buy a car online’ – would you agree?
Do you let your kids eat in the car? A new survey by Skoda found that almost half of drivers in the UK said they have felt too embarrassed to offer a friend a lift due to the mess in their car caused by their kids. The biggest culprit for mess is crisps and spilt drinks, as well as chocolate and sweets, and even slime from toys. Some cars are so dirty that 1 in 10 drivers even consider scrapping their car! However, while many felt the embarrassment of their untidy cars, others saw it as a badge of honour. A quarter said they wouldn’t have it any other way, with more than a fifth said that a messy or untidy car is proof the family has had a good time.
Monday rolls around again, and we'd love to know what you got up to with your cars this weekend! Tell us below.
A bit of a curious one for me – I was driving the other night and found myself flashed repeatedly by oncoming drivers, clearly a sign that my headlamps were dazzling them. When I drove at night a few days prior, this had not happened, so something had obviously gone amiss. I'm going to guess it has to do with the level sensors that are connected to the control arms on my BMW, but I haven't had the chance to investigate yet. For now, I've simply dialled them down one twist on the adjustor, and last night had no more flashes. I'll check out the sensors later this week, and when I go for an MOT in a couple weeks, I'll have my guys adjust the headlamp aim properly again. ^JB
We’ve all heard nightmare stories about wet belts, and for some of you, those nightmares may have even been a reality. But are belts-in-oil really as bad as they seem? In this month’s magazine, we take a look at why manufacturers explored this design, what can go wrong, and how to prevent problems. We then have a detailed guide on how to renew a wet belt in a Puretech 1.2 engine, one of the most popular engines with this design. It’s a thorough investigation, and might leave you feeling a bit more at ease with a belt-in-oil engine, provided the car is driven properly and serviced religiously! See it all on pages 6-17.
Did you know we offer a free ads section in our magazine? If you have a car or some parts you are looking to buy or sell, you can have a listing in the magazine that will reach all our readers.
Have any of you bought a car through the free ads at the back of CM? Tell us below!
Another Bank Holiday weekend is behind us, and we’d love to know what you got up to this weekend with your vehicles. Anyone tackle some bigger projects? Let us know below!
I didn’t do much in the driveway this weekend, partly owing to the weather. But my town holds a little classic car rally every year on the green, so I spent a bit of time on Saturday morning having a wander round there and talking to some of the owners. Unfortunately, it was smaller than normal, again a consequence of the weather, although the local chapter of the Reliant club seemed to be out in full force! ^JB
It feels a bit like dismantling and reassembling a jigsaw puzzle this month, as we fit new front suspension arms and anti-roll bar links to our BMW 335i. We had previously spotted a deteriorated bush and wondered it that was the cause of the brake judder, so decided just to renew everything. We struggle a bit to figure out how the arms come out and go back in, and have to deal with stuck fasteners and bolts that are tricky to extract. But everything comes together in the end. See it all on pages 34-38 of this month’s magazine!
Are you put off from buying a car because it’s had too many previous owners? In this month’s magazine, Peter Simpson talks about making sense of the previous keeper data on a V5C and whether or not it’s somthing to be concerned about.
Have you ever bought a car with more than 10 previous owners? How many keepers would be too many for you?
Drivers in the UK talk a lot about potholes, and with good reason. According to the RAC, potholes topped the list of motoring complaints for two-thirds of drivers, with punctures, damage to suspension and springs caused by potholes costing an average of £460 to repair. Additionally, three out of five drivers noted that the condition of the local roads they frequently use has worsened over the past year. The research also found that potholes in London are fixed within a week, according to almost 1 in 10 Londoners, while cities in the northern regions said their local potholes are resolved ‘very slowly or not at all’.
SEPTEMBER 2024 edition on sale from
August 16th to September 19th, 2024.
Car Mechanics magazine is available from high street stores including WHSmith and the bigger supermarkets: Asda, Morrisons, Tesco and some Sainsbury's stores. Plus local retailers.
Or buy a copy online here:
https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/issue/list/publication/CME
Or take out a subscription here:
https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/subscription/CME
WET TIMING BELTS – As if timing belts were not fiddly enough to change, manufacturers have introduced types that run inside the engine. Rob Marshall looks at the practical implications and learns how to replace the wet belt on the popular PureTech 1.2-litre unit.
PETER SIMPSON COLUMN – Having bought his new Riley home, Peter has started sorting a few issues.
CM INSIDER – The world comes to Frankfurt next month; Mintex advances engineering education; Multifunction Jump Starter.
TALES FROM THE WORKSHOP – Real life repairs advice from our resident garage proprietor.
PROJECT VW CARAVELLE, Part 3 – DSG oil and filter change, rear damper renewal and rear lower spring cup bush replacement.
This feature is sponsored by the febi bilstein group.
https://partsfinder.bilsteingroup.com/en/index
PROJECT BMW 335i, Part 6 – Several front suspension components renewed.
This feature is sponsored by Machine Mart.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/
HYUNDAI SANTA FE DROPLINKS – anti-roll bar links and rear bushes on a 2011 model.
DEALER'S DIARY – Peter Simpson provides us with an insight into the automotive sales trading world – and beyond.
BUYING + OWNING – Audi A4 B8 (2008-2015).
This feature is sponsored by Bilstein.
https://www.bilsteinsuspensionstore.co.uk/
PORSCHE CAYMAN S DISC/PAD SWAP.
SERVICE BAY – 2020 Suzuki Ignis SZ-T Dualjet SHVS 1.2 petrol/hybrid.
This feature is sponsored by LIQUI MOLY
https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/gb/
HELP! Q&A – 11 pages of your toughest mechanical queries answered by our technical expert Steve Rothwell.
DIAGNOSTICS DOCTOR Q&A – 3 pages of your diagnostics dilemmas answered.
ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTICS – 2012 Ford Transit Custom 2.2D.
This feature is sponsored by Topdon.
https://www.topdondiagnostics.co.uk/
POT LUCK – Britain’s deplorable road surfaces look set to deteriorate further and pothole damage wrecks not only tyres and wheels.
OUR CARS – Jake Belder removes the original 1.8 petrol carb engine from his VW Golf Mk3 Convertible and intends to replace it with a Volkswagen Group 1.8T engine – and Peter Clayton makes new brake lines for his 2006 BMW 130i.
This feature is sponsored by febi bilstein and Blue Print.
https://partsfinder.bilsteingroup.com
FREE ADS – Sell your car or parts here!
IN MY HUMBLE OPINION – Mike Humble enjoys a visit to Lapland – and it wasn't to visit Santa!
Let’s play the AutoTrader cheap car game tonight! Search for the nearest cars to you under £2000. Which one is closest? Would you buy it? Show us your results below!
Here is my top result. I've only once driven a Yaris, quite a few years ago, but I remember thinking it was a decent little package. Probably would fit into my life quite well at the moment, actually! ^JB
Anyone here regularly use the Dartford Crossing? Well, then you’ll be chuffed to know that last year, the Crossing generated a revenue of £209m. Yes, you read that right. Two-hundred and nine million pounds. And of that total, £73m comes from ‘enforcement’. The Dartford Crossing earns the most revenue by a long shot, but it’s not the only toll making big profits. The M6 Toll generates nearly £54m each year, while the Mersey Gateway racks up just a tick under £40m!
Good evening! Tell us below what you got up to with your cars this weekend!
I came outside the morning after I returned from holiday to find out I was going to have to dig the spare out of the boot. Alas, a nail. A quick trip to my local garage sorted it, thankfully, but after going 20+ years without ever having a flat, the last few years have been much less kind to me! ^JB
Which painting tasks can you conduct on your car at home? That’s what we find out in this month’s magazine. Professional bodywork is expensive, so many people want to attempt these kinds of repairs at home. With research and practice, localised repairs can be done, but expectations need to be managed. Our guide goes deep into a range of different repairs, including lacquer repair, paintless repair, touch-in repair, and localised aerosol repair. We even take a look at painting complete panels. You’ll find a range of information on materials and tools, and loads of helpful tips. Find it all on pages 6-17!
The Granary, Downs Court
Yalding
ME186AL
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You might be surprised by the colour of LIQUI MOLY's Molygen engine oil. It's luminous green. The special Molygen additive gives this oil its colour, which offers us a low-friction motor oil with high shear stability – helping reduce frictional losses, while providing optimum protection against wear. It can be mixed with all commercially available motor oils, but optimum effect is only obtained when used on its own (no mixing). Many oil viscosities are available to suit most makes and models. https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/gb/molygen-new-generation-5w-30-p001757.html#tab-label-description-title
Who's been busy this weekend? Show us your projects below! I had this really irritating squeak coming from the back of my BMW over rough roads, and almost by accident, I discovered it was a piece of insulation rubbing against the rear bulkhead. So I stuck a bit of that foam sound deadening material I had laying around behind it. Problem solved! ^JB
Brake pads are the sort of thing I wouldn’t expect to fail right out of the box. But I recently ordered a new set of pads and the one that clipped into the piston did not sit right. You can see in the little video below that the pad moved in the piston and would not sit flush against it. The clip wanted to force it outwards. This resulted in a surprising amount of brake bind and made the car pretty much undriveable. The supplier was helpful, and I had another set soon that works as it should. Anyone else’s spanners get a workout this weekend? Show us below what you’ve been up to! ^JB
Motor Clean from LIQUI MOLY is a highly effective additive used before an oil/filter change. Motor Clean dissolves built up oil residues and deposits, capturing the dirt particles ready to drop out when the engine oil is drained. 500ml is sufficient to deal with 5 litres of engine oil. Add to engine at operating temperature, then allow the engine to idle for approximately 10 minutes before dropping out the old oil and filling with fresh oil and a new filter. Tested for use with catalytic converters, turbochargers and vehicles with a toothed belt running in oil. #Additive #OilChange #Aftermarket
With under 3 weeks to go to the Automechanika event at the NEC there's still a chance to gain a free entry pass. https://automechanika-2023.reg.buzz/car-mechanics-magazine Here's the event preview video to view the action on offer between June 6th to 8th...
I mentioned a while ago here that I had a driveline vibration on my E60, and I’m happy to report that I have managed to find the cure. When I first got the car, I replaced the flex disc and centre support bearing on the propshaft, but the one thing I didn’t touch was the CV joint at the end. Lo and behold, there was the source of my problem. I hope the little video below is clear enough that you can see the issue – the joint was worn and stiff, and binding badly on one side. With a new one in place, I went out for a test drive, and sailed right through up to 70mph without any sign of vibration. Any big wins for you this weekend? Show us what you’ve been tinkering with! ^JB
BRITISH-BUILT NISSAN QASHQAI CONFIRMED AS UK’S BEST-SELLING NEW CAR OF 2022 • Nissan Qashqai secures top spot with 42,704 sales in 2022 • First British-built UK best-seller since 1998 and the first time Nissan has topped the annual sales chart • Ground-breaking Qashqai showcases UK automotive design, engineering and manufacturing talent The Nissan Qashqai is officially the UK’s favourite car of 2022, and the first British-built model to top the annual sales charts for 24 years. Figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders confirm that the home-grown Qashqai – which was designed in Paddington, engineered in Cranfield and is built in Sunderland – was the nation’s best-selling car of the last 12 months. A total of 42,704 new Qashqais were driven off dealership forecourts across the UK in 2022 and the figure for December alone stood at an impressive 3,506, reported the SMMT. To celebrate the achievement, an exclusive gold-wrapped Qashqai was created in honour of the 7,000 Nissan employees from around the UK that have contributed to its success. Three generations of Qashqai have been on sale in the UK since it was first launched in 2007, all of which have regularly appeared among individual month’s best-seller lists, however this is the first time it’s been the year’s best-selling car overall, and the first time a Nissan has topped the annual sales charts. Built at Nissan’s Sunderland plant, Qashqai is at the heart of a manufacturing operation that is fast becoming a blueprint for future UK automotive production. Nissan’s recently announced EV36Zero plan combines electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery production and will create a sustainable EV manufacturing hub in the north-east of England, supporting thousands of jobs at the plant and its supply chain, and supporting Nissan’s journey to carbon neutrality by 2050. A recruitment drive* is currently underway at NMUK, seeking manufacturing staff to
Who’s had the spanners out this weekend? Let us know what you’ve been working on below! I found some play in my water pump, which surprised me a little, given it wasn’t making any noise. No longer blissfully ignorant, and with a few hundred miles to cover, I didn’t want to leave it and just hope for the best. As it turns out, I have another BMW languishing on the driveway that uses the same water pump. And because I’d replaced it recently, I knew that one was good. So I swapped them round (along with the also-new-on-the-other-car thermostat) and completed my journey with some peace of mind. ^JB
It was a great weekend to be out in the driveway. Who managed to do some spannering? I was chasing down a minor wiring issue on my Subaru, which meant removing the wheel arch. And that was a good reminder that this should be done from time to time so you can clean out the debris that collects behind them. With the combination of living in an often muddy rural area and enjoying the occasional off-road foray, my car had gathered quite a lot of the local topsoil! Over to you – show us your weekend projects below. ^JB
In the May 2022 issue (on sale from April 15th) we will be showing off this latest project car – a modern classic in the form of a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350. We will run it alongside the project Astra J and the SLK replaces the Citroën DS3. We say it's time to buy those cars that are perhaps getting on a bit in life but are 'once in a lifetime motors' to own/drive (before they all disappear from our roads). We went for the 3.5 V6 model though smaller engines are available. The R171 Merc doesn't rust as much as the previous R170 but... and a very big but... we will tell you all there is to know about rust on this car – which can be missed during the MOT test. To the unwary it will be nothing – keep on driving – but to us who know about cars, there is certainly a problem once you've experienced it – and potentially dangerous too. Find out more soon... ☺️ MK
Our latest Vauxhall Astra J project arrives with the February 2022 issue (in the shops tomorrow). Bought from BCA car auctions, this 1.6 petrol was driven 50 miles home, then a few days later it drove 245 miles to Sheffield. All OK so far 😊
Starting in the February 2022 issue (on sale from this Friday), we introduce our latest project car – a January 2011 Vauxhall Astra J SE 1.6. Anyone own an Astra or has worked on them?
The Ring RUBL1000 underbonnet lamp recently won a Car Mechanics Best Buy award. Here it is in action... Ring
