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danchester1982
7th December 2012, 08:27
Hi I just wanted to see if anyone has had the problem I am having and if so what is wrong and how much it costs to repair.

I own a saxo 1.1l desire 3 door petrol.

In November the engine warning light came on and I took it to a garage two days later (I was still driving it with the light on). By the time I had taken it there the light turned off. They plugged it in anyway and it was found to have had a blocked fuel line. They charged me nothing.

However yesterday as I was driving along, the engine warning light came on again but the previous week the car has been making an odd noise. The only way I can describe it is a loud whirring noise. It occurs intermittently between 25 - 35 mph, at around 2250 -2500 rpm. The noise doesnt go away if I come off the gas and only sometimes goes away when I brake. Also, the noise goes away if I turn the steering wheel to the left or right slightly, then comes back.

The most worrying thing is I have been monitoring my mpg every week for months and I average 51 mpg. However the last few I have measured have been 51, 52, 51, 49, then when I first had the engine light come on I got 46, 51, 45 and last week when the noises started I got 42 mpg. My driving hasnt changed, I drive 56 miles a day where half my journey is on dual carriageways and the rest of it is on 40 mph roads. I filled up on Tuesday and have only driven 142 miles and I have used half a tank. Usually my car does 225+ miles on half a tank.

Any advice or links welcome and thanks for reading through all that.

Ross
7th December 2012, 10:20
The noise you describe sounds like it might be a wheel bearing.

If you're even remotely mechanically minded, jack up the front wheels and feel for play - hold the wheel at 10 to 5 and then 20 to 2 and firmly pull/push. If you feel any notchiness or movement it points in that direction.

danchester1982
8th December 2012, 20:33
Thanks for the advice, I done what you said but I felt nothing, the front wheels felt sturdy, but sturdy to someone who is not mechanically minded at all so I want to take it to someone who knows what they are doing because there may well be something wrong with the front wheels.

I took it out for a 16 mile run today and the noise has gone, but the noise is intermittent so I may need to do longer run.

Is it normal to lose 8mpg in colder weather? This is what concerns me the most that my consumption is getting worse during winter, and the engine warning light is on. Could someone quote me what it would cost me to get it plugged in at a garage? I was quoted £35 plus £55 per hour they have the car... I feel this is a rip off.