Does the 2015 Ford Kuga EcoBoost have a "wet" belt?
I own a Ford Kuga Mk2 from 2015, powered by the EcoBoost petrol engine with manual transmission. My question is, does it have a wet timing belt? Thank you in advance for the answer.
Best regards
Robert (Zielona Góra )Jan 2025 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi Robert,
The 1.5 and 1.6 EcoBoost engines in the 2015 Kuga use "dry" belts, not "wet" ones.
Thinking of getting a BMW i3...
Hi,
Are EVs exempt from VRT if looking to import one? Having trouble with the Passat and if and when it gets sorted my wife wants it gone and to treat ourselves so started looking at used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe but tow truck friend warning us away from the 2.0 diesels: "doesn't matter who had it, where or how often it's been serviced or easy life, they are all trouble." And 3.0 diesel harder to find here but still give timing chain trouble.
Son is 20 and learning to drive so depending on cost to fix may dictate keeping it so third car turning to a BMW i3. When I met my wife she drove a SEAT Arosa and we kept that and I used it for my backroad commute to work for years as economical second car runabout.
With fuel, both diesel and petrol rising it might tick a few boxes to look at small economical runabout, it's auto so will suit both wife and son and our first step into EV.
Earlier with the range extender seems lower on the recommend list compared to the later fully electric 2018 onwards or i3S model.
ROS VRT site looks like it has had an update and gave both i3 and i3S options but wasn't clever enough to blank out NOx and CO2 fields. When checking rates for i3S it auto filled a figure for NOx, which I just cancelled out.
Ideally I'd like to buy from a BMW or SIMI dealer with history and warranty and liked your article on importing from Northern Ireland.
Appreciate any advice on importing an i3 (or 4 Series Gran Coupe) from up North
Regards
Damien McGettrick (Lusk)Sep 2024 Filed under: electric cars
Expert answer
Hi Damien,
First up, the BMW i3 is a great option for your needs based on what you told us. It's a cracking compact car that will cost you nothing to run and is an idea runabout. And yes, I'd agree that the fully electric version is the best one, especially when you have access to other cars in the household for longer journeys.
I really like the 4 Series Gran Coupe as well, but understand the reticence to trust the diesel engines. Would you consider a petrol one instead perhaps? The NOx levy on the diesel on importation can be expensive as well. Because of potential engine issues I'd be inclined to stick with a local BMW dealer and get as good a warranty as you can.
Obviously electric cars don't emit any NOx or CO2, so it's a bit bizarre if Revenue's site can't deal with that... There is a VRT exemption up to €5,000 and anyway, it's only 7 per cent of the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP).
If you're looking to buy in the North, just make sure the car has been registered and used by a private individual in the North for at least three months before you import it, and that must be verified by documentation. Then no VAT or import duty should be due, just VRT - and the NOx levy if applicable.
Hopefully all that helps, but come back to us with other specific questions if you need more assistance of course.
How to change my Citroen's reverse light switch?
I have a 2017 Citroen C3 Aircross 1.6 BlueHDi. My reverse light, camera and rear park assist are not working. Looking online it seems the reverse light switch on the gearbox the most likely to be faulty. I'm wondering how and where do I access the reverse switch as the engine looks tucked back in the engine bay. I haven't looked yet to see if I can see the switch from the engine bay. I'm wondering what is the procedure to removing the switch.
Adam Ricken (Cork)Aug 2024 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Adam,
First up, while this job isn't the most intricate, we would still recommend you get a qualified mechanic to do the work as a few things can go wrong that could lead to more expense - such as damaging the wiring, or even the gearbox itself.
With all that in mind, the sensor should be accessible from the engine bay, half way along the length of the gearbox itself at the top. It's a congested part of the engine bay of course so it won't be easy to access and may even require removal of other components to get at it.
Disconnect the wire (checking for faults in that before you assume the sensor is faulty) and then use an appropriately sized socket to unscrew the sensor from the gearbox. Make sure nothing falls into that hole and reverse the procedure with the new sensor, ensuring you don't over-tighten it and damage the threads.
Unless you have done plenty of work on car engines, I would again urge you to employ a mechanic to do this job.
Should engines from a dismantlers be under warranty?
We bought a second hand car and the sump broke and damaged the engine. The mechanic said he could source a second hand engine from a dismantlers and fit it. He said the car is ready now and that there is no warranty on the engine. I would have imagined the dismantlers give a warranty when you buy a second hand engine from them?
Priscilla Rowley (Castlebar)May 2024 Filed under: warranty
Expert answer
Hi Priscilla,
Actually, we would not expect any warranty on the engine in that situation. Before you buy the engine there may be a chance to negotiate such a thing, but it's not the norm as the engines come from dismantled cars and the dismantler usually knows very little about their history etc. Hence they're far cheaper to buy than new or properly reconditioned engines.
Timing belt or chain in a 2006 Peugeot 407?
Does my Peugeot 407 HDI executive from 2006 have a timing belt or a chain?
Sergiu Lungeanu (Belfast)Mar 2022 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi Sergiu,
All the HDI engines (there were 1.6, 2.0, 2.2 and 2.7-litre diesels in 2006 in the 407) use timing belts.
Why differences in Suzuki tax prices?
I have a Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9 DDiS with a DPF filter from 2009 and the motor tax is €1,250, while the 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9 DDiS tax is €750. Why, because both are NEPC qualified? They have the same engines. I also found the same 2009 DDiS model on DoneDeal, but registered in a different county and the tax was €750. Where are the differences in prices and qualification from?
Yours sincerely,
Robert
Robert Gambin (Ennis)Nov 2021 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Robert,
The €1,250 rate is for cars registered in Ireland before 1 January 2021, with CO2 emissions of 191-225g/km.
The €750 rate has been upped to €790, but it applies to cars registered in Ireland before 1 January 2021, with CO2 emissions of 171-190g/km.
So there appears to be a reason that your car is in the higher bracket. Larger wheels can do that, or maybe it's the difference between the weights of the three- and five-door body styles.
Is there a plan for EVs in apartments?
The government have a stated plan to phase out internal combustion engines. If they are serious, they must have a plan for how people living in apartment blocks, terraced housing and anywhere else without a driveway are going to charge their full or partly electric cars while at home.
The question is, do they have a plan?
Thanks
Philip
Philip Donegan (Ballina)Aug 2021 Filed under: electric cars
Expert answer
Hi Philip,
The answer is yes — kind of. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is currently going through a public consultation on this very process, and it hopes to start rolling out the first grants to support apartment-block chargers by October of this year.
The plan, as it currently stands, has two levels — a grant of between 50-80 per cent for landlords, management companies and other apartment block owners who want to invest in the wiring and infrastructural installation for charging points, and a second level that gives the same €600 grant to private residents who want to install a charger, where possible. The SEAI is currently seeking public submissions on the plan, so head over to the SEAI website if you’d like to get your views across.
What to replace my Mondeo with?
Please point me in right direction. I have a 2018 Ford Mondeo and would like to change in January 2022, so I need some advice. I like diesel. What three cars should I be test driving? Around the size of the Mondeo with five doors. Help!
Fergal Reidy (Co. Kildare)Jun 2021 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Fergal,
OK, at the very top of your list should be the Skoda Superb. It’s massive inside, hugely comfortable, has a huge boot, is well made and has an excellent 2.0-litre TDI 150hp diesel engine. It’s well worth checking out the 150hp TSI petrol too though — it's smoother, quieter and nearly as economical unless you're driving at motorway speed all day.
Next go and check out the Mazda6. Now, there’s no five-door fastback version, but there is a hugely handsome Touring estate model, and it’s very good to drive. Tremendous interior quality too. Only problem? Mazda has dropped diesel engines from its line-up, but the 2.0-litre petrol is an excellent unit, and surprisingly economical.
Finally, you could go for one, last Mondeo. It’s coming to the end of its production life right now, but it’s still a firm favourite of ours, and with it being on run-out, you’ll get some proper bargains if you want to buy one of the last ones.
Diesel or petrol Skoda Kamiq?
Is the diesel or the petrol a better investment in the Skoda Kamiq?
Anne Heffernan (Listowel )Feb 2021 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Anne,
It entirely depends on the type of driving you do. If a diesel engine isn't used regularly at higher speeds and loads (i.e. on the motorway), then its various components, including its Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) in the exhaust, don't get up to temperature and can't burn off desposits of soot etc. They eventually clog up and can cost a fortune to repair or replace. Along with that, diesel engines emit more NOx, which is a pollutant that is bad for human health.
So, petrol is the sensible way to go in the Kamiq unless you rack up well over 20,000km a year at higher speeds in our opinions.
Will my BMW 220i's tax change in 2021?
Hi,
I'm considering buying a car in the UK. It is a BMW 220i and has a 1,998cc engine. I would hope to have it registered in Ireland before the end of Dec 2020. I understand that the motor tax on higher-emitting engines is going to change from 2021, but is it likely that the tax on this car would be increased greatly?
Thank you for your assistance.
Mary
Mary Newe (Dublin)Dec 2020 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Mary,
If you do manage to get it registered before the end of this month (if you've not already got a VRT appointment, I'm afraid to tell you that you are unlikely to now) then your car will be taxed on its NEDC CO2 rating, which I believe is 127g/km. That means €270 per annum now and no change for 2021. These guides might be of interest: