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I spoke to a couple of specialists and we have arranged for a wall cavity tie survey to be done on the house, its only £100 + vat and refundable against any work that needs to be done, the house has cavity wall insulation and they will have to remove a brick to do the survey. We will then survey what needs to be done if anything and if necessary renegotiate the cost of the house to cover the work needed. If they refuse then we will walk away, we love the house and it ticks every box but this whole situation has put a downer on it and although we will be sorry to walk away it would be the right thing to do. The plan is to then get the boiler surveyed depending on the outcome. Sure, the surveyors could fleece us and make out that there are issues but we won't be paying the money to do the work and although we'd lose the money its better than having all the problems. Tonytiger, it was the right house for us when we first went to see it, it sounded perfect, nice big corner garden, wider than normal garage (not quite a double but bigger than a single) 2 double bedrooms, large driveway and was 1950's period with bay windows. We had been told that they'd had lots of work done including new windows, roof light, boiler, plumbing and electrics so we thought that all the major problems or things that needed doing had been dealt with, it wasn't until the survey came through that the sellers started to become unhelpful. I appreciate that your sister and brother in law had issues and spent a lot of money resolving them but we haven't got the money to do that. Naively we are entering the purchase with everything we have got because we assumed that anything that could have gone wrong in the first 6 months had already been fixed so didn't think we needed a huge contingency. The final conclusion is that, if there is work that needs doing and the sellers refuse to drop the house price we walk and they make a bigger loss as they will have to do the work themselves and still lose the sale of the house. We've come to terms with this and we can continue living where we are, its much cheaper and we've living with a mate but thought it was time to move on, maybe it isn't as now we can go on holiday and travelling, I'm only 25 so I've still got time to get a house and grow up! Its just so frustrating as this whole thing could have been avoided if the sellers were more cooperative as you say and if they really wanted to sell the house then surely they'd do everything to sell it, we're not asking for them to move walls or redecorate

Haha, we've had a long ol' chat and the conclusion is that we're going to get a wall cavity survey done and a colleague at work has a few builder friends who can have a look at the walls around the windows to see if walls have been made good and go from there. Its the least we can do and probably the cheapest way of confirming the state of the property. We called the sellers bluff whilst we were away and said if they wanted a sale they have to wait on us now to establish whether everything is safe and structurally sound, we haven't heard anything since Friday regarding it. Obviously yesterday was a bank holiday so couldn't do anything and today was my first day back at work after being off for 2 weeks so was really busy and will arrange things for tomorrow. It does sound like it could be a house from hell but the boiler can be serviced (fingers crossed it has been certified) and with my father being a sparky he can certify and can help to correct any electrical issues. Now to watch this space... Thanks all for your advice and thoughts. I'll keep this updated.

Wild-Animal: We only had a standard survey done as it was free and assumed (you should never assume) that any major issues had been picked up on the full structural survey that the sellers had when they moved in. We hadn’t seen the results of this before we had ours done and was only made aware when our survey came back with regards to the wall cavity ties. Rams: It’s a shame you’re not closer as I would take you with me! Unfortunately I don’t think they’d let us into the house to check the boiler and look at the manual ourselves. We have got documents from Fensa regarding the glazing fitters and although it doesn’t say whether they did any repairs to the walls we could contact them and see if they would have done anything, however it is 8 years old now. We tried insisting that a service was done on the boiler but they refused claiming it didn’t need one as one was done in 2011 which is fine but all we are after is paperwork proving this which we don’t have. I haven’t looked at the windows personally since this whole thing reared its ugly head and the walls have an external render so if there is cracking who’s to say it hasn’t been rendered over? The windows aren’t blown and the movement is noted as historic and around the bay windows to the ground and first floor to the front of the house, which isn’t near any drainage. The issue is whether the walls around the windows are structurally sound and whether movement regarding these walls has caused tie failure OR that tie failure has caused the movement, both of which we are trying to find out. Daleyboy and Tonytiger: The standard survey has mentioned historic movement and they suspect that it is down to wall cavity tie failure which is different to the original full survey but they both mention movement. I don’t believe that another full survey will indicate whether the work has been carried out to rectify this and except we would need an engineer to do a proper inspection to clarify this? I think as a few of you have mentioned we should go around for a viewing ourselves with a couple of builders (to get different views) and get them to give us their thoughts and possible costs if anything did need doing and then perhaps approaching the sellers with an alternative offer. The wiring is not an issue, and although my dad is no longer registered it wouldn’t take him long to get a Gas Safe certificate I guess its just the structural issues that are worrying me. We both love the house and it has great potential but we’re putting everything in to it and don’t want to fall short and have to rectify lots of problems. If we knew from the start then our offer would have been different but with the sellers hassling and threatening we’re not sure what to do. BILLCOR: This is what we were thinking, who will pay the costs and if we get a survey and walk its more money down the drain but it could all be ok. In terms of what survey should be done do you think it should be a full structural or get a builder in to survey the walls and do a wall cavity tie survey? I really appreciate all your advice, although we haven’t reached a conclusion it is helping us see things from a different perspective. :)

Thanks for your replies guys. The electrical work and the boiler aren't too much of an issue (well, if the boiler isn't gas safe certified it might be an issue) but yeah, the window and wall cavity ties are a concern. We were planning on walking away but it was pointed out to me that we'd be forever wondering as this is the second house that we might end up walking away from, granted we never got past the offer stage with the other one and we've already paid all our fees. There are a few companies out there that will do wall cavity tie surveys such as rentokil or you can do it yourself with a kit. I haven't got quotes for the survey or how much to do the work so these are an unknown but searching forums gave prices for a 3 bed semi between £1200 - £1500+ Our mortgage company is charging £680 for a full structural survey, the original survey done in 2004 didn't do boiler checks and it wouldn't check wall cavity ties, and I'm not sure whether our mortgage company one would either, but we can find an alternative surveyor however if it doesn't come back with anything we've got 2 choices, walk away or get a wall cavity survey. The unfortunate thing is we need either a full survey or even to get a structural engineer in to tell us whether the walls around the windows are safe, and a wall cavity survey to tell us about the conditions of the ties. Costs: Full structural survey: £600 - £700 + Wall cavity survey: £unknown If we walk away we would lose around £1k for solicitor fees Obviously its a pain but losing £1k on fees and walking away without all the issues is better than having to cover all the costs however it could come back ok...or am i just being optimistic? The only other thing we could do is try and get money off the cost of the house once we know what the outcome is...your thoughts?

Hi all, as the title states i need a bit of advice. My girlfriend and i are in the process of buying a house and we've hit a huge road block. Theres been a few issues with the sellers as in they havent been truthful with everything and not providing the relevant paperwork for the house. The history of the house is that when they moved in 8 years ago they had a full structural survey done which highlighted quite a few issues; they in turn 'rectified' these: - New double glazing throughout with new UPVC soffets, fascia boards and drainage (however there is an issue, see below) - New roof tiling including installing a Velux roof light - New electrics throughout - New plumbing and boiler throughout as there was no central heating - Cracking to brickwork to external walls: assumed corrected but unsure. Now there was a big issue that was picked up and this caused a huge hold up with getting the mortgage approved. There has been some historical movement which was apparently caused by the bay windows at the front of the house, the house was built in 1950 and is, I guess, understandable. We had a standard survey done thinking that because they had a full one a few years ago there shouldn't be any major issues. When the survey came back it raised this issue again and said that it was down to the windows (as you will read further down). Eventually they sent over the paperwork and they assumed it was all ok. Issue 1: They had some electrical work carried out by a 'family friend' and they put down on the sellers document that it was done in 2008. We asked for some paperwork to show this and that it had been certified/met the requirements and they said they didn't have any. They then changed their story and said it was done in 2004. Again we asked for paperwork, nothing. Eventually, after lots of shouting they gave us something saying that since it was done before 2005 it didn't need to meet the same legislation as the 2011/2012 certification, and if we wanted to get it up to current standards all we needed to do was replace/install some RCDs. Fine, at least we've got this now, my dad is certified and can do the work. Issue 2: There was a new boiler supposidly fitted in 2008 along with new plumbing throughout and a service in 2011. Great, can we have paperwork to prove this? No. Ok, so we said before we move in can you at least get it serviced for us? No, it had one last year. Right...so paperwork to prove this? Oh, we've lost it...Bearing in mind that when my girlfriend's parents moved into their new house some years ago the boiler packed in after three months and they had to buy a new one. If its been serviced last year thats fine, as long as we have paperwork to prove this and the age of the boiler but they won't give us anything. We eventually got some cock'n'bull story about having an engineer in to do some work to the flue but they didn't keep the reciept. We believe that they had another 'family friend' to do some work and perhaps they aren't gas safe. Issue 3: The big one The survey states: 'The windows have been replaced with UPVC double glazed units. The windows operated satisfactorily. There is however substantial cracking at first floor level either side of the replacement bay windows. Both the ground floor and first floor bay windows wall have some structural requirements involving the bearing of the loads above. Accordingly these windows should have been reinforced to accommodate the loads imposed/ Having regard to the cracking when it occurred and the age of these windows, I am concerned that they may not be reinforced. If they are not reinforced, i see no alternative but to have them replaced.' The report was dated 20th May 2004 and the documents for the windows is 6th Sept 2004 however we have nothing to prove that the repairs were done to the walls and the lintel and that the walls are safe. Our standard survey also said the following: 'There is evidence of historic movement and distortion in the main walls. It is suspected that wall cavity tie failure has previously occurred.' We have requested whether the above work has been carried out, both to remedy the issue with the walls around the window and the cavity ties and the seller hasn't been forthcoming regarding any of it. Now all of this has been having in the 2 weeks that we are on holiday, we've still been in the country, 1 week of that in the Lake District and the past week we've been in a field, in Reading, enjoying the Festival. Whilst being threatened that if we don't complete they will put the house back on to the market. Now we phoned the estate agents and they didn't have a clue about this and the house isn't going back onto the market. The sellers don't need to move as their purchase fell through based on the fact that they wanted some work done and the seller refused, now they're doing the exact same thing to us but all we want is some paperwork. Katie's parents have offered to pay for a boiler service but they shouldn't have to, and my family has offered to put up some money towards a full structural survey but again, they shouldn't need to and katie's mum doesn't even think the survey will give us the information that we need. What i really need is your thoughts on this and whether any of you have any advice? We're putting all our money into this and don't want to have to try and find more to fix the problems. You wouldn't buy a car without an MOT (unless it was cheap and you knew what needed doing)...

That's fine, I appreciate your comments, the potholes are much deeper than the photos show, I went to park the car and wasn't expecting it to roll down the pothole which was when it hit the kerb. I was only wondering whether I would be able to make any kind of claim against the people who own/maintain the car-park but clearly not

Yeah I know, it was quite hard to get the photos unfortunately, the ones next to me were worse but when I came back to get some photos they were filled.

My girlfriend and I have been on holiday in the Lake district and we came back yesterday and stopped at the Watford Gap services on the M1 as the missus' needed the toilet. I pulled into the carpark and before i knew it CRUNCH! The car rolled into a set of potholes and cracked the bumper and splitter on the curb. I wasn't going fast at all but as i came off the power the car just rolled! The carpark is full of them and they are all really close to the kerb, i took photos showing the damage and the road surface. Now my question is have I got a claim here? The splitter has cracked on both sides, the offside taking the most of the damage and damaged and mishaped the lower grill and bumper. The kerb in front shows scars from previous cars falling into the same trap. See link http://photobucket.com/vrwatfordgap?albumview=slideshow On another note i managed 37mpg up there, getting 255miles to half a tank and about 35mpg back getting home with 515miles with enough left in the tank probably for another 20 miles! Not bad for a VR eh!

Check out page 13, it gives you a relay diagram and the fuse numbers and ratings, it doesnt tell you exactly which fuse is for what on this page but if you go through the pages you can work it out. Also this is for a VR6 mainly but it is mostly the same Corrado92.pdf

:O:O!!!!!!!!!! you own L608 PRP i own L607 PRP!! Sorry :D

So there's still no real definitive answer? My VR has around 142k and I only do about 4k in a year (work is only 7 miles away) but i have noticed a drop in oil however I cannot see where it is going and I don't think its being burnt. Anyway the previous owner was really hot on servicing so I want to keep that up for the health of the engine. Should i go for 10w-40 part synthetic which is was the opie oil website recommends, also what is the difference between that and their 'upgrade' option, how would the engine benefit from 5w-40 fully synthetic?

Well looks like its a common problem, as long as it doesn't get worse and smoke, or ghosts, start coming from other areas of the car it should be alright hopefully...will just have to keep an eye on it

I like to think it might be a ghost, solves the issue of the smoke :D

Thanks for the replies, I've got a fire extinguisher just in case! I've seen the results of electrical fires in Corrados and they're not pretty. Ill give the contacts a clean and just keep an eye on it.

OK so I went to start the car and after I turned the key in the ignition there was smoke coming from the steering column from behind the steering wheel. Its the second time it has happened, the last was a few weeks ago, and it lasts a couple of seconds or so. It is light grey in colour, is odourless (or at least doesn't last long enough to smell). I have taken the steering wheel off and the stalks, no issues, no melted wires, nothing is damaged I'm at a loss as to where the smoke is coming from... Any ideas or should i call in the ghostbusters?! Oh, its on my VR6..

Cool thanks, at least I know what it is now!

That's cool, someone told me it was and I wasn't sure, confused a bit more by the photos on the website. Hope you manage to find one!

If this helps

Easier to replace the coloured shield around the lighter and with the heater controls need some creative thinking :D lol

Want to make sure its the right one that you're after as i know there's a few about looks like this one: http://www.eliseparts.com/img/up/62/10-fd9f9.jpg (please anyone correct me if im wrong)

I have a momo team 280 and boss but not a snap off kit

Offer still stands :) whenever you're ready though. I'll do anyone elses too if they're willing to send them over plus a few quid to cover the cost of LEDs and postage

I was still able to get them from the stealers a little while ago...worth a try

It was more a case of someone wanted to buy it cheap just to break it rather than to drive and enjoy it Yeah i know, i was after a bit of advice

The VR is leather and the valver is cloth. I have got the patience to break it but it seems like a shame. I would rather sell it but i dont want it to go to some one who is going to break it themselves, that's what is worrying me the most if it sells cheaply.