April 2001
Dear All
Need a new clutch on my 1990 Subaru Justy and I was wondering where the best place is to get it done. I tend to do all the servicing my self and therefore the main dealer is not my first port of call as it is likely to be expensive, however it may be sensible.
I went into my local Mr Clutch who quoted me £270 all in. This seemed reasonable with a two year 20,000 mile warranty are they any good. My old Polo cost me £190 to have a VW part put in by a local specialist and as it is a Subaru I didn't think the extra £80 out of the way.
Would the parts used by Mr Clutch be as good or should I be using Subaru approved parts?
Does anybody have any experience of Mr Clutch they seemed very friendly and helpful.
I should finally commend this website it is great ta HJ hope Bali was good! and all other regular contributors etc.
Finally a message for Adam Going at Tune up: seemed to have solved the smoking problem with Duckhams 10w40 semi synthetic just occasionally does it which leaves me to believe it is valve stem wear but not using any petrol and is cheaper just to top up with oil until the autumn!
Cheers Tom Read more
I would like to relate an issue which is dear to my heart and rarely gets an airing. I am sure you boys and girls out there will have something to say.
Rather more years ago than I care to remember I was part of an investigation into an accident where a lorry lost a trailer wheel. The end conclusion was that the wheel had been recently changed, all the studs were of the correct design material etc, and had been done up to the correct torque, allegedly. Yet, because the threads had not been cleaned and oiled, so much of the torque was lost in overcoming the friction due to the crap in the threads, that there was insufficient clamping pressure to hold the wheel still under braking and cornering. Wheel shuffle resulted thus wearing the studs and hence a lost wheel when sufficient of the studs had stretched and fractured. Fortunately it was a single vehicle accident, no injuries involved.
The point of the story is that I then looked into this a bit more and was horrified how many lost/loose wheel incidents were reported each year and how many people were killed and injured as a result. Plus how many are not reported? It got to the point, having actually seen a wheel bouncing down the road towards me one evening, that I almost got a bit paranoid about night time driving especially on a dark motorway having visions of another wheel bouncing across the central barriers.
Now to put it bluntly this is still going on, the Transport Industry has been buggering around since the 1970's and still has not come up with a proper solution. The yellow arrows you see stuck on wheel nuts is one manifestation but this like most of the other "solutions," including locking nuts, are total B****CKS. The issue comes down to money, as usual, but it's your and my kids lives that is being put on the line.
I work in a different job now, but does anyone have up to date figures for this type of incident and casualty figures? Read more
Only last week I saw this happen to a 1960s Jaguar which had been fitted with wire wheels, on the approach to junction 29 of the M1 near Chesterfield, Derbyshire I believe these are secured in place with one Spinner.
I was obliged to brake heavily and my pipe fell out of my mouth, casusing ash to be scattered on the car interior, my wife was annoyed as she had to get the hoover out and clear up the mess.
Steel wheels as fitted to most ordinary cars have some degree of "give" or springiness which forgives overtightening, whereas aluminium alloy wheels don't, so care must be taken with this type of wheel, also the bolts required to attach such a wheel must be almost an inch longer.
Jo Poxon has asked for this message to be posted in the Back Room;
My Golf GTI (P Reg) has a continuing but intermittent problem with stalling as you take your foot off the throttle. It can stall once in 250 miles or as often as every 2 miles. It has never failed to start immediately after the stall. I have tried a specialist VW mechanic with computer testing gear, but he needs to have the problem - and it never stalls when he comes! Any ideas as to what this can be? I am thinking I ought to put a big warning sign in the rear window - THIS CAR IS LIABLE TO STALL!
Jo - at the end of her tether. Read more
Where does the tar that appears on the bottoms of doors come from?
My car is only 2 months and I have not to my knowlege driven on any recently resurfaced roads nor has the weather been hot enough to melt the surface.
Does it come from vehicle exhausts?
Answers please,
Malcolm. Read more
Malcolm,
I live near Bishop Auckland , there is no Cow bobbar any more as they have slaughtered the majority of the Cattle.!
Perhaps the spots could be a by product of the many Pyres in the area
I have recently bought a 1997 Carisma 1.6 with 45K on the clock. It would appear that Haynes do not do a Servicing Manual for this car. Does anyone else apart from the Main dealer?
Currently, all five tyres are 175/65/14 the handbook recommends 175/70/14, does it make any difference. Are they legal and which would be the most economic from a fuel saving aspect.
Thanks. Read more
A Vehicle such as this shouln't require any attention whatsoever. you would be better off with an MGB if you feel you have to tinker about with it on a regular basis.
They are built on the same production line as Volvo's excellent S/V 40 in the Netherlands. - mitsubishis that is, not the MGB, which is not built any longer since the left- wing unions ruined our car industry.
They Should have Shot Red Robbo - look at Nissan UK - Europe's most efficient car factory. it is a closed shop where unions are not allowed. say no more.
Has anyone ever seen a survey on the comfort of car seats? Alternatively, has anyone any opinions on which manufactureres models have the best seats? Read more
Cracking site, brought back memories of loading up my 16TX with accounting machines (the precursors to the ubiquitous PC) and haring from Leeds to Coventry to Croydon to Romford, then back to Leeds. The rear seat back folded up towards the roof to make a pefectly flat floor, I remember.
A splendid car, but killed all to quickly by tin-worm.
The list of co's in your japanses imprt section may need updating i found a number seem to have ceased trading. Read more
Alastair, who are you telling this too? The Back Room is a forum for discussing road-related issues. If you need to speak to Honest John, or have something to say about the website, there is a contact page with clickable links to both him and the webmaster.
And, though I appreciate your frustration, it might be helpful if when you do make contact you were to give them an idea of which companies no longer trade.
Has anyone had any personal experience of spares availability for the honda prelude range of grey imports?
I am considering buying a J reg Vtec prelude gey import. what problems if any might I encounter in mainaining it? It has low milage/km's but drives well.
Thanks foir any input. Read more
Sorry , me again, From experience the main dealers are beginning to supply spares quite readily for these motors. I have a contact in the trade who tells me that a lot of the performance cars have often been used for street racing. Regarding grey imports, apparently all the domestic Pajero/Shoguns i.e. jap spec not UK spec have been recalled in Japan to have transmission oil cooler pipes replaced as they have had intances of pipes bursting when stressed. As these vehicles are likely to be more stressed over in the UK than "at home" this is a real concern. This does not affect UK spec models and consequently UK dealers won't do it F.O.C. Neither, I suspect, will the importer!
I have a 1997 Mitsubishi Carisma 1.8 GLX (petrol) with 27,000 miles. My journey to work is only 2 miles each way and I am therefore concerned that these short trips are not good for the car. I cover approximately 5000 miles per year and have it serviced by the main dealer every 12 months.
Do you have any tips on how I may prolong the life of the engine / components and ensure unecessary wear is not caused? I intend to keep the car for another 2 years.
Also, I am in two minds weather or not I should take out an extended warranty (which expires in several weeks) that my dealer has offered me. Until now I have benefited from the manufacturers warranty.
The warranty they are offering me now is Red Zebra which I think they issue with their used cars. It will cost £358 for 12 months and will include breakdown cover. Do you think it is worth it?
Jason Read more
Daries sell milk floats every now and again. Sounds like a perfect solution. I wanted to get one for the school run but my better half thought it was naf.
Put some oversize wheels on the back. Might even go fast or something. Cheap to run though. Even knackered batteries should see you through 2 miles.
I'm all of a qaundry.
I have been looking to get a mini MPV and have been considering the Picasso or the Scenic (both used). Now the "problem". I found that the new Picasso 1.8 16v SX has been reduced to £11495 (£500 pound less than the now reduced 1.6SX), and £1000 cheaper than a used one at Lovekyn at Kingston. Why? and is it staying down?
I have a new addition arriving in 3 months (hence the mini MPV) and have had conflicting reports about both cars. If any one has got an "inside" or professional view on these could you please post them for me. I'm lost with it all!
Thanks, Paul
PS. Do people still not like working on Citroens, mechanics used to hate them, do they still? Read more
The diesel will have a cat - usually one way oxidation, which doesn't depend
on any other system for correct functioning.
The petrol version, however will have a 3 way catalyst
which depends on a closed loop system to keep it happy.
So if you lambda sensor, fuel injection/ignition system screws up
it will probably try to take the catalyst with it.
/John
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I think you should consider getting a half decnt car, why waste time getting around in opiece of @!#$ justy, drive a beemer!