May 2001
Two stories both connected only by the title of this post, but both verified as true.
No1
Chap takes his M-B V class bought 2nd hand <1yr old to local M-B dealer cos he has found out M-B have issued a recall/notice about the parking brake button sticking causing the ratchet not to engage properly, hence possible runaway. M-B recommends replacement of lever. Local M-B dealer knows sod all about the recall, is shown the papers and when relative hears for the third time in as many minutes, "But you did not buy it here sir" he realises he is onto a loser and dealer has no intention of doing anything.
No2
Guy takes his 2+ yr old Jag to his dealer cos the suspension needs attention, not uncommon I hear. Is willing to pay readies to get it sorted but dealer is booked out for several weeks. Takes the car to two other dealers who have workshop capacity to do the job, only to get in reply in both cases "BUT YOU DID NOT BUY IT HERE SIR!"
Whats going on? In the case of the M-B dealer they are known throughout the area as being hopeless and a complete set of prats, but for geographical reasons there is not a sensible alternative. If this is how M-B dealers operate then I say they deserve sacking. Read more
I have a 1275cc engine fitted to our '57 morris minor.
However, I am not entirely happy with the electronic ignition on it.
does anyone know what electronic ignition is best suited to the A+ series engine? I believe there are 3 types
1) magnetic
2) light beam
3) relay based
Also what manufactures do people find best?
regards
Hugh Read more
Cliff,
Surely if you put some planks under the rear wheels, you would't need any ignition at all?
Sorry mate. Too tempting.
What happened to Bill Blydenstein anyway? He's like the guy on radio Luxembourg. "Department 1, Keynsham, spelt K. E. Y. N., S. H. A. M. , Bristol".
Advice Please!
I have a 1yo, 20k miles, Focus Tdi.
After driving about 80m each way today, with the aircon on Full Cold, Fan setting 1 or 2,(ambient temp 25C), I tried to put some heat on tonight.
Within a few mins the water temp went into the red, and would only go down if I fiddled with the heat/fan/aircon controls. Eventually I had to abandon ship, just short of home, and get some cold water to refill the system, which had gone down, but was not completely empty. I have crawled the 100m home, topped up and have now come to you folks!!
Can it be that the aircon has, in some way, 'iced-up' the system - I'm baffled?
(Maybe at daylight tomorrow the problem will be 'visible'!) Read more
Thanks to all!
It was a heater hose.
I figured that, while I was on A/C Cold, not much water was going thru' the HEATER, but when I turned the Heat ON... Whooosh!
Anyway, as far as we can tell, no damage done - fingers crossed.
Thanks again.
Roger
In May 1999 at 77000 genuine miles my Sierra auto gearbox blew its front main oil seal causing £700 worth of internal damage. Having had the box re-conditioned I also changed the rad/oil cooler as the oil cooler part was completely blocked. One of the electric cooling fans had failed so this was replaced too. A new fan thermo switch was fitted just in case.
Last week almost two years on at 89000 miles, after a 120 mile trip the front seal blew again. I have not removed the box yet so internal damage is as yet unknown. The car has never towed in its life. How can this happen!!! An experts opinion would be appreciated.
Pete. Read more
I have an August 98 3door Fiesta Finesse (36000 miles, good condition) on a 3 year Ford Options agreement which is due to end in July. If I wanted to buy the car the final payment would be £3700 or I could hand it back or enter a new agreement.
Anyway, I don't want to carry on with Options, I'd like to buy a nearly-new from a car warehouse. Do I just hand this car back or should I buy it with a view to selling it on for a bit more. I can't seem to find the value of this model, the lists in the magazines confuse me.
Any advise from you knowledgable guys greatly appreciated.
Linda. Read more
Many thanks HJ and David for your advice, I'll certainly take all you say on board and post again for more help before I decide on a deal. What a super, useful site! lol x Linda.
I have a noise from well worn rear tyres on a 1996 BMW tds which is similar to wheel bearing wow.
My garage says is not bearing noise. but out of true (oval) tyres
It is not apparent until 40mph and does not increase in volume at higher speeds.They agree that the car is not as smooth as your normal BMW but that I must live with it until new tyres are needed or change to normal rims and tyres.
Has anyone else had/reported a problem with Dunlop D40 TD 230/55 ZR 390.
Also the tyres seem to wear the centre of the tread instead of evenly. Read more
Is that Brian Rowe of Langford fame?? If so, hello Brian - Guy here.
Long time no see?!
The sunroof on my Dad`s L reg Granada will not open or tilt. I think it is the mechanism that is at fault as the handle will not turn at all either way. Would appreciate any tips. Read more
I don't know if it contains Silicone but I have used Holts Rubber & Nylon lubricant ( I bought it from Halfords not Ann Summers by the way!) on the window guides for a Vitara. The window motors on these cars is not up to the job and the slightest friction would cause them to stick - a regular dose of the lubricant down the side of the glass cured the problem for another 6 months. I now have an Astra Convertible which recommends in the manual use of a Silicone grease on all of the seals, perhaps I should use this lubricant for that as well.
No I'm not cursing, just looking for tips on bleeeding servo-assisted ABS brakes as fitted to a Citroen Synergie. It is due a fluid change and I relish doing the work myself, partly thanks to interest generated by this site. Can anyone recommend one-man brake bleeding kits? Despite having a selection of children of various ages. not one shows any interest in the workings of cars:-( so I'll have to do it myself. I have been spoiled by owning green-fluid Citroens where the system pressurises itself if the engine is running and the brake pedal propped "open". Fluid changes and brake bleeding were a simple one-man operation:-)
Any comments much appreciated. Read more
I must be missing something here. I have bled dozens of cars over the years, including dual circuits, and I just use the ordinary tube and a jamjar and do it single-handed. I think the trick is not to open the bleed nipple by more than half a turn, so that air/fluid can't run back up the pipe, but the pressure from the pedal forces the fluid out.
Incidently, not many people know that you can replace a master cylinder without having to rebleed the whole system, by leaving the pipes slightly loose and pumping slowly to expel the air - like bleeding air from a cental heating radiator
Forgot that my wife's 1994 Micra needed a test until the last moment so went to a Motest While-You-Wait station. Failed on the Lambda reading - 1.211. Spec is 0.970 - 1.030. CO and HC both registered zero.
Last year the Lambda reading was 1.003 and has never exceeded 1.006 in the last 3 years. They have advised that a new exhaust flow sensor is probably required.
Do you think that they might be charging for unnecessary work and are just out to make money?
Can anyone advise what would be a reasonable price to pay for the replacement work?
Is it likely that a new catalyst at even more expense might be required?
Should I take it to an authorised Nissan dealer since they might have better diagnostic equipment?
John Jones Read more
As a matter of course, I always warm up the car, then run it up and down the local bypass in third (i.e. at around 3/4 peak revs) a couple of times before taking it in for the test. If you've booked at a specific time, you then drive it straight in - the engine's at correct temp and the exhaust has blown through any build up residues. Not had a failure yet.
A salesman trying to persuade me to by a '93 Fiat Tipo 1.4 assured me that
the cambelt would be inspected as part of the pre-delivery service.
Apart from checking its tension how much useful information can be
gained just by looking at it? Read more
Thanks, that's what I thought.
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Anyone who goes anywhere near a main dealer deserves to be ripped off. The expression "cowboys" was meant for main dealers.