May 2001
The shops are full of good car guides, but what about good tyre guides? As I've recently found out with an older Vauxhall, a different brand of tyre can utterly transform a cars roadholding! Trouble is, I'm now changing car and cannot afford the trial and error approach!
Where can you find good, detailed information about the best brands, their characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, and which vehicles work best with which tyre?
Surely this is a negected subjest? Read more
87 sovereign with air con. The heater fan switch has 3 positions, HIGH MED LOW (and OFF of course) On mine the fan used to be perfect on the LOW position and was too noisy on MED and HIGH. Thus I never use the "auto" position. For some reason the fan now runs at MED speed whether the switch is on LOW or MED. (HIGH still works normally.) It does the same even on "auto" ie: it starts very fast and gradually slows till the right temp is reached but never goes below the MED speed. This is annoying and totally spoils listening to the radio etc. Does anyone know how to fix this without spending a fortune? I presume it is computer controlled..... I had thought of putting a resistance in the feed to the fan making MED the equivalent of low and HIGH the equivalent of med. Also where is the fan? Haynes does not say. Any help greatly appreciated. Read more
ANDREW and ANDREW thanks very much for your help. I suspected about £70 plus from main dealer. I was going to put a fixed resistance in, since the car is not worth spendiong any money on, but IT FIXED ITSELF. After 2 days of being broken! I just hope it will last.
Thanks again, Richard.
I know that some Government Ministers are able to manage not to be prosecuted for speeding but do they also have exemption from wearing rear saet belts. Study of the endless and boring coverage of the election shows our leaders leaping out of cars without unfastening any visible seat belt and driving away without putting them on. Any easy target for Plod one would have thought but probably a career threatening move for one who tried it! Read more
Mr G. Hughes should come to the middle east , every car is fitted with an annoying bleeping device that is activated at 126kmh. However as the radio (not a valve type i hasten to add) can and does drown this out it makes no diffrence and the norm is 160kmp+. But as the rear passengers do not wear seat belts anyway and the driver has his foot on the dash board, and the wife in the front seat is busy with the kids on her lap it realy does not matter to much.
Of course if you do have an accident then the lowest denomonation
on the number plate is the party not at fault..
OLD FART.....
Hi, I have a brand new golf 1.6mk4 (1500 miles) that has developed a rattle that appears to be coming from the top of the steering column/behind dash area at 40mph & above. It sounds like a piece of plastic being tapped intermittently with a pencil and corresponds with the road vibration. If I grab the steering wheel and push upwards, the noise stops. When I let go, the noise returns. I have moved the adjustable column in/out/up/down to no effect. I have booked the car in with the dealer for next week but am interested to hear if this is a known problem? Read more
ok, all fixed. The dealer replaced the dashboard insert (basically the assembly that contains the speedo, tacho and all other instruments). No fuss, no mess, problem solved. A gold star for the dealer but a black mark for the assembly plant who also managed to forget to put all the screws in in the centre console assembly. All fitted now, though.
My MOT is due 27th June.
Can I get it done tomorow and have the MOT run from the 27th still?
IIRC you are allowed to do so up to one month before *BUT* I'm not sure if month means calender month or 28 days? Read more
Will do!
I seem to burning coils out. Can anyone help explain what is going on.
I have a 1275cc engine fitted in a morris minor. I am now on my thrid coil. The last coil and the new one run very very hot. The car develops a misfire and eventually stops. This is cured by a new coil. I have 2 connections to the +ve terminal and one to the negative. Someone suggested that some new coils are low voltage coils, that require a ballast resistor to remove 3 odd volts. However they tend to have a live wire linked to the starter circuit to aid starting. Could it be that I have this fitted, but no resistor?
If so how are coils rated, how do I ensure that I get one that will cope?
Is there a way to check what sort of coil is fitted now, and whether I have a ballast resistor fitted or not?
all help appreciated.
regards
hugh Read more
Thanks all for the advice, I fitted a 12V non-ballasted coil last night. Took the car for long thrash, and the coil was warm but not hot. Driving 50 miles this morning, no problem. Also checked the A+ 1275 used a ballasted coil, but I dont have all the electrics around it.
thanks again for the quick response.
hugh
OK, my partner's offer for the Rover 220 TDi was withdrawn the minute she discovered that it appears to have been clocked, from a report of 104k in October 99 against 80k on the clock now.
So, she's in search mode again. Her main habit is to drive less than a mile to work -- I know, I know, but she won't listen. Anyway, to what vehicle would she do least damage, given that primary characteristic of its use? She likes both performance and economy, of course, and she's comfortable only in something in the super-mini bracket (a Golf is too large). Oh, yes, it needs to accommodate a set of golf clubs easily. She'll be after something 3--5 years old on a budget of c. 5k, I guess.
All suggestions welcome. Read more
I bet that the diesel slick around the DERV pump was the only place that Enfield ever achieved wheelspin.
HJ
Anyone have experience of the Zafira? We're looking for a replacement for our ageing 405 SRi. 7 seats would be useful for occasional use ie friends/out-laws etc.
I was considering an import or a used V70, though I wonder about the rear facing seats in the latter. Someone I know who has one says that drivers don't tailgate you when you have children in the back seats! Volvo chap says that the seats are in the safety cage area. I also wonder if car sickness is a problem as they face backwards
I'm impressed by the versatility of the Zafira, but wonder if a 2-3 year old V70 may last longer and have better residuals. Are the Zafiras OK to drive? I tried a 1.8i bifuel one the other day and it seemed sluggish whether on petrol or LPG.
TIA
Andrew Read more
Thanks Robin. I think the Zafira makes the most sense. There is an LPG model coming out soon in 1.6/1.8, but as I only do a fairly low annual mileage the 2.2i may be better as it seems to haul large loads comfortably - there is a good review of it vs the Stream in this month's What Car? Price and availability will be the deciding factor I think.
Andrew
They are located near Marks Tey Colchester and get in 100/week repossessed cars seized by the crown. Based on a two acre site. Cars seem to be silly prices. I wondered if it was worth a visit or should I stick to car auctions?
They are also mentioned on the web in St Osyth and Norfolk but may not be connected. Read more
My Fabia is now 9 months old and i find the idle speed is set to high[just under 1000] does anybody know how to adjust this,it has no cable link to pump,as i use the car for driving lessons its a bit fast round corners in 2nd gear regards Terry Read more
That is correct on this model
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and get arrested ???
I did this wheelspin thing once with a rover 400, but the cabin very quickly filled with acrid fumes and it was just impossible.
Nice Idea though !!