June 2001
In another thread you mention the need to change fuel injectors on a Passat. Does anyone have any experience of when to change the injectors on the VW engined Audi 80 16V? Read more
Is it possible to fit air-con supplied by thrid party specialist firms ? If so I would be interested to learn of anyones experience, not least the cost. Read more
I've just had aircon retro-fitted to my 3yo MR2. What I discovered is it pays to shop around!
The kit fitted was genuine Toyota and main dealer quotes I had varied between £1,300 down to £802 all inclusive. This was basically for the same kit, so why the difference I'll never know, but I'm very glad I spent an hour or so on the phone first!
If your car is also a Toyota then head straight to Fish Brothers Toyota in Swindon. They did me proud, and were extremely attentive and professional to boot. A good garage candidate in the making!
One other point to consider is if you fit a 3rd party kit it may well invalidate a dealer / manufacturer warranty.
Overall I'm glad I got the work done. I felt it was very reasonable, plus the car is a lot more comfortable to use now the weather is warmer.
Having been identified as the incarnation of industrial evil by the meesage board - see older postings - my question remains: anyone have any news on the Wilderness AT recall on Ford Explorers. Your family could be at risk, if those tyres are on your vehicle!! Explorer owners deserve better!! Put pressure on Ford!! Read more
a colleague has an Explorer I asked him if he would like to contribute but as he hasn't here is what I recall of our conversation. The tyre recall is specific to particular batches of tyres from particular factories & presumably in particular sizes. Apparently all the details are on a Ford web site in a great deal of detail (no idea which one, go and look). He has checked his tyres and they are not included in the recall.
you may also want to visit the dealer you bought it from as it can't be that old if you are on the original tyres and if not original, do you really expect Ford to pay? If you are really worried about saftey why not change the tyres yourself ASAP and then seek redress armed with receipts? If the tyres aren't duff then they will have second hand value or you have your next set of tyres ready and waiting when the new ones wear out.
2p
Jon (happy Ford owner, formerly happy BX19DTR owner FWIW)
I'm thinking of buying an 99T 110Sharan tdi110 with 24k on the clock which was first brought in Ireland and has been registered this year by SVA. The price is very attractive (10,800)- but there is no aircon . How much would the imort factor and the lack of aircon knock the future saleability of the car?
I have spoken to a number of VW dealers who will sell a warranty and service the car for £450.00
any prompt coments would be appreciated Read more
Will be difficult to move on with no a/c. I've had dealers phoning me up to fit a/c as they have them on the forecourt and can't shift them without it.
I noticed that HJ has updated the section on the Skoda Fabia. I've got the basic 1.4 8v engine and I've done around 11,000 miles so I was interested / concerned by some of the comments:
What to Watch Out For:
* Make sure the 1.4 8v is not losing coolant.
I did notice that the coolant level went slowly down - it needed topping up every 3,000 miles or so. Is this to be expected or is it leaking?
What's Bad:
* head gasket failure on 1.4 8v
I assume if this is a problem then I am going to know about it?
* and misaligned auxiliary drive belt on 1.4 8v.
I'm not sure about this? What is it and is it easy to spot?
The only problem I had so far is that the power steering died on me. The dealer gave the impression that this wasn't the first case of this happening. It was due to a fluid leak but they replaced the whole steering rack under warrantee rather than fix the leak which seems a bit excessive to me (although I'm not complaining). Possibly there is a known manufacturing fault in the rack?
The fuel consumption (in What's Bad) was given as 30.28 mpg. When I first got the car I was getting around 34 mpg in general driving (pottering about - I don't really do much town driving) but this has steadily improved. I measured it yesterday when I filled up and this has gone up to 44 mpg. Typically I've been getting 40/41 mpg lately. I think the summer weather may have improved things (I commented on this the other day in the ULSP thread) but it is possible that it needs a fair bit of running in - I had the same thing on my old Nissan.
I'd be interested to know what anyone thinks the long term reliability is going to be like. Is it going to be about average or will it be a bit of a dog? Read more
honest john wrote:
>
> The 1.4 8 valve engine is a development of the
> old Skoda alloy block pushrod engine and is not from the new
> VAG family of engines fitted to other Skodas.
Superb engine. My old 1175 Skoda push rod engine made 58bhp which is 2bhp adrift of the the VW 1.4 or 1bhp adrift of the Ford Ka.
Not bad for 50's technology!
One of my customers told me he had seen you on telly, complete with the trademark hat and glasses. Are you a star now?
My father also frequents Blackbushe auctions, but claims never to have seen you, certainly not the hat and glasses. Is it your real attire? Read more
I did six programmes entitled 'Dealer's Choice' for ITV2 a few years ago. The audience was so small that less then ten people saw the shows. I think they still use them as fillers. Used to wear the hat at Blackbushe, but stopped bothering a couple of weeks ago. Will probably be there tomorrow, hatless.
HJ
Since buying a Honda civic 1.6 se Aerodeck new in march it has not been problem free.
1- Two power steering pumps fitted both of which made an annoying whine.
2- Sunroof glass replaced due to faulty rubber seal.
3- Two door panels replaced, one cut the other twisted.
4- Rear seatbelt replaced after trapping occupant.
5-Windscreen incorrectly fitted preventing one corner trim being clipped down fully home (the dealer offered to remove the bonded screen and replace it correctly which I just laughed at preferring to live with it the way it is rather than to see rust emerge in the future).
6-And finally I am informed that I now need the distributer replaced due to a rattle when cold!
My wife has had a 92 civic since new and has had no problems other than having to replace the radiator on top of normal servicing + tyres, exhausts etc. This car was built in Japan the other was built in Swindon!
Might think again about keeping this car long term.
(Disillusioned) Read more
Marcus,
The new civic has not had time to prove itself yet and the build quality, especially the interior trim is nothing to shout about despite what the motoring press sayand a source within the honda dealership confirms this with me.
There seems to be a trend away from quality manufacturing to be competitive.
Yes the Japanese Hondas were superb but I do not think the quality can be matched in Swindon where incidently the new Civic is produced.
Regards, Malcolm
Worth considering spares prices when considering your purchase. Of late I have been amazed at VW prices, even more so when you consider they have been required on 4/5 year old cars.
- Polo A/C compressor - VW price £931 incl VAT, my supplier for same Sanden compressor, including shipping and VAT £699
- Polo Expansion valve - VW price £148, my supplier from Valeo £59
- Passat condenser - VW price £502, mine £249
- Passat expansion valve - VW price £148, mine from Valeo £59
Just goes to show 2 things, firstly the VW quality is no better than anything else, and someone somewhere is making a lot of money. Read more
Logic convinces me that you have the correct explanation for the apparent superiority of VWs on the road - they have a 'residual value' advantage which encourages their owners to spend more on keeping their resale value up (tho' this must be somewhat chicken/egg). My H and K-reg 205s are the 10th and 11th examples owned by my family, and I can only think of one significant bit of corrosion on any of them - in the rear door of the oldest (B-reg) which must have been a bit of dodgy metal. By 10 years old, though, 205s are mostly worth 3-figure sums so owners lose heart. However 'bangernomics' is spreading to more models - anyone care to predict the effect on VWs ?
Shock absorbers are, after all, just that. They absorb shocks. I am seeking a supplier for a pair of front shock absorbers for an imported Japanese Masterace (Townace derivitive) MPV. They are fairly conventional in appearance,size and mounting but, you'd think I was asking for the moon when making telephone enquiries to one or two of the suppliers. Could anyone help with a recommendation or contact where, if I gave all the requirements, ie, size, travel, mounting holes & thread diameter, they would be prepared to look at alternatives ? There must be hundreds of shock absorbers, for hundreds of cars, and I should think that there could be quite a few which would match. Any advice or help would be much appreciated. Read more
Go back to the dealer who imported the vehicle and get him to supply a set. Have you tried your local Toyota dealer? They seem to be getting into the swing of supplying parts for these grey imports although I have heard rumours that the waiting time can be quite lengthy.
Is it possib;e to get cruise control fitted to a Saab 9000? Read more
Fair comment, Andrew. I reckon engine size/power/torque is the key factor: the less capable engine will struggle to maintain speed up slope.
Browse
Thx Adam Tune-Up.
See Dave - I *do* know something.
(as vindicated by those hard working lads at Tune-Up Ltd)