June 2001
Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it!
Actually my question is about car security devices rather than electric chairs. I recently saw advertised a wheel lock that has an integral device to give a high voltage electric shock "non fatal" to any thief trying to remove it. The advert says it's totally legal. Is this the case? Sounds like a pretty good idea to me: I mean, they'd have to have done criminal damage prior to any chance of receiving a shock, plus there's a warning on the front of the thing.
Can I fit one without fear of persecution from the bleeding heart non car owning sanctimonius brigade / the bill?
If it is legal I'll post the details for anyone interested. Read more
I'd welcome any suggestions on the possible causes of two intermittent but distinct problems with my Vauxhall Carlton Auto Estate 2.0, neither of which the local Vauxhall garages can create in order to identify:
1. Failure to start - invariably in hot weather after a run, sometimes as short as 5 miles but usually longer. No power to the starter motor and ignition switch has been tested OK; no panel warning lights functioning. Car always starts with no trouble if left alone for a while.
2. Very uneven running (kangarooing), sometimes very severe - usually occurs in colder weather, either early morning soon after starting (when the problem does not last too long) or late at night (when the problem tends to persist). Occasionally can be eradicated by high revving; however, on one occasion the problem occurred after 100 miles of motorway running then persisted for the remaining 75 miles but the car was fine next morning.
Alan Read more
Battery cells can short out if the plates touch. They warp with age or sometimes with over/too quick charging. Presumably heat will affect this. They can also short if some gunge is floating about. Borrow a battery and see if that cures it.
Can anyone advise how to get at the screen washer bottle on my son's 1990 Escort (located in the left hand inner wing) so that we can replace the pump? It obviously has to be dropped down, but despite removing the 3 fixing bolts, I can't get it clear. Read more
I've noticed that my fuel economy has dropped by ~2-3mpg, and performance seems to have drooped off, since the forced change to Low Sulphur fuel. Is this normal or should I be looking elsewhere? Exactly the same occured with my previous Diesel car when City Diesel became available. Renault Laguna 2.0 16v Estate for what it's worth. Read more
Guys,
In the mid 80's (here he goes again) a mate and I both had Saab Turbos. Mine was a 1981 99 2dr Turbo that was really a road version of the rally car. It had some of the best mid-range top gear acceleration times of any car on the road. Steve's was a 900 Turbo hatch.
Anyway all we had to interest us in those days was what we could do to the cars and I remember one tempting fittment was a water injection kit. I seem to remember it was about £300 even then.
Unusually it was sold by the local dealers as a genuine fit Saab approved item, and for DIY as well. I think it was just a bottle, valves and some tubing.....perhaps a pump as well?
In the end neither of us purchased, perhaps too busy replacing the expensive tyres chewed through at an alarming rate.
Thinking back Saab really deserve a pat on the back for introducing turbos to the mass market. The cars were very quick for the time and nothing went wrong with our engines over a couple of years of very hard business use.
David
Hi, can anyone recommend anywhere to go for air con servicing in the Watford area? Thanks Jason Read more
The Vauxhall deal is just a check up and report, I think. It doesn't involve any rectification of faults found.
I am looking at getting out of the company car scheme, and buy privately.
I had thought about a VW or Audi until I read some threads in this forum.
I had a Honda Accord 10 yrs ago and loved it, but what about the current 2001 car? Is it as trouble free as my old one was, is it good on long runs, and in particular is quiet? I hate cars that suffer tyre and wind noise! The dealer was always very helpfull as well.
And what about Lexus IS200? Did well in the JD Power survey, and comments?
Thanks
Tim Read more
Check the news on this site for what a 63,000 mile IS200 sold for today.
HJ
I am thinking of buying a year old VW Bora 2.0 Sport for about £11,000. Fistly am I thinking about paying too much for it, and secondly have any readers with experience of the car any advice to give to me? Do they think it is a sound car, or an overpriced VAG product?
Cheers,
Simon Read more
They do a 1.4 Golf, so i assume they sell a 1.4 Bora too. Anyway, the bloke saved loads so i don't reckon he's too bothered about selling it quite yet ! Also, he tends to keep his cars for quite a while so it probably won't be worth that much when he comes to sell it.
Ash.
Simon Whaites wrote:
>
> Is the 1.4 sold in the Uk, and if it isn't wouldn't it mean
> that he will find this very hard to sell on when he decides
> to upgrade?
I have a Vauxhall Carlton CDi Estate which produces a very large thump when going over road humps, my Garage says the shocks are OK - but I still get a very loud noise - any ideas? Read more
Look at the rear suspension arm rubber mountings. Look like big doughnuts!
Dear all,
I would like to show my appreciation for those who give me valuable suggestions on how to deal with my eletric window failure last week. I sourced a second hand one and installed it myself & save more than 100 pounds just on the part.
Lession: Don't go to the main dealer unless there is no alternative. I am not technical minded but able to do some simply DIY - so as most of you.
Regard,
Godfrey Read more
Glad to hear it.
Could anyone suggest which engine version of the Galaxy/Sharan/Seat is the best choice. I don't anticipate that we will do more than 10.000 miles per year. Most of our journeys are short. We occassionally tow a small caravan. We will either be looking at a used or a good deal on a new. We would also consider the older style. Thanks for any info. Read more
The Seat Alhambra TDI PD 115 or 130 six-speed is the best value new. What you go for used depends on your budget, but do not buy any Shalambra which is not fitted with airconditioning front and rear, and note that early versions had a lot of faults (including inaccessible a/c components).
HJ
Browse
It doesn't take much imagination to re-describe this device as a Booby-trap. I can't see the law looking too kindly on one of those. Pity.