June 2001
Can anybody recommend a non franchise VW specialist in South Bucks/West Herts to service/repair a 1.9TDI Passat? Read more
Can anyone tell me what is the most popular colour when coming to resell a car, I am thinking of buying a black car, but am worried whether silver is better? Also can anyone tell me the advantages of air conditioning on a Ford Fiesta Zetec S? Thanks Ema Read more
Peter,
It is because yours is black they all seem black.
I had never seen (noticed) the metallic blue of my Xantia much before I bought it. Day after collection there was one in the local town three cars away in the park and a few minutes a different one in the same colour next to me at the fuel station.
David
Hi All,
I've had an M reg 306 from new which has always impressed me by the smoothness of its engine (for a diesel). However, I recently had the cam-belt changed (generally recommended at 50k) by a Peugeot dealer and now the thing sounds and feels like a bit of a dog. To someone with no prior experience of the car they may not notice, "cos its a diesel", but I certainly do.
Seems pretty obvious that the timing's been mucked-up, but this obviously didn't occur to the garage that did the work. Generally had bad experiences with garages (case in point), so could someone tell me what is now likely to need attention so that I can spoon feed the next garage I take it to - valve timing? injector timing? etc?
Also could anyone recommend a garage in the Kingston/Epsom area (or thereabouts) capable of doing a proper job?
Many thanks
Jim Read more
The difficulty here is that cars now are so hi-tec that for lots of components DIY is just not an option. The trouble is that many garages seem to be little better at it than you are.
I was 'told' by a colleague this morning, that photocard driving licences are going to be made compulsory.
I was under the belief that if I receive no convictions, remain healthy, and do not move house, I could keep the same licence until I am 70 years old?
Am I wrong? Read more
Computer?
What Computer!
I'm looking to replace my Peugeot 806 with a newer people carrier. Want 2.3 - 3.0, auto, full leather, lots of extras and gadgets, and wood trim dash, climate etc.
Around £17000 available - anyone suggest what I should look for? Maybe a Voyager? Galaxy seems expensive and not very stylish
Thanks for your suggestions.
Mike Read more
Thanks guys for this
Mike
Just outside the Leeds outer ring road the council have made a series of speed humps. The situation is that the approach is from a 40 zone, a long straight road of about half a mile. At the end of this straight is a bend where it changes to a 30 zone. 50 yrds within the 30 sign is the first of three long sausage-style bumps have been created.
The first time I encountered these was the day after creation, and tried negotiating them at 30mph, thinking that they were to slow vehicles down to the stated speed. The car was not very composed, suspension struts were heard to bang violently, and I thought serious damage was very likely!
The subsequent two were taken gingerly at 20, and even this seemed a violent jolt. I put this down to their newness, thinking the council would come back to paint them properly etc, and round of the steep angles on the sides.
It is now six weeks since then, and I have found that 15mph is about the maximum speed that these homps can be mounted at without the fear of damage to a vehicle.
Is this legal? There is no school to warrant 15mph. I do not mind driving at 30 in a 30 zone. But I am being forced to do 15 to save my car. Is there any specified dimensions for these humps, and what can Joe Public do if the council has not adhered to them?
Simon Read more
Well, well, well Stuart... I would be surprised if they are totally legal - on a 40 road?!!
NEDDC would have been much wiser spending their, sorry, our money on actually *repairing* the road, you know, what our road taxes were supposed to be for... It is in a shocking state, potholes and sunken manholes everywhere. In fact , I reckon those humps are pretty much redundant as you have to take it slow or you'll practically buckle your wheels!
Keep up the research and if we know 100% then we'll have to do something!
Hi,
I have recently bought an old Citroen Xantia 1.9 TD LX. There are 2 orange indicator lights on the dashboard, none are on whilst running, but I do not know what one of them is for (I do not have the Citroen handbook).
Bottom right is the Glow-Plug 'coil'
Top Left is the mystery gauge which I'm guessing is either temperature or level for a liquid (Water, Oil, Diesel or LHM)
Anyone know what it means?
Thanks
Simon Collier Read more
I often think if someone says "it has only started doing that since you serviced it", and you know no new fault has been introduced to the car, then it is a raised sense of awareness due to the fact the car has just been looked at. Something along the lines that cleaning the windows, lights, number plate and dusting the dash (plus that washer fluid smell we've discussed before) is more likely to make a car feel serviced.
Stick with this, it is leading back to the level gauge/light question!
Had a call one morning after servicing a vehicle. I can't use the car to go to work, "since you serviced it yesterday" the oil pressure came up normally and then went to nothing. Would you be looking at the gauge with a dripping dipstick on I ask? Yes that's the one, it's gone right down to nothing!
Slightly embarrased to work the owner round to remembering that is the oil level gauge and it has behaved (correctly) like that for the last six months they've owned the car.
David
I have a 1990 Cav 1.6L with elec front windows which have developed a mind of their own, ie they close themselves at random. Sometimes both will close concurrently, sometimes independently. I'm quite handy at electrical diagnostics, so i'm after a quick pointer in the right direction please, to save me from stripping the whole electrics out. I think some models had automatic closing on the deadlock, but I don't think mine has this. If it does, it hasn't worked since I've had the car.
Thanks,
Mike Read more
Dodgy micro switch on the back of the drivers door lock.It works fine now. Thanks for assistance.
Mike Harvey
I've been asked by a colleague at work to post this one up.
Her 00W Pug 306 Meridan has had sqeaky brakes from the day she got it. It only happens when the brakes are applied.
My colleague has been told by her Pug dealer that it is down to the materials the pads/discs are made out of. Is this true
Any ideas on the real cause of this? What would be a remedy to the situation?
Your thoughts would be much appreciated.
Phil Read more
Copperslip grease on the back of the pads will sort it out.
Andrew
With particular regard to speed cameras:-
a. Are the odd typefaces I see on some number plates legal under the Construction and Use regulations or whatever applies to number plates?
b. Can a digital speed camera read them ie the type that reads the number, goes to DVLA and then posts a ticket to the registered keeper (SPECS etc)? Read more
No problem if the spacing is right Andrew!
Cheers
John
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As my office is in Tring, Hatfield and St Albans are readily accessible so thanks to Peter and Roger for your suggestions.