June 2001
Can anybody tell me what the emision levels are for a 1994 catalysed car? I have a Rover 820 Vitesse turbo and I want to fit a stainless system with cat bypass pipe (my cat is dead anyway, it filled up with oil when the turbo let go).Will the engine management and oxygen sensor still run the engine clean enough to meet the regs or can it be tuned to do so? Read more
This rather expensive component (£106 + VAT and labour) has just been replaced on my son's 1.8 Astra to cure hesitant constant throttle use.
What does this valve do (Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve?) and where is it fitted?
A bit of education doesn't go amiss.
Thanks to you experts out there for any info. Read more
Vauxhall EGR valves are developing a bit of a reputation ! They can sometimes be cleaned sucessfully (using carb cleaner or an ultrasonic tank) as they are often just sooted up with exhaust gasses, but often renewal is the only answer. I have seen it advised in certain quarters that the valve can be blanked off using a metal template between it and the cylinder head - this apparently improves driveability, but I suspect it could give rise to emission test problems.
The EGR is often sited on the rear (inlet) side of the cylinder head, taking exhaust gas internally through the head. Once removed it's mechanical operation can usually be checked using a vacuum pump.
Regards, Adam
Sister no. 2 has an M-reg 2 litre Ford Probe. It is proving very efficient at draining the battery of power. If she leaves the car unused for 3 or 4 days, the battery goes flat, even after a period of repeated long trips. The car has been into several garages for investigation, but the problem is still there. Any clues out there? Read more
Hadn't noticed myself but not the first time and been called much worse I'm sure!. Rather apt though!
Adrian
i own a 1987 peugeot 205 1.1 and have just changed the engine. It is running, and it starts fine, but has very very little power, and in neutral or with clutch to floor, when accelorater is pressed, it doesn't rev anything like as much as it should. I've tried everthing i can think of such as distributer and making sure all the plugs are ok, but want to know if there is anything i can try before sending it in to see about pressure/exact timing. Any help on the matter is much appreciated. Read more
I guess a 205 of this age should have a chain, not a belt, but presumably the replacement engine is post-88 ?
Feel that I am being stitched up by Volvo dealer who quotes £250 to provide and fit a new front suspension bottom ball joint on the right side.
Am I? Read more
I don't know about Volvos but some motas (e.g. Pug 205) do not have a seperate ball-joint and to replace the bottom section you must buy the whole wishbone + ball and that could be where the cost is.
Hi all
Am in delightful posn of having my car renewed by work! Allowed up to £20k.
Must haves: fab seats with lumbar adjust due to severe & recurrent back problem. Great long distance comfort. Power
Would like: decentish fuel economy as I have to pay my own, but being young I am prepared to downgrade this if I can have something really hooliganlike for once. Space for cramming in mates & parents on occasion
Not bothered: Residuals & servicing costs etc. Any family facilities as I am single.
Have a 1996 omega 2.0 which I really rate on comfort, toys & handling. In fact I am bitten by the big rear wheel drive bug. I was going to go for one of these with the V6 option until my bro mentioned this site. Can I do better for somebody elses cash? He mentions Alfa but I know nothing about them apart from jokes about rust.
Not a really important factor, more of a 'what if' but I will have option to buy this car in 4 years time, which might fit in with a few other things. Thought occurs that it might be worth going for something good, but that will depreciate like a stone. More intersted in seats size & oomph though!
Forgive me if there's been loads of posts on this. Just tell me how to find them!
Many thanks Read more
Many, many years ago, a young tractor driver was turning left from a minor road into a field (via the gate for a change). A rather wide line was taken due to the muck spreader (complete with full load of sh*t) attached to the back of the John Deere (is that a giveway?); a thrusting young gentleman (driving his mummy's Renault) - who had followed the tractor for at least 100yds - decided this would be a good opportunity to undertake on the inside. Result? Mangled wreckage of Renault rolls into ditch, thrusting young gentleman survives (at least until he gets home to mummy), John Deere suffers bent tracking rod (fixed with the highly technical application of gas bottles and hammer).
Moral of the tale? If you find yourself in a ditch, complete with your mummy's Renault, don't be offended when a poor farm boy offers to tow your mummy's pride and joy back onto the road for a small consideration. Names have been changed to protect the guilty.
Hur, hur
M
I have had a reply from honest John Re. carburetter venturi icing on a Fiat Uno 60 1100cc 1998. He suggests rerouting the air intake. Any other ideas if this does not work? Read more
I don't think that you need worry about icing at the moment, unless you are contributing from outside the UK!
Which companies offer the best deals for young drivers?
Is it better for a young driver to have his/her own insurance from the start or be a named driver on a parent's policy until he/she passes the driving test? Read more
Opps, just noticed the web site is still under construction!! but you could telephone them on 01872 277151
Hi - does anybody know how to get a full size spare wheel (16") into the spare wheel well in a new model Volvo V70? The brochure stated that a 16" wheel would fit but not a 17", but I can't seem to get it to fit - the battery seems to get in the way....I don't want to be driving around with only the skinny space-saver as a spare.
Please help!
-Martin Read more
Finally worked out late last night that I needed to unbolt part of the rear flooring using the spanner I found in the toolkit! (No mention of this in the handbook however....)
3 years ago took company car allowance and took a personal lease on a car. As they now want more than £100 per month more for replacement (same) car, decided to bite the bullet and use the allowance to fund a loan for a new car.
Eventually decided on Subaru Legacy, ordered end April for delivery Aug 18 (they were quoting >3 months delivery). Shopped around and got a 4.5% discount, seemed to be as good as would get for a Subaru. Main reason for choice was ?reliability? and residuals. Aware that Subarus can be lying around unsold for some time, tried to be canny and ordered a current colour (violet blue mica) and a factory fitted alarm. Hoped this would ensure we got a fresh import.
The car arrived some time in June, only found out by accident it had arrived. Went to inspect, find it is wrong colour (deep blue) and has aftermarket (Cobra) alarm, also one damaged wheel.
So, is this a new colour (Subaru seem to change pretty frequently), should I reject it or demand a bigger discount? Not happy as left with feeling being conned.
No I don't want a Citroen - my local dealer is an a**e! Read more
John,
I would be left feeling very very unhappy with this situation. In buying a new car and standing the massive first few years depreciation you are subsidising the rest of us so we can buy these cars in middle age.
At the very least you should get what you ordered and enjoy it.
You see you mentioned the Citroen, so it is in the back of your mind!
David
Browse
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Richard
There will only be any noticeable improvement in fuel consumption if the ECU is reprogrammed to a 'non-cat' setting. You'd have to fit the cat for the MOT, at which point it may not pass anyway the cat won't operate at full efficiency as the ECU is set wrongly.
I could be wrong, but I suspect it's an offence to operate the car without a cat, never mind the risk of failing a roadside emisions check. These days the effect of a cat on power output is much less significant than it used to be anyway.
regards
John