July 2001

Roger Jones

A question from me, the owner of a VR6 Highline, bought new in December 1996:

I won a battle with the dealer and VW to have the brake callipers painted free of charge when they started rusting within six months of buying the car. They are now deteriorating again. Any advice on how to treat them for a truly durable result? I know it wouldn't/shouldn't matter with normal hub caps covering them, but the very open-style six-spoke alloys expose the callipers in all their gory glory. Read more

Ben Chapman

I have some 23k mile '96 VR6 calipers with absolutley no rust if you would like to buy them- £70.

Ben

Chris

I have a 1700 (Kent) Cross Flow engine fitted to a Caterham. I have recently rebuilt this; decoking the head, lapping the valves and fitting new valve stem seals and fitting a new head gasket. I have not touched the bottom end.

On starting it up for the first time, it ran hot and plumes of white smoke came from the exhaust. I stopped the engine and believed I had blown the head gasket. I fitted a new one and restarted and everything appeared to be okay until white smoke billowed from the exhaust again. Compression is down to about 70 psi per cylinder.

Can anyone list the possible causes of this?

Many Thanks

Chris Read more

Chris

Stuart

In the end, I actally managed to get an original Ford part from a remote Ford dealer up North, so didn't have to go the bespoke route.

Thanks for your help, but I cannot report on them

Cheers

Chris

Ian Tyler

Does anyone know if there is any company who can put a 3 point belt in the rear centre of an Audi S2 estate in place of the standard 2 point lap belt?? Audi say they have been asked the question many times, but don't know the answer (- there must be demand!). Read more

Stephen

Telephone the "In car safety centre in Milton Keynes" (Stacey Bushes locality ? - I've never been there but they advertised about being a good
centre for children's seats - hope they are still there).
They gave me a tel.no for a co. in Stanmore Middx who told me they could fit a 3 point belt in the middle of a BX estate for about (then) £120. However, there would be a strap going from the top of the seat to the floor of the boot
at a suitable angle.
Sorry I can't be more specific - if I could only find the dratted piece of paper with my notes on it I might even get round to having it done myself.
So , if you manage to find out, please post the info on the site.

A pearce

I have a pug306tld which has done 80000 miles. It emits black smoke on pulling away. IT runs and starts perfectly. Could anyone please advise how to cure this and is it easy. Read more

Chris

Don't forget the air filter. When was it last changed? Is it fitted correctly? Could be as simple as a blocked or partially blocked air supply.

Chris

A pearce

I have a pug306tld which has done 80000 miles Read more

Richard Loweth

I am right, or wrong. that if I submit a car due its first MOT one month before that the MOT will run for thirteen months just as if I submit a older car one month before its actual MOT expiry date?
No guesses please as I need to know to "roast" my garage if they have got it wrong! Car MOT'd today, due first MOT 18 August 2001, it comes back with an MOT expiring not 17 August 2002 as I expected but 17 July 2002!
Is my garage wrong? V% was submitted with car at time of MOT and their attention drwan to it... Read more

Richard Loweth

I did, they apologised, re-tested car and issued new MOT...wasted half my day, however!

Andrew Moorey (Tune-Up Ltd)

Dear Jim, can you fix it for me to meet the bunch of crass idiots, I mean, design team who contrived my Renault Espace 2.2 TDi? I spent a happy day yesterday replacing the sealed-for -life clutch master/slave cylinder, the pollen filters and the cambelt. The wiper assembly complete has to be removed to replace the drivers' side pollen filter, all of the lower dash has to be removed to replace the sealed, PLASTIC clutch master cylinder and the cam belt took over 7 hours to replace AND I had to make a special tool to undo the auxiliary belt tensioner to expose a belt cover bolt. Please Mr Renault and Mr Peugeot too, please spare a thought for us mechanics out there who have to service your product.
Please fix it for me Jim.
Love from Andrew (age 43) Read more

Brian

Dear Sir James,
I would appreciate it if you could be a little less disparaging about the French.
I would have you know that my ancestors came from France around 1066 and that makes me a member of an ethnic minority, out of which it is politically incorrect to extract the urine.
Anyway, with a name like Saville, your lot must have come from Spain, so you should know better.
Yours
Brian Ward du Bois

Dave Yates

Wifes Ka is overevving while gear changing and throttle relaxed - as usual somewhat intermittent. Has been to garage who sent it to a reputable tuning & diagnostic outfit who can find nothing wrong but suggest "possible speed sensor fault" Nothing replaced.

Has anyone out there any similar experiences with Kas - any suggestions as to what problem & cure is gratefully accepted Read more

honest john

Many thanks to Dave N. Have added this and the Focus clonking TSBs to the car by car breakdown at www.honestjohn.co.uk We don't get this information by magic. Only from people like you.

HJ

Piers

My comment tagged onto the end of a MINI thread got over looked so..

Has anyone got some first hand experience of the performance of the different Tracker type systems and the companies back up. My dad has one fitted but, touch wood, hasn't needed to use it. It's just an expensive box that he can't even see as it's hidden.....

I've heard of the police finding stolen cars, getting in touch with the owner only for it to be nicked again before they can get there (which, given that they probably haven't got a car to use, might take a while). Does this happen with the tracker type devices if you don't go for the service where they install a security guard with snarling dog the moment the coppers get in touch? Do insurance premiums tumble as the adverts promise?

Piers Read more

Jonathan

Montego steel was far to high grade

Jim

Twice this week the auto-diagnosis light on my newish Picasso HDi has come on. The dealer has just reset the unit but finds no fault. Is this a one-off or a common problem? Read more

Carole Adams

Here I go again. Some Citroens have been having problems with this light (mostly Saxos that I know of). A new CD download worked on ours - resetting didn't.