August 2001
Hi,
I've got a '97 ghia fiesta and want to put a single din head unit into the car to replace the standard fit unit, which requires an adapter to blank out the space that will be left after removing the double din size unit.
the only problem is that ford tell me a wood effect adapter isn't available, and that i'll have to make do with a black one. i was sure a wood effect one was available, and i'm hoping it still is - putting a black panel on a wood effect dash will look really stupid.
all help appreciated.
cheers Read more
I have to make a long 'A' road journey on Friday.
I want my rear plate hidden from view with simulated road crud.
I've seen cars/bikes with a light grey crud substance that obscures the plate completely.
Before anyone whines I'm not a habitual speeder on back roads and I plan to stick to limits on Friday but a 400 odd mile return trip on 'A' road is sounding like an invitation to get flashed.
Anyone know the best substance/method for this purpose? Read more
Much lower - £25 and no points
I went to Brighton on Friday evening and a Lexus passed me on the M4. It was a big 4x4 soft road jobbie, looked like a Merc ML.
It had normal door mirrors and what appeared to be a pair of smaller mirrors mounted further forward on the front wings. They looked like OE not add ons. Anyone know what model this vehicle is and what these "mirrors" are? Read more
Many thanks, Adam. I thought I'd read something about these mirrors in one of the motoring papers, but I couldn't remember.
It's a long time since I've had a car with wing mirrors - it's funny how you get used to door mirrors, isn't it? Except for the rear quarter blind spot. Citroen fit a driver's mirror wherein the outermost portion gives a wide angle view of the blind spot. It's better, but not infallible. I guess other manufacturers fit them too?
Ian
Can anyone tell me how the meters that lots of cars have now, apparently displaying the instantaneous mpg, work?
Do they actually measure the rate of fuel supply to the engine, at a given instant, compare that figure with the road speed, and then calculate the mpg at that moment?
Or is it simply recording some other engine indicator, eg inlet manifold pressure, and re-calibrating this into a notional mpg?
Thanks,
Cliff Pope Read more
Andy
The BMW system uses a bit more than manifold vacuum. You can clearly see when the overun fuel cut-off comes in for example. I understood they (like many others) used the fuel flow data from the ECU combined with the speed/distance inputs to give the indication. Also some Vauxhalls shift to a galls/hr figure when stationary, so they are surely using fuel flow data. As for accuracy - well, most are not too bad - my saab seemed fairly close to a 'traditional' calculation.
Regards
john
For the past 8 or 9 years I have filled up a few cans every other weekend to top up the motorbikes each day, since bike tanks only give a range of 150 miles or so and it is a pain to stop every day at a garage to fill up.
Yesterday the pump attendant at our supermarket informed me that they had been visited by a jobsworth from the local Trading Standards who told them that it was only permitted for customers to fill two cans at a time.
Whilst I know that there are limits on storing fuel, this is the first I have heard of limits on the sale.
Apparently the speedboat owners who use the same garage to fill up for their outboards on the way to the coast are not too happy either.
Has anyone else encountered this problem? Read more
Petrol is a dangerous fire hazard as it volatises at room temperature. Accidents can happen to portable cans. A car petrol tank is much safer as it is fixed inside the structure of a car and it has a breather pipe. I would be very alarmed if my neighbour was storing 5 gallons of petrol in cans!
Hi Chaps!!,
Can anyone explain to me the MOT gas test and how the results can used, i.e. High CO must be as a result of poor cumbustion, what about hydro-carbons???,
Can someone go through this and explain each gas test and the possible reasons (generally) for high/low readings.
Many thanks (yet again)
Andy Read more
I had problems with high CO in an old metro(No catalyst) I purchased a Gunsons Gastester from Halfords for £100. Results same as MOT. Easy to use once you understand its operational principles. Worth every penny!
Has anyone else heard that fuel price's are about to rise????
My brother-in-law works in London and the word on the street down there is that fuel is about to rise again, this time though instead of the odd pence they are going to make it 3 or 4.
It is something about a crisis in the Middle East, I didn't really listen to the reason cos he was "off on one"!!
Anyone else heard anything??? Read more
I read today that our lovely Gordon will soon be desperate for the equvalent of about 4pence on income tax. Go on, Gordy - try putting it on petrol! Just try!
Just returned from a two week tour of France. For reasons too complicated to explain, we ended up taking my wife?s Cavalier (1994, 90K bought for £1,700 about a year ago). It gave faultless service, accommodated four adults and luggage with ease, was smooth and comfortable, had adequate performance and achieved about 37mpg.
Would somebody please remind me why I bother with more ?sophisticated? transport!
PS I know HJ will say that a Mondeo would have been even better Read more
on the image thing i though gary numan was funny in the press recently
"if my car was based on what I'm really like as opposed to my self image I'd by driving a Volvo estate, however its not and I've got a TVR"
or words to that effect...
I've heard rumours that VW are restyling the Golf later this year. Is this true? If so is it a major revamp? I was about to import a new 1.6 SE but I'm going to wait until I know more. My local dealer didn't seem to have any knowledge of this. Read more
New Polo: Frankfurt Show, less than a months time. See news item at www.honestjohn.co.uk
HJ
Hi
Has anybody used the used car inspection services of the AA/RAC/ABS?
I see ABS (www.abscarchek.co.uk/) offer an Experian history check an inspection report for £140...
Any good/bad experiences of any of these?
cheers Read more
It's after I saw 'Deal on wheels' last week I realised how few of us actually look under the car for e.g. dodgy welding - if a dealer takes the car in as a trade-in he may not know either. How many dealers examine underneath a trade-in - very few I'd wager.
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My nephew works for Quicks here in Gtr Manchester and believe me, you can not get a wood effect panel. I know, as my wife has a Fiesta with my old CD player in it with the black plastic panel as you mention. To be honest it does not look that bad, especially if the the CD unit is a black finish. Besides it is not as if you sit looking at it. Maybe a factor like Halfords will do something more in tone with the dash but I would question its fit. The Ford part was only a couple of quid anyway.