November 2001
I've just read HJ's column in the Telegraph and I refer to the chap who lost control of his Rover 620 auto when reversing. This happened to me in a Merc 280CE auto. Fortunately the casualty was a teracotta flower pot and not another vehicle. Mum spoke some harsh words (it was her car) quite justifiably. Nobody likes having their driving skill criticised and it was worse coming from her.
It set me thinking that the movement of the car backwards and the inertia of the right foot would press the throttle more and would certainly make any car surge unless the driver was prepared for it.
Since then I use this method when manoeuvring in a car with an auto 'box. Before engaging gear, press the brake firmly with the left foot to lock all the wheels, then you don't get that clonk as the torque convertor tries to move the car against the handbrake. Still pressing the brake, set the revs to about 1200 or a fast tickover, then release the brake gently, like a conventional clutch. If the car sets off too quickly, you don't have to change pedals to brake, you just "declutch" and the car is under complete control in nanoseconds.
I don't want to enter into any Ripleyesque arguments about which foot to use on which pedal, it seems to work for me, and might for others. Read more
Vehicle - 205 GTx, 93K, 48000 miles
Symptom - intermittent erratic clicking (as of a relay) from behind the dash (driver's side). Sometimes, when the engine is fully warmed up and doing 3000 rpm, this escalates into a chatter which occasionally triggers the central locking. No effect on running of the car.
Further info - Car is kept outdoors, has no known leaks and is free of body damage. C-L is factory-fitted but linked to an original-fit Peugeot remote alarm which is no longer operative and is switched out. Battery connections have been checked. Cannot identify any obvious culprit wher the sound seems to come from (near ECU?)
Any ideas anyone ? Read more
Andrew
I had a similar problem with a 306D. The car did not have cental locking, but was fitted with a Peugeot immobiliser - of the sort where you insert a jack plug into a dash mounted socket.
There was also a box of electronic gubbins behind the fascia and this sometimes used to tick (rhythmically). The cure was to disconnect and re-connect the battery, and it then behaved itself until the next time.
May be of help - may not.
Ian
A friend has a V40 Volvo, and driving on dipped lights is akin to using the force, to be honest the main beam isn't that great either.
Can any one out there recommend replacment bulbs? I don't really want to take pot luck in Halfords, and risk £40 down the pan if they make no difference.
Cheers,
Ed Read more
I tried some of these also. No real improvement, and they kept blowing as well. Waste of money I reckon.
Hello all, I have just read in the pper, 12 yr old vauxhall astra are 4x more likely to be stolen in the UK than ny other car, obviously this is because they are timeless classics!
Seriousy though, being the owner of one such vehicle, i think i might buy an alarm, i already have a steering lock, but can anybody recommend a decent alarm for as little cash as possible, and that i can easily fit myself, bearing in mind i am a poor student, and wan to fit it asap- also where can i buy it from?
Thanks! Read more
IMHO the autolok type of deterent is next to useless, I disturbed one attempted theft of a Mk 2 fiesta where the thief had simply bent the gear stick to remove the autolok from the handbrake...very odd to drive to the repair garage until they simply unbent the gear stick,
a later car was also a fiesta (Mk3) with a steering lock
(the bar type) and this didnt prevent the loss of the vehicle
after it was broken into with a cordless drill
It's good to see that the RAC rally gets 15 minutes coverage on tomorrows grandstand, and indoor rowing gets 20 minutes!
I seem to remember reading somewhere that the RAC rally has the largest number of spectators for a single event, anywhere. Good to see the BBC reflects this with their coverage. Read more
And that gets TV coverage?
Are the BBC scraping barrels here?
Having looked on at peoples thoughts on the contributions of 'independant observer' and those of L.A.C. and having, myself, exchanged opinions with 'i.e.' on the earlier "Backroom Registration' thread, I'd prefer to stick with matters Lada. They've certainly made me laugh. I don't know if they were supposed to, but they did. Don't be too rude to L.A.C. At least it keeps us all looking to see what's coming next. Read more
OK ! We will definetly NOT give him instructions to introduce exhaust gasses into his beloved Lada whilst he is aboard !
what is the cheapest price for petrol in your area, in tynemouth near newcastle its 67.9 per litre, so what is it for you??? Read more
As a warning, I saw an independent station selling unleaded at 78.9/litre yesterday.It was on the road from Market Weighton to Driffield, East Yorkshire, there were others in the mid seventies. Cheapest in Swindon is Esso at 68.9/litre
Can some one clarify what's happening to manufactures warranties next year. I gather they're being extended to 2 years. Is this right? Read more
The requirement to provide a 2-year warranty in Europe may well lead UK manufacturers/distributors/dealers to REDUCE their 3-year warranty down to 2 years.
A chap at work is selling an L registered Mitsubishi Galant which has only covered 59 000 miles for 2 grand - this seems very cheap for a car that would have cost the thick end of 20 grand only 6 years ago.
Anyway My father is very interested as he wants to replace his 190 000 mile 1989 Passat, with something equally economical and capacious.
Question is: Is this the going rate for such a car, which appears to be in excellent condition ?
They are quite rare - are there any known weaknesses, are parts expensive ? My experience of Japanese cars has been that they are generally reliable. Read more
I've got a loaner at the moment while my car's having it's A/C sorted - have had it for 5 weeks (!!)
Anyway it's been abused and thrashed during it's 92K miles (J plate) the oil resembles tar and the engine bay totally filthy
However it drives beautifully and purrs like a kitten, everything works and it returns about 28 mpg
Typical japanese reliability, if very boring
I wiped them with one stroke of the mouse. Read more
And you have to swear!
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Who was it who said:
"They got pretty ugly and not really the sort of stuff that wants to continue, I wouldn't have thought - Peace to the world and all that. What this has reminded me of though, is that if we can get as heated and bitter in an entry to a website, then the same individuals are driving on the same roads as me. I suspect that on the road it would be called 'Road Rage'. So for me it serves as a warning!! On this site I can just switch off or go to another topic. After 27 years in my job of cutting people out of wrecked cars, I've seen the effcts of drivers errors and rage. It' as ugly in the flesh as these comments are here." ?
(Still waiting to find out which were the "ugly" comments).
I'm "impressed with your approach to sensible reasoned coverage of the topics raised"
Dissapointed though that you haven't actually been able to come up with an argument against ANY (hope that that didn't hurt your ears) of the points I've raised.
Oops, I'd forgotten: argument is banned on this forum - you probably did reply but got censored.
Never mind: once you're settled in you will be able to quite happily tell me I need psychiatric treatment, then follow up with an encouragement to commit suicide, or some equally germane and refined "acceptable" response to one of my "mad" and thuggish "ugly" posts. Not only will you not be censored - the regulars will dive in to help you "savage" the ousider: well said old chap, it's about time these thugs realised they weren't welcome here, why doesn't he take his insane rants somewhere where they might be appreciated, and leave us to swap patterns for steering wheel covers (that'll show people that we motorists won't take things lying down - anything we don't like we'll just ban from "our" site, that will solve ALL the problems of the world, especially motoring ones :-(
Browse
I would own up to sitting at traffic lights sometimes with the brake pedal down but probably less than a lot of drivers with manual boxes, and I consciously try not to do it. But I don't let my foot hang around on a manual clutch either. I seldom see anyone driving above 5mph with the brake light on permanently so I am not convinced this is a problem.
Left foot braking may be difficult to adjust to at first but I find it's easy after a while. And, yes, in an emergency stop it is the left foot that I use. Back in a manual, it's back to the right.