November 2001
My 1998 Fiesta 1.25 Zetec, shortly after starting from cold, 'dies' for a few minutes and then drives normally once it has warmed up slightly.
I have replaced engine oil, oil & air filters, spark plugs, but the problem still persists? Read more
100 Greatest Cars (?)
Anyone got it, is it any good?
Thanks Read more
Don't bother.
Long black-haired opinionated bigot.
Pot calling kettle black there methinks.
At least Clarkson doesn't have BO and dandruff like me!
Could anyone please tell me where to get instructions for overhauling the brakes and wheel bearings on a Bahill 2-horse trailer? There is an override feature allowing the trailer to be reversed without locking the wheels, but I'm not sure whether the brakes are working at all. How can they be tested?
The Bahill company used to be based in Bakewell, Derbyshire, but doesn't appear to exist anymore.
If anyone has a manual they could scan & email, so much the better!
Thanks in anticipation,
Richard. Read more
Haynes do a good manual for caravans and trailers (not that I would dare mention caravans on this site).
Testing falls into 2 parts, static and dynamic.
Static is where you scientifically kick the hitch and see if the rods and cables move, if completely unsure whether anything is moving, remove each wheel and see if the brake shoes move. Dynamic is where you take the outfit to your favourite stretch of straight, deserted road. Brake firmly from about 30 mph and then lift off the brakes, you should feel the trailer pulling the car back. If the brakes aren't working the outfit will seem to accelerate.
Hope this helps.
i hear they are raising the speed limit on the bit of M4 next to where Prescotts famous bus lane (private lane for Tony and Prescott more like) by 10 mph, and allowing motorcycles to use the (normally empty) bus lane...
the only case of speed limits rising anywhere I have heard of recently...
and probably a sign that theyre finally realising that stupid bus lane isnt the way to run a motorway and causes more problems than it solves
etc etc
also the buses from reading into london which were a large part of the traffic down it have stopped, as the bus company couldnt run any cheaper than the train, so it pretty much leaves tourist doing the run to the airport very occasionally - when often the bus will go up another lane anyway...
anyone know any more ? Read more
Sounds like you have the power to foretell the furure, Martin.
But, aseriously, I had occasion to take the car up to London yesterday. Most of the bus lanes operate either 07.00 to 10.00 (inwards) or 16.00-19.00 (out).
BUT, the signs on the bus lanes stating the times of operation are not easy to read and the bus lanes are often left empty even when out of hours, a total waste of road space.
Guys
Anyone got any views on Nitrous bystems. A guy on the Celica 190 forum has told us that he has got his system on his car using 75BHP jets and its churining out a helluva lot more power across the band in all gears. Suffice to say he's a very happy man !
I'd like to look into it further. Does anyone know of any Nitrous system suppliers and particularly installers in London/SE? What should it cost to get such a system installed and where can you get replacement gas cannisters ?
I've been recommended HighPower but they're in Yorks which is a tad far away
Anyone got any horror stories ?
I also dont quite understand how you go 'up' the Jet band. They install the first one at 25BHP and you drive away and then tell you that you can simply increase the jet to 50, then 75, then 100BHP depending on how the car performs.. how does this work? Is it a simple nozzle replacement or a full re-install ? Read more
Guy out in north cape town has a bog-standard looking 67 beetle with a nitrous kit. The ultimate Q-Car!
However, like any go-faster trick, he concedes it has to be handled with respect, and refuses to fit nitrous kits to vehicles he considers unsuitable, or for drivers who are likely to kill themselves ...
I've seen an advert for a Diesel LPG conversion which claims huge benefits in performance AND economy. Has anyone had any experience of this type of conversion, and can it really do what it says on the tin?
If the claims of 60% improvement in horsepower are believed, how long would an engine last before self destructing?
Jon Read more
Absolutely correct - I believe there are one or two engine actually designed (I think a Perkins is one) to run on LPG and diesel but these were specifically designed from the outset. To convert a diesel you are absolutely correct, a full ignition system+spark plugs etc has to be fitted to the engine. Not only is this costly but it has to be very risky to modify an engine that was meant to combust in a different way by fitting spark plugs etc!
Daft in my opinion as well! I'd steer well clear...
Just a quick question before I sign off for a few days.
High Street in a town which shall be nameless.
Double yellows along the road side.
Signs on the wall giving no parking sign and no waiting at any time.
Right that is a clear situation.
Same road further along, continuation of same double yellows without a break in the lines. Sign on wall saying parking limit 30 mins, no return within 30 mins.
All signs and lines appear to conform with examples in Highway Code.
So what applies where? I seem to recall the signs are the authoritative part but won't park there for three reasons, a) don't want a ticket, b) haven't got the time for the ensuing argument with the local authority however entertaining it might be, and c) its probably a dozy place to park in the first place but would like to know what the view of backroomers is. Read more
Where I park my motorcycle in London there is an abandoned m'bike.
When the bay is full the next person drags this off the end of the line and puts their own bike in its place.
At the end of the day the "spare" bike has a ticket.
Take one's own bike out of the bay and replace the spare there, ready for the next day's battle with the Parking Attendants (no traffic wardens in Camden, only money-raising leeches, with parking meters at £3.60 per hour)
Anyone had any bad experiences with Jamjar, or have found them expensive? Read more
WHAT???
Hi,
I am going to buy a new Renault Scenic with either Virgin car or Trade Sales of Slough.
I tried to convince my local dealer to match their offer but he instead started to warn me about the danger of buying import cars.
So my questions are:
What does full UK specs means?
Does an import car with "uk specs" is the same as if it was bought in the UK or is it only a minimum requirement?
The dealer was also warning me that some import do not have under sealing depending where they are built! Is that true that? He cited Scenic bought from Cyprus as being very bad for that!
And finally, how can I find where a specific car is build? I know that Renault has factory in France and SPain but where else?
I hope that this is not too many questions and also I am sorry for my poor english ( I am only french :)
Best Regards
Philippe Le Toquin Read more
Crazed Idiot wrote:
>you need to put a copyright statement on your emails...
>which i dont think you do ?
>otherwise morally and legally and practically its fair game
>or just a polite "please ask permission before wider circulation"
No, you don't need a copyright statement. Anything you write is your intellectual property as long as you can prove it originates with you (not always easy), and you haven't signed away your right to a third party. If someone uses it and doesn't acknowledge the source (or pay royalty if applicable) they can be sued. Of course in the vast majority of cases, going to law would be pointless, but in a case where a piece of advice, or any other kind of writing, could be given a value, and that value (over and above the benefit of following the advice) was realised by the thief, the writer would be justified in being a little ticked off, and a court might agree. It's a bit like being given a company car: you get the benefit of using it, but it's not yours to sell.
Chris
I have had a problem with excessive noise coming from a Volvo Coupe sunroof which Volvo have trace (through their technical department) to a glass fault.
Since the car is older than 3 years old (but not over 60,000 miles) they have only agreed to stump a fraction of the £500 repair fee.
Has anyone had any experience with this problem or with dealing with Volvo UK
Thanks
Steve Read more
Take a look at the volvo owners club at www.volvoclub.org.uk.
Browse
Ford motor company issued a TSB concerning this problem which involved reprogramming the pcm module on fds2000 but only after carrying out normal diagnostic checks to the wiring harness fuel system etc.