January 2002
I have always converted my headlamps for continental use by sticking black tape over the appropriate area of prism that normally deflec ts the beam to the left. Has anyoe any ideas on how this can be achieved on the new type of lens that appears not to have such prisms; spares shops still sell the old conversion kits but nothing else. Read more
From today's Telegraph:
Seems like a step in the right direction to me ...
"NEWLY qualified drivers will be barred from motorways and from using sports cars following proposals to make the driving test more rigorous and the first year of being at the wheel safer.
The plans, which will be launched this month, will require learners to have a "certificate of readiness" proving that they have had experience of night driving, fast roads and rainy conditions before they can take the test.
After passing, novices may be forced to display green "P" plates for six months during which they would be banned from motorways and from driving minibuses or fast cars." Read more
Tom Shaw wrote:
>
> The best way of cutting accidents among young drivers would
> be to ban under 21's from carrying passengers unless they
> were accompanied by an adult.
Surely, anyone who can get married and go to war (sometimes one and the same thing) can be considered adult. As can anyone who can vote or buy alcohol. I've got reservations about a law that says you can't take passengers until you're old enough to be gay.
A scheme similar to that used for motorcycling would be the most sensible solution in that it works, allowing drivers to become used to the roads on slower bikes. There is a performance limit on the machines new riders can use: even direct access bikes are restricted in their power output. Younger riders aren't able to jump straight from a 65mph 125 and onto a 150mph 600.
Also, younger drivers (and their passengers) don't all die (or injure themselves) as a result of driving flash, expensive, powerful cars borrowed from daddy. A humble Vauxhall Nova is more than sufficient.
I am thinking of buying a new car, although I always tell other people not to, because of the immediate loss of value, but prices are quite keen at the moment and if I take care of it for a number of years the devaluation will be diluted considerably. I will also know, 'where it has been and how it has been used'.
Does anyone, other than HJ, know what the dealer profit margins are? Are they all different? I want to know what sort of pressure I can sensibly use to reduce prices still further.
I'm not a tight-fisted git but I hate wasting hard-earned money
Your comments are welcome Read more
Untrue, you have to pay 25 quid for the first registration fee on most of the cars.
]
Andrew
>
> ...the trade-sales cars are pre-registered I believe so
> technically you are the second owner - this might not make
> much of a difference except that some motor insurance
> policies offer new for old replacements for cars
> stolen/written off within the first year BUT only for the
> first owner!
>
> Why not try a car broker?
On my drive/crawl into work each day I often find myself moving the recirculate air slider so that I don't have to breath the fumes of the car in front when stationary - problem is my car then mists up.
Is there any way to solve this problem? Does a ventilation system filter air (I don't think it does in my old, non A/C-equipped car!) Do any cars solve this problem?
thanks Read more
I think a pollen filter will catch the soot emitted by diesels but that's all.
Wife's 1998 1.25 Fiesta (32000) started misfiring and ground to a halt. Wouldn't start thereafter. AA towed home and suggested crankshaft sensor. Couldn't get any indication at the coil of switching(?) . I'm not too familiar with current ignition systems save that nothing seems repairable. The garage towed the car in and whilst doing so it bump-started and ran ok. However they replaced the crankshaft sensor as a precaution on the basis that you start with the cheapest bit first. The car was then fine for a week but the problem has now re-appeared. However whilst it ground to a halt again, it subsequently restarted but is now recurring on an intermittent basis (the worst kind I know!). Any known fiesta faults? If the fault is intermittent will a diagnostic check confirm the fault if it is not actually occurring at the time of the check? Presumably it is not the crankshaft sensor - what next? Is it likely to be the ecu or coil? If so what is the likely cost? Are Ford sympathetic? I have great faith in the back room experts and your usual constructive comments would be greatly appreciated. She loves her Fiesta but is a little disillusioned. Thanks for any help you can all offer.
Peter Leech Read more
Don't you just love it when garages 'replace the cheapest bit first, just as a precaution' and when it makes no difference as it was unlikely to be the cause anyway, they still charge the customer!
To the original poster, I hope you went and got your money back for the unecessary parts and labour?
I wonder if I can do this with my a/c customers? 'Just swap the compressor for you sir, just in case. Oh, that hasn't made any difference at all, that'll be £800 then'.
I had a good look at the Audi this morning (see earlier thread). This model (1991 Coupe 20V) has a single fuel pump submerged in the tank. Access is by unbolting the protective plate on top of the tank (under the boot carpet) and removing the fuel gauge sender unit. On removing the pump I found the sump underneath was full of rubbish. Cleaned this out and the pump is now silent again. Thanks everyone for your advice.
The trouble is, I'll have to take it to bits again tomorrow, as while typing this I've just realised that I forgot to refit the retaining ring that holds the pump in place..... Read more
The lacquer on the areas behind the wheels , lower wing front and rear has "lifted" in very small circular areas about 5mm across on average,there are only about ten of these blobs but obviously it can only get worse the areas in question affected are only the size of a hand and are were road salt etc would be thrown up from the wheels. I noticed them after the server weather we have just left at first thinking they were bits off persistence dirt.The car gets polished twice a year and hand washed every week and is only in its 2nd winter. Obviously it has a 3 year paint warranty so i will take it to the dealer,but having had metallic cars before with no problems i interested in any comments from people that have , the paint Finnish looks top drawer. Read more
HJ, I was thinking about colour choices and thought silver was a bit passe these days. Do you still think silver will be a colour of choice 3 years down the line?
PS This talk of silver peel reminds me of the bootlid of my Silver Fox MKII Cortina!
I've been noticing for a while that when ever I switch on the cabin fan in my diesel mondeo (95N LX TD) the smell of unburnt/burnt diesel fumes enters the cabin. I've checked the engine bay for any obvious fuel leaks with the engine running, couldn't find any obvious leaks. I was also told at a recent MOT that the front exhaust downpipe was leaking (not a failure point) so I had it changed even though the mechanic who replaced it said there wasn't anything wrong with it. I also replaced the pollen filter at the same time which on removal was quite filthy. Despite this I still get unpleasant smells entering the car particularly with the temperature dial set on warm. I've heard of an electrical problem (resistor?) related to the ventilation system on Mondeos, though I don't think that is the problem here.
Any help would be much appreaciated.
Rizwan Read more
Part 2
Steam clean the engine compartment and check for any leaks on engine inc. fuel system.
Check rubber seal on bonnet/Engine bay firewall are sound. and also tailgate seal- I understand that on some hatchback designs low pressure area at rear can suck in exhaust fumes through worn seals. (admittedly renewing these did not make any difference on my car).
A garage suggested I put Radweld in the cooling system as a slight leak inthe heater matrix may cause anti-freeze laden cooling fluid to smell inside the car!!!??
Take out the fuse for the heater fan to see whether the smell disappears.
Someone suggested a slight leak from the injectors which may not be apparent as the fuel evaporates on hot engine without leaving a trace.
Failing that, I remain clueless, let me know if anything works!
does any one know any thing about this product as it appears to be the most amazing polish I have ever seen. I am apprehensive about using it because its claims really seem to good to be true. Read more
I think the autoglym range is still the best, even if it costs a few pence more.
Has anybody had any experience of Michelin XH1 tyres?
I'm in need of four new tyres for my car (185 65 14H) and my local tyre centre has these on offer at the moment at £65 each all inc. (I think I may be able to push him down to £60)
This is approximately the same price as other brands such as Pirelli etc.
Am I right in saying that Michelins are better than any other tyre or is that just a common perception?
By the way, I mainly use my car for town journeys and the odd motorway jaunt and good wear rate is a priority.
Your views would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to waste £250!!
Thanks,
Jason Read more
Got something very similar from the rear OE Michelins on our 91 BX estate. Still had plenty of tread but they began to bulge, presumably as the steel bracings failed. Fronts made 25/30k
OE kit on the current Xantia Forte estate look like making 25k on the fronts, little evidence of significant wear at the rear.
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It may be worth buying headlamp protectors anyway, with their built-in guidelines (on the Focus ones, anyway). As I'm told a new headlamp unit is £126 (probably + VAT!), the £25incl for the perspex shields seemed a good insurance!