January 2002
The radio (Philips CAR400) in my Vectra has stopped working. Fine yesterday, nothing today. Dead as a Dodo apart from the on/off/volume switch, which still illuminates when the ignition is on. The dash display shows the date; which it should when the radio is off. The main fuse is OK as other things on the circuit work. Any ideas before I start rummaging about under the dash for loose connecters? Or do these radios die suddenly?
All help gratefully received.
Vernon Dursley Read more
My BMW 320 coupe (E36) has a growing crack in its windscreen and will need a replacement. I seem to remember reading/hearing about a screen replacement company which uses a high power light to melt the adhesive holding the old screen, making removal less brutal. Am I dreaming or is this true?
If not, who's the best company to use? Read more
doesnt matter who you use they all use the same technique, effectively cutting the adhesive bond between the glass and the body....dont worry it doesnt do any harm. i had 5 replacements fitted in 3 years on my last vectra, my record was just under 3 days!!!!! from fitting one screen to having a new one to replace it.
have used Autoglass, and Auto windscreens, they do it in around 60 - 90 mins
if youve got airbags they dont like you driving them straightaway. 1 hour for drivers 2 hours for driver & passenger. something to do with the screen popping out if the airbag goes off before the glue has gone off
In a write up in the Parkers Guide re the above vehicles, it was stated that early production of the C514 gearbox, ( late Uno, early Punto, circa 93 to 96)
was in some way faulty and became noisy by 40,000 miles. Does anyone recall this or know anything about it please ? Thank you. petel@clara.co.uk Read more
Tim. Thank you for your reply. I was begining to despair. So it is the input shaft bearings that caused the problem. It comes as no surprise that you received no response from Fiat, they are noted for this. Thanks again.
A few weeks ago i complained to Northumbria police about a police volvo doing 95mph on a dual carraigeway in Newcastle as I followed it it turned into a 40mph residential dual carraigeway and got up to 65mpg as I followed it. I thought that it warranted a complaint, so i took the number and complained to the chief constable.
I got a phone call today from the operational support manager who told me that if police have just cause they are exempt from all pseed limits, blue lights or no blue lights. When I asked him what the cause was he wouldn't tell me. Seems to me that there's one rule for them, one for us. Read more
I admire equilibrium,what a shame there are not more like him in our police force.
If there were they would not be remotely pressured for time on their shifts because they would not waste it on competent motorists who happened to be temporarily breaking some topically irrelevent law or other.
There are times when anyone can drive through a 30 mph area at 40 mph without endangering anyone,and there are times when to drive along the same road at 20 mph should carry a lifetime ban.
Whether the police like it or not the prevalent view of London motorists is,and has been for 25 years,that they waste scarce recources annoying motorists.
Here in the West Country even the most casual observer can see that 10% of motorists never change a light bulb between mot's,and that even a cursory inspection in a Supermarket car park will reveal a significant number of vehicles that would not possibly pass an MOT test and are actually visibly illegal.
I say this with conviction because I was killing time in the local Tescos this afternoon and conducted the experiment.
But they are all quite safe until they exceed 30 mph on the way home,presumeably.
Its not the police themselves I blame,they are poorly resourced,badly led,and appallingly misdirected.
I should also like to see an enhanced graduate entry scheme and a discontiuation of the nonsensical requirement for all Policemaen to spend time with the big boots on.
But perhaps I am out of date already.......
On sale soon
AC Ace - July 2002
AC Mamba - July 2002
Alfa Romeo 156 GTA - May 2002
Alfa Romeo 156 facelift - May 2002
Audi A2 1.6 FSi - April 2002
Audi A3 - Late 2002
Audi A4 cabrio - May 2002
Audi A4 2.0 FSi - May 2002
Audi A8 - September 2002
Bentley GT Coupe ? October 2002
BMW Z3 - Winter 2002
BMW X5 4.6iS - March 2002
BMW 7-series - March 2002
BMW 7-series V12 - November 2002
Cadillac CTS ? November 2002
Citroen C3 - April 2002
Citroen C7 - March 2002
Citroen Pluriel - September 2002
Daewoo Rexton - June 2002
Daewoo Kalos ? March 2002
Daewoo Tacuma diesel ? July 2002
Daewoo Matiz four-cylinder ? October 2002
Daihatsu YR-V Turbo - June 2002
Dodge Viper ? October 2002
Ferrari F60 - September 2002
Ferrari 550M facelift ? October 2002
Fiat Stilo - February 2002
Fiat Stilo estate - December 2002
Fiat Ulysse replacement ? June 2002
Ford Fiesta - March 2002
Ford Focus RS - June 2002
Ford Streetka ? September 2002
Ford Focus ST170 - Spring 2002
Ford Fusion - October 2002
Ford Mondeo ST220 - June 2002
Honda CR-V - Spring 2002
Honda Jazz - March 2002
Honda Civic TDi - May 2002
Honda Accord ? September 2002
Hyundai Coupe - February 2002
Hyundai Accent TD - May 2002
Hyundai supermini ? September 2002
Jaguar S-type R - April 2002
Jaguar X-type 2.1 - March 2002
Jaguar XJ replacement ? October 2002
Jensen C-V8 - October 2002
Kia off-roader ? September 2002
Lamborghini Murcielago - April 2002
Land Rover Discovery facelift ? July 2002
Lotus Elise Sport 135 - January 2002
Maserati Spyder ? January 2002
Maserati 4200GT ? June 2002
Mazda 6 saloon - June 2002
Mazda 6 hatch/estate - October 2002
Mazda 6 Sports Wagon 4WD - December 2002
Mazda Demio ? September 2002
Mercedes SL500 - April 2002
Mercedes SL55 AMG - July 2002
Mercedes Vaneo - May 2002
Mercedes E-class -August 2002
Mercedes CLK - 2002
Mercedes Maybach - 2002
MGF Turbo - 2002
MGTF - April 2002
MG ZT X-Power 385 - September 2002
MG ZT 265 - June 2002
MG X80 - December 2002
Mini Cooper S - June 2002
Mitsubishi Space Star facelift - June 2002
Nissan Primera saloon/estate - March 2002
Nissan Primera hatchback - July 2002
Nissan Micra ? September 2002
Peugeot 807 - March 2002
Peugeot 206SW ? July 2002
Peugeot 307SW ? July 2002
Porsche Cayenne - November 2002
Range Rover - February 2002
Renault Avantime - April 2002
Renault Espace ? September 2002
Renault Megane ? October 2002
Renault Vel Satis - April 2002
Saab 9-3 - September 2002
SEAT Ibiza - March 2002
SEAT Salsa - 2002
SEAT Leon Cupra R ? September 2002
Skoda Superb - May 2002
Smart Roadster ? September 2002
Subaru Impreza WRX Sti - January 2002
Subaru Forester ? November 2002
TVR Tuscan R ? April 2002
Vauxhall Corsa Eco 3 ? April 2002
Vauxhall Vectra - June 2002
Vauxhall Astra Turbo cabrio - May 2002
Vauxhall Astra Gsi ? September 2002
Vauxhall VX220 Turbo ? November 2002
Volvo XC90 - September 2002
Volvo S60R - October 2002
Volvo V70R - October 2002
VW Polo - Spring 2002
VW Golf MPV - December 2002
VW Golf R32 - May 2002 (maybe)
VW Polo - February 2002
VW Phaeton - November 2002
VW Tuareg off-roader ? September 2002
Courtesy of Big Bureaucratic Campers Read more
The old man wants to buy a new Merc S320 CDI around the 45k mark.
I reckon he's just squandering my inheritance what with depreciation n that.
Give me some ammunition / alternatives please, it doesn't have to be a big saloon, but he does like presence.
I'm thinking second hand A8 or order up a Boxter S ?
What would a year old CDI do at auction?
GTR Read more
Go for a BMW 530d. Cracking engine and better to drive than the MB. I've got the estate version 2nd hand from a dealer with sub 10k miles and 20% off RRP
just a quick question:
has anyone used powertrain brake discs, and if so, are they good, bad, or indifferent? is it worth paying slighty extra for a lucas disc?
also mintex pads or powertain pads?
it seems that several nationwide motor factors (partco, brown brothers, etc) sell them...
any advice gratefully received.
cheers
bob. Read more
Had a couple of out of true discs which went back to the retailer.
Otherwise, fine.
I use Powertrain timing belts. Any horror stories?
rg
Before you start to panic, the previous virus warning was just a hoax. The MBRM-Wr3ck3r does not exist... Read more
See you tomorrow, I need a rest after todays shenanigans.
I tried to explain it to swmbo. Either its not funny in Spanish or I can't tell a good story !!
Adios y hasta manana.
Just read the parer, which has a warning of a very naughty virus doing the rounds.
This virus is reported to delete the edit button on website forums,
and mail itself on.
Named as MBRM-Wr3ck3r.C@mmand.W32.
If you have been infected with this virus, you will see that the "edit" button has been deleted.
:) Read more
Thought so , I've been following and laughing at the last one!!!!!!
This is possibly one for Martyn the Moderator...
I've found this site very useful since discovering it last year. However, I would find it helpful if the information on the 'Car-by-Car Breakdown' included the date when the information for each car was last updated. Would it be very difficult to do this?
Rod. Read more
"Suggestion for site improvement" . . . when I saw the heading I thought, Hmm, Mark (Brazil) has a suggestion.
Maybe it's already been kicked around today.
Browse
Perhaps you could get Harry to wave his magic want to mend it. Failing that, get Dudley to throw a tantrum with the people you bought the car from!