Postings have appeared asking how to get rid of stale air-con smells and kill bacteria in the ventilation system. Our Japanese car accessory shop is the size of a medium supermarket and carries stuff you?ve never heard of (and frequently can?t read the instructions for). So I decided to see what they have. Sure enough they stock the ARS Car Fumigator (no tittering at the back please), made by The Earth Chemical Co. in Tokyo. It (and I quote) ?powerfully deodorises with microscopic particle tobacco smell filling the car, nuisance smell of airconditioner and smell of air-freshener stained in seats. Mildew and bacteria found in seats and mats and pipes are rooted up completely?.

It costs the equivalent of under six pounds and is a tin containing a chemical sachet and a perforated cover, just like a regular car freshener. The tin is filled with water, the sachet emptied therein, the ventilation system switched on in Recirc mode, doors closed and left for 10 minutes. Pungent smoke then fills the car, which disperses through the fan and pervades the vent system. When the doors are opened a lemon fragrance assails the olfactories.

I decided to try this on the Mazda hack, which hasn?t had its aircon touched in 7 years apart from the occasional burst of R-12 to top it up and lives in a tropical climate of high heat and humidity carrying all kinds of humanity on various errands. This existence had unsurprisingly conferred upon the interior something akin to the smell of the back of a Beirut taxi. The Fumigator worked fine, and now a week later the car still smells pleasantly fresh and lemony. Both our maid and driver are pleased, and that alone is worth 6 quid.

Maybe with the increasing usage and awareness of aircons in the West something like this product will show up in Halfords one day. In the meantime I have the manufacturer?s blurb and would be happy to fax this to anyone who wanted to obtain a supply or contact the factory to enquire about distributorship and score maybe a UK first! My email is growler@philippines.com.ph

The same store incidentally carries a Japanese paint proofing product specifically to repel bird poop and acid rain. I?ll try this and report. Read more

Roo
did you get the firestone F590's. If so what do you think of them
Jim Read more

Having just taken my Accord in for its 18K service, I was very impressd by the standard of customer care (especially compared to the Vauxhall dealer that I took my last car to). I was given a free courtesy car (including petrol). My car was returned clean inside and out, and the entire service was followed up a couple of days later by a phone call. How many other dealers offer this level of service?


Andy Read more

I am trying to fit some front fogs to my 1995 (series 2) Espace. I need to get hold of a decent wirng diagram as the Haynes manual diagram shows totally different colours to my car ! Ideally I want to use the existing blank switch location which is normally used if the fog lamps are fitted as standard.

I am also trying to locate the likely location for the relay. Haynes simply says it is in the engine compartment, but there are 3- 4 possible locations.

Can anyone either advise me as to the location of the relay (when fitted as standard) and also where I might find a decent wiring diagram for the car e.g. alternative manuals to Haynes or possible websites would be welcome?

Of course I did try contacting Renault customer services but they simply suggested I contacted my local dealer. Unfortunately there is not a dealer within a 15 mile radius of where I live.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks. Read more

I have an '87 325i SE Auto which should have a lot of life left in it at 97K, but it has had a series of intermittent electrical faults with engine management / ECU that hundreds of pounds at 'BMW Specialists' have failed to rectify. Does anyone know a good, honest, reputable garage / mechanic who could give the car a good looking over and do a full diagnostic test that I can rely on? Read more