April 2002
Due to the problems recently encountered I have lost all my email addresses. I need to speak to you regarding this. It could be the beginning of another engine failure. Read more
Has anyone out there experienced noisy front brakes on the above model. The vehicle in question has vented discs but does not have A.B.S
The noise can only be described as a metallic graunching/rubbing noise when braking gently after the car has been used for about half an hour. The pads and discs are all in good condition and are well within tolerance. There is no run-out on the disc and even the local supplying Rover dealer does not know why this occurs.
The car has just completed 60,000 miles with FSH but this has been happening for some time. Read more
Had several problems similar to yours which have been caused by inclusions in the brake pads. By this I mean that when you remove a pad and look at it you will see bits of hard shiny metallic bits dotted around the pad that sort of look like impurities. I now use Apec brand pads which dont seem to suffer with this. I recently did the pads on my T4 van which were only 3/4 worn but you could hear me coming every time either by the squealing or graunching. New Apec pads and alls well
Just been to my favourite open air car showroom, our Tesco Superstore. Noticed a tiny thing on the way there called a Axiam or something like that. Couldn't see a makers badge. Wonder what it was?
David Read more
Don't forget the Ligier - also in the c-b-c breakdown
Only problem HJ's advice S(sell here & buy there), is the small one of financing, on a meagre pension, the shortfall between a new Focus/Seat/etc & a nearly (by then) 3yo 'Belgian' Focus :-(
If I do sell & buy, I'll have to trade-down - any recommendations, bearing in mind the likely value of the Focus - well cared-for, but f. high mileage(16k/yr)? Presumably Seat wd be first choice?
Also, any comments on Spanish running costs - insurance, servicing, spares, road tax, etc, would be welcomed. Read more
Secondhand cars are expensive and hard to find in Spain; perhaps because there is not the same glut of ex company cars around. They certainly do not seem to go in for the traditional 2 - 3 year old swap so common here.
There is a notable absence of used car lots, most seem to be sold privately.
For a variety of reasons we finally took a RHD car out there and as someone else posted, it is no problem driving one there. If your present car suits you, why not try taking that to begin with? Better the devil you know...
There are plenty of Ford garages about, and servicing costs reflect the lower cost of living. As for insurance, there are plenty of English speaking brokers about in the holiday areas who will give you a quote. I can't make a comparison for you, as I've never tried to insure the same car here & in Spain, but we were assured there was no 'premium' for a RHD car, and the cost did not seem excessive.
Finally, there are no more Seats about than any other make - French cars sell well, but many well to do Spaniards drive - a Rover! We see as many there as we do at home.
Some things you can never get away from.
can you throw some light on a problem i have with my metro 114.a strange whine has developed from the gear box/speedo cable connection area that i have failed to track down successfully.the noise is not there when the engine is running but as soon as the car is moving in gear a high pitched whine developes.the car has done approx 53k and still runs very well but for this annnoying problem,any ideas? Read more
Fred. Have emailed u direct on this problem.
Phil I
Yesterday it was reported that the UK government has decided to back fossil car fuel for the medium term (50 years) and to endorse the hybrid petrol/electric approach as the quickest way to get CO2 emissions reduced.
Thus no steps to support development of a hydrogen delivery system and infrastructure.
BMW have indicated their disappointment at this and GM can't be pleased after their work.
More importantly, UK motorists should be disappointed as well. If we're going to be milked again for new technology we might as well get the best and we might as well be in step with the US and Europe - the UK decision seems to preempt any policy decision by Europe. It's facile to compare this with the masterminds who lumbered us with RHD but it shares with that decision the same farsighted and thoughtful approach. Read more
> Tidal produces power in line with the tides, and all that can be done is to let the water run out freely if not required. More importantly, if tidal power isn't available at times of peak demand, there's nothing you can do about it.
What a load of tidal barriers!;-)
I know tyre life depends of various factors, but what average life are people getting here?
Doing a search on the forum seems to show tyre life as low as 15K on fronts. Read more
If your tyres are designed for maximum grip, 15k would be pretty good. I use Michelin Pilots which have plenty of grip on 17 inch powered front wheels and get 18k. But they're not cheap. I once used Bridgestones which had awesome grip (especially in the wet) but can't afford to change them every 8-10k!
Small but irritating problem on a Mk 1V Golf.
Lock the doors from outside with a key - all 5 lock perfectly. Do it with the button inside the car, and the front passenger door (only) bounces open again. You have to hit the button on the 'rebound' with perfect timing to get all doors to lock.
I can't figure out why this happens, so I don't know how to stop it.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance. Read more
It's called Tansanite blue (dark metallic blue). MB have all these cheesy semi-precious gem names for their colours these days.
Just wanted something that was different from the traditional silver.
We had a 216 SLi ,1991 in our college workshops yesterday for a service, and attend to intermittant cutting out. Fortunately the cutting out is every minute or so, so it's clear to see. Engine just stops as if ignition is switched off, regardless of revs. Sometimes you get a false alarm, ie cuts for half a second or so then keeps running, others, it just stops regardless. It starts again on the key immediately. I only had about 15 minutes on it yesterday, and established by putting our timing lamp on the HT leads, it is losing sparks, but of course it could be losing fuel too if the main relay is dicky. We have not got a Rover pod for our scanner, and whilst my first thoughts are either ignition amplifier or relay, if anyone (Andrew?) can point me in the right direction to save time I would be very grateful.
Regards
Mike Read more
Thanks again, we cleaned out the distributor cap today, you would not believe the crud in there! Just because there are no points in there, why are they not cleaned out during service? ( I know the answer of course- it's not on Rover's service schedule) It's staggering what is not serviced during a 'full service', like gearbox oil level on many many makes.
Anyway, the car ran for half an hour without mishap, so we asked our customer to suck it and see.
regards
Mike
has anybody any coments on conversions they have had done , or any questions about l p g. we have been in buisness for 22 yearsand are intersted in peoples views on lpg ,as we only get input from our own customers,and would like to heare other peoples views on there conversions .thanks KEN SMITH . Read more
I hope someone can confirm that they do not. I use the tunnel quite often!
Andy
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Andrew,
Some of these little rubbing sounds are a pig to locate, a little easier if has been towed in by the AA with something sticking out of the crankcase though.
As John says to measure the crank movement with a dial gauge may give some clues.
Fingers crossed for the clutch rather than the engine though.
I did have loads of off-site info on this but it was before I archived such things so I have no details left.
David