April 2002
A colleague had, maybe still has a problem with her (still under guarantee) Pug206 not starting.
Since it had been started but only run for a minute or two, I suggested it was protection for the cat preventing a re-start. However, it was lifted away to the dealer who diagnosed:
1. Fouled spark plugs due to unburnt petrol(!) - replaced
2. Faulty cool pack - replaced.
Now back on the road but she says the garage wasn't very convincing in their explanations.
My questions:
1. Whatever happened to cleaning and re-setting spark plugs - do they HAVE to be replaced?
2. What the blue blistering blazes is a cool pack (in the motoring context)?
3. Was my suggestion totally stupid - does this model have this feature?
Thanks in advance all you experts, helpful amateurs and others!
Terry Read more
Friend's Disco rear door is sagging so badly it can only be shut with thought and giving it a heave upwards. The lower hinge is all out of line and my first reaction is to pop both hinge pins out and check the wear factor.
Friend says knock them from the top and they will pop out the bottom. I said hit them from the bottom and they should come out the top.
Anyway what with the discussion, getting dark etc. we repaired to the local and made zero progress. So the question is, which way do we hit the pins to release the door? The pins seem particulary puny to cope with the weight of door and spare wheel. Read more
Darcy
DW
homepage.virgin.net/mark.hopkins2/waterIngress.htm
to spend an interesting weekend without rod and line?
DVD
Mini was the best of the lot Read more
I bet we get used to it soon enough - remember the fuss about the old Sierra?
I rather like the Primera, and it's nice to see big car makers going out on a limb. I like the Laguna, too, but I can hazard a guess which will be more reliable...
Anyone know if it is at all possible to turn the passenger airbag off on an Merc ML320. Mercedes won't because they want to sell you an expensive baby seat that has a transponder in the base which automatically switches off the airbag. Read more
Not impressed with that Audi A4 as a key switch override in the glove box.
Hi
Just noticed in the car by car breakdown that it states Seicentos don't have red keys. That is only true of late 2000 onwards. My '98 Seicento has a red key.
Paul Read more
Hi Bill
Thanks for that. I know all about Fiat's red key. :-)
Never been the victim of it, but a lot of people who visit my website have fallen foul of losing the red key or not having it to start with.
Paul
www.fiatbravo.org.uk
I had a bulletin from Valeo, who make the heater matrix's for 106, 205, 306, 406, ZX, Zsara & Xantia, warning of premature failures. They claim it is due to corrosion and debris resting in the matrix (not their poor manufacturing) and stress the need for thorough flushing with Forte flush, then refilling with top quality anti-freeze and Forte cooling system conditioner.
This is a big job requiring dash removal and a/c regassing. So you have been warned! Read more
Christ, if it will cost me £400 to fix the heater in my ZX if it fails I might as well scrap it, being worth little more than that now.
Does anyone know where I can get some performance cams for my 1991 Saab 9000 2.3 Turbo Carlsson or can anybody re-profile my cams for better performance. Read more
I'd be quite interested to know if there's any mileage in this Lee. I was looking at something similar for my turbowagon, but l think the usual high lift and valve overlap tricks used to increase the hp in normally aspirated cars does sweet fa in turbo's because of the exhaust obstruction, i.e. the turbo! (Info from DBSMotors, cheers) You are more likely to mash your lag up.
Aftermarket stuff may well do absolutely nothing from what l hear. I would be VERY interested to see if this company can provide a custom tuned cam for your turbo that does the business. In fact l'll call them now!
Dan
Rang a few tyre places for prices for two new tyres for my A4, size 205/55ZR/16. Big variations in price but one company, true to form in my experience, were offering the best price. £180 for a pair of Michelins, as opposed to £257 in another, bigger chain. The cheaper place also has Pirelli P6000s for £140 a pair.
Should I go for the Pirellis or the Michelins? Road noise and longevity are probably my main criteria.
Thanks
Pat Read more
Pat,
Beware tyre outlets that say they are quoting Z rated then try to fit V rated.
One Reading outlet tried to do this to me. When I pointed out that they had quoted against my request for 205/55 ZR 15 and actually wanted to fit 205/55 VR 15, they told me that I'd 'never drive that fast anyway'. (Actually I did drive 'that fast' - I frequently visited Munich in those days.)
Naturally, I went elsewhere for my tyres.
Martin.
I wonder how Fiat's new Stilo is selling ? Several months after its launch and I've yet to see a single one on the roads although there are plenty in dealers' showrooms. One Fiat franchise in South London is offering an additional £1,000 discount on the Stilo provided you trade in a competitor car like a Focus, 306, Golf etc ...
Think that speaks for itself ! Read more
isnt it French for a pen?
My Audi Coupe just failed the MoT on worn front lower wishbone bushes. I've got some new bushes, but they look like a pig to fit. Has anyone out there had experience of doing this job, and do you have any helpful hints? I was going to change the wishbones complete to save time, but German & Swedish don't list them for the Coupe 20V. Read more
IAN THE MODEL IS AUDI 80 1996 have you still got the articles in audi driver covering this. thanks jason c
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John
Good thinking! I hadn't considered a mis-heard coil!
My point on the plugs was this seems terribly wasteful when a clean and re-set would do the job. Especially when coil/cool pack causing starting problems would account for the fouling! But I agree a free set under the guarantee isn't to be sniffed at :-)
Terry