May 2002
PPPPS But I said I would (or was it DWBRM who said I should?;-) so I will when I get round to it.
PPPPPS Are 2.0 petrol Xantias particularly hard on front tyres (Continental Super Contact round rubber things)? It might just be me, but I get the impression they seem to be wearing noticably, especially on the outsides, in the short time I\'ve had it. Read more
I am looking for a manual for a 2001 Avensis D4D. Can anyone help me to avoid paying Toyota the price of a new manual. Haynes don't publish one Read more
I should point out that the paper-based manuals are freely available for sale from MGR via the Dealer Network to the general public, just the RAVE CDROMS are not, due to the sensitive TSB info contained therein.
MG-Rover Questions? Click on www.mg-rover.org
Does anyone know a foolproof way of identifying faulty hydraulic tappets on 5 cylinder Audi engines? My Coupe has had a 'lazy' tappet for some time now - it can take a couple of minutes to quieten down after a cold start. I'm planning to lift the cam cover some time soon to check the timing chain (it's the twin cam 20 valve engine). I don't fancy the expense of changing all 20 tappets just to get rid of the faulty one - any suggestions?
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com Read more
Worth a try of an engine flush followed by fresh oil of the correct grade and a dose of Forte Top End Treatment. This is relitavely new product but worked well on a 10valve Audi 100 recently.
Hello
I am considering buying a Citroen BX for my 23 year old Daughter - However I am slightly worried that they don't seem very sturdy, She had an Old Astra before which she crashed, only a very low speed accident but she was horrified at the amount of damage done to the car.
She has now tried out this Citroen which a friend of ours is selling, she really likes driving the car, its a good price £300 and is in good order - confirmed by an independant specialist and our only concern is whether it would stand up well in an accident. I have found a wealth of information relating to the BX on the internet but nothing relating to the secondary safety aspect, hence my posting this message.
Best Regards
Marc.
PS - I preferred the old Forum, it was more "user friendly"
Read more
Dizzy,
Funny that because on my way to our windy city the other day I passed an older 190E for sale in a drive... £495 or £695. It was in that yellow/beige that only MB can get away with and looked damm smart for the money.
In town near Partco there is a dealer with a K-reg in dark met green and alloys. Looks a lot of car at £2495. Non-dating plate and it just becomes a Mercedes for very little money.
Marc if the BX deal didn\'t feel right you were wise to leave well alone. As I said earlier they are often given away now so even a few hundred is too much if it doesn\'t seem straight.
David W
After driving for a bit longer and listening to the suspect throbbing sound coming form what i thought was the bearing i have now realised it sound s as if it is actually coming from the Joint that drives the front wheel (CV joint?) a mate has told me that if it has gone it will knock when on full lock but it dosnt, so any ideas what it could be boys? Read more
Did you try what I recommended?
Doubt it is a CV joint, especially if the boot is ok.
I note that the service interval for the new Citroen C3 is 20k, same as the outgoing Vectra [I believe the new Vectra has 30k proposed intervals would you believe]. The drastic increasing of servicing intervals seems to be a common trend amongst manufacturers - Is this really all down to fleet buyers or is it just because we as a nation are a bit "tight" and like to keep our car costs down as much as possible?
Your average man in the street who isn't too understanding of his car will probably happily service at 20k in the knowledge his car has a full service history but this can't bode well for those motors 5,7 and 10 years down the line surely?
Is it because manufacturers want a faster turnaround of cars in this "throw away" age?
Dan J Read more
As more and more secondary lights are replaced with high intensity LED clusters I expect we should, in time, see these problems go away; lamp life with LEDs is very long I think.
It will just take a few years for the cost to drop enough on these systems for them to be cheaper than todays old fashoned type.
Randolph Lee
Nantucket Island, U.S.A.
Have made it! Very impressed and a vast improvement well done HJ and the gang.
Update on the cam belt, BMW want £250 to do it and the cheapest so far for an independent is £100 labour plus parts so nearing £200 or so.
Where else should I try? had thought that £125 closer to the mark so did you HJ! Read more
I split my time between London and Yorkshire. BMW currently in London.
Does anyone no how to reset the code on an old radio cassette stereo? I recently had problems with an alarm and had to disconnect the battery, hence prompting the radio to ask for the code, which I don't have as it is a second hand car. The stereo is not factory fitted and therefore I can't ask the manufacturer. The car is a rover 218 sld 1993. any tips ?? Read more
But not if it a non-standard radio, surely?
You never know, they just might have a record of it......think postively!
Interestingly, there are some online radio decoders out there....something ended up on my desk last week about this
MG-Rover Questions? Click on www.mg-rover.org
Hi
A colleague has an 18 month old 206 GTI (2.0) that seems to lose power (and brake servo assistance!) intermittently. Dealer is no use. Is this a known problem, is there a TSB?
thanks Read more
Dizzy
It depends if the engine stops, and so loses manifold vacuum and thus servo effect, or if the vacuum loss causes the engine to stop.
I reckon you could be on track regarding the air leak. Yes, losing the engine will also lose the vacuum for the brake servo, but usually there's enough vacuum left in the servo for a couple of brake aplications after an engine has stopped. If the braking servo effect is lost immediately, then it's probably an air leak.
So, an analysis of the failure mode should indicate if the engine losing power or stopping is cause or effect.
Regards
John S
I have a dliemma - will be starting a new job soon. On offer is a \"Group 3\" company car. In the info I got with the job offer is a list of benchmark cars for that group, the Mondeo and Vectra of the subject line (1.8 GLX/GLS petrols or equivalent diesel). No mention of whether one is allowed to deviate from the benchmark, so I\'vew asked for clarification. Neither car really inspires me so I\'m wondering if the £5,001 annual car allowance would be a good idea.
Given that I am soon to become a father for the first time and that I will do very little business mileage would you go for what\'s on offer or take the £250 a month and see what that gets you ?
In the event of being given a choice of any new car in the Mondeo/Vectra price range I would probably have a Seat Leon 110bhp diesel or the new diesel Civic.
Matthew Kelly
No, not that one. Read more
I get all fuel paid by the company. I am therefore not allowed to claim under the Revenue mileage code, as the per mile figure you can claim includes an allowance for fuel.
The car is my own. By my understanding I am allowed to claim as follows:
assuming 60% of mileage is business miles (not including home to office mileage which is inadmissible)
I can claim 60% of all car running expenses (service, tax, MOT)
I can also clam depreciation at 30% per annum of purchase price over three years. At sale of the car I can make a balancing claim to take account of being over or under actual sale price (eg if I buy for £10k after 1 year its value is £7k after 2 years £4.9k after 3 years c£3.5, if I sell for £3k then the taxman owes me, if I sell for £4k then I owe the taxman)
Regarding the fuel you take your private spend as a proportion of the total fuel bill and declare it as a taxable benefit on your tax return (eg I spend £3k, 60% business, 40% of £3k is £1200 taxable benefit).
I think that covers it. This has been built up over a number of years being on this scheme, and advice from the Tax Office who have been very helpful.
One thing you cannot claim is AA/RAC (breakdown) insurance as this is somehow deemed to be membership of a club which is not tax deductible.
Bogush
94 TD did about 20K on front Michelins, and current HDi did 17K. I think Nelson will get his eye back before the rears wear out.
Ian Cook