May 2002
The a/con in my ten year old imported vehicle, has, I believe CFC type gas and I understand that it is mandatory to have the new type of gas if the a/c system requires service. Is there also a requirement to have the high and low pressure fill/test couplings changed from a screw type to a push on self seal connectors (or vice versa). I have been told that the existing couplings cannot be used with the latest a/con servicing equipment. Could anyone kindly advise please ? Read more
Anything to worry about if the engine management light on a 309 flickers on briefly in normal driving? Its happened once. Peugeot said get the diagnostics onto it if it stays on. Read more
I last filled up with Optimax because it had been ran low on crappy fuel. The light came on while it was on Optimax.
That?s it, I?ve had enough. The car has got to go.
Driving back from London to Kent in the rush hour yesterday the car started to misbehave. Didn?t seem to be changing gear properly (it?s an auto). Continued more circumspectly than is my wont after pulling over to nearside so that I could access the hard shoulder if need be. Peripheral vision spotted a red flash from dashboard. Wasn?t sure if I had imagined it. Saw another. Still uncertain what it was. Then it really started to blink, red oil can symbol appeared. Recalled instructions of umpteen years ago that if I ever saw an oil light appear I was to stop immediately or the car would BLOW UP.
Was on the A2 approaching M2 which presents me with a dilemma. Should I risk the M2 that is full of road works, cones, switchbacks, varying speed limits from 50 to 40mph and back again. Had visions of multi-mile tailbacks if I broke down. Wouldn?t be at all popular. Elected to take the unfamiliar A229 dual carriageway to Gillingham.
?No stopping for 5 miles? signs. No hard shoulder. Open countryside. Red oil light flashing quicker than that dirty old man in Bermondsey who, on approaching me removed his raincoat from his nether region and asked me did I think this would show if he went swimming. Ugliest thing I ever did see in all my born 10 years. I digress.
Managed to stop under a viaduct. Called the AA, mobile not working properly. Finally established that breakdown vehicle would be sent. Cars and lorries passing at speeds over 70, - terrifying noise, a constant whump, whump, whump as they passed. Remember no hard shoulder. Tried to erect my red triangle warning light. Worse than useless - the darn thing had rusted together so couldn?t set it up (I didn?t like to say erect it).
Decided to I had to get out of car as too dangerous to stay. Hopped over the Armco barrier and stood leeward of the support column of the viaduct. By now it was getting darker, the rain was heavy and getting icy, felt like the wind would bowl me over. Fortunately I was wearing a warm jacket but I still needed to don the emergency coat, gloves and scarf that I had in the boot. Me, I am the most prepared girl who never guided in her life.
Eventually the AA arrived, diagnosed a massive oil leak. Patrolman arranged for flatbed pick-up to take my car home. At that point HIMBO arrived having been contacted by the AA and took me home. The poor patrolman was going to have to wait in the open for approx. an hour before the arrival of the pick-up truck.
Is there a moral to this story? Nah, except that just when you think that you have got one problem sorted out, another takes its place.
Life?s a bitch, ain?t it. Read more
David W -
Fortunately, the car will be looked at on Saturday by our mechanic who was booked in to service our (his) other car. My car will take precedence. If it is cheaply repairable it will be sold in due course. With great reluctance on my part. If it is not cheaply repairable then I don't know what our course of action will be.
HIMBO has been trying to persuade me to sell the car for the past 5 years (it is a D reg. and we have had it since it was 10 months old. Sold to us by a con-artist when it was on lease. I won that battle , kept the car and paid nary a penny extra). But, I love it, and have argued that we might as well run it into the ground as it has been cheap motoring due to its perormance and reliability.
Considering all the kids, cats, cow (well, someone has to drive), furniture, fripperies, bales, boxes, bikes, bags - in both senses of the word, dumped wives, runaway lovers - not mine, etc. the list is endless, that I have ferried in that vehicle I am astonished at just how good the interior and seating is. And the bodywork is exemplary for a car of its age.
But common sense must prevail, so once I have defined my current motoring needs then I will call upon all your good offices to advise me in making the appropriate choice.
I take it that they don't make a smaller version of the Volvo 740, rhetorical question.
Robin -
Just a rider to my previous post, I did say the ugliest not the biggest.
Rita
I am down to only i plipper for my piranha alarm. Any one got any ideas where in the east midlands to get one or preferably a pair of replacement remote fobs? the web site says that piranha are now out of business / not sold ionthe u.k anymore but some one must know where there is some unsold stock and the know how to set it up for the existing alarm on my car. Thanks Read more
Try calling these guys. They sell and repair Piranha car alram remotes. They are based in Hertfordshire. my contact there was a guy called Tim
01707 371681
Cheers
Ross
In view of the news that HJ tells regarding GM agreeing to support Daewoo in Europe, I reckon a few dealers and even more Matiz owners will be relieved to know they're not nursing a pile of redundant metal. (No comments please that they're nursing redundant piles of metal, irrespective of the announcement).
Does this mean, as HJ mentions in his piece, that it would be a good idea to get down to the auctions to bag a bargain price Daewoo before too many people hear the news?
Love to stop and talk but need to get to Manheims, Colchester before they shut.
KB. Read more
ow that the Golden Jubilee has begun, any idea when the Royal Bentley arrives ? Read more
Rita - never touched you.
Okay the warning light for an electrical fault came on in my new shape Renault Clio. 1.2 16v.
Anyone know a likely suspect for the cause. I cannot for the life of me find anything electrical that is not working. It has been very damp recently and i was wondering if that could cause it to give a false reading. The light did go out on it's own but i am getting it checked out anyway as it is still under a year old.
Any help and ideas would be appreciated. Read more
Dear Mr Stoney
You have stumbled across Regie Renault's anticipation of the forthcoming EU directive that all new cars must self destruct into re-cyclable components within defined time limits. The light is a pre-set warning thereof.
Take the advice of one who knows and retreat to a safe distance forthwith.
Hi
Can anyone help, my wifes 1.3 coupe (1985) regularly serviced has developed a strange fault that local garages have failed to find.
When driving every things fine until she comes to stop at traffic lights etc, the engine then dies, when restarted no problems, smooth running until she has to stop again.
This will go on for 2/3 days,any kind of weather then clear up for a week!.
Had new fuel pump about 6months ago, all the usual bits replaced!
I told her to press the clutch in!!!!
Any ideas?
Rgds
Andy Read more
It may also be two or three different problems giving a end result of the symptom experienced.After 32 years in maintenance fault finding ,all previous faults are considered relevant.
Looking at one of these I would like a manual, the person who will spend most time in it is adamant that it has to be an auto. Does the tiptronic or whatever their version is called help to make it any more fun? Read more
Agree completely.
MB manual boxes are not up to the same standard as the autos.
Expect to pay at least £2K less for a manual SLK 320 than the auto.
BTW. If you're interested in a pristine SLK 320 (auto, leather, Xenon etc. etc.) email me.
Kevin...
I never know how much notice to take of this survey. For example a car highly regarded by backroomers, the Ford Mondeo, comes 115th out of 144!
How do you explain that? Read more
I'd go for a 2.0 litre petrol, now with 145bhp. You'll get a much better deal on it than on a TDCI. Could be as much as £5,000 difference because demand for the TDCI is so high from company drivers.
HJ
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Thanks HJ and Dave. Most helpful comments.