July 2002

Question Radiator bottle on VX Corsa

james_60 on 26 July 2002

Hi

just doin a few checks on the car before the long trip down the motorway to devon

The waterbottle for the Radiator is way above the full line, the engine is cold,

how do i extract water from this bottle to make the level correct sefely.

All help apreciated
James Stephenson Read more

John S on 27 July 2002

James

Ignore it. It won't do any harm, and the level shown is actually a minimum level anyway. Any excess will be blown out. Just remember not to overfill it in future.

Regards

John S

Question Vauxhall CD players

svpworld on 26 July 2002

Interesting that I recently visited my Vauxhall main dealer to see about upgrading the CAR400 radio cassette in my omega gls for a cd player. I wanted to retain the steering audio controls and remote display, so I was recommended the new VDO remote display cd/radio unit. Very pleased with its performance, at least until I tried to use my trafficmaster and found it to have lost its voice! Anyway returned to vauxhall and they told me it was incompatible, but have kindly agreed to either refund me and replace my old car400, or install the more expensive car500 cd player free of charge! Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised and so will be having the car500 installed instead. Just a word of advice incase anyone else decides to upgrade their radios, though I dont suppose many really care about the trafficmaster unit!

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Archie on 26 July 2002

There's an adaptor made by Autoleads that I used when I fitted an Alpine head unit, but getting a free upgrade is a much better solution!

Question Paint job

Vin {P} on 26 July 2002

My father in law has scraped the door and wheel arch on the Mazda 626 I bought him last week.

He's too daft to ask for a second quote, so does anyone here have a feel for whether £400 for a new door skin and paint and a couple of small dents in the front wheel arch sounds right?

I know you'd need to see it to be accurate, but anyone got a rough feel for fair costs?

Cheers,

V Read more

Question V70 T5R (AWD)

Brill {P} on 26 July 2002

In the C by C Breakdown, HJ says:

"Front tyre wear of the T5 and T5R can be severe."

...but what of the AWD version of the T5R, does this even out the wear, and spread the power more pleasingly?

Any general comments re. T5R (and AWD) ownership much appreciated.

Stu. Read more

Stargazer {P} on 26 July 2002

Andy, Stu

I have only heard that Volvo recommend changing all the tyres together to maintain similar tyre circumference. I believe that this was in the users manual. This certainly didnt apply to my Subaru which was ok to change tyres in pairs or singly in case of punctures. Perhaps it is the type of centre differential that matters....limited slip?

Dont know what Audi recommend for the Quattro, what does it say in the users manual?

Ian

Question Approved BMW

ian on 26 July 2002

I've bought one (98R 528 Auto)! and I'm generally very pleased with it. However I noticed the tyres which look brand new fitted by the dealer have a V speed rating whereas the handbook states W rating for the 528 model. Is it being extremely fussy to ask the dealer to change them to the correct rating?

Also what happens in auto gearboxes when the car is in drive and I have my foot on the brake (say at a junction), if I can see I won't move off again within 5 secs or so I tend to shift to neutral, is this unneccessary.

p.s the dealer "volunteered" to do the infamous nickasil engine change before purchase so I have a new block, pistons and crankshaft, I understand BM are now looking to walk away from this problem. plus the car was given an extra years BMW warranty
. All in all the deal I got if you value the warranty at say £500 pa compares exceptionally well with the equivalent car from a place like the GTC (within £700).
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jud on 29 September 2002

There is nothing wrong with the V rated tyres, even in Europe i cant see your car topping 150mph. I have v rated tyres fitted to my Quattro, i think you should heed what the tyre fitter was trying to get across before your go banging on the dealers door.

Forum Dealer Workshop has bent my car

Mr Fox on 25 July 2002

I took my W Peugeot 406 to the dealer today for a new fuel filler cap, it has only been faulty since April, and finally they managed to get me one the right colour, ( they have already lost 3 )I handed over my keys and waited patiently whilst they took the car in.

When I was told it was done I went outside to see a dent in the Front wing, which I know wasn't there when I handed the car over.

The guy who had moved it claimed it was there before but I know it wasn't - The manager came to have a look and tried to pull it out with a rubber sucker, which made it slightly better but there is still a dent.

He claimed the car hadn't been moved into the workshop, but I saw it as there is a window in the back of the office.

Anyway after an argument, in which I told the service manager that they had sent the car out after it's last service with 4 illegal tyres and not reset the indicator (again, He said he would have to speak to his boss about what they were prepared to do. He was not availible when I tried to contact him this evening.

What should my next step be ? Write to Peugeot UK ? I have had a number of difficulties with this dealer but never anything like this. Read more

David Lacey on 6 March 2003

A very difficult situation.......

Glad you got it sorted.

MG-Rover Problems? forums.mg-rover.org

Question Auto Omega sluggish start off...?

svpworld on 25 July 2002

Maybe this is a common feature, but after starting up my automatic 2.0 16V omega GLS 99/T in the mornings and driving off, I find there is very little acceleration pull given the revometer whizzes up to around 2000 rpm. After it warms up it seems fine. Perhaps this is normal as this is the first automatic I have owned, but I find you need to build the revs much higher to pull off from cold that when it warms up.

Simon
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robert on 3 August 2002

The way you can guarantee to hear it is to start from cold, and let it tick over with the heater/ac & radio switched off. The noise will stop after a minute or so.

Open the bonnet - you will really notice it stop then!

Lok in the Haynes manual and you will see the secondary air injection pipework. BTW - one of the rubber hoses is a cmmon failure on V6 Omegas @ 55/60k miles - not sure about the 2.0's though.

Hope this helps ......

Robert

Question Jaguar (Avant, Shooting Brake, Touring)?

Jonathan {p} on 25 July 2002

Dear all

Yesterday I saw an XJ6 with an estate back end. Was this ever released or has someone chopped around with it? It had the double headlights and looked like an early 90's model with a private plate. Very strange to look at, but quite nice all the same. Must have a huge boot.

Jonathan Read more

Martin Devon on 28 July 2002

Never seen an XJ6 Estate. The Lynx Eventer as mentioned by Richard Hall was the bizzo. Interestingly enough there was a Rolls Royce Estate, (Shooting Brake), around in Hillingdon Middlesex in the early to mid seventies, if my forty something mind is correct!

Question Going Nuts?

Citroënian {P} on 25 July 2002

Hi all,

Just looking for some advice & comments. SWMBO & I have decided to replace the ol' Xantia with a new car, and we don't want to spend more than 7k. On a new car. Yes, I know I can get a used Alfa GTV for that sort of money and probably a very nice new-ish Xantia, but we're both sold on the idea of a 52 plate and a 3 year warranty.

We're thinking of a Punto with the 8v engine but a nice interior and I'm considering adding the factory fit option of ABS into it. As mentioned in the "first car" thread, I might only ever need it once, but that'd be worth it for me. I rather avoid hitting something than trying out the airbags and pretensioners. I have looked at the C3 (too expensive) and the Saxo (too old now). The Micra looks like a toy with me in it, the Ka neither of us like.

So have I lost my mind? I've spent the last four years espousing the benefit of driving an old car which is paid for and suffering the odd big bill - but I now find myself hypnotised by shiny metallic paint and finance deals. Will I regret this in 2 years time when I'm still paying out every month or will I be happy with the knowledge that I'm protected from big bills in my shiny car?

All advice appreciated,
Lee. Read more

Citroënian {P} on 19 August 2002

Interesting read on it - I'm over 6' and a bit podgy but find the MINI easy enough to fit in - no hope for anyone behind me if I've got the seat back though.

I like the rev counter where it is, but find myself forgetting to look at the speedo when bobbing around. Maybe you're in a blind height for the rev counter - anyone >6' sees over the steering wheel, <6' through it!

Over the weekend I've taken out both the One and the Cooper with 15" (std fit) alloys, and neither are as sorted as the Cooper I drove with Dynamic Stability, Sports Suspension PLUS and 17", although the std Cooper was still more fun than the One. The price you pay for 'on rails' handling in the souped up car is tooth-filling loosening ride, I think the cooper is a good comprimise between ride and grip.

So I'm now trying to find a MINI dealer who'll give me a deal on one.

Lee.

Question Vectra

CM on 25 July 2002

Saw my 1st new Vectra in the flesh, wow - what a boring looking car (with a natty chrome bit at the back). Personally I don't think the Astra looks too bad, but this is just a stretched version which looks out of proportions, badly styled headlights...

Taking it a but further don't you think that the new Saab 9-3 (now only going to be a saloon, which IMHO is a bad move on GMs part) looks a bit like the old Vectra?

I don;t know who they were aiming those ads at but they haven't worked on me. Read more

Dynamic Dave on 30 July 2002