August 2002
Dear Backroomers,
Either I am hallucinating or concentric multi coloured circles have appeared in fifty yards of Roehampton Lane south west London. There is a sign nearby indicating there are "experimental road markings".
Has anyone in the Backroom seen similar trials?
Does any one know the purpose of these markings ?
What is the psychology of these schemes?
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Can anyone tell me what could have cause the lambda sensor to come on. Volvo want to resent it and see what happens but I fea a long and costly job which they will want to prolong to increase the bill. I have had minor problems with starting when the engine is warm but it usually restarts and will idle ok if I give it a kquick rev. The light came on when I was forced to accelerate in 4th gear whilst doing 25 mph. The back silencer bx is starting to fail also but nothing else comes to mind. Please help !!! Read more
Have a look at Volvo 740 turbo thread last message posted 3 october, coolant sensor dual function, does play up.
Bert
People,
I have removed the thread on Focus photographs. Whilst it is unclear whether or not we become liable for anything, it has been decided it is an area we prefer not to step into.
I have written to the author explaining.
Mark (RLBS)
Moderator at Work
mailto:mark_moderator@honestjohn.co.uk Read more
My attention was drawn the other day to the DVLA site and choosing your own registration. I found one I like and I believe it has potential future value due to its close association with our local football team. I cannot use the plate at present as it would make my car look newer than it is. Can I still buy it/store it/am I free to sell it on at a prifit should I choose to in the future?? Read more
Another point to add. You do NOT get a reminder! Make a note of the renewal date in next years diary. If you forget, you loose the plate!
As I understand it, in another year's time, I'll be entitled to free public transport throughout Ireland - North and South, long and short distance, road or rail. I'm told that all I will have to do is to state my final destination when I commence the journey.
Now this has to be a generous offer and one which I really do appreciate. You can't make public transport much more accessible than that and it must represent the most favourable situation idealised by the public transport lobby.
I can certainly envisage circumstances where residents would use this service regularly but as long as I can drive and own a car I think I would only use it occasionally into Belfast (12 miles) or maybe take a long trip down to Dublin or further.
Why? Mainly because it's still easier for me to take a car into Belfast to do some business in the centre and wrap up a family visit elsewhere in the city and get back home within 3 hours - quite impossible by public transport. I can't afford to take all day for such a trip and I can't see how conventional public transport would suit me better than my own car.
Surely it is impractical to get people out of their cars on any significant scale. By all means ensure that the cars don't pollute, reward multiple occupancy, even make them smaller. Just don't assume that it is acceptable to try to take away the convenience we enjoy at present.
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Manila has the most ghastly traffic conditions you can only comprehend if you've been there. One thing that does work is the air-conditioned vans - 8 seater, they ply selected routes, stop anywhere you want (especially in the middle of the road when I'm approaching at 80 kph!) and have a set fare, very cheap. Modest size, not like buses, private enterprise (i.e. it WORKS and there is no tax bite), take up min. road space and are so numerous a 2-3 min. wait is the max.
I won't dwell on the opportunities these create for rubbing thighs with gorgeous young ladies as well......
I'm only just recovering from an 'interesting' journey yesterday, in which I had to drive a 1965 Ford Galaxie with a malfunctioning autobox down to Portsmouth, then pick up another car and bring it back. The journey down was OK (apart from one section of the M25 being closed and the rest choked solid), but as for the return trip....
The car is a 1966 Dodge Charger 383, formerly a well known drag racer and still fitted with all the tuning bits (although the nitrous injection system is long gone). 425 bhp at the flywheel, left hand drive, sloppy power steering, leaf rear springs and drum brakes. Also incredibly valuable and my boss's pride and joy.
When I collected it I was told it was 'a bit tricky to start when hot', which turned out to be an understatement. I had to stop for petrol twice (it only does 10-12 mpg) and both times I almost ran the battery flat trying to get the old bitch to fire up again. Apologies to all the people at South Mimms services who got deafened yesterday evening when it finally fired and I revved it a few times to clear the plugs. At least the French tourists appreciated it.
I doubt I will ever drive a more scary car - I've never been so frightened in my life, although it actually turned out to be fine once it was running, if a little vague in corners. And as for the sound - just beautiful. Can't wait to drive it again, but I must get that starting problem fixed.
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com Read more
....proper cars that had to be DRIVEN! and looked a million bucks parked.
(still got my Mustangs!)
The m/cycle version is the Harley with the ape-hangers, cat converter thrown away long ago in favour of open pipes that spit flame on the over-run, lumpy carb jetting and wicked cams meaning no idle below about 2000 rpm, new rear tire every 1500 miles, perpetual 3rd degree burn scar tissue on the inside of the right calf, forward pegs, German WWII helmet, t-shirt with very rude words on the back....grease under the nails and bugs in the teeth...
Like your Galaxie, murder to handle and ride (drive) but there's no other experience quite like it... .....I enjoyed the first mid-life crisis so much, decided to have another one...
I have just bought a 1995 Mercedes e320 coupe. It came fitted with replica alloys (brand new from Wolfrace wheels) - but it also came with the original Mercedes 8 hole alloys. They had been replaced because the originals had become pitted and looked unsightly. I have checked them all and they appear to be Ok - other than they do not look good where the lacquer has come off. I have 2 questions
1. 4 of the wheels are marked 6.5J - in the manual this takes the 195/65ZR15 tyres and the last one is marked 7J - in the manual this takes the 205/60ZR15 tyres. My question is can I fit a 195/65R15 tyre to the 7J rim to match the others - should I use this rim as the spare?
2. Any advice on alloy refurbishment - is it a specialist wheel job - like Pristine Wheels - who will do the job for about £75 per wheel or is it Ok to use the local polishing company?
Thanks Read more
2. Any advice on alloy refurbishment - is it a specialist wheel job - like Pristine Wheels - who will do the job for about £75 per wheel or is it Ok to use the local polishing company?
As long as there is no structural damage, most alloys will take a refurb from the polishing lads.
Beware 'swopping' yours for other refurbed ones, as the old ones may have been fixed-up broken ones!
I am thinking of moving to France to live - I currently drive a rhd diesel Renault Scenic and would want to change it for a lhd version. Where would be the best place to do it, here or there. Or should I sell here and re-buy there?
Regards Read more
Strictly, you are correct. International agreements say you are allowed to use your vehicle for six months in any 12 months period in another signatory country, according to the DVLA. It has to be taxed and tested according to the rules of the country of origin. Where that leaves a car a couple of streets from me, I don't know. It has been in the UK on Spanish plates for the last four years at least and carries no obvious tax or insurance insignia. In practice, I think you would get away with it in France, provided you stay on good terms with the local gendarmerie if in a rural area, and don't do anything that gets you pulled over by the traffic cops and they discover you have a French address.
However, as in the UK, the French controle technique (MOT test) will require the fitting of correct items such as a clearly-readable kph speedo, correct bulbs and maybe even guaranteed asbestos-free brakes and clutch (see archived postings). Hopefully, someone who has tried or succeeded in registering a modern RHD vehicle can comment on their experience.
By the way, most vintage French sports cars/cycle cars seem to be RHD--as are the Italians of the same age. But French classic car rules are a whole new can of worms!
David
Following Bernie's thread about his Laguna and accompanying comments about Espaces and with my experience of ZXs, I think it would be fair to say that anyone considering buying a French car at about 100000 miles should be very wary of vehicles that haven't had the matrix changed. Given the value of these cars and the cost of replacement it has to be a major consideration.
OK so service history, condition and so forth are highest on a list but these seemingly little things I believe are also important. Coupled with those dash lights which seem to fail so often. But then that's just annoying!!
One more thing. In the last week I have seen 2 206s stranded on the motorway with seemingly collapsed front suspension on one side. Is this a trait, bad driving or just coincidence? Read more
Heater on my old Laguna still seemed OK at 87k although I flushed out enough brown cak to stain the area outside my garage red for a month.
On the other hand the Audi I bought to replace it is suffering from this wonderful problem at 55k. Audi dealer seemed to think there was a equal change of it being the matrix or the hose but as neither of these costs anything compared to the 600 quid they wanted to dismantle the dashboard to find out I declined their offer while I think about it. Halfords Radiator seal currently doing a sterling job in the meantime.
Daughter will be learning to drive and use Toyota Yaris when not being instructed. I have tried fitting a Halfords Rear View Mirror but because of the slant of the windscren you almost have to lie down to view traffic, before I go to the Toyata Garage to have another fitted does any one know another outlet for rear view mirrors.
Many Thanks
Richard Price Read more
Local scrapper? Look for a car with similar windscreen angle characteristics and/or a mirror with a particularly wide field of view. Cost: £1-2. Then the local accessory shop will sell you either the basic Polco mirror sticky pads for £1.50 the pair or a more expensive and presumably harder to remove Loctite fixer for about double that. The Polco sticky pad has lasted a week of warm weather so far on a mirror I had to refix and the whole lot can be easily removed when dual mirror is no longer needed.
No doubt your Toyota dealer will do a great job at a price but you might also have to go back to get the mirror removed safely.
David
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we usually have a standard for road markings.. www.whitelines.com.au im not sure what you have seen..maybe some young kids decided to paint circles for the fun off it..if you have a picture please post :)