September 2002
Can any of you who have access to that little green book that all dealers seem to use give me an honest forecourt valuation on the following car. I`m buying not selling.
May 99 Honda Civic 1.8 VTI
58,000
1 Owner (Ex Fleet)
Full Honda History
Silver
Good Original Condition
All keys, alarm boxes intact.
I have tried all the www valuation sites but they seem way out. Dealers seem to guard that little book with a vengance.
Thanks for any help.
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All
What would cause the engine system to develop this fault. Consumption had gone down to less than 15 mpg from near 30. Engine now refuses to start. G reg, 2.3litre. Mates tried the basics, someone said it could be the engine temp sensor. Any clues will help.
Cheers Bert Read more
The Rover was treated to some nice new oil on Friday ater 10 months and about 12k miles.
I'm convinced it runs smoother now.
Is it my imagination?
If not is the effect caused by the hydrolic tappits working better?
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Parp, Parp!
Note: All Toad posts come with an implied smiley. Read more
I have always thought that when filling up with oil the rocker box becomes full for a few seconds and it is this that makes the top end initially quieter.
Not a single car alarm went off in my road last night, despite a 20 second tremor. Did anyone else experience it?
Jonathan Read more
In the Land of Sun and Fun we have volcanoes and earthquakes as part of the attractions. I am reminded by this thread that I live right on the Marikina Fault Line and we have allegedly 30-40 tremors a day, mostly too small to notice and nobody gives it a thought. We did have a biggy a few weeks ago though and now you've got me worried.
Car alarms never go off though, maybe the makers adjust the sensitivity for earthquake-prone markets? :-)
Got a live volcano 90km up the road, tho'..
Any clues anyone?
Heading for Portsmouth last night, Citroen 1998 HDI 2 years old 29000, A3 exit on M25, loud bang from engine compartment (felt through bulkhead by passenger). Engine still runs, but very smoky and intermittent loss of power with occasional noise that sounds like a miss functioning servo.
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Wasn't about 1.00 was it?
No wonder you felt it through the bulkhead: I felt it
up here in Nottingham!
>>
Didn't feel a thing in S Glos, Bogush - maybe a couple of pints of Bass had something to do with it.
Ian Cook
Welcome to the Road Users' Alliance website.
Launched on 17 September 2002, the Road Users' Alliance seeks to represent all UK road users from motorists to horse riders, from cyclists to road hauliers, from pedestrians to utility companies.
RUA supports the concept of an integrated transport system but investment in the road network and long term planning is needed to ensure its success........
www.rua.org.uk/
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New group to fight for drivers' rights
The Road Users' Alliance (RUA) has been launched this week by the Refined Bitumen Association and RAC Foundation
www.money.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=...l
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FOE PRESS RELEASE
NEW 'ROAD USERS' GROUP: ANOTHER CAMPAIGN FOR MORE ROADS
17 Sep 2002
Claims by a new road users organisation to "provide a voice for all road users" have been dismissed as absurd by leading transport and environment groups. The Road Users Alliance, which was launched today, will "highlight the importance of roads".
The Road Users’ Alliance (RUA) claims it will "provide a voice for all road-users – from motorists to horse-riders, cyclists to road hauliers, utility companies to pedestrians". However, it has been set up "to highlight the importance of roads and sustained investment, to resolve our transport problems". Its first publication states that membership is "open to…organisations committed to building, equipping and maintaining roads".
Friends of the Earth’s Transport Campaigner, Tony Bosworth, said:
"No-one will believe that this thinly-disguised campaign for more roads can really represent the interests of pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders. The Road Users’ Alliance thinks building roads is the solution to Britain’s transport problems. It’s the same old message that we have heard for decades. That policy failed in the past; it will fail in the future as well".
Kevin Mayne, Director of CTC, the national cyclists organisation, said:
"Given that the road lobby has fought tooth and nail to deflect responsibility for road safety and oppose measures to reduce car dependency, it seems highly improbable that it will suddenly be sufficiently concerned to speak for other road users now".
Philip Connolly of pedestrians’ campaign group Living Streets said:
"The Road Users Alliance is likely to entrench an already unequal and unjust situation. It is not just road users who need to be involved in discussions about the amount of road space available or the environmental impact of transport but the residents of the communities that the traffic passes through or those people or organisations that would benefit from releasing road space for other activities whether for children's play, street markets or for new developments."
www.foe.co.uk/pubsinfo/infoteam/pressrel/2002/2002...l Read more
Motoring Lobby Group Targets Fleets For Future Role
FLEETS are to play a major role in shaping the future of a new lobbying body set up to become the 'voice of the motorist'.
The Road Users' Alliance was launched in London last week and currently has the backing of the RAC Foundation and Refined Bitumen Association but it is actively sourcing new members from a wide variety of areas connected to road use.
On the subject of congestion charging, the RUA said it was 'an inevitable and acceptable method of managing demand' but only if the revenue generated is used to 'improve the overall capacity and quality of the road service and its alternatives'.
From:
www.fleetnewsnet.co.uk/newshome/home_fullarticle/?...1
Remind me:
Is the RAC the one that is owned by a company that supplies the government with its fleets and has a "liberal" transport spokesman on PR duty?
Or is it the one that is the old gas board?
I want a car cover for a car in the garage. Nothing too flash; main purpose is to keep the dust off whilst we have a bit of building work done - but I may also buy a sports car in the next 12 months so a cover would be useful for that in the garage too. Any recommendations? Read more
Steve
The classifieds in the classic cars magazines carry many adverts for car covers, so that's a good place to start.
Some of them are tailored to the car, which won't suit you as you're thinking of changing the car so look for the simpler (and cheaper) non-tailored option. I bought a Metex cover a while back - which was one of the cheapest available, and it seems OK. If could benefit from a slight change in proportions (a shade wider, and a bit shorter) but for the price I'm not going to worry and it keeps the dust off the car!
(No conection with the company)
Regards
John S
Futher to my recent post asking which car I should go for (either the 1.6 Focus or New Corolla 1.6), I have decided to go for the Corolla.
However, I have recently read 2 long term reports on the New Corolla 1.6 in different motoring magazines and they have both commented on the how intrusive the engine noise is.
One magazine stated that there was an 'odd buzzing noise coming from the engine', which the dealer could not rectify and said was normal.
The other magazine said that 'the engine noise becomes unbearable after one hour at cruising speeds and seems to be getting worse as the engine loosens up'.
I appreciate that this particular car hasn't been around for long, but does anybody have any experience of the New Corolla 1.6 petrol, and if so, how would you describe the volume of the engine. (I have test driven one and it was fine, but it only had 10 miles on the clock!!)
I am slightly concerned that I may fork out approx £12k on a car that has an inherent engine noise problem.
Any comments appreciated
Thanks
Jason
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My dad has just bought a new Renault Laguna which is slightly longer than his previous Renault Espace. The problem being that his garage is only just long enough to fit his new car in, and he has to be very careful not to hit the back wall when putting his car away. With very limited visability from inside of the Laguna it is difficult to judge so has anyone got any ideas on how to tell when you have reversed far enough? The one trick that we have tried is the tennis ball hanging down so when it touches the rear window you know you are far enough back, but because the Laguna has quite a sloping rear window this method doesn't work too well. So are thoughts or suggestions are appreciated. Read more
There is in the latest Innovations catalogue an Auto Reversing Detector Kit, with a distance display and "increasingly insistent audio warnings". A little expensive at seventy quid but it does not take much of a bump to cost more and I expect they can be had elsewhere, cheaper.
I have such a thing, audio only, as original kit on Supra and it works well and is useful.
Another negative posting from
Tomo
I have a 1974 ford transit (Landliner campervan) and am having alot of problems with the way its running. I was given a full service at a garage a few months ago, during that service I asked them to check the carb as several people had messed about with it as it had started stalling at every traffic light.
After the service a completely different air filter was fitted but for the first 100 miles it was going really well. Then at the first sign of traffic it stalled. It started to over heat abit too. The next time I used it a few days later, starting was hard to and problems continued with it stalling and getting harder and harder to start.
Then the exhaust blew (The back box) I was in the Netherlands at the time and they replaced one section of it with something totally different. Starting remained a problem but it was going. Problems with backfiring and stopping continued.
It went to another garage again. The points were adjusted as well as the carb (which it seems was flooding) At this point the van was running as if the choke was out the whole time and when hot the engine cut out for no apparent reason but after a rest would start again. Eventually I had to take it out of gear everytime I slowed down to stop it backfiring and stalling.
A further trip to another garage and Ive been told there is 'nothing wrong with it now the points have been adjusted' again - however on a short drive it is again backfiring and not ticking over in a regular way. I have also noticed it is requiring water alot which it never used to.
I have now been to over 6 mechanics and am getting nowhere and any suggestions would really be appreciated.
Sorry about the length of this post!
Rebecca Read more
>>>>>>>Mobile bloke might do, but don't forget that many younger mechanics have never even seen a set a set of points, and if the computer can't suss it out - neither can they. You'd be better off looking for some old duffer in a local garage.
This bit made me chuckle!!!
I had a kit car that had a Ford Crossflow 1600 engine. When I couldnt get the carbs to balance (twin Weber 40's) in desperation I called a mobile tuning guy. When his wife took my booking I said to her, "It'll be no good if he is expecting to plug it into a computer as the engine is older than me.......' Thats ok she said, he's been doing this for nearly 30 years.
This guy came out and knew every clearance, torque setting and quirk of the crossflow engine from memory and diagnosed the problem in 10 minutes. He was superb but a dying breed. If anyone needs a PROPER mechanic near Gloucester let me know because Ken Nicholls is your man!!!
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Final final outcome, owner in the end had to get a reconditioned ECU, cost £274 from a place in Gillingham Kent.
The cars been OK for a while now
Bert