September 2002
Nr 1 Son's 94 Legacy 2.2 Estate 105K has engine management light flashing : car still drives and sounds absolutely aok.
Anyone any ideas before he takes to dealer for plugging into magic computer????
Tks in adv.
Happy Motoring Phil I Read more
Been looking (out of curiosity) at personel plates, first through the DVLA site and then through the site which is featured on the top of the HJ home page, I am amazed to find that the HJ advertised site is selling the same DVLA numbers at a hefty premium eg DVLA plate £499 through, the \"agency\" £644!!!.
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errr,
our local boys, telkom, obviously haven't seen to many movies...
With the rise in double lines (one for internet, one for phone), a lot of new local numbers have become 555 numbers.
Following a service at 15000 miles my dealer says that I have to have a new alternator fitted as the drive belt is shredded. A Renault service bulletin states that if the belt is shredded then a new alternator has to be fitted. When asked why a new alternator is needed the only answer I get is, "the alternator is miss aligned". Renault are prepared to pay %40 of the cost of the part. As the car is only 2 1/2 years old and it has only done 15000 miles I feel a little miffed. Has any one else had similar problems the car has a 1400cc 16v engine and was registered in 2000
Hwyl Read more
Thank you all for your help
Just for the record. The pulley is silver in colour not gold as the 1.9 diesel iffy pulley. I have payed £250.00 to the dealer and am now having talks with Renault UK. Wish me luck
Now that I have seen more of these on the road, I have to say that this is one of the most ugly cars on the road.
The front looks like a giant Focus (bad enough in itself)and the back end looks like one of those dreadful Kia executive cars from a few years ago.
The front windows make the driver look like they have been shoehorned in, and all drivers of these cars look very uncomfortable. The interiors look like a black hole.
For all its faults, the previous model was not the eyesore the latest model is.
For all I know they may be an amazing drive but when a car is this butt ugly who cares ! Read more
I agree, first impression the car is ugly, but I expect we will all get used to it in time. I had one from Avis last week for a couple of days, it was only a 1.8 and I felt it was underpowered, I've previously had 2.2 models and they go extremely well. However, it was ok to drive, handled well, comfortable and did the job, and the CD player worked fine.
Hi
I have just been charged £96 exc. V.A.T & Labour (2 Hrs) to replace a Brake Pressure Valve Limiter for my Clio 16v 1992. I was assured this was a genuine Renault part. Was this is a fair price to pay? The total charge was about £190. Should I be able to see this part if I look under the car. If so, where do I look.
Thanks
Johno Read more
Look under the back in between the rear wheels for something that looks more shiny than everything else.
I would expect the price is about right but an OE part could have been sourced for perhaps £50-£75 plus vat if you were doing the job yourself.
David W
It has oft been said by HIMBO to others that I am always telling him where to park, which local route to take, which is the better option in various scenarios etc. etc. The implication is that I am that scourge of the motorist A BACK SEAT DRIVER. I always refute his aspersions and point out that I only give an opinion when asked.
Recently we had to pick up a daughter at Gatwick Airport. On arrival at the Airport we parked on the ground floor in the only available space albeit that it was a tight squeeze. Having met up with said daughter we repaired back to the car. HIMBO gets in the driver's seat, daughter and I sit in the rear and continue to rabbit away.
I become aware that he is reversing very slowly to avoid the
adjacent vehicles and then, as he begins pick up speed and swing the car to the left I look to the rear of the car and I just know that he is going to hit the rear metal barrier. I had to put both hands over my mouth to stop myself saying something to warn him.
Yup, he hit the barrier and crushed a rear light casing. I forbore to say that I could see what was going happen.
Subsequently he was lucky to find a replacement part at a local breakers for 15 quid and fixed it himself. Otherwise it would have cost him in the region of £70 plus vat from a main dealer.
Which just goes to show that I have not now nor ever have been a literal Back Seat Driver. I will concede, however, that it not unknown for me to assume the role of a Front Seat Advisor but only when absolutely necessary and in an unpaid capacity.
Any other Back Seat Driver stories?
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You're reading my mind, andy..........you scary tinker, you..............
"Thirteen leaders of the world's largest car companies have come together for the first time in history to discuss the global environment and traffic safety. "http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2285917.stm
My suggestions, with nowt to do with the emmissions factors:
Make sure the handbrake is ALWAYS between the seats; the hooter is always in the centre of the steering wheel; and the indicators are always on the side of the control column nearest the gearshift.
(oh, and that reverse gear is always 'across and up')
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How did that get there? I was answering Ian's accusation of pedantry......................
Does anyone know if it's possible to get a retro-fit electronic cruise control for my Skoda Octavia (2001) SDi? It has an electronic speedometer (i.e. drops to 0 if you switch ignition off), and a "drive-by-wire" accelerator, no physical cable linking pedal to engine.
Surely it should just be a "plug-in" module with a set of dash controls, (set, resume, cancel, +, - ?)
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Crikey, £56 for the parts, or £275+VAT fitted? I could do it myself, but if I screw it up and spend a day or two sorting it out, I'll lose more than I save... I might just as well pay someone who's done it before!
I really thought it was just a case of plugging a new stalk in and enabling the ECU, I had no idea a) that all that extra wiring needs threading through, or b) that the steering wheel and airbag need to come off to change the stalks! And I can do without removing the wiper mechanism too...
Thanks very much for your help on this one, now I know it can be done.
A recent press article stated that the number of people taking driving tests is deminishing because they are told,the exam is too difficult,particulary the theory tests.Consequently they are not bothering taking any driving test at all.Therefore we have the usual senario of people driving around with no licence,no tax,no insurance etc.Any suggestions how we can get solve this problem?
I am in favour of the French system i.e. lock up the car and remove to a compound until all fines are paid. Read more
The best thing to do with the Theory Test would be to scrap it entirely. It has proved to be a complete waste of time, and you will not find many driving instructors or examiners who would disagree with me. The old system where the examiner asked the candidate up to a dozen Highway Code questions at the end of the practical test was much better. The questions were based on road signs and markings, and because the question could be asked in any form the candidate had to have a better understanding of the subject, not just the ability to pick the correct answer from the four or five provided, all of which are published in book form and on the internet.
Driving is a practical skill. The person who can correctly point out the vehicle causing a hazard in a printed picture is probably the one who will drive on unaware of it in real life, and the opposite applies to the one who cannot get to grips with a written test. The main requirements of driving theory are to understand the road signs, signals and markings which form the basic rules of the road, everything else comes with experience.
Some of the questions in the theory test are ridculous - What documents do you have to take with you when taxing a vehicle - So what if you don't know, you just get sent away to get the correct ones. Nothing about road safety on that one. The Theory Test is nothing more than polititicians doing something for the sake of being seen to do it, it hasn't made the slightest difference to road safety.
And of course, it makes lots of money.
Which are the best for driving ?
I have used glasses for reading/TV and computer( i.e close-up) work for many years but recently when doing long distance driving (not wearing glasses) my eyes feel tired and strained.
I'm trying to decide whether to go for new glasses or contact lenses - which i have no experience with.
I have some brochures from the main high street opticians which list all the contact lens types (there are so many).
Boots sell a range called 'distance and near' which sounds perfect for my needs.
One of the advantages with Contact lenses is i wont have to buy prescription sunglasses.
Any thoughts/experiences appreciated. Read more
try mnthy disposables. bung them in and leave them for the whole month. no mucking about with solutions or fiddling with them each night and morning.
oh and they're soft so no hj problem of them breaking in your eye.
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I can remember the feeling but now retired do not encounter this syndrome anymore thank the Lord. My thanks to you for the info which I have relayed on to Nr. 1 son. Will come back to u in due course. Thanks again Phil I