October 2002
Just been to France for a few days. Very successful in stocking up with cheap booze and tobacco products. However, weather was pretty cr*p and my Xantia started filling up with water in back footwell and beneath back seats. While in Rennes thought I would call next day at Cit dealer to see if he could solve problem. Just after that decision, went to supermarket to buy numerous 5 litre boxes of Cotes de Rhone (£6 each) and a kindly van driver reversed into me. Pushed in bumper and fog light - bumper regained shape, fog light didn't. So next morning to Cit dealer. Half an hour later fog light back in place, sign said labour charges £39 per hour what did mechanic say the bill was? Nothing - all part of service. Thought I would take advantage and asked him about unheated swimming pool in back of car - he didn't know but Citroen Sud were the "carosserie" experts. Drove round by-pass to the biggest garage on earth, nice "atelier" said what was the problem - I showed him the swimming pool. He poured water into the sunroof (I suspected as much) and cured the problem in about an hour after removing headlining etc. Labour charge on the sign said £39 per hour. I asked him how much was the bill and he said ----nothing! all part of the service, we had to force 10 euros on him as a "tip".
Wish I'd asked him to change the cambelt while I was there.....
So next time you want some work doing on your Cit don't be afraid to visit the Cit main dealer (or go to Rennes - no need to book it in , and it's free)
PhilW Read more
Hi all,
We're taking delivery of our new car in a couple of weeks, and this being the first new car I've had that's coming out of our own pockets, I want to do things right :-)
I had a terribly boring day at a recent Porsche UK meeting where the main talking point was the best type of wax to use and the best routine to apply it. The irony.
As wine and armchairs are more my style, I want to find the least energy intensive way to keep the car looking pristine - do I need to be looking at Zymol/Autoglym or whatever? I don't mind putting a few hours into it once a year, but beyond that a bucket, hose and sponge now and again will be the usual routine.
I'd really appreciate any advice people can offer on the subject, and promise to listen this time. Just don't ask me if I've got a 911 or a Boxster.
Lee.
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The only positive use I can think of for used engine oil is to add it to creosote for the fences.
Even that doesn't kill the bl**dy ivy!
I know everyone moans about it but I happened to catch Driven tonight.
I thought it was quite amusing in a light harted sort of way.
Certainly nothing featured on there that the average man couldn't get, just some tin cans from Audi and Saab, and an ugly hot hatch from Alfa.
Car sumo is quite fun.
This was after a bottle of red however. My wife didn't find it quite so amusing ;) Read more
Especially with those smutty films on after 11pm onfriday nights :-)
Does anyone know if a hatcthback exhaust on a Mondeo is the same as a saloon? The reason I ask is that I have a saloon [4 door and a proper boot] and want to fit a stainless steel system and cant find a maker of one. Help if you can. ANY suggestions would be more than welcome
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Visit your local spares shop and find out whether the part numbers are different.
Incidentally, how much more expensive is a stainless steel system than a good quality mild steel one?
Chris M
This should probably go in Classifieds but doesnt look like many folk look there!
Anyway - anyone got a genuine car stereo going for a good price? Preferably a CD player but would consider a decent tape player if it has a jack for a personal CD player.
Prices around £50 please....to fit in a '92 astra.
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Don't have one, but try eBay for things like that, or if you live near London or Manchester, loot.com. Also, nationwide, there is adtrader.co.uk. Maybe I'm stating the obvious but at least those sites should save you the expense of buying the usual classifieds.
I know that this is a known problem area for the Motometric instruments, but mine shows clock, elapsed driving time, and oil temperature O.K. which makes me think that the wire that sends data for the calculations including mileage has gone astray.
A look at the photo in Haynes shows the plug for the Mfa data near the clutch cable, and it looks like a three pin socket at least : I have a two pin, which I think might be the reversing light switch (which, by the way, isn't working : I've checked the bulbs, so will apply multimeter at the weekend)
Anyone know/guess what might be the problem?
Car is a late '88 on an F, 8v 5 door.
Thanks, Tim
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This is a regular topic on the Club GTi forum at www.clubgti.com.
Check out
www.bmwfilms.com
Whether you like BMW's or not, if you like watching great car chase sequences you'll enjoy it.
If you've already seen the season's series of short movies then you'll be even more impressed by the new season's films.
First one to be released - "The Hostage" is directed by John Woo so you'll know what to expect.
Ideal thing for a "friday afternoon".
Chad.R Read more
Driving up the M6 yesterday, a BMW 3 series passed me. It had a "Q" plate, but what puzzled me was that the rear plate itself, and the typeface, must have been ¼ the normal size. It was tiny hardly legible. Didn"t see the front plate.
I thought there were very strict regulations about the size of registration plates?
Dave H
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Oh forgot to add. If anyone needs a reference when 'debating' with plod at the side of the road, you can buy the Traffic Police Officer's Guide-Handbook from any good book store.
It is an official aid to plod in the course of his her duty! Fore warned is fore armed.
Seen to-day in W1 - J3RKS - (evenly spaced in Gothic script of course) says it all. Read more
SWMBO really really wants a No plate which i saw last week...AR51COW.
To say it suits her 1mm fuse would be true..;)
Anyone had a problem on R reg Primera's regarding starter motors spinning but not engaging and chipped teeth on the fly wheel? A work college has been quoted £600 to fix these problems he has been told he has when all I think it could be is a bad connection to the starter. As for the chipped teeth on the fly wheel, well I'll leave that one for your own comments! Read more
Browse
Excellent service - could it be that we get the 'service' we do from main dealers because we continue to put up with it.
Incidentally, although I've only actually used him twice, my local guy has given me free inspections/advice several times. I suspect many smaller garages do the same because they rely on customer goodwill far more.