January 2003
This is what happens when someone parks a van in the outside lane of the M42, just as Top Gear magazine's long term test Golf V6 4motion comes along...
www.topgear.com/content/my_topgear/prangs/01/03/ Read more
Just bought an H-reg (E30) BMW 318IS (16valve engine). The only problem is a pronounced and vaguely irritating rasping sound from up front only between 3000 revs and 3700 revs - I thought was the exhaust so put it on the ramp and the exhaust is very solid. Any ideas. Also anything in general that I should watch out for with this car? Thanks! Read more
Matt
Yes, you are right. Apparently exhaust manifold studs can fail, so that's another point to check. These tend to make the car noisy on start-up, though, rather than at specific engine speeds.
Regards
John S
When I set the alarm and the indicators flash once, the passenger side indicators just stay on....Ive tried the old tricks like slamming the door and setting and re-setting the alarm but it just stays on......Ive had to pull the fuse on a couple of occasions and that leaves my car open to all sorts of thieving scum!!
Any ideas what it is?? Read more
I assume the indicators are OK when you are driving the car, so the problem is only when the alarm is set.
You could try resetting the alarm using the trick in www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=4&t=95...7
Look for "Oilburner"'s contribution. It might work for you.
Ian
I was in London (Mark Lane, EC3) on Friday and saw a BT van parked on a double yellow. Nothing unusual there! Now I don't get to the City that regularly now, so I don't know whether this is now standard practice, but the BT engineer was fixing, with the aid of tie wraps, a barrier over each wheel. The barriers being those wire framed things they put round the holes in the pavement when they are working.
Has anyone else witnessed similar behavior and I wonder how the clampers will get around this?
Chris M Read more
Didn't a pair of characters with a yellow 3 wheeler van resort to similar tricks of deception.:-)
Mal.
I don't own one myself but, if it's relevant to UK pwners, this appeared in today's Boston globe:
www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/026/auto/No_easy_fix_fo...l
Read more
Well spotted, No Dosh!
Actually, I see there's an article in Automotive news, dated today:
"Diesels in American cars? Ridiculous.
In the United States, everyone is getting excited about the possible growth of diesel engines. It's almost like diesels are going to cure whatever ails you. But once you get past the biggest of the big, diesels don't make a lot of sense in America."
However, as I am only registered with the website and not a paid-up subscriber I can't enlighten you further on this piece by Keith Crain.
www.autonews.com
CMark
My girlfriend is currently trying to decide what model of small car to buy, with a view to replacing it in three years when the warranty runs out.
We were very impressed with the Micra and Yaris, but are a little concerned about depreciation. (Also looked at Clio, 206, Lupo, 106, Polo & Arosa. She wasn't impressed.)
The old Micra (she currently owns one) seems to have depreciated badly compared to almost all other superminis. Is the new model likely to do the same?
The Yaris seems to be getting on a bit. Although it is very impressive, it seems expensive compared to the Micra. Is the Yaris due for replacement / facelift that will affect residuals?
The Ideal would be to buy a new small car every three years and loose £1000 per year maximum on the initial cost. Is this sensible?
She isn't bothered about extras but I think ABS is essential. Read more
No, I'm talking about the old Micra as someone further up the thread appeared to be referring to. I still don't know if the original post was relating to new or old! As for side airbags, are you sure the Yaris doesn't have them? My handbook mentions them, although mine doesn't have them. They seem to have appeared in the change from Japanese production to French, but I'm not sure which models have them.
I certainly expect the new Micra to be a considerable improvement over the old one, but having seen one 'in the flesh' for the first time last week I certainly won't be buying one. The appearance of my car doesn't bother me that much, but I do have some standards!
i have a mk2 astra, fitted with pierburg 2e3 carb (manual choke);1300cc. original problem was in not having auto choke housing,since converted i have experienced idle problems, cranked up idle screw, followed by heavilly carbonised spark plugs,since replaced, now having problem of car stalling when i take foot off accelerator, solved this temp via speeding up idle, but after 10 mins or so problem recurs by stalling at junctions etc when foot comes off gas. when converting to manual choke i displaced throttle return spring, have since found it but unsure of its essential purpose or wether to reinstall it if i knew where on the carb.any ideas? Read more
On seeing this post reminded me of the problems with my Astra Mk2 1300cc.It kept stalling every few months when taking my foot off the accelerator. It was the idle jet , a blocked idle jet caused by dirty fuel.I fitted a in-line fuel filter (kept a one in the car for spare) and changed it every 6 months . No more stalling. I'm not saying this is the cause of your problem , but if it is it will only cost you £1.00 to put it right.I just cut the rubber fuel line three inches away from the carb to fit the filter. It had a clear bulb and you could see the dirt mounting up. My car was a few years old and had collected a lot of waste in the tank which I suppose got carried into the fuel line.Hope this helps
OK guys and girls,
I am hoping for a happy (read cheap) solution to my problem. A few weeks ago my Vxl Omega started to run a bit rough, no probs I thought probably doddy petrol, so I filled her up again from a different petrol station, and the problem was no better.
I then thought maybe it's plugs, and bought a new set. I was amazed to find the plugs sitting in an inch of oil, so off to the garage it went for a new head gasket.
Garage repaired the head gasket, but the car still ran quite rough, and wouldnt pull up hills. So they changed the HT leads, it ran a bit better but is still crap.
They said it's probably valves, which I imagine is an expensive job, so has anyone any alternative ideas as to what the problem might be.
Opinions so far are
1) Lambda sensor
2) Coils.
Anyone know any different, or had a similar problem?
All responses appreciated.
TC Read more
Thanks Guys,
The problem was indeed a rusted coil, which was replaced together with a worn hose for £250.00 incl.
Phew, that means I can afford to get the cam-belt changed now.
I have just had an MoT at 47k miles and have been cautioned that there is excess play in the front wheels which though not yet an MoT failure will require the lower ball joints to be replaced within 5k miles. I have never had this before in any previous (cheaper) vehicle despite running to much higher mileages. Does anyone know if this represents an expected failure due to wear and tear or is there a quality issue here? What sort of bill should I anticipate? Read more
It is not unknown on modern M-B cars for ball joints to fail as early as 30k(Exeptions rather than the rule).
Mine failed at 56K, I put my case to Milton Keynes,in a reasonable & practical manner & they responded with a goodwill sum that took the sting out of the cost.
I have no knowledge of the cause, i.e, defective manufacture, poor materials etc. but I have my suspicions.
Simon T.
Although I'm fortunate ehough to have access to a car spares wholesaler, I inherited a Halfords 063 battery. When it showed signs of failure I went to Halfords without a receipt and smiled nicely and asked politely. They checked the code on it and said that is was less than 3 years old therefore they would change it for a new one. Excellent!
Today, 11 months later, I went back as I suspected it was not holding its charge. They tested it with a meter and declared it to be defective and replaced it without argument. Excellent! (apart from the fact that it shouldn't really have failed within 11 months - but never mind).
Having given me a new battery they also issued a new receipt and said I have another 3 years warranty. Excellent!
It retailed at £39.99 and I know I can get a similar one for about half that at the other place, but I reckon they've given good customer service and for that they deserve a mention.
KB. Read more
A simple exchange policy for faulty goods should be the mainstay of any decent outfit. Hein Gericke, supplying motorcycle gear, think otherwise. This lead to a collossal thread on www.hondavfrclub.org under 'Buyer beware'which spread to numerous other sites. A rather belated u-turn by the MD failed to undue considerable damage to their reputation.
Browse
.jpg)
It's not as if the Golf was lacking in active safety features either, ABS, ESP, EBD, 4wd, decent chassis etc etc etc...