January 2003
I'm looking at throwing in my 98 Mondeo V6 Si and picking up a 2001 406 V6 saloon. It all seems in fairly good order execpt for one thing.
The clutch engages VERY high, like my foot almost hits the roof of the footwell before it is fully there. There is no slip at all and it chirrups the wheels without effort.
I know cars are all different etc but I can't recall my mate's 98 406 2.0 turbo doing the same a few years back ... is it the V6 hydraulic clutch that has this as a 'feature' or is it a problem. If normal, has anyone had experience of getting used to it. Read more
I have a sc-700 volvo factory radio cass.. I want to get a single cd player radio.Volvo do one of these and will charge about £250 , the model is an sc-803 I think.
Anyone got one of thses and if so could you tell me the RMS output and if its any goog or what have other 850 owners done to improve the quality?
Thanks Read more
Hi all,
Just bought an 96 2.5 auto 850, comming up to 90,000 mile service so called Volvo dealer to ask how much. Would you believe £280.00!!
Apart from checking a few things the only replacement parts are oil filter and plugs.
Does anyone thing its worth going to the dealer for this, I mean what are the benefits? I found another tuning centre which can read fault codes for Volvos and they reckon about £150.00 for a full service.
Any thouight?
Tahnks Read more
hi mazdaman, dont bother going to a main dealer,you will only end up getting your hat very firmly nailed on!find yourself a good independent volvo specialist youll save a fortune or better still if you have the time/inclination do it yourself these cars are pretty easy to work on and all service parts (original quality) are available from german and swedish at a fraction of volvos outrageous prices
I drive 25 miles to work every morning. Mostly motorway. 95 Micra 1.0.
On cold mornings, about 1 mile from my work destination, I switch off:
* heater fan
* radio
* lights (if safe to do so)
I do this in the (probably mistaken) belief that this will ensure the battery is "well charged up" for when I have to start it again 8 hours later, at 5PM in the evening.
Any factual basis for my superstitious behaviour?
Bruce
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It is the load coming on the alternator.
This would normally slow the engine a little, but the idle control increases the power to keep the idle speed stable, hence the extra noise.
Perfectly normal.
www.safespeed.org.uk/stats/graphs.html
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These are my own opinions, and not necessarily those of all Toads. Read more
Other distractions on the roadside:
The current fashion for hipster jeans with accompanying G-string.
Just after Christmas I saw a young lady running along the side of the road in the pouring rain. Every few steps she would grab her jeans and haul them up as they clearly aren't designed for running (desp[ite Levis' ad to the contrary). As I drew level she mistimed her "grab" and they went south, as far as her knees.
Needless to say I did the gentlemanly thing and burst out laughing. No choice really, can you imagine the headlines if I'd stopped and offered to help?
Not entirely sure how I missed the parked car I was passing at the time, but it made my day!
No Dosh - but then who has?
Shouldn't laugh really, but it was sooooo funny.
My next door-but-3 neighbour bought a bug-eye Impreza a few months ago after another neighbour left her handbrake off and her Pug 106 rolled into his old car.
This morning he drove his 4wd rally proven car off into the snow.
My wife and I drove off a few moments later, only to find said neighbour has parked his Impreza through a garden wall about 300yds down the road. Straight road mind you, straight.
He was sheepishly knocking on the door of the house.
Perhaps a little over-confident in the cars ability. Read more
Brian, Blue -
yes, the biggest problem with mini roundabouts round our way is they are placed to facilitate traffic flow at T-junctions (fair enough), but are placed that the roundabout fills the whole of the left hand carriageway, thus
1 - the give way lines on the 'stem' of the T are so far back, traffic coming down the stem cannot see or be seen by traffic on its right until its crossed the give way line (*)
2 - if you drive round the roundabout as per the legal requirement, then irrespective of your use of indicators, traffic will (a) pull out in front of you assuming you are turning off (b) drive straight over the roundabout and overtake you
3 - if you are driving along the crossbar of the T and indicating to turn right down the 'stem', oncoming traffic driving straight down the crossbar simply tries to drive straight through you
(*) - happened this morning - car in front of me approaches roundabout, crosses give way lines (which are 5-10 yards away from the cross of the T), BMW 3 series (wouldn't you know it) appears from right, flashing lights, sounding horn and travelling at a speed that suggests he was not observing the 20 mph limit he has just exited
I have to grow old - but I don't have to grow up
Just to try and redress the balance a little (if that's possible !), I think it would be nice (and possibly very helpful) if fellow BackRoomers could relate any positive experiences they've had when dealing with garages and/or dealers recently.
I know there is the Good Garage section but it'd be nice to read some good news for a change ! Read more
strangely enough I have to say that the service from my local BMW dealer (who has just be bought by HR Owen I think) was exceptional. I had a few very mior points as it is the last service before the warranty runs out. I was called a number of times to make sure that I would be happy and was told to call them back if the remedial work that they did was not successful.
Having said all that, I suppose for the amount they charge.......
Many of the visitors to this site will live out in the sticks like me and whilst having heard of the proposed congestion charges about to hit London next month, may well have just taken a passive interest as it doesn't really affect us.
However I would recommend all to read an in depth article on how it is going to work that appears in todays (07.01.03) Times review on the Web,
www.timesonline.co.uk.
Select C for Car etc on the right.
Why do I feel very uneasy after reading this?
DVD
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Bikes are exempt, so you are OK.
Phew! They'll be trying to keep me out of bus lanes next!!!
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These are my own opinions, and not necessarily those of all Toads.
I have wrote in before and found the answers to my problem great, my newest problem is my Vauxhall vectra SRI car cannot get over certain speed bumps due to a body kit which was fitted, Rather than a new one be put on is their any way of highering the supension and if so where can it be done, I have tried variuos garages including Halfords, Kwik fit and a Vauxhall dealer with no luck. The only other option I have is to get larger tyres as the current ones are low profile. I look forward to hearing from your suggestions. Read more
the cars suspension hasn't been altered in any way. The problem is the body kit is too low and rather than having it taken off we wondered if their was a way of highering the car, so we don't have to find routes without speed bumbs.
Does any one know of a bush stockist/manufacture (thats automotive bushes) , lexus LS400 rear hubs have a lower bush that knocks out, quite common.Its a peice of cake to remove but lexus only supply it with the hub (£160+VAT)new hub dose not come with a wheel bearing (another (£150+VAT)so thats a total of £364,25 per side with out the job of fitting !!!
They do how ever sell the bush to the arm that connects to it for only £14 that is the same design but is slightly larger in diameter.i know whati think rip of B******S !! any comments.
any tips !!
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Try ADL blueprint they seem to do a lot of odd jap parts.
they are in marden kent. (sorry cant find number in phone book}
Browse
exactly what i thought ... i've checked the service record for the car and there have been no faults recorded on 45000 miles confirmed. New clutch is about £650 fitted and since it's still under Peugeot warranty i'd have to get the main dealer to fit it. On the phone the mechanice said they do engage high, certainly higher than the mondeo but I still found it difficult on the test drive although everything else looked fine.
It's a small non-franchised dealer; i guess my next step is to ask for the main dealer reference.
thanks for responding !