January 2003

Question Type of Oil
joe

Time for an oil change on my Seat Toledo. Its a 1996 GT 16v (engine from a golf mark 2)

Is it worth my while running it on synthetic/semi synthetic? I am aware that sometimes this can damage the engine (particular seals) for some types of cars.

It's done 60k miles. Any insights welcome! Read more

smokie

I changed from semi to fully at about 45k on my Omega and so far no problem.

rolandf

Is it anyone who know what keeps up
the windows on doors. My problem is
that the window at drivers door will
go slowly down a couple of milli-
meters, the window will then be a
little noise.
It´s a -92 modell with mechanics windows.
I don´t know if the slide holds the
window up or if it´s something in
the handle mechanics.

Roland


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Dynamic Dave

IIRC, my Dad's earlier Astra suffered with this. J500ANT has just reminded me how I cured it for him. The window winder handle - when the window was fully closed - was positioned in such a way that occasionally your knee would move the handle without you realising and undo the window slightly. Cured simply by removing the handle and repositioning in a slighly different orientation. To remove the handle you'll need a short piece of stiff wire and bend a small hook at one end. Push in the door trim slightly around the window winder and you should see a metal clip that holds it on. Using the bent wire, hook onto clip and remove it from handle. You should be then able to remove the handle from the spline shaft. Refit the clip to the handle and press the handle back onto spline shaft in a different position.

Question skid marks !!!
kev the rev

what is the formula used to determine the speed of a vehicle from the measurement of the skid marks left on the road surface.

does the formula take into account the road surface conditions, abs if fitted, etc.




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Dwight Van Driver

You see this after the start of a Grand Prix. Not skidding - friction burn? There is a name for it which escapes me.

With a skid mark it come on faint and get heavier along the line of travel.

Friction burn is the opposite. Also if the mark is on a curve then there will side striations in the mark from a rotating wheel.

DVD

Miller

I have noticed a nail in one of my tyres. It is located right at the top of the tyre wall just before the tread pattern starts, is it repairable? I don't want to go to a fat fit place just for them to try it on and say I need a new one, as it cost 80 quid new and is hardly worn.

Thanks in advance for any replies.


Im a loser baby....so why don't you kill me?! Read more

Miller

Hi, thanks for all the replies, I am taking it in tomorrow (or should that be later today) for the verdict, looks like I will be shelling out for a new one though :-(


Im a loser baby....so why don't you kill me?!

bolty

HELP!can anyone tell me if the procedure for tightening the cyl head bolts(star headed on my model,jan ,98)is the same as stated in haynes for hex head bolts,i.e xxxft/lbs,followed by 260 degree angle tightening.I think it would be the same,but I would like confirmation from you experts out there!
Thanks in anticipation
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David M

Whoops, just realised I've misread what you wrote, bolty. My apologies - if they're star/torx head then they are likely to be a new set of one-use stretch bolts.

Question Xantia alarm
Xantiargh!

Xantia diy muppet is back.

Got glow plugs to change. Step 1 disconnect battery -ve lead. The alarm goes off. I can't shut it off, the key fob does nothing, the central locking still works, turning the key in the lock works but nothing shuts the god**mn alarm off. Reconnecting the battery just makes it louder. Leaving it means it sets itself off again.

Its driving me mad. How do I kill it?

Mike

(95 1.9 TD LX Xantia) Read more

Mondaywoe

I was driven demented by my Xantia alarm - couldn't silence it - even with keyswitch under bonnet. Tried disconnecting battery - STILL it sounded!! Eventually drove 10 miles to nearest town - bought a new battery - reset the locks with remote - everything hunkydory.

The alarm senses low current state and thinks car is being burgled. The alarm has an internal battery so disconnecting the main battery does nothing.

Is the battery old? Mine was 9 years old (original batt!) Thought a new one might not go amiss......

Hope this helps!


Graeme

davie dodds

I've got about £10-11k to spend, enough for a nearly new Puma 1.7 or 2001 Leon 20VT. Any suggestions on which to go for? Puma cheaper on insurance/fuel etc but Leon quicker and better equipped. Any other suggestions? Read more

No Do$h

That prompted me to re-read my earlier contribution and it did sound a bit "handbag"....

What I was trying to get across is that you may find yourelf still paying "fashionable" Puma prices, only to have it drop like mad in the next 18 months.

It's looking like a toss of the coin is the only answer.

Question Duckhams QXR
johnny

Duckhams QXR Premium 10/40 synthetic oil £12.95 at local discount store. Is this a good price? Read more

thebouncingbunny

more recently ive been buying mobil 1 0w40 at the hypermarket in cherbourg for £23 for 4 litres.about a tenner cheaper than uk pr
ice.rip off britain?
bunny

Toad, of Toad Hall.

I want to give the old battery from my 414Si to a friend with a 1.3 fiesta.

Will it fit in in exactly the same way?
--
These are my own opinions, and not necessarily those of all Toads. Read more

cockle {P}

Too high won't pose a problem unless any of the
wiring is a bit moody, in which case you may have
wires popping before the fuses do.


No Dosh, agree with most of your post but if you have wiring burning out before the fuse pops then you have the wrong rate fuse fitted, or, as I have seen, a sawn off piece of four inch nail!
'Well, I got fed up with the fuse blowing.' Said by a chap standing beside a smouldering Cortina after his self fitted radio/cassette had caught fire.
The ampere/hour rating of a battery is a guide to its potential to deliver current, the actual current delivered is governed by good old Ohms Law, give or take a little allowance for the differing internal resistance of the cells.
As long as the voltage remains the same as before and the resistance of the component remains the same it can only possibly draw the same current,
I(current) = V (voltage) / R (resistance).

That's why, back in the murky past, it was a bit of a mystical science converting vehicles with 6 volt systems to 12 volts. I understand that we may be about to go down that route again as IIRC BMW are now introducing 24 volt systems into their vehicles.


Cockle
Cliff Pope



The insurance on our company vans allows any driver over 25 holding a current licence. We recently wanted someone with some points on his licence to use a van occasionally, so I thought I had better check first with the insurers.

I was astonished to discover that the insurance company is not interested in the driving record of any of the drivers. Apparently Norwich Union do not care if we have people with past convictions for dangerous driving, suspensions, or a history of writing off their employers' vehicles. A current licence is the only requirement, and the premium is the same regardless, and private or company business is allowed.

Contrast this attitude with the scrutiny they give to drivers under private vehicle insurance.
Is this standard practice, what is going on?

Would this be a backdoor way for uninsurable drivers to get insurance? Anybody can form a company, so a group of people could form a company (Uninsurable Drivers Ltd !) and then drive their company vehicles.

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Mark (RLBS)

>>is just a way of keeping this particular business highly profitable

If that was the intention, then its failed disastrously.