February 2003
Seeing the thread on SS, and not watched the tape yet I visited the BR tomight wondering what you all had to say about the show on the other channel.
Well seeing as there is nothing I guess, like me, words fail you regarding Celebrity Driving School.
Totally pink fluffy dice[1] abysmal!
[1] put that in to save you the trouble Mark!
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We appear today to have reached the point (Motorpoint!) when there are 100,000 retained (ie not including deleted or time-expired) posts on this forum. No mean achievement in a relatively short time!
So, I propose a vote of thanks to all those responsible for making this one of the most helpful sites on the 'net.
Hopefully, as was once said to me about VW's when you reach 100,000...the best is yet to come! Read more
Thoroughly endorse the praise given to those who have worked so hard to establish what must be the foremost site of its kind,and of course to those who have contributed in the way of an amazing breath and depth of knowledge, anecdotes, humour, and (surprisingly often, since it's a commodity which seems to be in short supply these days), good old-fashioned commonsense.
Jack
PS Nortones2 - and a far better read than the Guardian, where commonsense seems to be in even shorter supply since they dropped the Manchester bit! (ducks, and hides behind his DT ....)
PPS Who would ever have thought there would be something to thank B****h for - he (and even LAC....) must have been responsible for a fair few of the 100000!
Friend of mine just had a major service at 60k miles on his Espace. Bill came to £2,500 plus VAT including new timing belt. Why can't Renault build cars that last? Read more
Sorry I don't have all the details but will try to get the copy invoice - my mate did mention an engine drop.
Hi Mark, I'd like you to move the plugs back here.
It's sure to result in a bit of knock about chat.
The rules say this is: "A place to discuss things with even the slightest connection to motoring" I think a chat about spark plugs fit that remit better than the specific question and answer required on the tech forum.
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These are my own opinions, and not necessarily those of all Toads. Read more
What are the better spark plugs and why seems like a pretty technical subject to me - unless someone was going to suggest they affected speed cameras.
If it becomes unnecc. chatty, then I\'ll move it back or lose it as appropriate.
Also, why ask the question here ? E-mailing me is much more suitable and doesn\'t clutter up the forum. Also, since I wrote the title there is little point in quoting it back at me, especially given your frequent inability to remember exactly what the line you just quoted actually says.
This guy on uk.rec.cars.maintainance has the following question:
tinyurl.com/6era
For those not newsgroup or google enabled:
"Is there anything to be gained by using special plugs?
I saw some in Halford's the other day - with three side electrodes.
Worth bothering with?
Or the platinum ones?
They didn't seem to have a whole range of different ones for different
cars,
as they do in the case of the conventional plugs.
Is it not critical?"
I've often pondered this. Is a big juicy spark really better? Why?
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These are my own opinions, and not necessarily those of all Toads. Read more
Doesnt the spark jump across the path of least resistance? Or does the spark really go across all electrodes?
One problem with multi electrode plugs is that you cant adjust the gaps. The Bosch plugs i used in my old Jetta 16v used to last 12-15k miles before serious triangulation of the centre electrode.
Ben
i have astra mk2, recent problems include stalling after 10 mins drive; carbonised spark plugs; faulty battery.( sparks & battery replaced); today it wouldn't start. nor turn the engine; i checked for loose wires etc, found 1 and rewired it on the ignition switch. i eventually called in the breakdown mechs, and although they managed to start the car by short towing they warned me that starter motor is faulty and may not restart if left off overnight. can anyone advise on where i go from here and could a dodgy starter motor explain the cutting out/stalling problem mentioned earlier. how would i proceed with removing current starter motor to take to auto-sparks as haynes mentioned the procedure for 1.2cc and 16 valve 1.6cc only. how much can i expect to pay for repair/replacement etc. any and all advice on this most welcome urgently please. thanks again.... rob Read more
It sounds like you have one of two problems. So when you try and start the car does the solenoid clunk then nothing. If so either the contacts in the solenoid are burnt or the starter brushes have had it. I do not know why you ask where you can get a replacement unit from, surely you have a independent motor accessory shop near you, a motor factors or even a Halfords although a bit more expensive. A breakers yard is OK if you find the price is too high from a motor factors or you are unsure whether it will fix your problem. YOU MUST DISCONNECT YOUR BATTERY before starting work on the starter. Now the fuelling problem, First check all the emission control pipe work is correct and any vacuum pipes are in order, check around all the carb pipe work, manifolds and carb for any signs of an air leak by using a small bore length of pipe ( screen washer pipe ) now hold one end close to your ear and search around the areas with the other for any leaks. Assuming no leaks and your feul pump/supply is OK then it ‘s a carb problem and if you do not know where to get a replacement starter from I suggest you do not tackle a card rebuild but locate a tune up specialist. Good Luck Peter
I have recently bought an Audi 80 S2. I've noticed on a few occasions that the speedo responds very strangly to rapid acceleration or deceleration.
If I am driving at 60mph and slow to 30mph quickly, the speedo will stay at 60 until I have stopped decelerating and then drop to 30.
It does similar things whilst accelerating. Whilst flooring it from about 20mph on a motorway on ramp, the speedo jumped in segments of about 25mph until I eased off the gas to a steady speed.
Is this normal, or do I have a problem? Is the speedo controlled through a cable (possibly frayed) or electronically?
Any help would be appreciated.
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These symptoms are exactly as I found on my BMW after ten years and 110,000 miles and the problem was in the speedo head (electronic speedo drive). Wear in the bush was allowing the needle spindle to tilt slightly over to one side and stick.
I managed to overcome the sticking by putting a drop of 3-in-1 oil on the spindle so as to help centralise it in the bush but the problem returned after a few weeks. A new speedo head cured it but at a cost of just under £100 -- a bit pricy but still cheaper than a series of speeding tickets!
Hi, my '99 1.4 Focus has recently developed a number of nigely problems. First up is a distictive groan from what appears to be the front suspension. It seems worse on the left hand side as it is more prominent when I am turning left at lower speeds. It has been sugested that it may be the CV joint??
Also, the speedometer drops to zero at random but after a few seconds jumps back to what is presumably the correct speed. Is this a loose connection or a sensor problem.
The car is due its first MOT shortly so I need to get these things sorted.
Many thanks for any replies.
TB
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TB
I cannot find a specific 'TSB' on this. The speedo is electronic so I suspect a poor electrical connection somewhere butween the gearbox and instrument panel.
HTH
Charles
Hi all
As most of you know, my family has recently been expanded.
Our current fleet consist of a '94 mx6 (108k) and an '89 polo (99.8k)
I reckon that the mazda is worth around 3k and the polo is worth around 400.
we are happy with these cars as they have suited our needs perfectly over the last few years, but now, things have to change.
For the next few months we are ok, but as soon as we have to travel ensemble, then it is likely to get a little iffy. The baby seat will fit into the back of the polo, so both adults can get in the front. There is limited room in the boot for prams etc.
The baby seat will fit in the front of the mazda, so one adult (not me!) will have to get in the back. There is more room for prams etc in this car, and this is the one that we go long distances in. The polo is a shopping car and any travel with all 3 of us will only be short.
So, should I keep my car and replace the polo with something slightly larger and reliable enough to travel the country in and keep my p&j, or should we keep the very cheap polo and replace mine with a larger family type car.
I am tending towards getting rid of mine and spending around 1k extra (around the 3750 - 4250 mark) on a replacement. If I do this, I want a good, solid reliable car, would prefer a hatch or estate, but would accept a saloon, as long as it has back doors and plenty of room. I am thinking of old shape Audi A6 (pre 97), honda accord, toyota avensis, mazda 626. Ideally with air, and full elecs.
I would go for a trade in, if I got a good deal, but wouldn't be afraid of private sale and auction purchase.
Am I being reasonable?
Many Thanks
Jonathan Read more
Why not go for a Primera? You could get a nice one for your budget, aand I can testify that they will hold all the clobber you need when travelling with 2 children. Oh, and I would also pick up a rear seat cover at Halfords, otherwise you will be forever cleaning and hoovering the rear seat.
Hi there,
I've recently bought a Rover Metro 1.4SL and have managed to get some GTi alloys for it. The original wheels on the car were steel rims, 155/65R13 whereas the alloys are 185/55R13. The wheels fit OK but in the Haynes manual it doesn't recommend changing the steel to alloys since the suspension systems on the GTi and GTa, which usually had alloys, were slightly different.
Has anyone actually changed to the alloys from the original steel rims and noticed any problems? Is there any way around the problem?
Thanks,
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You shouldn't have any problems with the later 13" steel wheeled metros. The earlier 315mm (metric) steel wheeled metros had different wheel offsets and the alloys off other models would catch on the brake calipers. If you fit them and they spin freely without catching anywhere they'll bo OK.
Browse
There isn't that much motoring related on terrestrial TV right now. To have three ("Celeb" Driving School, Right Car Wrong Car and Salvage Squad) all at the same time isn't great planning.
I decided to watch Driving School. Paul O'Grady said he handed the Focus back as he didn't want to cough up for the damage himself. I hope the well over a thousand spent fixing the car doesn't come from Comic Relief's funds.
James