February 2003
I have just acquired a 1992 Carlton Diplomat. Everything is in very good condition. I have noticed however that the aerial does not retract fully. It gets stuck at the last segment (bottom widest part).
Any idea how I could fix this ?
Roadrunner Read more
Please could someone let me know where the Ignition Control Unit is on the 2.2 Petrol Vectra engine. Obviously there are problems with this unit. Anyone who's had one fail - were there any prior symptoms, or was it a case of oh dear ? What was the mileage at failure etc ?
Presumably this is covered under the standard 3 year warranty ?
Cheers,
Steve Read more
No worries Steve.
I guess it's there due to proximity of spark plugs but it does get extremely (cigarette lighting capabilities) hot!
Mine went three hours before I was due to drive to Manchester Airport for work related activities. The air turned black for several minutes believe you me.
Fingers crossed you won't experience this - I do have a nasty feeling though that the replacements are exactly the same part number. Whether they have been improved or not is anybody's guess...
Dan J
All,
I know HJ's views on supermarket petrol. Do the same apply to Diesel fuel or is it just a case of buying the cheapest possible.
Is there any difference between brands?
In anticipation.
Robert Read more
I thought I discovered incredible economy improvement when switching to Shell, but realised it was a glitch in my spreadsheet once it reached about 55 mpg...(petrol, Omega 3.0)
I have a Vauxhall Nova with no cigarette lighter. I have 2 internal neons that I plan to use for shows. The problem is that the neons are designed to fit in a cigarette lighter socket.
Can I wire the neons into the fuse box so that they start with the engine? or what do it need to do? Read more
Depends whether you feel confident enough or not. You should be able to detect the auxiliary spade connection in the fuse box with a multimeter, or failing that a 12v bulb with a couple of flying leads coming off of it. Connect one lead to earth and the other to one of the spade connectors in the fuse box until you find the right one.
A question that's difficult to answer definitively without specialist knowledge, but anyway.......Will the new Renault Scenic, due this year, in reality be more Renault than Nissan or vice versa. Can't remember whether Renault now own Nissan or the other way round but presumably Nissan's association must have a bearing for the good in improving the reliability figures for the old one. I say this solely by reference to statistics and general opinion rather than personal experience, but most would say that Nissan have the edge in this respect. My own two Renaults were as good as any and gave no trouble (barring self inflicted £2000 engine damage during a deep ford crossing - the low air intake position didn't help though). The old one set the standard for the principle of compact MPV's and still looks OK after many years and sells very well - it's as common a sight as anything else you might care to mention so it's replacement needs to be good. Saw a piccy of one in Autocar today - has the new Renault look at the back without appearing too radical.
KB. Read more
I'm either (a) blacklisted, (b) ask extremely boring and pointless questions or (c) no-one's got any thoughts on the new Scenic yet. Heaven forbid someone should say all three!
KB.
I started driving the golf after a few months off the road and within a couple of days the engine was playing up. It starts but within 5-10 seconds it cuts out. Eventually the engine would start and when driving it seemed fine. This problem has now got so bad it will not start at all. I've changed the fuel filter + metering head with no change in symptoms. There is definitely no fuel reaching the injectors on turnover however the fuel pump seems to be working ok, supplying fuel to the metering head..... any ideas??
Read more
Fuel pump relay faulty/not priming properly? When you turn the ignition on from cold you should get a 1 second (approx) priming noise (a buzz) from the fuel pump...
my boyfrined has a delta hf turbo, i think its about an F reg, (1989?) sitting in his garage. hes trying to sell it and only wants about £200 for it but no one seems interested except for people buying seperate parts such as the headlights and the original wheels.
it seems a shame to take it to the dump for scrap when someone could have it for spares or to work it back to its former glory.
can you suggest where would be the best places to advertise his car, (Its still drivable) to save it from the junk yard? Read more
And that is something I would not like to do, JBJ, so I am :X !
HF
I remembered this link after reading Dan Js comment in the hazards topic.
Apparently this has been made into an advert on tv in Venezuela, i think adverts like this would get the point across
***WARNING***
The Link contains fairly graphic images, please don\'t click on it if your easily disturbed.
(Mark please feel free to delete this link / thread if you feel its not suitable)
tone - I can\'t say I know what to do here. It is an important message and something people need to face, but it is graphic and disturbing. I have changed the link and inserted a warning. I reserve the right to change my mind.
********* Note to all: ****************
I have amended the link so that you cannot click on it and be taken to it immediately. You will have to cut and past it to your web browser. I warn you, it is extremely graphic, extremely distrubing and very, very sad. It shows the aftermath to one young female from being involved in an accident.
You may prefer not to look, and if you are not a drink-driver I would suggest that you do not look - if you are a drink-driver then you\'re scum anyway.
You have been warned, read what I said and consider first.
Mark
www.expressen.nu/html/bildarkiv/Saburido.htm Read more
Unfortunately we live very sheltered lives in the West where images of serious injury and/or death are just not the done thing. I have experience of life in 2nd? and 3rd world countries where daily newspapers print shocking pictures of aftermath of accidents, shootings, etc. almost on a daily basis. From the time you are old enough to go out in to the street on your own (which means a 4 or 5 year old in most countries), you see real injuries and death around you. I have seen dozens of dead people there, but none in the UK. In those countries, there is almost no-shock value to see the type of tv-advert discussed here.
** HJ Backroomers - ADD your photo albums at:
groups.msn.com/honestjohn/shoebox.msnw
As I was tootling along, tailgating and entering corners too fast and in the wrong gear this weekend I pondered on hazards that I treat with paticular respect.
I decided that my top two most respected junction hazards were a) Pub Car Parks (Obvious) b) Garden Centres. (Old People)
Discuss.
--
These are my own opinions, and not necessarily those of all Toads. Read more
Is there anything about London cabbies with no passengers in this Hazzard awareness thing?
There is nothing more dangerous than an empty cab tooling around. As soon as they see a fare, no matter which side of the road, they're off. Don't even look, never mind indicate.
If you're on a bike, keep your eyes peeled!!
Hi all
Have a bit of a dilema going on at the moment - which I'm hoping someone can help me with. The names have been changed to protect the not so innocent !
Bought a "new" car from a "reputable" dealer approximately 15 months ago. Traded in a perfectly serviceable Ashtray and picked up our lovely new french estate for the family..
We have had nothing but problems with this new car so last week - took it back to another dealer ( better one than the aforementioned as the aforementioned was useless in fixing any problems ) on the back of an AA van.
Began discussions with the new dealer on getting out of the PCP we were in and that we wanted to deal with someone else and would they help us get a new car
The new dealer then informs us that the car is an import - and, although on a PCP has no finance outstanding ( news to me on both fronts ) so hpi is clear - although the check also reveals that there are no other details on the system for the car ..
Anyway - the fact that we were sold an import ( not to our knowledge ) as a "new" car with only delivery mileage reduces the resale value also it is - in my opinion fraud on behalf of the dealer who sold it to us
So my questions are this - what process would we need to follow to buy an import and therefore what documentation is missing and how do we stand as the consumer.... we have demanded all our money back and will take the matter further if needs be as this was a main dealer and the maths just doesnt stack up .... I have spoken to the manufacturer who has given me some information and the DVLA who were equally helpful - but any other insights would be really really appreciated
Thanks
Cosmos Read more
Cosmos,
A good letter and a risable reply! I trust that you did not accept the £50 they offered as any future claims will be harder.
I would also add that going down the route of involving lawyers may cost you more than is at stake, although I would be tempted to do so myself as I think that you are 100% in the right.
Browse
Thanks for the advice.
Trying Mark(RLBS) suggestion first. Sprayed a little WD40 on the lower stem and leaving it overnight. Tomorrow , as I switch off the radio I'll make a dash for it and assist the aerial to retract. If that fails then I will replace it.
Roadrunner