February 2003

Pete

Recently diagnosed failing head gasket on neighbours 97 Punto 1.1 standard 8 valve. Engine was not allowed to overheat.
Neighbour took car to local garage who confirmed head gasket failure. Removal of head confirmed that no skimming was required and the work was done. Car is now back in service and running fine.
However, I now find that the garage did not use new stretch bolts when the head was replaced (owner was not charged for the bolts) Off-the-record advice please, as to if this should be a matter for concern ?
Thank you. Read more

Number_Cruncher

Mmm, the date nearly caught me out too.

I don't think I can let the idea that there's such a thing as non-elastic bolts pass without the raise of an eyebrow though!

9000

A friend has a good 97 Polo 1.4cl 5 door in red with 140k and fsh. He's going to put it up for sale soon but is unsure what to ask for it. Parkers says £2770 but surely this is too high? Any suggestions? Read more

zm

Glass'es guide dec 02 edition gives a 'bottom' book figure of £3075, with 'top' book at £4200. As we all know most cars are way 'behind' book these days. The mileage adjustment is £650 off at 100k (av. miles being 58k), assuming the car is a 97P. However most punters are still scared of very high mileage cars (very meaning getting on for 150k), especially those who buy small cars, who tend not to be 'car people' anyway and are less understanding about these things.

Last year I sold a 97P Polo 1.4CL 3 dr that had done nearly 100K with 1 owner/FVWSH for £2500. I did'nt enter the mileage on the advert, when I told callers the mileage, most lost interest.

If I were you I would initially ask £1995 and deal hard, or try it in an auction; you could get lucky by having a 'clocker' buy it. Good Luck...

Question Oil
Anthony Oliver

hi, i want to change my oil in my 91 cav 2.0l done 113,000 miles but don't know which is the best oil to use , but i'm sure one of you will know. thx
Read more

CMark {P}

Or as Withnail says having secured the keys to Uncle Monty's country house: "Free to those who can afford it, very expensive to those who can't".

Anyone else noticed how Big Vern is the spitting image of Uncle Monty?

CMark
sorry, isn't this the Silly Thread?

martin_n

I have a Rover 820 ('97) P reg, bought it last Nov
generally dead straight motor
with service history , with 76K now 80K

But twice this winter I have had problems starting it, both times the symptoms are similar ; it is reluctant to fire ,
it seems to fire once then doesnt seem to try, if you keep turning it over it might just catch , but runs lumpy till its warm, then its fine.
I put a strobe on it and it seemed to be ok on the HT.

It only has 4 HT leads and a potted in coil with all the 4 plug leads coming from that and no dizzy as such if thats of any relevance.


help please Read more

martin_n

thanks for that
I have changed the HT leads 2 weeks ago , but only for std
rover ones.the old ones looked poor and must have been original
I'll watch the battery and try jumping it if I get the chance
next time .

Fullchat

Having been accepted as a member to the above group I am at a loss as to the mechanics of posting a photograph on the site.
I have occasionally got as far as 'Add photo' and then got no further.
Am I missing the obvious.

PS Just want to show you what sideways is FiF! Read more

Citroënian {P}

Hey, two days to spot this, I'm getting better!

Send me the photo, email in my profile and I'll post it for you, no probs.

Lee.

volvoman

Hi gang - been toying with the idea of replacing the old Tardis and popped in to the new Volvo dealer nearby. They are waiting for a px'd 945? se turbo estate with fvsh up to Nov. last year (service overdue therefore). Can't find any reference to a 945 model designation anywhere so don't know if this is just a mistake on their paperwork. It's an auto on a 97 P plate with 55k on the clock and apparently in a1 condition but not sure if it's a high or low pressure turbo. They're asking £7495 which sounds like a lot to me - what do you think ? Never bought a car from a dealer before so any advice on doing so gratefully received. Read more

volvoman

Sorry RTB - both cars are estates, as is mine. I should have made that clear. I need an estate and wouldn't buy anything else. The 940 isn't sexy but it's a great workhorse and with the turbo, the performance
isn't too bad either. For such a big car it also 'turns on a sixpence' which is very handy sometimes.

I checked the Parkers guide but am still unclear as to the difference in spec between the SE and GLE models so if anyone can enlighten me I'd be grateful. I've emailed the garage with a view to a test drive.

guzzler

Has anyone else heard about this?

Listening to the radio on Friday and someone was talking about an email going round suggesting that people boycott a particular oil companys' outlets in an attempt to lower petrol prices.
I think they were talking about Shell/BP and boycotting them for the rest of the year but others suggested different days for each different company.
Cheaper petrol would be great, but would we not just get hammered in some other fashion? Read more

No Do$h

More to the point, I live 200yds from a BP station and 600yds from a Shell one! And HJ recommends always fillingup at the same station (pref. Shell) for consistency and to help if you ever have an valve related probs.

'snot gonna work, is it?

pooch

Any thoughts as to why windscreen wipers won't park properly after being switched off? Read more

brock

Wiper bearings are known to wear after three years and arms rub against the bonnet. Doesn't sound like your problem though.

spike

Can anyone please tell me how to tighten up the hand brake on my 1991 416. It is currently on about 20 clicks and is just starting to roll backwards now but I cam't find where to tighten the cable. I had it up on ramps yesterday to change the oil and couldn't see anything at the front end and its definatly not on the inside behind the handbrake itself
Read more

Round The Bend

My wife's Meagane Scenic 1.6 RT Alize has reached 72,000 miles since we purchased new Aug 98 (S reg). Its just had its cambelt change and new discs/pads. It has FSH and has been properly valeted to eradicate the biscuit dust of 3 children. Just a few scuffs may drop the p/ex by perhaps £600.

My wife wants something smaller (Fiesta?)and we only want to handover £1000 in addition to the Scenic, so we are looking at £4,000 to £4,500 I reckon. Priorities, space for 3 children (oldest in the front), reliability, PAS, economy (incl servicing).

Rcommendations please...... Read more

Round The Bend

Just done the deal on a Nissan Micra 1.0 Inspiration.
Actually not that much of an inspiration but the Mrs preferred the drive to a decent Fiesta (and a not so decent Almera) that she got to test.
Thanks for your thoughts/ideas.