March 2003

NormanB

Hi

I would just like to share this experience with you and seek the forums advice on how I should proceed.

My wife dropped her Yaris off for service at the local Toyota dealership the evening before it was due its service (long story). The service writer asked if she had the socket for the locking wheel nut - \'Yes it is in the glovebox with the service record book\' she replied. My wife had emptied the car of everything else at the weekend, there were no personal belongings in the car at all - just the service book, locking wheel nut socket and the standard toolset and jack in the back.

On picking up the car this evening - the garage said the locking wheel nut socket was not in the glove compartment!!! (I picked it up coz wife was away).

So apart from engaging in a pantomime \'Oh yes I did, Oh no I didn\'t\' sketch - How to proceed?

My plan is to inform the Service Manager of the problem, and with the long stop of if they have not found said item by 1600hrs we report to the police as wife is 125% positive that it has been nicked/lost while in their custody!

The real problem is that security is now compromised. I still have data sheet so ordering replacement socket is not a problem but some naughty person may still come and steal the wheels so a new set of locking wheel nuts is the only answer - we look to the dealer to sort out and cover whole cost.

Am I being reasonable?

Regards
NormanB



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Dynamic Dave

They have to remove the wheels to inspect the brake pads
during servicing,


Not necessarily true. A mechanic can inspect the brake pads with the wheels in situ just by looking through the patterned holes in the wheel, and similarily can check the rear brake shoes by removing the rubber bungs on the back of the hub and shining in a torch.
Martin Wall

What would 'the panel' recommend for someone after a new car costing less than £15,000 (after discount) with a bit of road presence - I'm fed up with being menaced on motorways by larger vehicles. I'm not a fan of big 4x4 vehicles (ok - I've never driven one) as I think they are too big but given the amount of tailgaters these days I'd like something that can handle the potholed roads we seem to have to drive on these days.

I guess I want the three Rs:

- ride comfort
- reliability
- road presence

Suggestions? Read more

THe Growler

Mr Rob, I do know a gent in Florida who put a 327 cu in Chevy V-8 in a trike frame, not uncommon. Last time I saw him he wanted to put a nitrous kit on there as well, said he wanted something that (italics) really moved....mad all right. You can check Lee's site for a pic of our current V-8 (one of them anyway), and the current Softail lo-rider Harley. It's the only one in the Philippines with dual headlights. It's a bit lonely so I'm picking up a Fat Boy with police spec: blue lights and siren next week to keep it company. Growlette's shapely derriere finds it a bit much for anything more than the the usual club ride to the bars.

As for road presence, 35 years ago I drove a 1955 Leyland Tiger Cub (had the flat engine) with Ball and Chain #1 as partner. It cost £225 and was painted psychedelic colors all over and did at least one round trip London-Nepal with 20 or so what were termed hippies. Many local hand-rolled cigarettes were smoked to pass the time, since 50 mph was about all it made, but it never went wrong and driving it did wonders for my biceps. It was a real pig. We were stopped by the police in Austria and I was told my vehicle's color vos inkorrekt and please not to stay in Austria. On return we came off the ferry at Newhaven late at night and stopped on Brighton seafront for a drink. When we came out a Morris Minor with a couple of Pandas in it asked why we had no tax disc. I explained we had only just arrived. Where have you been they asked. Kathmandu, Officer, I said......

Ed2002

My 92 1.4 CVh escort appears to be running rich.

It has a misfire at cold which when revved really hard produces black puffs of smoke. The exhaust is kind of a sooty black colour inside the tip, even though its only a few months old.

The Cat rattled a while back for a month or 2 but has now stopped.

And on the motorway it struggles to reach anything higher than 80, in past times it has easily reached 90/100.

I dont want to go out and buy a new cat if its gonna get broken again due to another fault.
The air filter is fine, not clogged.

Any ideas? I thought maybe the lambda? Read more

Mark (RLBS)

James,

Please be aware that if you state an answer as 100% definite and/or set yourself up as the ultimate expert on these things you are potentially misleading people.

Also, just be a little careful about telling people they are wrong.

The Tune-Up boys are very good at what they do, they do it for a living, and they\'ve done it for a while, but even they stop short of stating that an answer is 100% definite or that someone else is 100% wrong.

If you really are an expert, then perhaps letting people know a little about yourself and where this expertise was obtained and over how much time would allow them to be able to judge your answers better. Certainly when I have been given advice, I frequently type the author\'s name into the search engine to gain an understanding of his expertise.

Don\'t stop suggesting and trying to help, please, but do be a little more thoughtful.

Thank you.

Mark.

Thommo

I know we have discussed this before but following Sunday I feel the need to spout again.

Sunday, M1 southbound between J15 and J2. Reasonably heavy traffic but rolling. Outside lane chock full and slowest lane on motorway, compression waves R-US, middle lane fairly full including a large number of 'convoys', that is long strings of HGV's progressing at precisely 60mph nose to tail, no chance to stop if anything happens. Inside lane empty except for occasionally slow moving vehicle.

I now undertake and weave through traffic lanes as a matter of course. I know it is against the law but what other choice do I have? Read more

BrianW

It also means that the looney has a gap into which he can go if the opportunity arises for him to overtake, thus making it easier for you to avoid him rather than relying on him avoiding you.

manymanythanks

Hi all,
I have a Ford Escort 1998. Unfortunately the unit of the passenger side mirror broke as it brushed against a post. What is the cheapest way of replacing it? I was thinking of getting a unit from scrapyard and changing it myself? Is it difficult to change?
Thanks in advance Read more

madf

look on ebay.. lots of surplus new stock there.
madf

Sigma

Friend has a 1992 volvo 940 B200FT. It keeps cutting out. The OBD 1 diagnostic unit causes the lambda light to come on and reports fault codes 1-4-4 (fault in or to bosch LH2.4 ecu). He has had a mobile tuning firm out and they suggested replacing the fuel pump relay (a common fault on these cars), this had no effect. He then called the RAC who said they didn't carry the correct software, however the OBD1 system appears to have no port for connection to an external computer, the RAC guy did however suggest that the fault was not related to the ignition amplifier as the fault isn't temperature dependent. He is now toying with replacing the LH 2.4 unit or taking it to a dealers both of which are quite £££££. All wiring/connectors appear to be in good order. Any ideas?

DB Read more

Peter D

toddhorner\'s breakers yard BULWELL 01623 797690. MV Autos BURTON ON TRENT 01283 515141 ... Volvo New and Used Spares DERBY 01332 291320...
From www.nationalbreakers.com

Search the NET there are quit a few


Peter

Question vectra di
vectra di

Please can somebody help?

I have a 98 Vectra 2.0 di and it has recently developed a problem. The car will not start in the mornings by crank. It will start if it has a bump start on a decent hill. Yesterday it was at Vauxhall and they said there was 2 error codes. One was the glow plugs control unit and the other was preheat.
They said they are unable to diagnose the problem until further investigation, or until I cough up what they are asking to look into the problem, 8 hours labour. You do the maths.
Anyway yesterday I replaced the preheat relay and put in new filters and glow plugs. Then this morning the car does what it always does. It will start but it seems to run for a few seconds very rough, like 3 cylinders but not if you know what I mean. Then it will cut out. It always will start for a few seconds then cut out. There has been no lights come on at any time nor is there any now. I took my car to my mate who has the Snap-On tool to take the readings and he found the same 2 faults but I\'m not sure Vauxhall cleared them in the first place. I will take the car back later on today to see if the faults come back, as my mate cleared them. I\'ll let you know on that one.

Weird thing is that once the car is started it will run forever no probs, it will even start off the crank all day no probs at all. It\'s just that initial first start.

Anybody any ideas?

If you want more info on something just ask.

Cheers Read more

vectra di

the pipes are all push on fittings.

cheers

Good result Vectra. Are you saying that the parts cost £4.00
total?.
Sounds good to me. Are they push on fittings and pipe
and were they leaking?.
alvin
SjB {P}

DVLA have allocated a 52 registration to my new V70, despite the fact that it was never 'permanently' registered in the Netherlands (export plates only), that my invoice is dated 1st March 2003, that I collected the car on 1st March 2003, that I imported it to the UK on 2nd March 2003, and that it is deemed new at first registration with 390 miles on the clock as it sits in the garage at home.

Does any other Backroomer have similar experience please, advice on how to get to the bottom of this, or any reason why my belief is wrong?

I have initiated an investigation at my local DVLA office, but wish to be prepared in the event that the answer I receive (promised by 12:00 today) is not what I expect.


Many thanks. Read more

Blue {P}

Pleased you got that one sorted, I thought it would end up as a bit of a nightmare. Nice to know that they'll admit a mistake.
Blue

ajit

Read in yesterdays FT that Tata are interested in a strategic stak of Rover. Would be good for both.

1: Potential long term volume for Rover in India and Asia, access to Euro market for Tata
2: Access to low cost components
3: Shared/reduced costs for new model development



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eMBe {P}

It is interesting to read
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2839047.stm
where India's low wage economy problem is discussed - India faces a threat from lower cost countries such as Vietnam. See quote below:

Indian firms .... were themselves increasingly looking at shifting work abroad where they could "bring the advantages of cost and quality", Mr Paul added <<
Question 306XSi (8v)
Athelred

Morning commute on the motorway, no worries - a little Gang of Four on the stereo - when I notice oil pressure is close to 8 (on a gauge where 8 is the maximum). Engine temperature normal (and I saw it go down a little so I know it was working), doing about 80-90kph in 5th in medium traffic. Checked the oil level yesterday and no problem. Mileage is about 82,000km with service imminent. This high pressure lasted for about 5 minutes until the pressure gauge backed off to between 4 and 6, which coincided with lower revs and speed. Do I panic?


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Jase

Temporary Hijack of thread (apologies Athelred).

Adam G, Andrew M etc.. or Any other member of Tune-Up. What is the correct email address to use to contacting you please. The email link from your website results in failed delivery (tuneup@ukmax.co.uk). I have placed a similar post in Discussion if you wish to respond there with Tune-up details.

Hope your 306 recovers Athelred. My friend has a GTi-6 which goes like a rocket. Nice cars.
CavV6 and cavWeb fan.
www.cavweb.co.uk