April 2003
I was amazed (and impressed) by a signpost that I came across in a Wiltshire village the other day.
It is one of those old villages where the road goes down to one lane to squeeze between the houses. Also there is a blind crest and a tight corner to contend with.
However as I approached this bit of road there was one of these electronic signs (which light up as you approach - usually telling you that you are going too fast) that actually warned me that there was a "Vehicle Ahead".
I slowed down and lo and behold a car whizzed round the corner. Read more
Will Seat replace the rear lens on a Arosa. The lense has misted up on the off side. Read more
The car is 7 months old and has done it from
new. It looks awful and it is getting on my nerves.
In that case take it back and get them to take a look at it, explaining that it has done it from day one.
I have bought an Astra 1.7TD GLS 1993 Reg (Isuzu engine). The problem is that when driving, gear changes 1,2,3,4 & 5 are pretty smooth for the age of the car, but come to reverse, you have to crunch the gear into place (sounds pretty awful, I know!). However, when the eninge is off and you cylce through the gears, reverse is easy to obtain. The clutch enages pretty low down to change the gears. Would a clutch change solve the problem or is it a big job. If so how much to rectify the problem.
All help appreciated. Read more
The clutch pedal should be level with the brake pedal or fractionally higher. Adjustment is easy, and done by lengthening or shortening the cable on the top of the gearbox with a plastic nut.
To avoid crunching in reverse, first select a forward gear, then without taking your foot off the clutch select reverse.
started other day have fiat uno 999 fire h reg.
i can take car from cold and drive for 10 min or so no probs. but then as i\'m driving the car loses power and slows down say from 30 to 20.... it\'ll then go back up again and down and so on.. now and again i\'ll pull over and it just stop... i\'ve cleaned the plugs they were covered in black soot and checked the ht leads they seem fine nothing visible... i\'ve not lost no coolant and the oil is clear.
please help. i need my car back working for next week to take litlin back to nursery... Read more
Several possibilities I am afraid, but symptoms are classic for carburettor icing. Check that flexible ducting from exhaust manifold shield is fitted, not split, and not blocked. Next check that flap in air filter intake nose is operating correctly - should admit warm air when waxstat unit is cold (spray with carb or brake cleaner) and change to cold air when hot (use hair dryer). If flap is inoperative or broken fix it in the "warm air" position by fitting a long self-tapping screw through side of casing, and re-test car.
If problem still there it does sound like a carb or fuel supply fault.
Regards, Adam
Hi all,
I have had a 1997 Peugeot 106 Independence XL for a year with no problems until now:
When Im approacing lights, roundabouts etc. and slowing down the revs drop so low that the battery light either flicks on and off or the engine stalls. The car has always retstarted fine. When the problem occurs there is not juddering/jumping the engine just cuts. Idling is a little rough also.
Can anyone help?
Thanks,
Andy Read more
I've been offered a job with the option of a company car or a car allowance. I'll probably take the allowance as it appears the better deal. My question is:
Should I just take the allowance as an addition to my salary and continue to run my present car?
It's a 1990 Alfa 75 with 128,000 miles, is in good condition, goes like a train and I service it regularly. As is the way with all cars, I've just had to spend a fair bit for a new clutch, discs and pads, fuel tank and exhaust. It's value to me is far greater than what I could sell it for.
The alternative is to spend about ££8k on an Alfa 156, probably using hire purchase or personal contract plan. Can you do PCP on second-hand cars?
Any advice or thoughts would be welcome. Read more
Firstly try a site like tiscali.cashorcar.co.uk that will help you make your mind up.
Secondly you are correct about the tax implications, and you can even have the mileage deduction added to your tax code, it helps with the cash flow. However NIC will also be due so you need to take that into account as well.
Thirdly check that a 'business mileage rate' is also paid. This is common, and adds significantly to the income.
Fourthly the definition of 'business mileage' for IR purposes is wider than what you might expect. So check on their website.
Generally you will usually only be better off if you are happy to keep to lower value cars than your employer offers under their car scheme, or not have new ones.
Does anybody know where the Traffic Master module is located on the Vectra? Is there a module or is it part of the radio - there's nothing on the vehicle wiring diagrams? Read more
deryck
Yes, it\'s a separate unit, I believe I recall that on
my \'96 it was a black box with a trailing single
lead antenna, wired to the radio and located above/behind the glove
box. It seems to be very much an add-on rather
than an integrated unit.
If you remove the glove box interior, you should find it.
Correct, and all connections (power, audio etc) are made using an additional in line harness that connects between the GM loom and the stereo head unit. quite neat really.
Does no-one give way on motorways anymore? The old school thought of M-S-M appears to have given way to M-S-S (Manoeuvre-Signal-Sometimes).
I have lost count of the times where I have left a suitable gap between myself and the car in front, only for someone to dive in, leaving me with no option but to slow down to account for the fact my safety zone have just been nicked.
Add to this the fact that as soon as the idiot has pulled out, they invariable have to brake themselves due to the lack of space they have left - this surely causes a domino effect and people a mile behind come to a standstill...
Am I ranting for no reason? Is this practice now acceptable and I'm set in my ways?
PS: Lorries seems to do this with a "I'm bigger than you attitude". However, if they didn't, I suppose they'd be there all day waiting for someone to let them out.... Read more
If we get back to the original point made by Dieselboy about cars diving into inadequate gaps, we can't have it both ways.
The BR is always condemning - rightly - those motorists who hog the outside lane and refuse to move left. However if they get over they often have difficulty getting back in the outside lane because drivers simply won't let them into 'their' gap.
I drive the whole length of the M40 regularly and under most conditions the outside lane traffic moves at 85-90mph. On the odd occasion, when I have not been in a particular hurry, I have tried to drive at 70-75mph unless I need to get into the outside lane to overtake. At that speed you are constantly coming up to slower traffic and, as said earlier, it difficult to get into the outside lane because of the speed differential. Rather than repeatedly carrying out this manoeuvre I usually give up my good intentions of slower driving and find myself speeding up and going with the flow in the outside lane. For me it is less stressful.
I live in a smallish town on the outskirts of London. I can walk to the local shops in less than 10 mins, to the mainline station in 15-20 mins. and the nearest bus stops are within 2 mins walk. Why then, do so many of my neighbours choose to drive EVERYWHERE ?
Despite having lived here since the mid 80's, there are certain inhabitants who I've hardly ever seen on their 2 feet. Why is this ?
Don't get me wrong, for a trip to the supermarket I take my car and for longer/inconvenient journeys I use it too. However for things like visits to the bank, post office, local shops, school etc. I do something which seems to be getting less common - walk !
Given the amount of whingeing people do about the price of petrol, parking costs/fines etc. I really can't understand why people who live in areas like mine don't walk or even take the bus more often. For some it seems to be a question of image - the "I'd never be seen on an effing bus mate !" attitude.
But why not I ask ? Here we are lucky to have regular, clean and relatively cheap buses (70p flat fare) yet many locals still don't use them, they'd rather drive and get all stressed up about all the congestion, the traffic calming measures, the lack of parking spaces and (ironically) all the inconsiderate morons doing exactly the same thing as them. Surely this is madness !
I think some form of self control is required. Driving can be a pleasure but increasingly it's a real pain in the bum. How much clearer our roads would be if everyone in a position to do so decided to use their 2 feet a bit more or, God forbid, even the bus occasionally. I'm beginning to think however that some people would have to be surgically separated from their beloved vehicles first ! Read more
Well, called it "spa-ed out" or whatever they do in those pretentious nonsensically expensive salons for women who seem to think it combats their wrinkles etc. I suppose it does get the girls focussed in one place so they can gossip while we get a bit of peace and quiet for a while....I prefer a good old-fashioned massage parlor for dealing with congestion problems.
Wait for it, wait for it as my old RSM used to say....WHAT were you thinking? I mean I can walk to Massage Central from the bar (exercise, no need for car, lack of pollution, conservation of scarce resources etc).
But to the point: did you see your Mr Ken is thinking about jacking up the London congestion charge? As if anyone with half a brain didn't spot that coming all along. I'm a neophyte in such matters but I would expect a boom in number plate theft...
It's my Astra 1.7TD (LPT) 1997 GM Engine.
I had topped up the water a couple of times but couldn't find out where it was going - no obvious leaks from pipes or block, but yesterday, a plume of white smoke followed me for the first mile but disappeared after that. Wasn't obvious on start up at lunchtime or on the way home, but investigations last night showed lots of BIG bubbles going into the expansion tank (but only with the cap off - presumably back pressure limits that with the cap on), and pinprick small steam/water leak coming from the back of No.4 cylinder (to the left of the car). About to phone around garages as the plume of white smoke was there again today. The car is still running OK but I'm trying to minimise it's use - if I could have avoided taking it in I would.
I'm pretty certain the head gasket needs done - any guide price for me to weep over?
I guess this is a good time to get the Timing belt changed as they've got to remove it to take the head off (uncertain of it's age anyway), but is there anything else that would be advised with the head off?
Thanks in anticipation as always.
Chris TD Read more
For info and when searching the archives -
Gasket successfully replaced by brother-in-law. Total cost (without labour) £200 including
-Modified head gasket and top end kit
-Cylinder head bolts (apparently stretch on fitting so are to be used once only)
-Timing belt (as it was off anyway and had uncertain history)
-Skimming and testing head (£60)
-Front Discs and pads - Guy recommended they be done after his test drive.
New head gasket was substantially beefier than the old one - not sure if old one was a pattern part or original fitting before the problems were identified.
No noticeable difference in mpg noticed (but early days), but cooling system has much less pressure in it and no longer puts coolant out through the expansion tank cap. Before the engine ran at about 94 deg. C. all the time. Now normal running has it at 89 deg. C, but much greater variation apparent when going up long hills, applying lots of welly, etc. It topped at 100 deg. C. after 6 miles of steadily climbing steep hills with all the holiday gear + bikes on board (Cairn o'mount road for those in NE Scotland), but cooled down quickly when going down the other side.
Thanks to all for help
Chris TD
Browse
Mind you then the Gary-boys come along complete with camera so they can record just how quick they were going. Has been known.