April 2003
Do i have a problem that is particular just to me? I feel the urge, no the need, to wash my car whenever it is even slightly dirty, even if this is 7 days after the last washing session. I resist two out of three times because i feel that the paint work/body does'nt appreciate the kind of constant agitation that my washing spunge offers. Am i being paranoid, can you wash a car once a week, everyday and it not cause any paintwork problems?
(i am refering to hand wash or light jet wash, not a machine wash as these really scare me when the rollers hammer into the bonnet and roof)
cheers,
the Washer Read more
What is the best car polish, and where do i get it? I have used the green Turtle Wax extream car polish with good results, but cant believe the trade use something this expensive. What is the best trade polish? Read more
I'd be interested to find out the price of Autoglym in various places. Up to now I've bought 1Ltr of car body shampoo for £4.95 +vat at a trade only warehouse and paid £8.49 for 325ml of extra gloss protection from Wilkinsons.
I've also tried wonder wheels car wax, it seemed very good - brother in law is still using it on his new golf.
Steve.
The ventilation on my Mondeo stinks. When the air con is running it is fine but when you switch it off the car smells musty and like sweaty socks. I've read in various places that dealers can spray some freshener down the vents to kill the bacteria but can you buy this spray at Halfords etc and do it yourself?
I'm a bit annoyed as I've run the air con all year round to try and avoid this apparently common problem. Read more
Looked at www.koolspace.net it included the following......Q: Why can I smell a \'musty\' smell inside the car when I turn on the aircon? A: This is due to the build-up of mould and microbes on the evaporator. It can be cured with a micro biological treatment of the evaporator unit during the annual health check.
KB.
I have studied the 'laid up' sec. of FAQ's but it really doesn't fully cover my problem. My 19 yrs. old soldier grandson left his base in Germany in some haste last Feb. to go to Iraq, where he expects to stay some 6-12 months. He has left the above car standing unattended in Germany. I am not just concerned about flat battery and flat spot tyres but also whether the remote control zapper will work, the turbo draining of oil , and brake problems. If I decide to go over there can any of you experts give me any advice on how I can safely put it back on the road before he returns
Grandad. Read more
This is the worse thing to do. The load on the tappets and cam are highest at idle. When you start the car pour in a little fresh oil, then turn the engine over with the king lead disconected to let a bit of oil circulate before you fire it up properly. If it has been left for a whole year, i would replace the engine oil before i started the car.
Ben
Can somebody please help me. I have a MK1 Mondeo that has an intermitent vibration. Most noticable during acceleration and at high speed. I have had the wheels balanced but that has not cured the problem. I then had the tracking set but only gave me temporary relief. I then had the suspension checked but the garage told me it was fine. I've tried three garages and all say that the car is fine.
Does anybody have any idea what the problem could be.
Thanks Read more
Can you be a bit more specific about this vibration?
I can feel the vibration through the steering wheel.
are the engine mounts ok?
At the last service (Nov 02) they were checked and I was told they were fine. I have not checked them since but it's a good point. I'll have a look this weekend if not sooner.
Thanks
I've seen some dubious claims for fuel economy devices before, and I've seen some cheap & nasty web sites -
now get 2 in 1
www.spiralmax.com/
If you really want a laugh, click on the 'photos and installation information' button. you'll never curse at a haynes manual again.
p.s. - its thurday, time to go home and its a long weekend !!
Y'all have a good weekend and chill out.
I have to grow old - but I don't have to grow up Read more
I like the fact they put "Installation by Appointment Only" and then later put it can typically be fitted in three minutes using basic tools...They must really be busy at their "World Headquarters"...
Went ahead and bought my Passat from the company today. It's a 98R 1.8S 20V with Climatronic which has covered 70k and is in what I'd call good nick - mechanically fine, but a scrape on the OSF wheelarch eyebrow (cosmetically okay otherwise). I got it for the princely sum of £500 (that's five hundred), because they owed me a favour. It's just been serviced, has MoT until December, tax until January. Fully comp insurance with legal cover cost me £327. It's from Churchill and they were willing to take into account max. no claims on the company insurance after a letter from the company.
Clearly, this is a hell of a price which leaves me pretty much depreciation-proofed. My conumdrum is this: the 20V's economy was never brilliant even when my commute was purely motorways, and recently (with a short urban commute) it's dropped to around 28-30mpg. The money for the juice is now coming out of my pocket, not the company's, so I'm starting to wonder whether it would be a good idea to trade the car in for a diesel, as they're generally more tolerant of a life of short journeys. I'd be looking for something the same size and, if possible, a cash neutral transaction. Reckon the Passat's worth £3.5k.
Anyone got any ideas a) on the logic of the swap concept and b) if it does make sense, what the swap should be? Read more
Morris,
'Reducing balance' means that at the end of year 1 it's
worth 75% of new; at the end of year 2 it's
worth 75% of 75%, or 56.25% of new; at the end
of year 3 it's worth 75% of 56.25%, or 42.19% of
new....and so on. In theory, the car's value never actually reduces
to nothing.
The car's asset value may not necessarily reflect the market value.........
That's the accountancy, then. In business terms, their attitude used to be that once something fell to a negligible value and was no longer needed they should just get it off the books. That, I think, is what enabled this deal to happen. They didn't want it or the hassle of disposing of it.
Its seems to be that MOT testing stations now place a sticker on your windscreen with the date that the next MOT test is due.
Is it a legal requirement to leave this sticker in place, or can you just peel it off? Its not a particularly attractive addition to any vehicle!
It seems a great idea, so the authorities can see at a glance that a car has a current MOT, but what happens next year when all cars have this sticker in place? Will the colour be changed?
In addition to these changes, is there any truth that the cost of an MOT is spiralling to an excess of £50? How expensive can a sticker be!?!? Read more
Had my trundle truck MOT"s yesterday and again now have in the front top nearside of front windscreen, one and half inch square see through sticker with the three blue triangles on it and date for next one, readable from inside only. Is this size etc universal?
Not aware that these are covered by any legislation yet.
As you lot are an enquiring bunch I offer the following:
tinyurl.com/5687k
which is Explanatory Notes to the Act brought in to cover computerisation of MOT system. Typical Labour - all promise and no action as only parts of the Act have received a Commencement Order, last as far as I am aware being 11.4.2003. (SI 1095)
DVD
Hi, thinking about getting a GOLF GTI 2.0 or 1.8 (125 bhp NO TURBO)
I would intend to get it converted to LPG but have read that LPG cars can burn the valves on some cars unless hardened ones are fitted. Is the GOLF MK IV ok for conversion? I have not seen very many around. Does anyone have any personal experience?
Anyone have any tips or suggestions about LPG or the golf GTI.
I would especially like to know what is considered HIGH miledge on a Quality car like a Golf? 125K? What can i expect to go wrong?
Thanks in anticipation of your help!
Read more
Service interval on TDi's is 10k (same as petrol) to the best of my knowlegde. You can also take it though the Channel Tunnel which isn't an option with LPG vehicles!
Cheers
Hi
I have a 6-yr old Volvo S40 with air-con. This does seem to work fine but does it need to be regassed or recharged at a set interval?
Thanks
Chris Read more
Well said Dave N.
£60 to have the job professionally done, with a 1 hour wait. What more do people want. Looks a good deal to me, especially as the 'new' fluid will have the correct lubricant as well as gas in it.
Browse
Do mine [white car] every few weeks, and polish with a UV protection every 6 mths.
Fortunately we don't have to put up with salt, but the big problem is flying beasties.
Our average feathered variety seems to have an output capacity measured in gallons, some of which can eat through paint in a matter of days.
The small midges/moths/beatles etc make a nighttime trip great fun - I've often had to stop on long journies just to scrub the windows and headlights after multiple "collisions" with insects.
For some reason, I always forget to clean the front numberplates, though ...