April 2003
Re: Ford Fiesta 1.3 EFI (Endura)
I am going to get an oil change in a couple of hours, but the people at Kwik Fit have thrown me. My problem is as follows:
When I had my "Major" service at Ford last June, they did an oil change an used 5W30. Ever since then I have changed my own oil every 10k miles with Castrol Magnetec 5W30. Since that time has come again I find myself with little time to do it myself, so decided to phone Kwik Fit. They offered me the Mobil £26 oil and filter change, but said I should not use 5W30 since it is for zetec engines which clearly my is not. He said I should use 0W40.
Since I have used 5W30 for such a long time, has it done my engine any harm? Will putting 0W40 in suddenly cause a problem?
Any advice appreciated
Moby.
Read more
My neighbour's lodger has dumped a C-reg Astra outside my house and disappeared.
It is a hideous wreck but is taxed until August. It has been there for a month and is very annoying.
He cannot be contacted.
Any ideas on getting it disappeared?
Am I right in thinking the police/fire brigade have to remove any car leaking petrol?
Perhaps a leak could be arranged... Read more
It would be tempting just to put your own 'Council Aware' sticker on and let nature take its course.
I was proceeding in an orderly manner home down the M3 yesterday when I was overtaken by one of those Polos VW built; where every major body panel is a different colour. Just wondered if it is legal to describe the colour on the V5 as 'various'? Read more
Poole is ana amazing place.
- (supposedly)has the 2nd largest natural harbour in the world (after Sydney)
- has the most expensive real estate in the world (Sandbanks)
Having been born in Bore-mouth I have only been to Poole once - to catch a ferry.
Can anyone confirm if you need Car tax or MOT's for electric cars. I'm sure I read somewhere that Milk floats do not require MOT or Tax ? What seperates a milk float from an electric car ?
Just wondered as we do a lot of journies under 2 miles which is not good for our car, but I cant afford to run another car unless there are some concessions.
Read more
all u need to know about electric cars
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=i&t=42...8
pictures as well.
Hi
The aerial on my V-reg Accord sometimes sticks on the way down, so that it's left protruding. Is it OK to put a few drops of cycle oil on it, or should I do something else?
I'm all for giving it a try, but am also afraid of doing something stupid...
Cheers
John Read more
My Electric Aerial on my cavalier used to stick now and again............. WD40 and a cloth......"Sorted"!!!
Seems my parents actually want to put their car in their garage, so all my accumulated Saab junk has to find another home. I thought I'd rent a lock-up here in Glasgow and stick the stuff in there along with my mopeds. Checked the yellow pages - no rental companies. Checked with some letting agencies - don't do lock ups. Tried the council - no longer renting lock-ups.
So where do people advertise lock-ups for rent? Read more
Why not either:
(i) get rid of all your junk ;-)
(ii) find a storage company where you can keep stuff (should be plenty in yellow pages) make sure you get a reputable one though - also depending on the value of your items check if you are insured for loss.
good luck!
Can someone please explain why quite a few drivers seem unable to hold a conversation with a passenger without turning to address them?
This morning, I was following someone in lane 2 down a busy dual-carriageway who was spending more time looking at his passenger in an animated conversation, than looking at the road ahead (or behind, come to that!). This caused me to feel so nervous that I dropped back to the inside lane to put a bit more space between us!
This behaviour is by no means rare, and never ceases to amaze me. Surely no-one is going to be offended by a speaker failing to make eye contact with them, in the interests of road safety? Read more
In Arab countries eye contact is very important when you're talking to someone, because eye response is the main source of feedback as to the recipient's reaction to what you're saying (now you know why reflective Raybans are so popular over there).
It is genuinely believed by many that provision of eye contact with rear seat passengers is the primary purpose of the rear view mirror. So all those Caprices, Le Sabres and Suburbans wandering randomly from lane to lane all over the highway at 140 kph with the interior mirror at 45 degrees are actually hosting animated discussions.
I have ordered a new Laguna, but did not specify the telephone pre wiring. It seems that the Laguna has an "athermic heat reflecting windshield that reflects all electromagnetic signals"
So questions are
1/ Anyone with a Laguna 2 relate their experiences re mobile
2/ Is any of the telephone pre equipment wiring harness in place even if you dont order the feature?
Thanks Read more
ok
in that case, being French it doesent work properly and allows radiation in the visible spectrum thro. There will be a recall to fix it.
My GF seems to have the kiss of death on cars.
She currently has a Merc A class T reg which she bought 6 months ago for 8 grand. In that time it has had: (a) clutch failure at 45k miles (b) PAS pump failure (c) airbag failure and now (d) aircon failure. All other than (d) have been fixed under the dodgy dealer warranty but she's fed up with taking the car back to the garage every couple of months.
She has also in the past owned:
* a G reg Golf Mk II which had a leaky sunroof, stuttered on cold mornings, and needed several hundred quid of work to get through its MOT so was scrapped
* a R reg Astra where the engine went at 30k
* a Daihatsu Fourtrak which the propshaft fell out of
I don't think she has ever owned a car that has not had major terminal failure at some point. She spent the money on the Merc from a dealer because she thought that spending more money would get a more reliable car - this has patently not been the case.
She now has the opportunity to buy my father's X/00 Citroen Picasso which has done 6,000 miles and had a very easy life mostly in a warm garage. The Picasso has warranty until November, and the opportunity to buy a reduced warranty for another 2 years I think.
I know Picassos are highly regarded here but should someone with such a dire car history buy a French (=unreliable?) car which could have unknown problems from having done such low mileage?
What would backroomers recommend for a car destroyer?! All she wants is a car that won't break down!
mike Read more
How about a diesel auto.
Auto should prevent clutch problems (if she rides the clutch) and I find that the lower rev cut off point \"protects\" the engine from excessive use.
Downsides
more expensive
auto more thirsty
slower
Ok, not so interesting question for those with 1.8 t\'s
But here goes:
Have an Audi 80 with Keihinn 1 carb, which is a bit of a dog, seems exceptionally difficult to tune, and generally worn.
Is it possible to fit a weber conversion to this car?
I know a scirocco can take weber, is it poss to throw on a scirocco manifold with weber?
Is it worth bothering with any of above if I can fit a fuel injection system? - I think Motronic uses same manifold and head... and not too much wiring?
Thanks for any help lads.... and lassies! Read more
Browse
Thanks Blue Oval I was not aware of that and searching the Castrol Web site did not reveal the other viscosities, a bit of a strange site I though.
Regards Peter