April 2003
Is there a easy/cheap way of getting the oil changed in a car?
I have a 100K mileage Focus and want to change the oil every 6 months, are there specialist motor outlets who do this work, apart from main garages, which will work out expensive.
I could do the job myself but dont want to buy ramps etc.
I live in Enfield Middlesex.
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Can anyone please advise of a firm who can reproduce a car decal 75mm wide by 1.5mtrs long ? The originals were screen printed and the design is not suitable for lazer cutting.
Any input much appreciated.
Thank you, petel@clara.co.uk Read more
Hello Dom. Thanks for the reply.
I have had a cheap quote for car insurance from More Than, the policy being with the Royal and Sun Alliance, I thought it was really good until a friend said to be careful with them as they had bad results and were not in a very stable position.
I would appreciate any comments on this. Read more
I agree, mine went down by £400 with 1 years NCB! Now only £1000 to insure 1.25 Fiesta!! (fully comp of course!)
Interesting that the council say it will cost the taxpayers £120 to repaint his parking bay (as if they are doing him a favour out of the goodness of their hearts) yet the Telegraph reports that the road shouldn't have been resurfaced at all - funny council doesn't say how much that mistake cost the taxpayer. Typical that they manage to resurface a road that doesn't need it yet avoid resurfacing thousands of miles that do need it.
Is anyone aware of common cases of belt failure on Audi 2.4 V6's? I have a 4 year old 54k model A6 which started with a knocking noise at idle. Ran it to a local independent garage today who advised I leave it there and not drive any further so they can check it out - suspected timing belt problems. Could the engine be ruined already? It still ran OK which is why I was deliberating whether to do anything or wait until service time.
Very aware that a car such as this will carry big servicing bills, but Audi did not seem to think the timing belt will need attention until 5 years or 80k. Is it worth me complaining to Audi UK or should I just bite the bullet? The car is out of warranty now, although does have an independent warranty that may contribute part of the replacement cost. One bonus question guys - How much can I expect to shell out for this work assuming it is a belt replacement only with no engine damage?
Any suggestions welcome. Many thanks
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Do not wish to be a doommerchant a bloke at work bought a a2 diesel, had the gearbox replaced at 5k under warranty now the car is out of warrantly audi just wipe their hands
I have a Diesel Sharan. If I lift the bonnet up where do I look for the air mass meter? What does it look like?
Keep upright
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There is a detailed article about the VW sharan air mass meter, where it is and how to change it.
Here it is ;
www.carbasics.co.uk/how_to_change_air_mass_meter.h...m
I've just bought a second Toyota Rav4 (the first one is for sale: see Classifieds), and one of the two remote control key fobs only works intermittently.
The Toyota dealership has opened the unit and the circuit board looks as though there is some corrosion on it. They've also tried fitting a new battery, but the performance was not improved. My understanding is that if the unit is used to set the immobiliser/alarm system (it's a Toyota 5000 Thatcham I device) and then it fails, it will not be possible to use the car until the whole set-up is replaced at some cost (>£200, I'm told). This will be my wife's key, and not used so often, but I don't want to run that risk.
I've seen reference here in The Back Room to companies who will, for example, reset BMW dashboard computers for a fraction of BMW's quoted price. Does anyone know if it is possible to fix this remote control in a similar way?
Martyn [Back Room moderator]
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mailto:webmaster@honestjohn.co.uk Read more
DTD
Never said the book made a fuss, it was the alarm going off that did. My book simply said you could open the car with the key - didn't say it would alarm if you did!
Regards
John S
Drivers hooting in support of the antiwar coalition protest in Killarney, Johannesburg, on Friday were fined for disturbing the peace.
Protesters said they were "disgusted" by the actions of the Johannesburg metro police. Salim Vally said the police were "extremely provoking" and "were speeding all over the place. When drivers hooted, they chased after them. They almost knocked over a mother and child who are now on their way to hospital. Our protest is legal and we were abiding by the law."
Rob Thomson of the Ceasefire Campaign, which is affiliated to the Anti-War Coalition, accused the Metro police of trying to bring back the days of apartheid when people were told what to do. "They were insensitive," Thomson said.
Catherine Brodie hooted when she was passing by and was given a R100 ticket. "I live around here and every time I passed I hooted to support these guys [protesters]."
Apparently some of the drivers were issued with up to five tickets.
Conel Mackay, a spokesperson for the Johannesburg Metro, said the city had given permission to the protesters, who had agreed that the protest would be peaceful and that they would not carry placards urging motorists to hoot. The problem arose when residents complained of excessive hooting.
Seems like easy money to me ...
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Completely and blatantly ignoring them as you drive by seems to get the message across, or maybe a gentle shake of the head if they're looking at you for a response...
In my line of work it's never advisable to use the more graphic ways of indicating displeasure, as I might well have to drive past the same place another ten times on the same day!
where can i get the wheel extention body trim for a citroen zx like on the vtr's?
any information would be greatly appriciated
thanx Read more
Find a 16v ZX in at a scrappie and get the kit off that. They has wheel arch extensions and skirts.
I'm in a dilemma. I have, as previously mentioned in the BR, a 1986 2.0i Auto Granada with nearly 130k. The gearbox is as sweet as a nut (uh-oh, tempting fate!) with crisp changes, but the engine is, I fear, in need of attention. It knocks from cold and emits grey-blue(ish) smoke on start up and hard acceleration. Other silly little things are starting to go wrong too like wiper linkages, petrol cap locks, sticky and intermittently not working rear electric windows. And the bodywork is getting a little tatty. Having said that, it is an excellent car, perhaps the best I have owned. It is comfortable, capable, reasonably economical and totally reliable (I've done it again!). It has never refused to start or let me down in three years.
My question is this: should I carry on spending money on it, or quit while I'm ahead and get something else. I should mention that I am very hard up at the moment, so I would be buying another banger. Is it a case of 'better the devil you know'? Any help would, as always, be much appreciated.
(I can hear Richard Hall at his keyboard already...! ;-)) Read more
There's a lot of them about, many with decent engines and some with decent autoboxes. My '89 Scorpio 2.0i has a lovely 104k engine - no oil needed between changes - and a slightly less lovely gearbox.
They are virtually worthless, except to us owners, so I would say keep a look out for another car/engine, but run your existing one until a big bill looms.
Browse
If Ford Rapid Fit can do it for £15, then it's a steal.
Ford 5W/30 Formula E is about £17 for 5 ltr plus a Ford filter is about £4.75 ish.
As regards sealing washers, I always use a Dowty washer which is an aluminium ? washer with a bonded rubber seal. These are extensively used for industrial hydraulic systems. (Not natural rubber, of course)