April 2003
Q. Why would anyone want to fit alloy wheels to their car, in place of OE steel rims?
They're expensive, easily damaged, easily stolen, bump up the insurance and offer a negligible benefit to the car's handling.
Having said that, I'm currently considering fitting alloys to the Civic, with some nice new tyres (which are about due for change) as I think it would look pretty with something suitably subtle.
I've clearly answered my own question, but have I missed anything in the arguments for and against? Somebody help convince me it's a bad idea, as I'm sure I would regret forking out for such a pointless 'boyracer' fashion accessory.
cheers
Ed. Read more
Is it as easy to change the clutch on a mk3 Astra, as is on the mk3 Cavalier? I\'ve heard there are 2 types and one is not easy. Any ideas? Read more
I take it that you mean the Astra 'F'? You can no longer pull out the first motion shaft and drop the clutch out the bottom. Backward step by Vauxhall there.
The two diesel types would be the GM 1.7DTL (lo-blow), and the Isuzu 1.7TD engine.
Jack the front of the car up and place axle stands under the sills.
Support the engine from the top using a frame across the inner wings.
Remove the complete front subframe from underneath. This is easier than you think, as it's only about 8 bolts including the bottom ball joints.
Remove front hub nuts and driveshafts. (You may get away with just moving them to one side, rather than removing them completely and spilling gearbox oil).
Remove bell housing bolts and withdraw gearbox.
Hope it helps.
I?m currently wrestling with what to do as my current company car ? Astra 1.8 CDX estate goes EOL in June. As my company allowance is pitiful ? a shade under £300 ? I think I?ll stay in the scheme and get another. Having decided to go down the diesel line I?ve finally come up with two options ? Focus 115 TDCI estate or V40 115 SE. I?m awaiting test drives but I am pondering whether the V40 is worth the extra £100 it will cost me in tax and extra charges Any thoughts would be appreciated! Read more
"I couldnt hack the quick clear windscreen tho, did my eyes in at night"
Funny that, similar initial reaction on Mondeo. Now don't notice it at all, except in daylight fog.
Needs a sparkly clean screen though, off to glass cleaner thread!
My front and rear wipers suddenly stopped working when i was driving to work today.
The water washer jets don't work either (front and back)
Could this be a fuse or relay problem?
Please help me as i am not sure where to look!!! (fuse number etc)
Thanks! Read more
sounds like fuse, pop the lid or cover off the fusebox. There should be a guide printed or embossed on it that shows what fuse does what. look for the picture of windscreen wipers. There should be spare fuse of the correct rating (colour) in the lid or fuse box.
HJ's auction reports are conspicuous by their absence lately.
Is there a reason, other than that he is extremely rich and has gone on a two month vacation to Mustique? Read more
I've bought two cars in the last few months from following links to this site - GTC and Trade Sales - both times they asked how I'd heard of them and both times, I mentioned this site. I don't suppose they would, in turn, give HJ feedback on this.
I wonder how many others have done the same and whether its worth getting some sort of survey put together of the value HJ's reports provide for backroomers and the subsequent sales which these companies have achieved. I'd have never gone beyond the local press/garages were it not for this site.
I'd be happy to subscribe because I know how much the advice I have gained has been worth personally. However, I would worry about the resulting exclusivity of this site - putting off new members, especially the less technically aware (such as myself). This site needs all sorts to function well, and that includes people like me who are interested but only really have anecdotal evidence to offer rather than a huge amount of technical knowledge.
Splodgeface
is it me or is the VW Passat W8 heading the same way as the Renault Avantime i.e. knacker's yard?
I note that in the Telegraph motoring pages a used example was being offered for around £30K; now one VW dealer is offering used low-mileage ones for £21K.
Seeme to me that the W8 Passat is not a good seller, and a mistake by VW. Read more
Co-incidentally I spotted an 02/02 W8 4.0 estate advertised with a local dealer as having tiptronic, leather, sat nav/tv, climate control, full eletric pack (don't know what comes as standard BTW) @ £25,995 and I thought that seemed very low. £21k seems ridiculous - how old were those cars ?
I have been told that you can run your car with the tyre pressures at there maximum setting. This is surposed to give better fuel economy. What other affects will it have? Read more
Probably the way your colleague drives and the make of tyre Peter
Renault Megane Scenic 3/98 2.0 rxe F3R engine. One coil replaced at 15000 miles now the other is playing up at 24000. What alternatives are they best replaced with? Read more
So far as I am aware there is no after-market "pattern" part available, but I believe that the Renault replacement is to a modified design, or at least a different part number.
Regards, Adam
A car that is not taxed has to be either SORNed or scrapped, and I understand that evidence of scrapping has to be produced.
What happens in the case of a car that is SORNed, and kept off the road for a long time as a source of spares? It will gradually dwindle away as bits get removed, either for immediate use or stored away for future use, until in the end there may be very little left.
Some time in the next 6 months I shall be left with a rusty shell, with no doors or body panels or mechanical components. The door post with the stamped-on commission number has long since rusted away, and I shall probably cut up what remains to avoid paying a collection charge. How do I provide evidence of scrapping, or will the car live forever in SORN limbo, as a diffuse theoretical and dispersed collection of bits?
Will my descendants still be SORNing the "car" in fifty years time? Read more
I have had a reply from the DVLA, as follows:
?You should only tell DVLA that a vehicle has been scrapped if you actually break it up or destroy it yourself. If this is the case, enter the date of scrapping on your registration document and return it to the DVLA. We require no evidence that you have destroyed the vehicle?
They would not be drawn on the question of when a vehicle that is slowly being raided for parts becomes ?scrap?. It would seem that SORN can continue at the discretion of the owner for as long as he thinks he might want to rebuild and re-licence the car.
The lack of any requirement to submit evidence of scrapping is curious. It opens the obvious loophole and potential for dubious re-creation of vehicles from parts from various cars. So it would be worth hanging on to a collection of SORNed vehicles in name only just in case.
Also of course they might one day offer grants to induce people to scrap older cars, as has happened in other countries.
Some regulars may recall that a few days before Xmas last, my 17 yr old son (passed test 1 month before), ran into the back of a woman turning left at traffic lights. Someone called the Police, he was breath tested (not had a drink) and was allowed on his way. There was no damage to the wife's Focus but apparently some damage to the woman's old Nissan he'd hit. I went to view it next day. It was an old banger and not worth repairing. She was claiming whiplash. I heard nothing for weeks until a "blame & claim" solicitor's letter dropped through the door saying she was claiming whiplash. I sent it off to the insurer's and have heard nothing since. No Police contact whatsoever.
This morning I was gobsmacked to receive as his Parent a summons to appear Tuesday next (ie 5 days notice) with him charged with "Careless Driving". We are all shocked. He's in bits, he's studying for "A" levels and he/we have never had dealings with the Police. Should he plead guilty ? Do I need a Solicitor ? What's the likely outcome ? Isn't this short notice for Court?Isn't Careless Driving a serious offence ?
Help !! Any advice gratefully received. Read more
Thanks again for all your support & valued input. Having had 24 hrs to mull it over, I still have a few questions. What did the Clerk of the Ct mean by a "referral" ? - sounds quite ominous & would have dragged out the situation, which we certainly didn't want. Do the Police & CPS work a quota system where a nice, easy "open & shut" case such as this scores them brownie points ? Will somebody who initiated this matter be hauled over the coals as the Mags obviously thought it was a tiny, trivial offence ? I know I've certainly nudged in the back of people at least three times in my 32 yrs of driving ; are we all to expect to be charged for this if Plod turns up (bearing in mind that it was son who called Plod in the 1st place) ? I would love to know if "victim"s documents were in order & inspected - no-one ever told me anything. ANYWAY .......... having said all that ........ we're all mighty relieved, it's now "A" level revision time and there the matter rests !!! Thanks again.
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I'd be lost without my CD player!
Blue