April 2003
I bought a New Beetle 1.6 two years ago; since I had already bumped its' price up somewhat with Alloys and Metallic Paint, I decided not to add Air-Con (although, to be fair, with that lot on, the price went up to the same as the 2.0 Beetle!). But I now want to fit air-con onto it.
Some advice - I reckon that, although I'm sure I won't get my money back on the install come sale time, would I be right in thinking that, in 3 years time, selling a non-aircon car for premium money is going to be hard ? And secondly, I got a quote from Reader Air Conditioning for about £1300 + VAT - does anyone know any other good aircon after-market fitters? Read more
My new focus (Jan 03)was having trouble starting in the mornings which the local ford dealership checked (by trying to start it once!) and said there was nothing wrong. Three days later the car lost power on the motorway and then overheated once i had pulled over. Inspection by the RAC revealed coolant water in and around the spark plugs and also inside the engine - fifteen minutes of blowing steam was testament to this! The garage repaired the car and clamed the fault was due to a "temperature reader/sender" fault which was then replaced.I enquired whether it might instead have been a cylinder head failure or something similar and they said they had done a pressure test so it couldnt be and i was wasting their time. Three weeks later and the spark plugs are again surrounded by coolant and now the garage are saying that the head plugs are leaking. Does this sound credible or has anyone else had a similar focus problem? I dont think my garage have a clue but i'm kind of stumped too. Their quote yesterday was"well its still working at teh moment so hold on to it till it breaks down?we have time to look at it". Read more
If your car has been a real lemon- and it looks very much like it has- then Ford Committments have a set of criteria by which to judge whether they should replace it or not. I believe that two breakdowns with the same fault is one of the criteria. You should ask customer services to put you in touch with the committments team- but writing letters will be a major pastime for a couple of months! I took delivery of a mondeo tdci in May last year that was a real pig - off the road 60 days in the first 4 months. I asked them to replace it and (with great support from my leasing company) they took it back at the end of November with 8000 miles on the clock and gave me a brand new car - but we had to pay £800 for the mileage covered. I think there is no charge for up to 5000 miles and then a sliding scale is applied. I think this is fair enough- I have a 52 plate car instead of an 02 plate car.
Good luck!
Off the track slighly but to get things off my chest .. in 1984 I went to Mercedes' museum in Germany. As a 14-year-old I fell in love with the Mercedes S-Class. Strange, I know, but true.
11 years later we tried buying an E-class brand new for Mrs V Senior. We failed. We bought an E250D 2nd hand instead. Thank-you Great Trade Centre.
4 years later we tried to get a 'Signature' S-Class used car for Mr V Senior. We failed. We bought an S320 privately instead. Thank-you Sharon and Gary of Essex. Thanks Dad for the 190E.
This year I tried to buy a 2nd-hand Mercedes S-Class, for myself. I failed. I bought an S280 privately instead. Thank-you James.
So, in summary, eight visits to Mercedes dealerships and the best result was a 10 minute test drive to buy a £20,000 car. Up and down a straight road in the country having told the salesman I would spend most of my time in town. Another four visits resulted in being ignored completely. The others were varied but equally unfruitful.
My brother also walked in with £28,000 in cash to spend with his friend. 1/2 way through the discussion and after being told that 'A C-Class Mercedes is quite a step up from a VW Polo you know ...' he went to serve another customer ... and didn't return. He bought a 2nd-hand E200TE from Scotland from a non-Mercedes dealer instead.
Not quite sure how anyone is lucky enough to buy from a Mercedes dealership! Answers on a postcard please.
Is anyone out there from Mercedes interested even? Would LOVE to talk to you!
rojer@lycos.co.uk
Astra, Renault 18, Renault 25 TXi, Astra Est, Passat Est, Mercedes 190E, Mercedes Read more
QED.
On Friday night I did a round trip from Scotland to Liverpool on the M6 & M62. Left home at 4.30pm in pouring rain and returned around midnight. 99% of drivers had their lights on dipped main beam.
What I was amazed at was the number of cars with only one tail light working.
I personally check my lights almost daily (who said I'm paranoid?!) and would get them fixed as son as possible.
Now it is possible that these faulty lights blew on that particular journey. After all, it was a very wet night and I suppose rain could get in and blow a bulb. But for so many cars to have the same problem - surely not. I definitely noted a 52 Reg Volvo at one point so it wasn't just old bangers either.
This probably sounds like a petty gripe, but it can be extremely confusing when your driving up behind a motorbike, only to find out its not a bike after all.
Other than the tail light issues, I was very impressed with the standard of driving in such difficult conditions. Heavy rain combined with thick spray around dusk is not my idea of fun. Its a good job that I know the road.
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How about blue turn indicators? Or white? or Purple? Well we can say these have one advantage because they tend to get used, to show everyone the owner has them, unlike the amber kind. I have heard the argument advance, well it's my street and of course I'm turning into it, why do I have to indicate? It's none of your business where I'm going...Or how about the primary use of indicators to mean get over I'm bigger than you and I want your space. Or no lights at all? Especially buses, since 30% of them are illegal and non-licensed? (Converstaion) excuse me sir, did you know your back lights aren't working? Yes of course they aren't, I disconnected them so I can't be seen so easily, this is a dangerous area you know.
Or let's wire up the amber lights so they come on with the back lights. They look pretty don't they? Oh, I never used the indicators anyway so what does it matter. I think I'll paint my front headlights red this week, that'll warn oncoming traffic better.
A "bulaloy" is a Philippine home-made jeep with lots of colored lights on the front. The most I've ever counted was 27 of various colors. So of course you need a bull-bar, how would the poor chap find anywhere to put them othwerwise.
I can see I need to post some pix of some of these.
Hello Folks,
The following found on the XM newsgroup. The actual name of the manual publisher has been replaced with "manual" in case they get litigious.
Manual: Rotate anticlockwise.
Translation: Clamp with visegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer counterclockwise.
Manual: This is a snug fit.
Translation: You will skin your knuckles!
Manual: This is a tight fit.
Translation: Not a hope in hell, bucko!
Manual: As described in Chapter 7...
Translation: That'll teach you not to read through before you start; now you are looking at scary photos of the inside of a gearbox...
Manual: Pry...
Translation: Hammer a screwdriver into...
Manual: Undo...
Translation: Go buy a BIG can of WD40...
Manual: Retain small spring...
Translation: "Jeez what was that, it nearly took my eye out!"
Manual: Press and rotate to remove bulb...
Translation: "OK - that's the glass part off, now use some good pliers to dig out the base...
Manual: Lightly...
Translation: Start off lightly and build up till the veins on your forehead are throbbing...
Manual: Routine maintenance...
Translation: If it isn't broken... it's about to be!
Manual: One spanner rating.
Translation: Your mother could do this... so how did you manage to botch it up?
Manual: Two spanner rating.
Translation: Now you may think that you can do this because two is a low,tiny, little number... but you also thought the wiring diagram was a map of the Tokyo underground.
Manual: Three spanner rating.
Translation: OK - but don't expect us to ride in it afterwards!
Manual: If not, you can fabricate your own special tool like
this...
Translation: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Manual: Compress...
Translation: Squeeze with all your might, jump up and down on, swear at,throw at the garage wall, then search in the dark corner of the garage for while muttering "Piece of Sh@t" repeatedly under your breath.
Manual: Inspect...
Translation: Squint at really hard and pretend you know what you are looking at, then declare in a loud knowing voice to your wife, "Yep, as I thought, it's broke!"
Manual: Carefully...
Translation: You are about to cut yourself.
Manual: Retaining nut...
Translation: Yes, that's it, that big spherical blob of rust.
Manual: Get an assistant...
Translation: Prepare to humiliate yourself in front of someone you know.
Manual: Turning the engine will be easier with the spark pugs removed.
Translation: However, starting the engine afterwards will be much harder. Once that sinking pit of your stomach feeling has subsided, you can start to feel deeply ashamed as you gingerly refit the spark plugs.
Manual: Refitting is the reverse sequence to removal.
Translation: But you swear in different places.
Manual: Prise away plastic locating pegs...
Translation: Snap off...
Manual: Using a suitable drift...
Translation: The biggest nail in your tool box isn't a suitable drift!
Manual: Apply moderate heat...
Translation: Placing your mouth near it and huffing isn't moderate heat.
Manual: Index
Translation: List of all the things in the book but the thing you want to do!
ho-ho-ho
rg
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Or more specifically www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=7468&m...e
Thread writelocked to avoid repetition. DD.
Sorry to re-kindle the fog light debate again but whilst browsing some well known motoring mags, namely Autocar, Top Gear, Evo, Car etc. at my local supermarket I was amazed at the amount of adverts that pictured cars with their fog lights on.
Adverts from Jaguar, Rover, Ford to name but a few examples clearly showed cars with their fog lights on in clear conditions. To add to this, quite a few of the features had shots of cars with their fogs on in clear and bright conditions.
Most of the cars depicted in the adverts had ?sporting? pretensions, genuine or otherwise and personally, I must admit that it did make the pics look better.
If this is the example being set by both car manufacturers and motoring journalists? then how can you expect the ?image conscious? especially pimply Joe et al to show any restraint when it comes to driving with fogs on?
Chad.R Read more
Chad - I don't believe either manufacturers or journalists have bothered much about presenting a responsible attitude except about things which are blatantly naughty.
Sorry, for the mamy postings but your help is greatly appreciated.
My 1993 TD Astra (Isuzu), the temp gauge rarely goes above the blue, even on runs over 30mins. I guess my thermostat has failed, and being Vauxhall the failsafe is that they fail opened.
I have been quoted 7.99 for a new one and contemplated using a paper type gasket with gasket sealant. Would this be suffice to seal the housing, or not. And is it easy job to fit? Any pointers on how to do it.
Cheers
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I used to have a Fiat with temperatures on the guage and worried;then I then imagined it was a Ford with blue,white and red and ceased worrying-there is no way a guage and sender made that cheap can be that accurate.
recently the car has started to rev up to 2k just after starting but quickly settles down, it never use to do this, during the recent service i mentioned it, the diagnostic machine showed a temperature sensor fault, this is due to be changed, but were is it?, lifting the bonnet on modern cars allows a very limited view.
Is there a site that will locate part locations for my car?
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Hi Jud,
I don't know of any internet site that provides such a service - if there is one I'd like to know too!
Haynes do a manual for the A4, 1995 to Feb 2000, no. 3575 (but this only covers 4 cylinder models which is no good if yours is a V6 like mine). This will help you locate the water temp sensor.
You can get more info at: www.haynes.co.uk/inc/viewmanual.asp?mt=3575
Cheers,
El Dingo (Martin).
I have seen this adative by STP (correct if I am wrong) that you apply to a tank full of diesel. It is supposed to help cold starts, reduce emmisions and carbon deposits. Does it work on a diesel engine? Is it worth getting? Thirdly, it is a 1993 Astra 1.7TD Isuzu, will it harm the car?
Sorry for the 'thickness', but any help would be appreciated. Read more
Apparently though the engine can become 'addicted' to it and it can (IIRC) accelerate valve wear. If the car needs it NOW, for instance if you're considering selling it, by all means use it a better long term solution would be a copy of Autotrader, a mug of coffee and a cordless phone...
The windscreen wipers on my 1993 Audi S2 have gone barmy - specifically the intermittent position.
When I switch the wipers to intermittent I get anything from a single wipe to 20 wipes before it pauses. It will then do the same again, but with a different number of wipes.
If I switch the wipers off before it has reached a pause, then the wipers just stop whereever they are on the windscreen. They do not return to there home position.
This also means that if I try the single wipe option (press down), the wiper will move for as long as the stalk is pressed downwards, but the instant I let it go, the wipers will stop.
I know what to expect now so it is not the end of the world, but it really can be annoying when there is just a little bit of spray around and the wipers decide to go for a couple of minutes.
Does anybody have any ideas what might be causing this?
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Its almost certainly the park switch, or track on the pcb or whatever the VAG group use to park the wipers in place. Its making intermittant contact. It could mean a new wiper motor, or a module bolted to the motor. I am sure someone who has had one apart will tell you.
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Price looks about right, but make sure it's a Diavia kit. Reader Air used to fit Diavia kits, but make sure. You can also try www.vehvac.co.uk as they are the Diavia importer, so definately fit their kits. They should fit a factory switch, so only someone who knows what they're looking for under the bonnet will tell the difference.
You are probably be right about selling it without a/c though, as it is fairly basic stuff these days.
Much as DavidHM said, might be a good time to consider a swop to one with a/c now.