May 2003
hi
i recently bought a polo coupe 1.0 1990 h plate
i had it serviced n alas soon as i bought it ,and it sucks way to much fuel i got 110 miles outta 15 quid which is what my friend gets from his 2.0 !
the haynes manual says i could have a worn carb?
if so how much am i looking at for a new or second hand one from scrappies?
also i\'ve been told that if the head gasket has oil on it that this can be a bad thing if so how bad cos i got some of that too? lol
if it i bad news please be gentle it my first car too!
thanks guys Read more
I currently have 9 years NCD on a private car and have recently bought a light van for business purposes. Am I able to use my NCD for both vehicles? After speaking to a number of companies and online quotes all seem to suggest I have to start again for the van! Any ideas? Read more
>>However, if you last insured with a different company ....
daft way to cost yourself an awful lot of money in the event of a serious accident.
Also illegal.
Hi All
I have a VW Golf 1300 Mk2 81,000 miles.
The centre silencer of my exhaust system needs replacing as the pipe to box welding has cracked and failed. The silencer was 6 years old and fitted by a VW dealer.
Is it worth having a VW dealer do the work compared to QuickFit etc? Will an aftermarket type silencer as supplied by someone like Quickfit last as long as 6 years?
Any suggestions please.
Thanks Read more
I once had a system fitted to my Xantia by a 'major national chain'. It was most disappointing - back box 'boomed'. It was perfectly fitted, but obviously an inferior design or thinner steel.
Having said that, the next one I had fitted was a TI Bainbridge. It was done by a 'one man band' establishment and was fine. A 'private' exhaust fitting centre using a respected (branded) replacement should be OK.
We have two or three local tyre and exhaust centres run by decent hard - working blokes who give good service and good value. Remember that someone working with tyres and exhausts all day every day SHOULD know more than the dealers about their specialist areas.
Graeme
Following erratic, jerky running of my Mitsubishi Carisma Turbo-diesel (1999, 74k miles)the main dealer says the diesel pump needs replacing because one of the internal sensors is faulty and they can only replace the whole pump (sensors being unavailable to them)has quoted an astonishing, jaw-dropping £900+ to supply & fit (the pump alone is £600). As the car's book value is only about £2500, does anyone have any alternative suggestions which would make more economic sense? The engine is, in fact, a Renault TD 1.9.
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There's a bit of luck! It might not have been a Lucas. I've found this before, even with things like alternators - take them to someone who works with the things day in day out and they'll generally do a better job for a lot less.
I once took out the motor from our dishwasher at home (burnt out) A replacement was going to cost about two thirds the price of a new machine. Looked up Yellow Pages and found a guy who rewinds electric motors. He did it in a day and said it would be 'better than the original windings'. He was right - it went on for donkey's years!
Graeme
Just about to recieve a 1998 Merc 2.5 diesel from a mate. Drives really nicely (but won't win a grand prix!), very solid and lovely engine. 180K, but the autobox clunks slightly shifting back and forth from D and R. Is this a sloppy driveshaft of something in the autobox. Is it serious or could an autobox service sort it out? The gearbox otherwise performs perfectly driving at speed.
Any thoughts welcome. Read more
Make sure the correct amount of fluid is used. The box on my E320 Coupé started playing up just after a major service -- sluggish to engage, over-revving in certain instances, etc. Thanks to the help I received on this very board, I was alerted to the possibility that there was not enough lubricant in the box. Lo and behold, the main dealers who did the service admitted that they had failed to refill the box correctly and it was short by 1.5 litres (or was it more?).
I've spotted a Volvo S40 diesel I'm considering buying. I have read HJ's comments. Are they generally reliable? (mine will do a relatively high annual mileage.) What problems have owners encountered ??
Thanks
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Stan,
I regularly rent cars and in order to keep costs down usually book a small car. Next week I've got a Clio booked.
I'm just getting ready for that heart sinking feeling when they say, as usual, oh we've upgraded you and its an S40/ V40.
Says something that I'd rather have the Clio. Comprende?
Now an S60, totally different kettle of fish.
Rover 75 came very close to being selected last car change time just to give support to MM's view. Don't listen to the advocates of the 75's are for Grandads and that the chassis is poor. They can be hustled along very smartly and comfortably eye thank yew!
FiF
Following discussions previously, let's be objective.
1. Take an old Honda Ballade, back in 1978, stick a label on from a hallowed brand, let's say Triumph. We'll call it the Acclaim. And with that, it was so bad, we've never seen a Triumph since.
2.Now let's take another old Honda and use it to replace the cramped, dangerous old Metro. We'll overprice it, as there is always someone daft enough to pay. We'll call this one a Rover and try and say it's competition for the Escort or Astra, not the Fiesta or Nova (corsa).
3.We won't bother updating it like Honda does every few years. We'll just call it a 213, then 214, then 200 and yes, folks will fall for it.
4. When BMW realises the mistake they've made in buying a Rover and offloads it all, we'll rebrand as MG and take the old range down to Halfords, for garish paint, crummy spoilers and go-faster tack.
5. Marketing crisis. MG's are not selling. Who do they appeal to? Not older-aged Rover traditionalists as they're too garish, not boy racers, as they are old men's cars. Wonder why they aren't selling? Am I right?
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Kaytee, yes, highly recommended. I've been running a ZR 160 for over a year and it is fantastic. There's not much that can touch it for the price. Please try to get a decent test drive so you can see for yourself. Mine's one of the 'horrible yellow ones with tacky plastic bits stuck on' that a few people here seem to hate so much. I love the way it looks, goes and handles and as far as I'm concerned that's all that matters.
The one serious critisism of the ZR is the understeer, but even that I believe is deliberate. The car is aimed at younger drivers. (I exclude myself from that group!). Younger drivers are usually less experienced. Understeer is much easier to control than oversteer, so having it built in makes the car less likely to go out of control, and therefore safer to drive for less experienced drivers. I'm hoping that someone will come up with a solution to reduce the understeer for me though!
last week my car (Peugot 406) was towed away to a local dealer because it wouldnt start (turned over but wouldnt catch) On Tuesday I was told that the starter relay (double) would have to be replaced which would be two hours labour and the relay which would be sent the next day. I called yesterday and was told they were onto it. Today I was called and was told that they needed permission for an extra hours work and that would total six hours so far. (I suppose hours three, four and five were good and didn`t need permission) They called me back about an hour and a half later to tell me it wasn`t the relay but the ecu would have to be replaced and I would be charged for the relay, six hours labour, the new ecu (which will take two days to arrive) and two hours to fit the new ecu. All this for a grand total of around £900 . So am I being fleeced ??? do I need to open a refrigerator dealership in Iceland....or a vehicle dealership??? Read more
I cannot see a) the basis for their diagnosis or b) how they can justify anything more than an hours labour for the replacement of the units. I Know that on some models there can be a lengthy setting up procedure to restore the idle settings but six hours to fit a readily accessible plug in relay seems ludicrous.
Andrew
Happiness is a T70 at full chat!
Hi Guys,
Can someone please tell me what is the spacing between the short marker posts down the nearside edge of UK motorways. Are they all the same, or was there some \'metrication\' at some date?
I\'d like to do a spot of speedometer calibration with a stopwatch, and there isn\'t a \'measured mile\' for, well, miles!!
Cheers. Read more
Cheers DVD, yo' de man!
When is the new nissan Z available in the UK? Popped down to the local Mazda dealer today with a mate who wants a new 6, and they had 5 - yes 5 new nissan z's just rolled off the transporter, all unregistered. And why in the Mazda dealer? (who by the way were "too busy" to show us round a Mazda 6 - needless to say he will now get a Mondeo)
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There's a 6 month old imported one at www.japvillage.com for £30K.
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i cant see any leaks when its running and there are no puddles on the ground that i can see
what ways are there to check for fuel leaks?