June 2003
Was browsing the magasines in the newsagents last night and read a first drive report in one of the glossys on the new Jaguar X type fitted with a Ford 2.0 TDCi engine. The writer stated that the engine had been refined by jaguar - was very smooth but did not pick up very quickly below 2500 rpm (unlike the mondeo!). He also said that there was some hesitation on acceleration when using partial throttle.
I wondered if anyone else had any knowledge of this and is it the old TDCi misfire/ TDi tip in tip out problem yet again?
Whilst I can more or less forgive it in my coarse but fun mondeo I would think that this would be a major embarrassment in a car which claims such refinement as a jag. Has HJ tried one yet?
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Does anybody still create custom cars?
By custom car I don't mean putting a big exhaust, alloys and 'Lexus' lights on a Saxo/Corsa/Fiesta shopping trolley!
Is airbrushing still done?
Are V12s shoehorned into Mondeos?
Are rear suspensions ever raised?
Are cars shortened or lowered? What happened to Mini Ha Ha? Read more
How do I enter the secuity code for my radio in my Peugout 405.
The radio is a Clairion
cheers Read more
I think it goes like this....
Hit 'BND' to initiate the coding process - then enter the code via the preset buttons and then hit the BND button again to confirm the entered code.
That's the way I did it the other day!
I bought an MG ZS120+ in November 2002 and thought, at the time, that the engine was a bit noisy. On Monday (23/6/2003), this week, we dcided that the noise was so bad that we should do something about it. The car has 3500 miles on the clock. The Rover/MG dealer diagnosed the noise as being from the rear exhaust box and, next day, fitted a new one with the explanation that the spot welds must have gone in the box and was sending the box back to the manufacturer. I find that the engine is still noisy. It sounds like "bag of bones" rattling and I'm a bit concerned that it caused by something which, in about 4 months time could be an expensive "out of warrenty" job. Any ideas, suggestions, please?
Newby
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Hi Nweby,
You seem to contradict yourself in that you 'say' you are fully aware of the checks needed on cars but- and I assume this is so- you ignored a most vital part and neglected to check the oil. Irrespective of mileage/ carefull driving/ flogging, it is still necessary to check the oil weekly. Cars can use oil and you can be blissfully unaware of it- unless you drive looking in the rear view mirror all the time. I had an Allegro (for my sins) a few years ago and it did 300 miles to the pint of oil. If you took the plugs out they were clean as they should be- the exhaust was clean and exhibited no smoke either stationary or on acceleration/ decelleration. When I finally got the motor out and stripped it down, the bores were extremely glazed. All i did was to use a glazebuster and reassemble - not even replacing the rings and it never used a drop of oil after that.
When i said by checking the oil weekly this could alert you to a potential problem that's precisely it. At least you can go straight to the dealer if you get a sudden loos of oil- rather than not bother and end up with a knackered unit and nobodys fault but yours.
--
These are the views of Robin the Technician with 35 years in the trade. I fix, therefore I am...
I read in the paper this morning about the police in Manchester refusing to let a driver with his family in the vehicle drive his car,because the tinted windows were too dark,as it prevented him from having vision of other road users.He had to get the car taken back to London by a motoring organisation
Why can't they do the same to motorists driving without Insurance,Road tax, No licence,No M.O.T. Banned drivers etc. Read more
Tinted windows - just another reason to drive around with sidelights on all the time. The dynamo went years ago- your battery won't run down.
I spent today at the Nene Valley Railway, helping lift a steam loco boiler with our 40-ton steam crane. When I arrived, another volunteer came across and warned me to cover up or remove my windscreen wipers as a crow has been taking wiper rubbers, presumably to make its nest. He said that most of the team had had their wipers damaged this way over the past few days.
I went straight back to the car and wrapped some paper around the wipers to discourage the crow. When I returned to the car tonight to come home, I was pleased to see that they were still intact.
Then, when driving off, I switched on the *rear* tailgate wiper and washer to clear some bird mess and wondered why this just produced an awful smear. I stopped to investigate - and found the wiper rubber gone! OK, I know, nothing to crow about! Read more
"but I believe this has already occurred with birds."
Sadly badgers have a lot to learn round our way then. I know where there is quite a population and always knock the speed right down at night when going along in that vicinity. Wish everyone did the same though. It seems as though I see more and more victims these days. At least one every couple of weeks.
There was coverage this week on TV of Trading Standards investigating MoT stations.
A car was checked over by I think the RAC and then submitted to a selection of MOT stations. Various additional faults were found by some of the MOT stations. They were not all the same faults. Costs to correct faults varied up to £100.
The person who originally checked the car disputed the newly found faults.
I take my cars to a MoT testing station that is not owned by a garage and has no connection with any garage. They are most helpful. If my car fails they show me the problems, offer suggestions on fixing them and generally give me confidence that I have had good value for their fee. I can then decide which faults I can fix and which require skills/tools I do not have. Read more
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3016048.stm
BBC filmed a warden booking a driver. The driver having just parked and got out to put coins in the meter found the ticket being written before he got the coins in the slot.
Various excuses were aired by management.
So watch it if you are in Westminster.
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Yes I noticed that problem last night - my 940 estate barely fitted into the bay!
The rear exhaust bracket on my dad's 1996 316i has finally rusted through leaving the exhaust to hang down a fair way. When putting it back on we realised that the silencer is also on it's last legs, some bits of it could be pulled off in our hands.
So, we're looking at puttin a new system from the cat back, or maybe even a total new system on, as the car is still on it's original exhaust and has been used ainly for short journeys, so in some ways it's a miracle that it lasted this long!
What would BR members recommend replacement wise? I was thinking a stainless steel system would be a good idea purely because we'll be keeping the car until it dies...
Anyone got any advice, or likely costs relating to fitting a stainless system?
Ta in advance
Blue Read more
Thought you wouldn't think it was extortion. Good luck.
Ps I'd still reccomend waxoyl on the brackets at least.
Amazingly due to the different tax treatments within the EU the price of second hand left hand drives appears ferociosly high particularly holland belgium denmark . Does anyone know the cheapest European country for SECOND HAND used cars. Or if there any reputable dealers here in the UK?
Why do I want a second hand left hand drive. Well I am moving to Spain and unitl you have residency you cannot import a new one. Plus, in total they charge 28% tax for the pleasure of doing so.
Any help greatly appreciated.
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The following answer to a reader's letter in our local paper may be relevant:
www.roundtownnews.com/articles.asp?ID=4286&fecha_p...5
Unless the rules have changed you don't require residency for car purchase, but you do need to be on the "padron" - the local electoral list - which is a fairly simple matter (my car dealer arranged it)
Browse
Talking of Hillman Imps, does anyone remember the Imp that was only about 2-foot high? IIRC it may have been pink, and it suffered from serious cut-n-shut of the roof pillars.
Dom F