June 2003
Hi - As my latest adventure in bangernomics I've bought a very tidy Honda Accord Coupe and I want to put my CD player in it instead of the existing Bluespot stereo that has a code I don't know. Thing is, I've never had an airbag car before and the (American) Haynes manual says the airbag must be disabled before doing anything to the radio. 1 - is that right? 2 - Is there any way of getting round the code problem for the Bluespot, just in case I panic and decide to put it back together as it is? Read more
I have a n S Reg Omega 2.5 V6 CDX with about 65k on the clock.
After a hard Friday's work it is parked and left alone.
Then - at about 2pm the next day (give or take an hour) when the sun hits it the alarm triggers. If reset it triggers again after a while. Disabling the internal sensors makes no difference. Same happens any day when the sun comes round.
Obviously something to do with the temperature as it doesn't go off on cool days!
Not a great problem as I can leave it unlocked for the afternoon when at home. Any ideas anyone?
JohnGD
Sunny Suffolk
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Thank you everyone.
Problem seems to be with the bonnet switch. It has no adjustment so I have disconnected it and have not had an alarm this weekend.
The switch works so I may glue a small piece of 1/4inch perspex on to the point it touches the bonnet to give a little extra throw.
Thanks again
I am considering a 307 SW 110bhp Hdi.Does anyone already own one, and would they recommend one?
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Don't shell out on a new car - visit www.upsolute.com and get your car chipped. Your engine can be increased to 116bhp with a 25% increase in torque for just over 300 quid.
I don't work for them, just about to get mine done and had nothing but positive feedback from people who have taken the plunge...
Can anyone tell me the technical lowdown on the 1 litre engine? How many cylinders? Does it have a cam belt or chain? Any interesting features?
Thanks
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www.ukcarbroker.co.uk/vauxhallpricesmastercopy.htm has the Corsa Active for £7327. The 1.2 SXi is only £511 more and has an extra 17 bhp plus it isn't a special edition so will be easier to value secondhand. I'd be inclined to go for that one unless performance really isn't an issue. Both have free insurance offers on at the moment. You can also get a (pre-reg I think) SXi for £7459 from www.newregcars.co.uk if your insurance is particularly cheap.
I have an Ifor Williams trailer. Galvanised body work and it is looking very sad due to grime and diesel output from a previous van. I have tried powerwashing it but to no avail. Can any of you chaps suggest a magic formula to do the job and restore said trailer to it's former glory!
Regards. Read more
I would have thought that these days there would have been a 'magic' spray on doofer or something that would wash away and leave the thing spotless! Pah! Pathetic. I blame Blair.
As for it going 'away' in the night this has been tried and the only thing that saved it was the neat little barrel lock that fits in the tow hitch. I awoke in the morning to find the trailer the wrong way round and nose down on the ground. Their ball cover in the trailer ready to go. It must have been then that they realised it couldn't be connected to the hitch.
Regards.
I own a 2001 Xantia 110 HDI that has had poor handling characteristics since the day I bought it new.
It feels as if all 4 tyres have slow punctures in them.
The car has been back to the dealer 3 times and they've replaced the rear and front bushes and front track rod ends.
The handling is worse than ever now and it is scary to drive the car as it is impossible to predict how the car is going to react.
I bought the car on hp through my bank and still have 10 months payments to make and the warranty expires in march 2004
What should i do?
I am at my wits end, how do i force the dealer to fix this or give me my money back, and where do i stand re the hp Read more
M & S Wintergrips. My word I thought they only sold ladies knickers!!!!!!!
Seriously I would put money on that being your problem. The tread pattern is designed to be tall to clear the debris and the compound to work best in low temps. You could find as summer progresses that the higher temps are really messing up the tyres grip.
Fullchat
Some things never change, and Land Rover's Solihull plant is clearly one of them - despite all the flak Discos and Freelanders get for their poor quality.
Here's something else to make you shake your head in wonder. Among the changes Land Rover workers recently REJECTED was a proposal not to smoke on the production line...
According to some union bod, workers keep rejecting even these small changes because they are concerned about the 'Jaguarisation' of Land Rover!!!!!!!!!!!
Right now, nearly all Ford's other plants are better than Solihull at quality, volume, cost and willingness to change.
Land Rover recently came 35th out of 36 in a JD Power survey.
Looks like the only way it will change is if production is shifted elsewhere. Read more
Well smoking on the line clearly doesn't help L-R but it hasn't done Harley any harm:
tinyurl.com/dry6
...and to think 4 years ago my broker refused to buy HD shares for me unless I signed an indemnity...
Has anyone any experience of the automatic gearbox on these cars?
My brother has an automatic only license and has driven old Micras up until now but has been offered a 1988 205. Am I right to be a bit wary of these cars?
Thanks Read more
I've no personal experience of an auto 205, but it was one of the last 205 versions to be phased out, and it's still quite easy to find nice ones with about 5K/year for sale. Maybe you should look for a 94L rather than an 88 car? A really posh one would be a Gentry - leather and all mod.cons.
I have been reading the reviews and discussions about the 7 seater MPV Trend / Ambiente Mercedes. I have a V70 with the extra rear facing seats now but will need more space and will have to replace it in the next year with something able to take 2 adults, 4 children and 2 dogs. Such a tribe needs something bigger than the average MPV if we are to all get in and the Mercedes looks (on paper) to be a good option. However it doesn't seem very reliable and appears to be a van with windows. My only other thought at the moment is the new Volvo SUV which I test drove last week - very nice but not very cheap and not quite as much room as the Merc bus. Any ideas?
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Forget what I said about the merc. Go for the Previa, my mate with six kids wants one and apparently they come highly recommended.
Could you please advise me the correct method to depressure the fuel system so that I can change the fuel filter on my 2.0E Audi 1995 model. Thanks for any assistance. Read more
Do it first thing in the morning as Adam says - remember not to smoke when doing it! Doh!
Browse
Mike! Long time no see! I saw the name here and pondered....it must be you....
Cast-off Hondas? There's nothing wrong with that at all. Just a shame the spare parts are so bl00dy expensive!
The lasting memory of one of your Hondas was following it into Oake and coming round the corner to see it on its side, with Nigel Stanworth wriggling out of the rear window, now pointing towards the sky! Memories eh?
I see son#1 is now a Volvo Estate driver? Suits him more than that old 205!
16/60 project? Sounds fun.........take care of yourself..
PS. Remember that AR1000? It died the other day; the keypad stopped working - the membrane type keypad contacts gave up. Shame.