June 2003
Chancing my arm here, but is there anyone out there just now that could tell me , step by step, how to replace front brake pads on a Scenic?
This is my first attempt at changing brake pads so I am sure its not that they are different from other cars - just that I am a novice.
I have the wheel off and faced with what I presume is the caliper with a bolt top and bottom that looks spring loaded. What do I do now? Read more
My BX (which has definitely justified its purchase thro the classifieds section) has in the recent hot weather started to increase its sink rate after parking. Is this a hot weather characteristic or just the result of another 2500 miles?
After parking for more than 2 hrs, the rear sinks to its lowest setting (settles on the mud flaps), and the front apparently rises! The rising may however be an optical illusion, I will go and measure if suggested.
On restarting after about 15 secs the nose rises further slightly, before the back rises to a normal height, and the front then settles down again after a total of about 22 secs. The auto height correctors both appear to be clear of crud and function correctly when pressure is applied to front or back respectively.
Any comments from BX experts? (David?)
I may venture to France in it if there is no suggestion of imminent permanent terminal failure! Good ride, economy (DTR) and space make a return home an attractive proposition.
pmh (was peter) Read more
I replaced the PAS control valve on my '88 BX DTR - a pig of a job too!
Hello All,
My Woman's Fiesta 1.25LX had a service two weeks ago, and since then the clutch has jammed out three times. It takes a minute or two of pressing before it frees-up. Before I call the garage, what advise do you have? Oh, and it had new front discs and pads at the service as well (ouch).
Cheers. Read more
Sounds like the master cylinder return is blocked. Am having exactly the same problem on a Land Rover at the moment and that is the garage opinion. Also on mine, when the clutch does go down, it takes about 15 seconds to engage although the pedal comes up straight away.
It was a fine evening yesterday and Mrs H and I decided to cycle to our evening out with friends in the next village. We were on a half-mile stretch of straight "A" NSL road riding 2 abreast with no traffic coming in the opposite direction. The noise of a small car at maximum revs coming from behind us made me take an extra glance in the mirror. It showed a green Citroen AX approaching at speed apparently coming straight at us. I braked and was pulling in behind Mrs H. when the car passed within a yard of me doing, I guess, over 60. I was so incensed with this lack of courtesy and the driver's disregard for Highway Code Rules 139, 188 that I gave him a V sign.
50 yards up the road, the AX slithered to a halt with 3 wheels locked. The driver appeared to turn round in his seat. We rode towards the car and I instructed Mrs H to continue on the verge or pavement if there was any argy-bargy, but the AX set off with a squeal of tyres before we got much nearer.
I realise now that my thoughtless but natural reaction may cause this driver to harrass other cyclists even more diligently than he did us. Maybe he didn't see us, but in that case why stop at all? No, I didn't get his number or the age or sex of the driver. Is there a defence aginst this kind of driving?
H.
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hawkeye
im sorry, i do have sympathy for you, it is something i have experienced as well and if in the same situation as you we would have probably been riding side by side as well, however,
this driver appears to have been lacking somewhat in the braincell department, you HAVE to allow for that on the road im afraid, not everybody has eyes like a hawk!!!!
We were out one day on the bikes and a cyclist going the other way was been reversed off the road by a car (no joke) he was an older man and had obviously been passed to close by the car and given him a gesture such as yours, the driver must have taken this badly and proceeded to reverse until the man was almost in the ditch.
My comment about riding two abreast not being fair was not really the right way of putting it, sorry i had been up since 4am!! What i mean is that cyclists need to look after their own skin. You can't expect all motorists to give you room in the same way that you can;t expect all cyclists to move in!
My 93 318iS, after 10 years reliable service, broke down this week. The engine started misfiring. I pulled over and switched off for a few minutes. Started the car and all seemed normal. Ran for another 2 miles and this time it just stopped. It repeated this scenario 3 more times (cutting out immediately, with fewer and fewer miles)until it finaly refused to start. The next day it started fine and has been running in the garage for 2 hours trying to recreate the problem.
Two questions.
1) Any experience/advise on what might be causing the problem and best PD method ?
2) This is the first time I have had a problem with an ECU controlled car. I have always been able to resolve problems on older cars, but feel somewhat at arms length without access to the failure codes out of the ECU. I have been looking for ECU readout equipment online, but there doesn't seem much available for the home user. Is there anything out there that can utilize a laptop PC below £200:00 ? Read more
Failed again, shortly after washing the car. (Had washed it prior to the first failure). Managed to restart and get home. Did some PD under the bonnet, looking to see if anything had got wet. Noticed 1" - 2" of water sitting at the bottom of the ventilation air intake. Investigation showed that this had sploshed around and the area around the ECU was damp. After a while, found where the water should drain from, removed the rubber tube and found it blocked with leaves etc. Cleared and replaced. The water now drains and the car seems to be running OK.
From the Daily Telegraph Motoring seection, 28 June:
CLARKSON THREAT
BBC Top Gear presented Jeremy Clarkson has responded to recent criticism of his programme's treatment of the valuable and historic 1953 Le Mans-winning C-type Jaguar, whose driveshafts and clutch were wrecked in a televised sequence of tyre-smoking doughnuts and getaways.
The criticism was first aired in Telegraph Motoring on June 14 by eminent motoring historian and author Doug Nye and subsequently reported (with additional damning quotes from the car's owner, Adrian Hamilton) by London's Evening Standard, the Daily Mail, the Daily Star and The Times.
Writing for the Sun, Clarkson claimed "a crusty old historian" was the only man to object to the car's treatment and warned "I know the man in question and I know where he lives. And if he'd like to see some real hooliganism he should try objecting again."
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Well, there you have it: a yob playing to the gallery. He reminds me of the prototypical childhood bully who grabs another child's toy and does his best to wreck it. It's a pity that a broadcaster with some semblance of talent should stoop so low and it's a tragedy that those with a serious interest in motoring can't find anything better on TV than the irresponsible slop he dishes up.
It's a macho thing, I suppose. But I thought that always looked a bit silly in the over 40s (yup, I'm well into that group). Come to think of it, it's not exactly consistent with what I observed when I met him at a filling station. He turned up in an open AC Cobra with A. A. Gill. I said to him "Left the Ferrari at home today then?" and he replied "Yes. I wanted to get the wind in my hair" . . . hey, macho, macho! Read more
Sorry, Smokie, got to disagree here. No reason not to classify a 'motor historian' as being anything other than a proper classic car owner either. If they want to take good car of their possessions, treat them carefully and make sure they will be around as long as possible then that's their choice. If they want to use them for what they were designed for and hammer them around the track that's also fine, but the two are not compatible.
Seen the latest AA advert on the TV?. Shows a woman driving along with a man alongside with the biggest tool kit (I think they say) and a big set of spares in the back.
It then goes on to say that with satellite location we will know exactly where to find you.
Is this a new idea and linked to your mobile phone or do you have some other gizmo in your car with you.
Looked on the AA site but couldn?t see any reference to it and wondered if my Green Flag also does the same. On our annual trip down through France and Spain I always try and have an idea of just where I am in case of breakdown, but often I think it would be a vague and not very helpful guess within 30 miles.
alvin
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www.findamobile states that they are free of charge, but then if you read the terms and conditions it actually costs 33p per search, billed to the mobile that is searched for. Was thinking about registering to see what it's like, but my mobile bill is high enough as it is already, so maybe not.
Surprised these companies haven't been widely publicised, would have thought loads of parents would want to locate their kiddies.
Interesting article on speed bumps by Tom Uttley in today's Telegraph.(It appears that Barnet council are removing theirs) Do they really cost between £5,000 and £10,000 each to install?
P. Read more
Oooooh Leif!!! Sound your horn whilst negotiating sped humps. I suggested this a few days ago. Trace the thread and see what others in the BR think of this idea!!!!
Hi,
I have an M reg Peugeot 306 and the alarm is too sensitive.
When I set the alarm, a few minutes later the alarm goes off.
Is there anything I can do so its not so sensitive.
Pug306 Read more
Its a common problem with peugeot alarms when they get to that age,it could cost £50 to fix or £300.
I see the BMW Z-4 in the banner ad can struggle to 62 mph in 6.3 seconds.
My 1961 Triumph Bonneville T120R 40 years ago would break that barrier in 100 yards in 2nd gear. I've still got the Motorcycle mag road test somewhere to prove it.
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My Norton 920 Commando would do 70 mph in first gear, but only 120 flat out in top, with a slipping clutch, down hill with a back wind and a slight weave.
Now came the exciting bit, because as the speedo touched 120 mph, you then realised that it didn't have any brakes.
Reggie
Browse
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I Agree,this has been an uncommonly good thread. Interesting and informative. A Few years ago, a friend of mine who owns a garage, thought that changing the brake fluid was a waste of time, because he had read an article which said that brake fluid absorbs all its moisture within about about a month or so(cant remember exact time). As this is supposed to be the reason to change it, he couldn't see the point of changing it when one should- every year or so isn't it?,if the fluid has already absorbed all possible moisture very early on. However,if you don't replace the brake fluid I.e bleed front brakes till fluid is clean in master cyl., the fluid gets incredibly dirty. Does this matter? I suppose it may wear things out quicker. So perhaps the real reason to change it is that it gets very dirty rather than the moisture problem which is supposed to cause boiling and loss of braking performance. Personally I have found no evidence of this whatsoever. Who is right?