July 2003
Hi, wonder if u can help. My dad got my grandad's golf (he had owned it since new), hasnt done much (29000), ive got it now that ive passed my test (done around 500 miles mostly in the last month). I thought i better check oil and water and found mayo under the coolant reservior cap, on closer inspection there seems to be quite a lot of it in the coolant tank, but still a reasonable level of coolant fluid in the tank (blue coloured) since when u squeeze the radiator pipe the blue liquid squirts to the surface. There is not any on the oil cap or dipstick (oil is dark but clear). I realise this could be very bad, my other thought is that maybe grandpa put oil in the water? The car has been sitting around in our garage for about 2 years with very low usage. Dad said to empty out the tank (remove hose) and put in new water do that tommorrow and get it serviced, anyone any ideas about other possibilities other than head gasket failure? Ive been keeping and eye on the temp gauge since ive had the car (since it is old) and it never goes beyond half way.
Thanks
Dave
PS not a good day - dads tipo starter is packing up and two videos have decided to refuse to eject tapes :)
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Please can someone help. I want to buy a ford focus 1.6-1.8 Zetec 5dr HB petrol. My budget is 5000 MAXIMUM. I have done so much research on the Focus and still can\'t decide wheather it is the right choice. I hope to sell it in 3 years time and want to know will I loose much money. Can anyone recommend an alternative if possible I have 3year old and soon to have a newborn and my husband so nothing too small. Read more
>Can anyone recommend an alternative if possible
£5k gets you an average mileage 4 year old (T plate - pre facelift) 1.6 renault scenic 1.6 alize. From experience I can vouch this is a great kid/baby/family friendly car. (needs aircon tho due to big windows - gets hot)
Facelifted scenics (post sep 99) go for more.
My mother-in-law is a minicab driver in London and thinks she can get better work by changing her Toyota Avensis for a Previa. In trying to advise her, I think that she would be better off with a diesel automatic.
The Previa is petrol only but is a known quantity, but the Lucida is a Japanese import come with diesel/auto and the vehicles on sale are of uncertain pedigree. Can anyone advise me about things to look for and whether she should steer clear?
Thanks
GTLK Read more
I'm looking to buy one, but do i go for a genuine or a synthetic one? And where is best to buy it?
Ben Read more
I had a Singer Chamois
he said impishly. ;)
Halfords Synth seems OK, and the price for a replacement doesn't break your heart when you accidently drop it on the drive.
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Don't vote it only encourages them.
Hi, I just had a problem with my oil pan (punctures! on city potholes!). It seems also that the engine is dead. Has anybody had any experience with this situation? Am I going to be covered? I stopped the car as soon as the oil light came on.
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Yeap ! it's a known problem with VW and most (if not all) manufacturers.
I've got a VW Golf and if not extremly careful will easily catch the sump or front splitterover speed bumps or potholes.
My solution - I avoid the potholes, try to avoid speed bumps but if damage is caused I will go to the local council for restoration of damages. In the meantime I have taken further steps to prevent what could be a load of hasssle considering the state of local roads
:
:
:
:
www.elcats.ru/audivw/vag5.asp?subm=%CF%EE%E8%F1%EA...6
£200 pounds and peace of mind, alot cheaper than continually replacing the plastic one.
luna99 - one question - why did you wait until the oil light came on before you checked for damage. If I hit something I always pull over asap to check things like brake lines haven't been damaged. My life in my hands!
Just read this interesting snippet from a trading standards document:
Manufacturers' Statements
From 31st March 2003 the seller of goods will be liable for any statements that have been made by the manufacturer, in advertising, on packaging, or by any other means. For instance:
The maker of a certain type of car claims in newspaper adverts that it can go from 0 60mph in a certain short time.
However, the car is in fact unable to accelerate in the way.
Anyone who is influenced by the manufacturers' false statement when buying that car could claim against the seller for a breach of the Sale of Goods Act, provided:
the seller could not have known that the statement was false at the time he sold the car, or;
the statement had not been withdrawn in public, which should have made the buyer aware of the circumstances.
How far could a claim go? Eg if a manufacturer's advertising claims that it can make anyone attractive to the opposite sex and they constantly struck out could they complain to their dealer?!
More seriously could this apply to claims of reliability, safety and economy?
teabelly Read more
If only things were so simple, teabelly.
It usually comes down to the small print.
Most manufacturers have exclusion clauses. In vehicles it often goes " the manufacturer makes no claim for a particular vehicle; we adopt a policy of continuous improvement and specifications are issued as a guide only. Prospective purchasers should check with their dealer... etc
Bit like "free Cd" in the paper.
But you have to buy the paper for umpteen weeks and collect the tokens. Is it free?
Is there ever such a thing as a free lunch?
Is there any reason why the auto box on my leganza is blowing oil out of the breather pipe.The car is 5 years old and has 55000 on the clock. Read more
The radio aerial on my car is the very simple telescopic-on-the-wing type.
The problem is that at least one section will not pull out of the section beneath it. The aerial is therefore not fully extended...resulting in very poor reception of Radio Five.
Please can anyone suggest a means of getting WD40 or similar to free the jammed section...or any other means of making all section work like new?
Thanks in anticipation of replies. Read more
Many suggestions mentioned in the following threads. eg, wd-40, silicone grease/spray, graphite, etc.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=i&t=12...9
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=i&t=90...8
An appeal for this car,reg DS 8571, stolen Hertfordshire area, at the weekend.
Unusual vehicle to be taken & a photo is on www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties
Don't know the owner/car, just passing on info.Please let police know, if it's parked outside your house!!
Be nice to think the man will get it back, in one piece.
VB Read more
keep an eye on 'an internet auction site' over the next couple of months, i wonder if there will be a sudden rush on austin 7 parts??!!
Drink Lager Talk Piffle
I am new to The Backroom but can see that there are plenty of intelligent, friendly and helpful people logged on.
I have a small problem to solve about choosing my next car ? second hand - which will need to be a very useful for a self employed gardener (not much landscaping, mostly lighter stuff), comfortable enough to travel long distances in, be able to cope with some of my off-road (farmer?s fields) camping excursions and be reasonably economical.
It?s a bit like finding a plant that will flower all year and grow anywhere without any trouble? Does anyone have some suggestions please? I am considering a Subaru Forester, Volvo V70, Maybe a Honda HVR (is it?). A Skoda might be a bit small and scrape the ground? I have a Volvo 740 at the moment but it is a thirsty old thing now.
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I need ground clearance and occasionally 4x4 for towing and wet grass fields, mud and people's gardens. Octavia 4x4 has about 25 mm more clearance which is not very much extra but is a decent car which could be forgiven for its consumption. Bty, the Skoda diesel does a reported 46 to 48 mpg.
Not interested in Citroen after a crash in one once. Ford is not my scene even though they are good cars just for snobbish reasons. Will be looking at the Subaru range later although their running costs might bother me (I am not a big earner). Its a shame that Japanese have only just started diesel cars because Honda CRV is a strong possibility.
Plenty of said around 2 to 3 yers old and £11 to £12k. Next year will look. I am keeping the 306 and Volvo 740 for a bit longer as both serve me well. But a forthcoming house move will mean less space for cars and so eventually need to distil the two into one, QED.
Avoid Renault 21 - nothing like as relaible as '86 Volvo + 178,000 miles. Latter went through MOT with only a few things to repair!
Thanks everyone for their thoughts - I have enought ideas now, I feel.
Browse
hi seems to be ok (hoepfully), garage used autopartsandrestorations.safeshopper.com/68/341.ht...0
and gave it an all clear, the oil was probably from put in the coolant tank by mistake by grandpa. Put it in for a service to get new oil and the coolant flushed.
Thanks All
Dave
PS i have already typed a similar message but it got lost in the electronic ether.