July 2003
Sorry been away for a while. Feel free to delete.
Why do some people have {P} after their name? Read more
I'm thinking about joining for me and the wife. I don't do that many private miles, and don't venture away from home that often. I don't want home service or replacement car, just roadside service and recovery.
Which one is the best or are they the same, in which case I'll go for the cheapest? Read more
eMBe (god it was easier when you were just MB!) -
Is it only because you have been with them for so long that you have the ANY car option? I'm sure I'm only allowed to apply my policy to my Astra.
My former question has disappeared into the ether now, but please can you tell me whether RAC offer discounts for duel membership or not? From what you say it sounds like they probably do? Is it just one of those things that they don't bother telling you unless you bother to find out?
Rumour has it that the 2 flavours of 1800 TDCI engine in the Focus differ only in terms of their software.
Does anyone have the necessary insight to confirm this?
Cheers
Andy Read more
Yep, turbo boost is turned down on 100PS variant.
A friend of mine has an Audi A2 (May 2001) with the glass roof.
He takes it camping & needs a roof rack or trailer. NOBODY seems to be able to sell either.
Audi say they don't do a roof rack because its the glass roof version.
Audi say they can't fit a tow bar because his A2 hasn't got air conditioning!!*. CAN ANYONE RECOMMEND A SOURCE OF RACK OR BAR, PLEASE.
(They could fit air-con and a tow bar but not just the bar) could
Thanks
Richard Read more
Have a look at www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=89...7
This link discusses problems with cars which have not been type-approved for towbar fitment, including the A2.
Also, some cars have "no permissible roof load" specified by the manufacturer. Don't know if this applies to the A2, but given its top-heavy shape as well as its glass roof, it's pretty likely.
Ian
Hello a good condition 1.5 turbo diesel nova caught my eye and i'm fairly interested. The only thing that concerns me is in honest john car by car breakdown it says that the combined alternator brake vacuum pump is very expensive if it fails, £600 to replace! Just curious to whether this is something that does fail often and is it DIYable? Also if anyone has owned a vauxhall with this type of engine (as far as i know the engine is pretty much the same as the 1.7 td one in the astra and cavailer) is it easy to tell if it about to fail or does occur suddenly and is there any sort of maintenance it requires or that will extend its life?
I know that if you took every word in the car by car breakdown as gosbel then you'd never buy another car again but £600 for one part is a heck of alot of money.
I'm gonna have a better look at the car tomorrow so any help would be appreciated. Read more
The expense is because the unit is combined, I think, so you have to effectively service exchange 2 units.
Vacuum pumps are usually extremely reliable, but alternators may fail as they pass 100k, dependant on make (but one has done 186k on my 405)
If you have a local auto electrician they should be able to repair the alternator, and this should be cheaper than exchanging the whole unit
Finally, yes, £600 may seem expensive for an alternator change, but compare it with clutch replacement for some vehicles, and ABS repairs as sensors, main cylinders or ECUs fail. Your Nova will have none of that
Hi,
I turned on my air con today for the first time in ages. The problem is is that nothing happened.
I checked the fuse, and found that it was quite hot. I also checked the voltage at the clutch, and it was 0v. I then shorted it to +12v very briefly, and measured the voltage again and it read +12v. After leaving it like that for a while, I noticed that the pipe running to the condensor was getting quite hot, but the other pipe wasnt changing.
As soon as I switched the ac off and then on again, the voltage at the clutch read 0v again.
Is this a saftey device that if the refigerant is too low the system won't operate?
I also remember that before when I used to run the ac the rpm used to drop quite a bit, but now there is no change in the engine speed.
The compressor is a merc (nippon denso)original system.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Peter. Read more
Not quite sure what you mean about shorting to 12v, then going back to zero, but the bottom line is that if you got the compressor to turn, but it didn't chill, then you've lost your gas and triggered the LP switch.
You don't say what year and model it is, but it is possible to jumper the pressure switch on some models to make sure that electrically it is ok. But be careful, some pressure switches are simple on/off switches, some are thermistors, and jumping them will blow the ecu.
Let us know model and year and we can help you more, but ultimately you'll need to take it to a specialist to check for leaks/get it gassed and dyed.
Just been down to the local Halfords to buy a rear wiper blade for Mrs V's Skoda. £6 for 1 rather ordinary 16" blade! Whilst there I just happened to notice that the Bosch 20" blades I recently bought for both our cars were £19.99 a pair. They only cost £4.99 (+DRAT) a pair @ Costco. Don't know what sort of margin Costco are working on but it makes you wonder just how much profit stores like Halfords make on these. Read more
I used to work for said company and know for a fact that there fuses and other bits from the odd pack stand have a 600% profit margin, wouldn't suprise me if they were making a similar amount on the blades.
Just recently, I noticed an increase in vibration throught the steering on my Accord. Inspection of one wheel showed that it had lost its balance weight. Had the front two rebalanced and the vibration has actually got worse.
Question: should balance weights be fixed on the outside of the rim (a la steel wheels) or on the inside (where they are now)?
Next question: what else can cause these symptoms other than out-of-balance road wheels
Final question: if the rear wheels are out of balance, will this still affect the steering.
MTIA
Andy Read more
Turns out that on the wheels I have (BK Racing 604, 6.5x15), the location of the balance weights is important. Had them balanced yesterday with the weights put on the outside between the spokes and everything is back to normal.
Andy
HI
re: bmw 318 i 1999 model auto
My car recently had its air mass sensor changed and know all is well, plugs were changed as well. On two occassions recently when gradualy slowing down at traffic lights the car started to idle roughly as if it was about to cut out. I reved the engine and it cleared itself. I think it is probably due to some contamination in the fuel. Am I correct?
Thanks for any help and replys Read more
Hi! I am fortunate to be able to buy a new car tax free and, for BMWs only, at a significant further discount. I cannot afford to keep one of these for good, but as, at the moment, the resale price on an X5 is so high, one can buy one of these taxfree, drive it for a year, and then sell it in the UK (they are all UK spec and delivered, before export) at a small profit, expenses included. I am told that the best model for this is the 3.0d Sport (the facelifted model coming out this autumn). The dealers suggest that I should buy a whole range of extras, including tinted glass, running boards, leather seats (heated), automatic gearbox, 6 CD changer, and a few others. Whilst I do not quibble with the auto box, and perhaps the leather seats (unheated?), I am a bit dubious about the others. My guess is that they will push up the selling price (and dealers commission?) without adding much to the resale value (as I will still be overseas, I will probably be forced to sell it back to the UK dealer); in other words, they are getting me to pay for lots of extras that will make it easier for them to sell, without adding much to what they will give me for the car. Am I being overly suspicious? Also, does anyone think that the market for 1 year old X5s is likely to crash in the next year or so? I can't afford to get this wrong! Many thanks!
"Archie" Read more
Thanks for all the advice everyone. I have just put down a deposit for the car, including auto, leather (not heated), xenon headlights (automatically switchable for UK/continental driving), CD player, and mirror upgrade (folding/dipping). All frightningly expensive, even after a hefty discount; lets hope it works out OK! Delivery could have been late Jan, but I have delayed until March for the next registration number (also gives me more time to collect the money!). Once again, many thanks!
"Archie"
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