July 2003

I have a question. Volume 13

Dwight Van Driver on 3 July 2003

Please can I pick your brains, for I am a duffer with the Computer.

Of late, for a reason unknown to me, when trying to access Topics on the site it has become exceedingly slow to download. I have plenty of memory spare.

When the topic page eventually comes on screen it is immediately followed by a dialogue box headed Microsoft Internet Explorer and the legend " Your current security settings prohibit running Active X controls on this page. As a result the page may not display correctly. Followed is the squark of a crow.
I can get rid by clicking on the TRH X. Going to a new topic the same happens.

I am with AOL which opens the Forum on its own accord.

I have brought up Internet Explorer, into Tools, Internet Options, Security which tells me that Security is set at Medium which is the setting recommended.

Active X Controls - Download signed Active X controls is at prompt and there is no difference if I change this to Enable. Download unsigned A.X is at Disable. Do not want to tempt fate by changing to Enable.

Anyone tell me how I can speed up the Forum and get rid of the blasted dialogue? Remember that you will have to hold my hand if you have a solution.

Thanks in anticipation.

DVD Read more

Mark (RLBS) on 13 October 2003

pulling the volumes together

Question VW central locking

borasport20 on 3 July 2003

since yesterday, when i\'m im the car with the engine running, if I lock the doors, all four lock then the front passenger door unlocks itself immediately - has anybody any idea why ?

(NB - seems to be okay if locking from the outside

I have to grow old - but I don\'t have to grow up Read more

mark25 on 27 June 2006

All your problems are probably down to bad solder joints inside the door lock mechanism, meaning the sensing switches don't registaer the door/lock status correctly anymore. A new machanism is expensive, but here's a DIY guide to fixing your old one. Not for the feint hearted, but doable given soldering iron and a systematic approach:

www.taligentx.com/passat/maintenance/doorlockmecha.../

Have fun.

Forum X-1R oil treatment - anyone heard of it?

SkyMan on 2 July 2003

Hi there,

In NZ they've started plugging this stuff called "X-1R" which is an oil treatment for petrol, diesel and auto trans oil.

It was developed by this company in conjunction with NASA for the lubrication of their shuttle devliery vehicle. It claims to reduce wear, increase performance, etc.

It sounds good, but here's my thoughts:

1.It must have been developed in the 70's (when NASA started using shuttles), so why is it only now they're advertising it?

2.If its so good, why dont the big oil companies put it in their oil and tell everyone why their oil is now "better"?

Their website is

www.x1r.com

Any comments?

Read more

Pete M on 12 August 2005

If this is another product with chlorinated hydrocarbons (I think) then there was a thread about them some time ago. Discovered around the 1920s, they do reduce friction, but are incredibly corrosive of the non-ferrous parts of the engine.
Just the tone of the X1-R advertising rang alarm bells with me.
I think it's more snake oil / sucker bait.

Forum Legal with no speedo?

mfarrow on 2 July 2003

Hi

I'm about to change the speedo on my escort to one with a tachometer.

I'll try to get it done as soon as possible, however I fear it may not be completed in one night. If all goes to pot can i drive my car legally without an instrument cluster?

Thanks and Regards,

Mike Farrow Read more

Doc on 6 July 2003

However, an MOT tester once told me that the speedo is

not part of the MOT, working or not working.....???

This is true, but there are lots of items covered by various laws that are not tested at MOT time.
The MOT test basically only covers safety/roadworthiness.

Question civic warped discs

jpfarrello on 30 July 2003

i have a 94 Honda civic LSI thats done 100,000 miles. Shes a lovely little runner but I am getting through more brake discs than petrol.
I had none Honda ones on there that lasted 3 months before they warped. I got a new set and they lasted 3 months before again it was stopping like a shaky set from Blakes 7.
Do you think that I should just be less of a tight wad and shell out for proper Honda ones (bearing in mind they could cost more than the cars worth)OR Do you think there is something more sinister???????????
Is this a common fault with this car?
shaken but not stirred x
Read more

Malcolm_L on 4 August 2003

Aprilia,

Looking at the threads - no-one is saying that all warped discs
are down to holding the brakes on - the example I originally quoted was for a Transit which hauled a heavy trailer.
Excessive heat and holding the brakes on does appear to cause problems, everyday driving doesn't generate the heat required.

I do agree that non-oem parts are a significant problem, a pattern brake disc will look just like the real thing but could be made from low grade steel which will wear/warp in no time.

Better design and/or greater dissipation characteristics would probably explain the Rover/Merc issue.

Question Renault Espace Tailgate Window

Adrian on 30 July 2003

The gas struts have begun to ping off their metal balls when I open the tailgate window. I thought the plastic sockets on the strut ends may have worn so I lashed out £60 on a new pair (you can never just buy the bit that\'s broken, can you?!) only to find that it\'s made no difference.

Anyone got any ideas about what to try next? If it works you can have half of the labour charge a Renault dealer would have fleeced me for (about three million quid at today\'s rates) without any guarantee of success! Read more

Aprilia on 31 July 2003

Two thoughts:

1. Could the balls be a bit worn (i.e. diameter now too small)?
2. Are you sure there is no retaining clip - I have seen some cars where thare is a slotted spring clip that goes around the socket.

Forum Why don't you write back?

sean on 30 July 2003

Hi folks.

This is an honest question. I am not paid by this site or anyone lurking here.

I have travelled all over the world and nobody offers what HJ does, here.

There are some VERY bright people here. Look at Renault Family, pugugly, embe, rob the bus, Mark (RLBS) what is that?, DD (awfully clever on GM Vauxhall), pugugly , oh yes, mentioned him. Hootie, HF.... This is not some awards night.

The main board directors of some very articulate companies come here. We try and help you. We offer the known solutions to your technical problems that you would spend £ hundreds on. You really would.

HJ hears nothing, we hear a couple and that is it. What do you want?

Use us, reply, or lose us.

Maybe it's me, but I don't like lurkers.
Read more

J Bonington Jagworth on 3 August 2003

"I still haven't heard of cam chain replacement as part of regular service"

I'm not an expert here, but I believe it was necessary on Saab engines at 60-70k to help preserve them. If this was done, they then regularly went on to 300-400k.

Question Air Con Question 2 - Vaux Vectra

steveb on 30 July 2003

Dear all,

The aircon expired on my two year old Vectra over the weekend. There was a hissing noise seemingly from behind the dash for a while, then nothing, and warm air of course.

The question is, would the leaking refrigerant leave a discharge ? I can\'t see an obviously burst pipe, but the pipe which returns from through the bulkhead (presumably from the condenser ?) has a slight oily like discharge on it as it disappears down the side of the engine bay. It is very localised on the pipe itself, and doesn\'t seem to have come from anywhere else. Is this a symptom of a burst pipe ?

Thanks for your help !

Steve Read more

steveb on 31 July 2003

Thanks to everyone for their posts - obviously this is a very reliable system !

For info the car has done 34k at 2 years old.

The dealer was not encouraging when I booked it in - if it's a pipe - I suffer the cost. If it's compressor/condenser etc they do. From the evidence the pipe looks like the culprit however.

I'm wondering about the cost of not getting it fixed, on the basis that 2-3 years down the line it will break again, probably about the time I come to trade it in. By then It'll be worth next to nothing anyway - so have I lost - apart from not having cold air for a few weeks in the year ?

Steve

Forum New Micra

automaticallyuk on 30 July 2003

Hi,

Has any test driven or seen the new micra ? is it a good car compared to the other super mini's available. It seems very good vale. Read more

Altea Ego on 31 July 2003

See a comment I made in a post elsewhere. If its your money never buy a new car in the first year of its life. Despite all the testing manufacturers do with new models, you can never replicate the realities of life on the road with owners, or learning curves required by the plant that builds them.

I like the micra in a girly way, looks funky inside and out and drives well. I think however those looks may date badly.

(unlike the new megane, I thought it looked wrong at first but now is becoming very good looking - in my eyes anyway.)

Forum Toyota dealer v brokers. (Via Citroen)

KB. on 30 July 2003

Everyone here knows only too well that I'm more than happy with our Yaris D4D CDX. (It just did 67mpg on a run!!!)

However we now have a need for something bigger. The Picasso Hdi Desire could be had for around £11,00 for the latest incarnation of it. But I'm just a bit wary of going fom Toyota to Citroen - finding bits dropping off it and regretting it.

So then there's the Corolla Verso T3 D4D with the latest 100bhp Euro 4 engine with similar gizmo's to the Picasso and the list price (inc Metallic) is £15,100.

My local dealer will knock £1100 off but that still means £14,000.

Autobytel will do it for £12,627 inc metallic (maybe even a tad less with a bit of arm twisting?)

Tins.co.uk advertise it at £12,275 if I read the website correctly.

My local dealer has admitted that he just can't do it at these prices. Yet the Autobytel price relates to a vehicle supplied by the UK Toyota dealer associated with them.

How does this work? I need someone to explain.

PS - Anyone want my Yaris?
KB. Read more