August 2003
Dear Honest John,
Do you have any recommendation for the above? There are a number on the market and I'd like something under £50 that's accurate and reliable.
Many thanks!
frmarcus Read more
My driver's side electric window recently failed to close properly (caught the glass before it fell on the floor!) and on further inspection it appears that the little plastic brackets that hold the window to the closing mechanism have broken. I have tried a glue repair, but this is not going to be an option as it will not hold the weight of the window when closed.
My question is then, does anyone have any idea where I might be able to buy some of these plastic brackets? The other option I was thinking of was getting down to the scrapyard and just getting another driver's side window - would this be an easier option given the need to glue the brackets to the glass?
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help. Read more
Thanks to all those who have helped. On the advice of a mechanic friend of mine I think that a visit to one of Hull's multitudinous scrap yards is in order. A Rover breakers here seems to think that they can sell me a window for 20 quid, which seems to be the best option given that our previous efforts at bonding the materials have fallen flat!
Quick question to all you backroomers, does anyone out there know the details of the a specialist with regard to the fitting of child safety seat, all I know is that he is located in Milton Keynes ????
Thanks Read more
Thank Robin will give them a call.
Can anyone help? I'm confident in haggling a decent price and a competitive APR on a new car, but I feel that dealers can still get one over on me in calculating the Minimum Guaranteed Future Value. Is it better to have a low one (more equity at the end) or a higher one (lower monthly repayments)? Bit stuck on this one... Read more
I would pay most attention to the total cost of the deposit & payments. Whichever gives you the lowest final figure is the one to go for. If you start to wonder about part exchanges in a few years time then it gets tricky as it is hard to tell what the used and new car market will be like. You also may not like the car or the dealer so choosing a deal which some how gives you 'goodwill' with the dealer at some point in the future is a more risky option. Dealers are also very good at moving the terms of the deal to lower monthly payments so it appears to be better than it is because either the deposit is increased or the term has been increased. If you always refer to the total cost then it is harder for them to pull a fast one.
0% deals are usually worth going for unless the the total cost of ownership is more than a discounted car with a different apr.
teabelly
hi
thanks for all of your replies to my question in this forum. A great help. I have started a new thread as the last one went a little \'off subject\'.
Previous thread for reference is:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=15281
To do with the ZX TD cold start...
I checked the glow plug power with my multi meter. It is providing a steady 12V and shuts off after 20-30 secs or so. I have checked the resistance on the old plug behind the pump (that can\'t be removed) and that seems to be ok (offering the same resistance as the other new plugs).
So that doesn\'t sound like the problem.
I have looked at the fuel leak off pipes on the injectors, but can\'t see anything as the intercooler is in the way.
What I can see is that there is an awful lot of what I suspect is old diesel fuel that looks like it is getting blown out of either the rightmost injector / or out of the top of it (as I can see fuel pooled around the base of the injector). I am pretty certain this isn\'t oil as the consistency is all wrong and the fresh stuff around the injector base looks very like diesel.
Is it worth taking the intercooler off to investigate? And if one of my leak off pipes is damaged, can I replace it? where is the best place to look for a replacement, and what should I ask for?
thanks again,
john. Read more
Gonna need a new clutch on my 1991 940 se turbo in the not too distant future methinks. The pedal travel is high and there is a noticeable squeal when pulling away (clutch release bearing ??? - I'm really only guessing 'cos I know nowt about motors!).
My local Volvo dealer will no doubt be happy to 'rob' me of ££££'s to do this job but I'd rather not line their pockets if I don't have to so how do I go about this ? My local indy guy won't be able to do it I'm sure, but will probably just farm it out somewhere. Does anyone know of a reliable and trustworthy outfit who might be able to assist - preferably not too far from Orpington (SE London /N. Kent) ?
I know there are loads of so called drive in clutch centres/clinics but are any of them any good ?
Any advice very gratefully received. Thanks as always guys! Read more
Thanks very much Greenparrot & Steve !
This question probably has a really obvious answer, I know, but can anyone tell me what v-car means?
Thanks! Read more
I once owned a VCAR'd Fiesta (G943 YRY) and did almost 80000 miles in it, with no problems, after I purchased it.
They're a good bua as long as a) you can be sure that they have had a top-notch repair and b) they are rock-bottom price.
Otherwise I wouldn't bother.
I would add that there are a LOT more rebuilt written-off cars on the road than you might think...
The glovebox closure mechanism has become loose and it will not close or lock. Is there any way to gain access to repair or is it a replacement of complete cover.
Read more
If one of the 'end thingys' has vanished or lost ots springyness I think that you have to buy a new lid.
Same happened to mine when I had a Golf but it was covered by warranty.
Another tip is don't let kids stand on the clever ashtray at the back on the floor tunnel. Even Golf ashtrays wont stand for that!
There have always been drivers who won't or can't signal/indicate for any reason but in my limited driving excursions I've noticed more and more of a new? breed of driver. These are the drivers who ONLY indicate when they know they're just about to do something stupid, dangerous and wrong!! Just done the obligatory M25 Thurrock run and spotted no end of contenders for the 2003 'Wreckless Driver of the Year' award nearly all of who indicated - albeit very briefly- before dangerously veering out, cutting in, changing lanes .... etc.
It's as if these people think that a quick twink of the old amber excuses all their sins and guarantees their safe transit to wherever it is that they're in such a hurry to get to.
Why do these people kid themselves that indicating under such circumstances makes their stupid actions any less unacceptable ? Read more
I am always amazed at the behaviour at a local roundabout. Situation is a 2-lane exit slip road from a motorway coming down to join a dual carriageway running at right angles under the original motorway.
I would have thought correct procedure is if turning left, take left lane and indicate left. If going "right", (i.e. 3/4 of the way round the roundabout), take right lane and indicate right, changing to left indicator as you pass the exit before the one you want to take.
Frequent behaviour is approach in left lane, give no indication, then wander all the way round to the third exit in the left lane of the roundabout. Sometimes they even make it more obvious they're in the wrong lane by indicating right while in the left lane (still doesn't dawn on them!), or even worse was the one the other day who took the left lane and went all the way round to the 3rd exit while indicating left (think they forgot to cancel after exiting motorway).
All this causes great confusion and danger, not only for other traffic coming down the sliproad, but for those waiting to join the roundabout from the dual carriageway, never knowing when someone is going off at the first exit or not!.
I knew someone who got so annoyed by this habit that one day he came down the sliproad in the right lane, and when he saw the car parallel to him in the left lane was going 3/4 of the way round, he indicated left and moved over, forcing the other car to take the "straight ahead" exit - back onto the motorway, and with the next exit about 6 miles away!
On many other roundabouts, the lane discipline seems to be join the shortest queue and force your way across if necessary.
By the way, does anyone else think the recently-introduced "spiral" lane markings are a help on roundabouts?
I have a 95 Astra on which the ignition switch / steering column lock has become difficult to turn on. Repeated attempts have so far succeeded in getting it to work but I expect that one-day it will refuse to work. Can I use something like WD40 in the ignition barrel to free it up or is this not allowed. Failing that will it mean a new ignition switch barrel or will all the steering lock have to be drilled off and a new one put on? Read more
Thanks to you all for the replies. I will let you know how I get on.
Browse
DO NOT buy one of these if its your intention to drink up to the legal limit. The accuracy of all such devices is questionable and need to be calibrated regularly. Even the hand held ones the police use are for indication only and not for prosecution. Use one at your peril. Use your 50 quid for taxis.