August 2003
Hi all - having been woken up to the sound of local vermin attempting to gain access to the near side passenger door of my car, I'm now left with a leaky but otherwise perfect door. The only visible damage is the along the line of the window seal as the outer skin appears bent out (in a smooth curve the length of the window) to a maximum of approx 7mm . No end of force hasn't budged the skin back to it's orginal position and the local body shop is forecasting a replacement door.
This seems excessive - is a new door the way to go, or is it possible to get the outer skin bent back?
Many thanks in advance
cheers
p.s. I'm in Bromley - any rec's for reasonable body shops? Read more
My ZX starts first time every time from cold, no matter how cold. As it warms up it gets progressivly more difficult to start. After a 30 min run it will not restart for perhaps 2 or 3 hours. However, if I get it moving at walking pace it will bymp start easily. Tried all the usual diesel faults; air leaks, glows, fuel solenoid. Any advice?? Read more
Compression check (Hot)
Fuel Injection Timing....check that too.
I think in general we backroomers consider ourselves to be considerate and safe motorists, apart from our own admitted failings (due to being members of the human race? ;-). Discussed at length elsewhere.
I think we also agree that the average standard of driving on Britain's roads is somewhat below what is generally accepted as considerate and safe. Also discussed elsewhere.
So what can be done to improve matters?
I am not a perfect driver, far from it. However, In recent times I believe I have developed a far greater awareness of other road users and empathy for them. I think this can be attributed to two factors. First, since January this year I have been doing a daily motorway commute of 50 miles each way. Second, I have come to realise that courtesy breeds courtesy on the road.
If you give way to someone on the motorway during an overtaking manoeuvre, let someone out of a junction, slow down to 20mph outside a school, give way to a bus pulling out, more often than not you will receive a cursory wave. Consider the nice warm glow you experience from realising you have done someone a favour/made the road safer. Now consider the grief you experience when you receive obscenities/hand gestures for (unintentionally) driving in a dis-courteous manner, eg. forgot to indicate, barging your way in when 3 lanes merge to two, etc etc.
I accept that giving way to others is not always safe, and there are scenarios where it would be outright dangerous. However, on the appropriate occasions, be courteous, and 'reward' courtesy with a friendly wave, nod, smile, R-L-R-indicate or whatever.
My theory is this: If a small number of road users can encourage others to drive more forgivingly by 'rewarding' safe and considerate driving in this small and simple way, perhaps it is possible that it will catch on, and the road will become a safer and less stressful place for everyone. Or am I living in a dreamworld?
Ed. Read more
This year on a driving holiday in Europe, I was near Arnhem in Holland, when a guy half pulled out in front of me without looking causing me to slam my brakes on hard to avoid hitting him.Rick
As were both stopped, I was prepared for the British ritual of rude and abusive gestures - but instead he raised his finger to his head, cocked his thumb and pretended to shoot himself in the head for being such an idiot - what a refreshing way of admitting fault rather than blaming the other.
My point is that anyone can make a mistake, recognising this and admitting responsibility can defuse a situation that can often lead to more serious incidents.
My ZX diesel is a first time starter from cold every time. As it gets warm it gets progressivly harder to start. After a 30 minute run it will not restart on starter. However, if I get it moving at walking pace it will bump start easily. Tried everything, glows, fuel cut off soledoid, air leaks. Any ideas? Read more
Anything wrong with the stop solenoid? I thought the problem with a hot diesel is stopping it, not the reverse?
My brother is selling his sony minidisc head unit (about 4 years old) and I am quite tempted to buy it off him as it will only cost me a couple of pints.
The problem is he doesn't have the manual for it (only the reciept) and therefore doesn't have a code for it or any documentation that might have a code on it. I'm not sure if one is necessary for aftermarket stereos? Does anyone know of a way of finding out a stereos code so that it can be used or do i need to contact sony directly? Read more
Graeme (Davidson) is a good friend of mine and I can't recommend him highly enough.He fixed a very obscure fault in my Xantia radio and re-soldered my key fobs. He will attempt almost anything and very seldom fails! Radio codes - no problem.
Graeme (no- another one!)
BRoomers,
I'm currently looking at a (petrol) turbo.
Whilst we know simmering is a good idea in the right circumstances, is it possible to tell whether it's been simmered by the previous owner?
Stu. Read more
If you can feel a couple of mil play then the turbo is knackered. You should not be able to feel any more than the very slightest lateral movement of the shaft and just a little sideways movement.
A reasonable indicator that the car internals are clean might be to remove one of the cam covers and inspect inside. i did this on my Rover turbo and found it to be spotless, so hope that the turbo bearings are similarly clean.
Have a look at some info I posted on this thread too:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=4&t=59...8
Hi everyone
I'm in the middle of changing the head gasket on a Citroen AX10 (alloy block, wet liners). The old gasket failed due to a crack in the gasket across the oil feed to the head - oil everywhere, but no overheating problems. Before I put it all back together, does anyone have any useful tips for this engine, things I should look out for on reassembly? It's not a difficult job so far, but I don't want to have to do it twice...
Incidentally, at 96K the inside of this engine is immaculate, no wear ridge on the cylinder bores and the cam lobes are totally unmarked. It's had 6,000 mile oil changes from new, and if I wasn't already convinced that this is a good idea, I would be now.
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com Read more
Keep everything clean and torque the head down accurately......that\'s about it.
Hi
A question about my ZX (and I suspect Citroen / Peugeot in general).
I have Girling discs fitted alround.
One problem -
The bleed screws on the calipers rust like crazy! In two years they are seized solid and snap off when you try to bleed them. Even with the manufacturers cap on!
Does anyone have a remedy for this? What do Citroen / Peugeot do?
My first thought is to get a small balloon, pack it with grease and then tightly bind it over the bleed nozzle.
Does anyone have any thoughts?
John. Read more
Hitting the screws end-on with a hammer often frees them.
My 1995 (145K) 306DT decided to blow lots of blue smoke out of the exhaust and the dip stick this morning.
Any ideas? I was think piston ring, or maybe turbo. Some how the sump is being pressurised. I though piston rings go over time not suddenly?
Can any give me sone advice.
cheers
H
Read more
No liners in the XUD engine I\'m afraid!
Do a compression test firstly, it could save you a lot of work....that head isn\'t the easiest to remove....
HJ's recent column mentioned running diesels at high revs to clean out various elements. Any advice on the method to adopt? Sit in the drive in neutral with throttle down and sort out the nieghbour's washing? Or as one thread had it, go through the gears up to the red line and re-surface the road behind you?
Or is there a more genteel way of going about it?
Thank you.
Read more
just seems a lot better to do it wihthout anyone behind
And it also seems a lot better to develop a sense of humour...
Just a suggestion.
Cheers
Rob
Browse
Many thanks for the responses - looks like a new door will be the way to go.
Cheers