October 2003
I\'ve recently had my coded radio cassette player stolen from my Vauxhall Astra (don\'t know why - idiots), and have just got a replacement from a friend - not a like for like but a standard unit. Plugged in fine etc. but the player appears to be blocked i.e. no sound.
Is some sort of management system blocking my radio thinking it is still the old one and if so is there anyway around this? I obviously don\'t have the old unit to type a number back in.
Thanks for any help. Read more
I have noticed that over the past week the direction and distance signs \'hiding\' the scameras on the A556 and the A5103 (just at end of M56) have been repositioned, so that the cameras can now clearly be seen. I guess that GMP are about to start reaping the rewards from these cameras.
Shame about the one on the A556 going as it was always a laugh to race off against some joker in a souped up Nova at the lights just before the camera, get them over the limit, and then brake suddenly and watch them get flashed. Read more
A couple of years ago a work colleague was booked for doing 40 mph in a 30 mph on the Isle of Skye. When asked his speed by the PC he said 40 mph because he thought that was the speed limit on that road - it was on the way out of the village with no houses, no pavement, no pedestrians etc. He noticed that the PC had a long list of other people he had book on his clipboard.
If that section of road is so dangerous that it needs to be a 30 mph limit then why don't they put up some extra 30 mph limit signs? Surely it would be cheaper than tying up two PC's for a whole day? That is of course if they want to improve road safety!
Mb
Since seeing many petrol (2-stroke) powered push bikes in Belgium earlier this year I am becoming increasingly interested in getting one of these small engines for my bike.
You would think that Belgium, being the home of the EU, would have strict regulations regarding them, however it seems to encourage them, as does Australia.
I have not been able to find out if the UKs complex road rules and regs allow these to be used on cycle paths / roads and if they are, where can I get one?
John R Read more
Growler
Yes, 32 cc to be precise. My father had the 'proper' moped version called a 'Cyclemate' with the same engine in the 'normal' position. He later swapped it for a 50cc Zundapp Combinette - two speeds and more power - wow! I've got a full motorbike licence having passed my test on that!
Regards
John S
I have an OPPERMAN MOTOCART that requires a complete rebuild and I am seeking any information about how many were made and how rare they are. It is powered by a JAP single cylinder engine. It was made between 1947-1953 in Hertfordshire by SE Opperman Ltd. It was a replacement for the traditional Horse and Cart.
I plan to restore the machine back to as original as possible and any information would be gartefully accepted
HOOKMAN
Read more
Hello,
My family produced various weird and wonderful machines including the Motocart. I have 'manuals' which I would be happy to supply photostats f.o.c....
Hi everyone
My brother has a Peugeot 406 2.1 TD LX (1996) with a decidedly iffy speedo. It works intermittantly...comes on then goes off during a typical journey. He suspects it's speed related as he reports being able to sometimes 'force' it to work while getting up some speed pretty sharpish on the motorway.
The relay (?) was changed in a control unit in the glovebox on the advice that it was this that was at fault, but to no avail.
Could the only culprit left be the sensor on the transmission? (ML5T)
Apparantly these are pretty expensive so he's trying to find a a cheaper solution. Is there any way of 'DIY' checking?
He can live with the problem except for the mild shock of suddenly finding the power steering going awol....not good on sharp bends as you can imagine.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Bob
Read more
thanks mate............please try to get a photo...........
Could anyone please advise a brand name or place of supply, for the black underseal type paint for use on sills which dries to a crinkle effect finish ?
Thank you, Pete. petel@clara.co.uk Read more
Thanks to you all. I now have two different types of the stuff and more than enough to do the job.
Thanks again, Pete.
Like, I guess most people, I check tyre pressures every couple of weeks and at the same time examine sidewalls and visible tread for any obvious problems.
Twice recently I have noticed a nail in the tread and, because there was no evidence of air loss, removed them. Each time the tyre deflated.
I removed them because I assume that by doing so I would prevent a puncture in the future but obviously I was mistaken.
The consensus among my neighbours was that they would not have bothered to look for nails, etc., and had they seen them they'd have ignored them "because that's how tubeless tyres are designed: to seal round a nail".
Based on a very small sample they are apparently right but it still doesn't seem right to me.
Unlike my neighbours, many of you have specialist knowledge and I'd be grateful for your opinions.
Bax Read more
Way back about the time radials were invented I seem to remember rally drivers used to put tubes inside tubeless tyres - belt and braces you might say. Since then I seem to remember reading that it was no longer such a clever idea, presumably because the valve orifice is not designed for it. Any other reasons?
Hello,
My wife's Polo has an intermittent problem where the engine seems to start ok, but then immediately cuts out a second or two later. This happens repeatedly until usually, it will finally start after about 20-30 minutes. When it does start, the car runs fine. It happens about once a week - otherwise it starts without any problem.
I took it to the VW garage and the mechanic said it sounds like the immobiliser is kicking in, although he said that no faults have been logged in the memory. He suggested using the spare key in case there was a problem with the chip in the main key. We did this and it seemed to be ok for a week or so, but now it is happening again - so I don't think the key was to blame.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what else it could be. Are we likely to need a new immobiliser?
Thanks for any help,
Mike.
Read more
Thanks for the replies. Peter, the car has done about 50000 miles. Its a 1994 model (M reg).
I have just bought a 98 passat tdi 110bhp with 145000 miles on the clock. It has a noticable high pitched noise coming from the turbo when on boost that sounds like an air leak. I have been told ithas a variable vane turbo fitted which is operated by a vacuum pipe. If you remove this pipe the noise goes away. I have checked the impellor of the turbo and there is no wear on the bearings and the car produces no abnormal amounts of smoke. The noise is more apparent in the lower rev range. Has anybody got any ideas? Read more
A fairly common problem as the miles mount up on diesel cars - the oil inside the intercooler pipes makes them go 'soft' and then they go pop.
--
groups.msn.com/honestjohn/problems.msnw?Page=1 - Pictures say a thousand words.....
My other half just got a new Freelander and opted for the Park Distance Control (PDC) sensors to be fitted by the dealer. Trouble is, they don't seem to be working properly: When reverse is engaged in the middle of a flat empty carpark, the system beeps at about 1 beep per second. When reversing towards a wall, and in the 'beeping' zone for the sensors, the beeping will stop if the vehicle is stopped. And generally the system is erratic and unreliable. Trying to get it fixed at the moment, but local dealer refuses to accept that the system is behaving abnormally.
And I _know_ you don't need reversing sensors if you can drive properly, but having had the benefit of them on a Ford Explorer when on holiday in Canada, I must say they are handy (especially on big vehicles) as you can watch the front and mirrors when reversing out of tight car park spaces while the beeping is watching your back.
The system on the (US/Canadian) Explorer was excellent (even giving a tripple beep warning if someone walked behind the stationary vehicle when reverse is selected). Anyone know who made it? Being as Ford own Landrover, I had expected it to be the same system, which was why I went for a dealer fit.
Read more
Just an update: Ordered a Quanan 4 sensor system (with display). Dealer fitted. (However seem to have scratched paint on rear door in process - unfortunately I didn't notice until got home).
Sensors perform much better, though beep is a bit strangled sounding. Have to go back AGAIN, as the new sensors were fitted in with the old sensors in the old bumber to test.
But, they work much better. Dealer remarked that it looked like better kit than they were fitting, interestingly. And for £99 quid!
Browse
.jpg)
Most of those wiring harnesses will tell you there is a slightly different wiring combination for Vauxhall and VW cars.