October 2003

robert

Hello chaps,

Especially Omega V6 owners/drivers.

Its been 8 months now since I parted company with my MV6. I used to quite enjoy posting and reading about the Omega on this site - and pottering around with the car.

However, since it went - I havn't needed to do anything car wise at all. Why not you may ask, and where have I been hiding?

Well, due to doing a significantly increased work mileage I opted to take a company car again and have a Honda Accord 2.4. The car is simply stunning, reliable with performance that (now its nicely run in) that is on a par with the Omega. Perhaps the top speed is down a bit - but who can use that anyway. I know its a new Honda, but its almost "boringly" efficient and capable in every respect with improved mpg to boot. The only down side with the Accord was the key scratch that some lowlife put down the whole of one side - certainly not the car's fault.

Everything else being equal I really do miss the noise of the big V6. On the plus side however - I don't have anything to do with Vauxhall dealers any more!

Happy 6'ing chaps ......

:-))

Robert

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smokie

Hi again Robert

I still enjoy (almost) every journey in the MV6, and still go out to drive for pleasure. On the motorways, at least.

And I haven't bothered the Vx dealers for at least 40k miles... :-)

flatfour

Just had the old Saab serviced at the main dealers, fuel filter in line £32, ok its a metal device, but whats wrong with the one on my golf 68p nylon with paper insert? most other things seemed ok, plugs £3-17 each. Oil mobil 1 £8-66/litre etc. Read more

DL

Yeah, its bound to be; SAABs were quite advanced (and still are!) so I would expect fuel injection to be fitted.

Also echo the GSF parts route - often they supply top-quality Mann filters which are as good as OE, in my opinion. I have no qualms using them on my car.

alpinista

Okay, I know there's a thread about this in the Archive, but thought I would resurrect the query about the mythical Fiat Multipla safety upgrade, to which HJ himself alludes in his Car-By-Car Breakdown entry for this model. The EURO NCAP test results (mid 2001) report Fiat's claim to implement it from models on-sale late 2001 onwards. Can anyone say with certainty if indeed the design has been amended to achieve a four-star result; and, if so, from what date and chassis number?

BTW, like or loathe its appearance (estate car fans), this must surely be the only vehicle available in the UK in which an adult can sit comfortably on a long journey as the pacifying force between two irate kids in child seats... Read more

Forum imports
flatfour

18 months ago when i was considering importing a Saab 9-3 the official line from Saab Uk was that the car would not be registered on their computer and I would have diffiuculty in getting warranty work undertaken unless I could get a registered Saab dealer to put the car on the Saab network computer.
I have now contacted Saab UK who say that there is no problem with me importing a Saab from the EU except that warranties vary according to which country it is purchased, they will put it on the Saab Uk computer system as soon as I take it to a main dealer, and all warranty work will be honoured, the only draw back is if i wanted to reject the car which is very unlikely, i would have to return it to the garage who originally supplied it, possibly in sweden? The main thing is to make sure the vehicle meets uk standards. Read more

LongDriver {P}

Most cars imported from EU countries are IDENTICAL in every way to UK models.

If they're not, they're often of a HIGHER trim specification. The odd item may be lower than UK spec.

In certain circumstances, your EU import car may even have a BETTER warranty.

Take my import Galaxy Ghia TDi:

Mine has: UK Vehicle:

Dual Aircon No
Multifunction Steering No
Metallic included in price No
Steel Spare Wheel Alloy
2yrs/Unlimited Mile Wty 3yrs/60,000 mile warranty

The latter two, for some people, may be a negative aspect.

The spare wheel: how often do you actually have the spare on?

Warranty: I do 50,000+ miles per year. A UK 60,000 mile warranty would run out in just over a year, whereas my UK-honoured Ford Europe warranty lasts me for 2 years and 100,000 miles plus.

How may UK-supplied vehicles have a 100,000 mile warranty???

DL

An image of the common culprit can be found at groups.msn.com/honestjohn/problems.msnw

Changed last Monday on a 154,000 mile 406 which failed to start.

Arrowed, in red, is the pump itself contained within a plastic swirl pot; arrowed in black is the fuel gauge float arm, simple in operation.

Just though you guys would like to see, it's not something you often see.

Did somebody ask how a fuel gauge works back along? Well, there you have it.

Also, I have included two pics of the net result of a low speed cambelt failure on a Peugeot 205 Diesel - merely a broken can bearing. A 2nd hand cam cap was fitted and all was well for evermore!
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Question Egg Smell?
Jason Clark

Is the egg smell from the converter meant to happen all the time when an engine starts?

Jason Read more

THe Growler

Reminds me of Saudi Arabia. Eggy smell from the gas there.

Jason Clark

Hi there,
My Honda Civic 1.8 vti has done 74k (r) and I\'ve just noticed noise coming from the prop shaft.

Happens in first or reverse. If I am very careful with the cluth and revs I can\'t hear it.

Guess there is some room on the prop shaft?

Of course I wouldn\'t like to hear any noise, but what are the long term problems associated with the prop shaft?

I think they\'re about £300 to replace, but dunno if it\'s worth it when a car is losing value all the time.

Jason Read more

Dynamic Dave

Could be a worn CV joint.

but dunno if it's worth it when a car is losing value all the time.


It's an MOT failure if found to be worn. Your choice, but if the CV joint is worn, it will only get worse. Lay down and look under the front of the car to see if the rubber gators are intact or not.
ndbw

We all know the basics of the internal combustion engine ie the piston is attached to the con.rod which in turn is attached to the crankshaft, now the piston changes direction at TDC and BDC but does it stop?.

After getting a few views on this in your local try them with this if we are taught that a point has position but no size, does the centre of the crankshaft revolve?.

ndbw Read more

Civic8

Even if all grip is lost the motion of all wheels is the same.while in contact with the road.on a non limited slip differential if you raise one road wheel from the ground it will travel in the opposite direction while the wheel on the ground won`t move

Rob E

Dear all,

The car is my Mum's Peugoet 106 1124cc pre-facelift 1996 N. It has had this curious and annoying fault for some time now:

Just after you use the indicators or any of the light functions on the stalk, it emits a brief ticking sound. The sound is just like that that the indicator makes, but is sometimes at a faster interval. The indicator lights (outside and on the dash) do not come on when this noise is made, it is just a noise. It can occur with engine on or off (but key in ignition), and sometimes occurs for no reason whatsoever.

Do any of you have any idea of what it may be and how to remedy it? It really is infuriating and would put off a potential buyer from this otherwise super car. As I say, it's the same sound as the indicator and seems to be made worse by touching the functions on the indicator stalk.

Many thanks in anticipation,

Rob E Read more

NormanB

Sounds like the relay 'chattering' to me (pardon the pun)

Thomasino

For some reason Japanese Diesels like the ones for the Primera/Almera have had bad press, not so much for reliability as for the lack of performance and fuel guzzling nature.
Is there any real ground to it.I know compared to the French and the Germans , the Japanese diesels pale in comparision , but are they of the "not to be considered" category when looking for a used car?


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Dude - {P}

El Hacko - The Accord diesel is due in February, see H.J.`s latest test report on this forum. I recently road tested the new Accord 2.4 petrol Sport version and can confirm it to be a real cracker. At tick over the engine is totally free from any vibration whatsoever and is totally silent. The only other engine I have ever heard to be so refined is in the Lexus LS 430.