October 2003
A few years back I recall going to a local MOT tester and although my car had a couple of dodgy tyres and a small hole in the exhaust he passed the car. For the next year or two I returned to that garage thinking the he was the sort of guy who'd ask few questions. Was I stupid or what ???
If this guy was happy to pass failures what else was he happy to do or rather avoid doing to earn his fee ? It's quite frightening really and what's really bad is that I thought I was fortunate to have found this bloke!
I know things have changed since then - there are more roadside checks and I'd like to think MOT testers are far better monitored/regulated, however all this begs a question - what would you REALLY do if your MOT garage passed your car and you knew it should have failed on something costly if not dangerous (e.g. emissions) ? Read more
A lot of manufacturers offer the cost option to to upgrade the standard fit wheels to a larger size - an example is the new Scenic which has 16 inch wheels, but can be fitted with 17 inch versions instead. Does anyone know if the larger size will significantly improve ride or handling? Or does it make things worse, for instance by improving one at the expense of the other? Is the fact that the suspension has been designed for one size of wheel factor? What effect, if any, would the change have on economy? I'd be interested to hear your views!
Thanks,
Mondeo Man Read more
I cannot answer that.But have they mentioned what difference it will make to your speed.ie the wheels given to the motor.Say you are doing 40 mph.If you upgrade will the speed increase to 42 mph or above as you are driving.could make a difference if you do above the limit and your speedo is saying only 40 mph that can happen if you increase wheel/tyre size getting a wheel/tyre/size the same but different make can make all the difference but cannot tell you what to get.Hope you don`t mind the advice
Just heard this on radio news, but can't find anything on the 'net yet.
The government is to introduce fines for parents of children who regularly bunk school. Newsreader said it would be based on the fixed penalty system that targets motorists.
What next, speed cameras in the corridors to stop children from running in them ;-) rather than the Mr Bronson monstor bawling at the little darlings "you boy, do not run in the corridor."
As always, tackle the problem with penalties rather than education. Read more
This isn't motoring, nor does it show any signs of going that way.
I'm locking it now and will delete it later.
Just the automatic, 270 HP, nice amenities and interior and exterior. The 6 speed brembo one with LSD will come in Nov.
www.acura.ca/AcuraMicrosEng/TL/Gallery Read more
We have what is called here the Acura TSX. Which looks the same as your Accord.
www.acura.com/models/model_gallery_index.asp?modul...x
Its problem is it only has a 200hp 4-cyl and they do not have a Type-S version yet. To make it more confusing it is kind of being sold as the 4-door version of my car, the RSX. So they together are like the old 3 door -hatch Integra, and the 4 door Integ.
Also we still have a Honda Accord but it is different than both your Accord and out TSX! And it comes with a optional V6. LOL -I know this is getting confusing here is the link -
www.hondacars.com/models/model_overview.asp?ModelN...n
The Backroom is full of threads extolling the virtues of Bangers - the current "Old Banger sailed through MOT" thread being an example.
There can be little doubt that modern cars brake and hold the road better, produce less emissions, use less fuel and are in most ways safer for both occupants and other road users.
Japan applies such stringent tests on cars that it is not viable to keep them when they are more than 4 or 5 years old. Which is why many finish up scrapped or, sadly, exported to Britain.
Should we not be trying to follow Japan's example?
Read more
Dont forget India,Pakistan,afghanistan....
Sorry, just have to get this off my chest!
The other day, I was joining a dual carridgeway from a short slip road at the top of a hill. I was stationary with my indicator on. After waiting about 30 seconds for a safe gap in which to join, a lorry coming slowly up the hill flashed me out. I waited about 5 seconds to make sure it was clear and started pulling out. As I started pulling out, an Espace "came out" from over taking the lorry indicated and stared to pull into the inside lane. As I was already commited to joining the carridge way, I had no choice but to carry on. The Espace came within inches of hitting me and I got a blast of the horn.
What I want to know is, why do some drivers not THINK when they are driving instead of going onto auto pilot.
The junction is signposted futher about 200-300 yards before hand, with a warning triangle. This driver should have seen this and thus expected some form of hazard from this junction (if that makes sense!). I had to learn the hard way, when I had my accident about 2 years ago now. I went on a driver improvement course and it did me the world of good. I recomend that every driver should go on one of these courses.
Any thoughts?
Cheers,
OlafS Read more
I was once guilty of bad driving, no really !
On a moonless night on an unlit bye road I stopped at a give way sign to look over my left shoulder for oncoming traffic on the 'major'road. Seeing nothing, I proceeded into the carriageway. Then a car overtook me at a very fast rate, drew in front and did an emergency stop. He did not quite stop, but did it twice. I suppose that it was " Teach him a lesson". I asked my back seat passenger, "Where did he come from?", he replied, "Didn't you see him?". The following day I passed the same place in daylight and saw that, from the driver's seat, the view of the major road at the give way sign was completely blocked by a huge tree.
I avoided that road next time.
Although not at the end of my pcp agreement I was thinking about how the condition may effect it's value - is the final figure really guaranteed or can it be reduced for items other than fair wear and tear - any experience of Mercedes attitudes appreciated.
Read more
Although not quite the same as PCP, SWMBO has a Pug 206 through the Motability scheme. It recently went in for its 2 year service and was given the annual "Motability Check" which basically a once-over for scratches, dents, bashed wheel trims etc.
They highlighted the wheeltrims as being a cause for concern. When I saw this I was surprised and had a look myself. After taking a wet rag to them, they came up as good as new.
How many Motability users get ripped off for new wheeltrims come the end of the rental period I wonder? Where else can you get 206 wheeltrims other than a main dealer or multi-storey car park after dark? We're going photograph the wheeltrims and send them to Motability with a copy of the report from the Peugeot dealer and see what they say....
The water pump on my daughter,s 1.2 Nova 'banger' has just gone.I have managed to avoid playing with cars in recent times as I buy new ones.But I do have reasonable experience of working on most aspects of car repair.
Can any BR's advise me of any pitfalls I should know about before embarking on changing the pump? Is it relatively straight forward?
Does anyone know of a cheap supply of Vauxhall parts or will the main dealer be as 'cheap' as anyone else?
Thanks
HectorG Read more
Ah yes. Sorry I was thinking of the 1.2 that was fitted in the Mk1 Astra.
I just learned that this car exists! Another example of how Ford brings more cool cars out in the UK than in the USA. :( So what are the specs? Is the 1.6L in the Sport 70BHP? It was hard to tell and I don?t know how to convert cc into BHP. How long has the roadster version of this car been out in the UK? Read more
>>>>Come on - you get the Thunderbird and the Mustang! The new version of the latter should be a fantastic bit of kit as well!
I will gladly trade you the Mustang for the Focus RS!!! And don?t you guys now have an AWD/300HP Focus??!? We only have the ZX3.
...that 1.8i 16v again!
Changed fuel filter and used injection cleaner recently.
The problem has improved but is still there.
In addition I cannot get the twin radiator fans to kick in at the right temperature, although I know both fans work, as I put a probe between a terminal and earth to test them.
Today, I formally threw in the towel after checking the following,
Exhaust seal - good.
ECU light - off.
Fans - work but not via sensor located on Thermostat housing along with a couple of others - changed sensor - no avail.
poor cylinder - none were obvious, disconnected each injector in turn and found no obvious pointers here.
Cooling system - bled at point on Thermostat housing and at point on heater matrix pipe, both saw a good dribble. Copious amounts of water/coolent added to compensate.
I took the car into my local garage and asked him to put his experience to it. He worried me by asking what oil was in the engine. Apparently, the 16 valve engines on the Fords can really cause problems if you put the wrong oil in them, effectively glueing the hydraulic tappets down and not closing the valves properly, but he thought it unlikely that this was the cause.
Hopefully, he will tell me that a simple problem was ... and 'All sorted Hugo' by tomorrow PM.
In the meantime, does anyone have any ideas?
DL, sorry I didn't get the photo on the site. However, I have now located the sensor and the other bleed point for the cooling system.
Thanks in advance
Hugo Read more
>> Hugo - Your fans - how do you know the
temperature
>> at which the engine is at? Not relying on the
temperature
>> gauge, eh?
>>
Erm - yes I was actually DL. Should one leave the
engine running until it bubbles over?
Mechanic confirms this view - Looks like this may be a false alarm with the fan.
As for the rough running - thinks it may be an inlet manifold gasket letting in air - which would explain a lot!
DL was close when he directed me to the exhaust side - what a pratt I am!
Thanks for all the help guys!
Hugo
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By all means spill 'em, just don't name the brand....