December 2003
OK, I only started posting a short while ago so apologies for butting in with stupid questions, but....
Who or what is SWMBO?
And does anyone know any other useful abbreviations? There must be some amusing ones to justify a thread?
I've worked out BR, by the way (sorry: btw). Read more
In the interests of performance and fuel economy, after 40 years of accumulating tools (and junk!) in my toolbag in the boot, I've taken out all but what I consider to be essential. I am now left with jack, torque wrench and sockets for wheelnuts and spark plugs, single-use camera in case of an accident, torch, AA membership card, and mobile phone. I hope I'm not tempting providence!
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L'escargot by name, but not by nature. Read more
Socket set, assorted spanners and screwdrivers, warning triangle, spare bulbs and squegee/ice scraper
Oil,LHM, five litres water, screenwash additive and an emptied and rinsed trigger pack (ex Muscle Kitchen cleaner) containig water/detergent mix for use with squegee to clean unswept glass.
{Thread moved from Technical Matters. DD}
Hi all.
Today I discovered a really \'cool\' feature on our Ford Focus. If you hold the Odometer reset button in whilst starting the engine until tESt is displayed, push it again and bUlb will appear and all of the dash bulbs will light up. If you keep pushing it and drive, you will discover that the odometer is now a digital speedometer and shows the needle to be about 3mph out at 30mph. You can push it again and get a digital rev counter and then it starts going weird. There is then a display saying \'EO\' and then numbers which fluctuate. I presume that this is Exhaust Emissions as the numbers vary according to engine speed. Then there are others which I have no idea what they do such as \'ILL\' and so on. Basically though, the odometer is now a computer interface. GO On ....TRY IT!
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After death, hair grows but phone calls tend to taper off Read more
Anyone with a Volvo that has a HU-803 head unit fitted will find that this little baby has an extensive in-built diagnostic function that also includes a digital speedometer.
www3.sympatico.ca/p_bruno/volvo/AudioSystemHU803Hi...f
Although only available in kph, I found it to be incredibly accurate from 'time over distance' calculation.
(Why does it exist at all? To be used in conjunction with the db display to the right hand side of it that indicates automatic volume control trigger speeds)
If you get bored over the Christmas period, you can play this traffic light game.
It's not that easy!
www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/java/trafficControl/trafficCon...l Read more
The RTA one is as good, I am going to experiment with some red wine tomorrow.
I managed to cause an accident with the traffic light one. The computer gave a very sad little bleep when it happened. Cannot replicate it though.
I've got a Ford Scorpio (2.9 12V, Estate, 1995) which is still going well, but the aircon has had it - for the sake of argument, let's say £500 of work needed.
I can live without it, as to me it doesn't seem worth spending that amount of money on something which isn't essential on a car which isn't worth much more than a grand.
But - when I come to trade in or sell, what if any difference would this make?
Also - if I chose to hand the car back to the finance company (having paid more than half the HP) would they be likely to penalise me for this?
Thanks Read more
Pretty much what I thought - and I like the comment about pretending to check everything. Thanks.
My '95 M Xantia 1.9TDLX of 162k is about to cost me more than it's worth - Heater Matrix, Clutch, 2 Tyres, Tax - about £1k.
Do I fix it, or bin it & buy something else? I can stretch to 3k and would consider the auctions. I do about 35k so need a diesel and it needs to be at least Xantia size to ferry the family about the country. Previously had an old shape A6 2.5TDI 140 (6 speed) - A nice car, but my money will only get me a N or P reg. Possibly 406, but then it's the same mechanicals as the Xantia's in a prettier, more expensive car.
Looking for VFM & reliability over looks. Any suggestions?
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Just to give you an idea, Simon, I had a prang in my ZX last Friday which wrote it off. Needing a car for work, I went onto Fish4cars the same evening and came away with a 1990 G Nissan Bluebird 1.6LX 5-door hatchback, 1 owner from new, electric everything, towbar, electric sunroof, not a mark on it anywhere, MoT'd from 28Dec03 - £180. Yes, I did say one hundred and eighty pounds. And not a thing wrong with it. That was from a private seller in Southend. If you look around carefully enough, deals can be had.
I was probably lucky, but if you want to go the route of changing your car look in the small ads and avoid dealers unless you want to pay over the odds.
I appreciate that many of you are disagreeing with me, but small ads don't always equate to bangers equating with huge costs.
Hi...
I had a new car stereo for Christmas last year and just one day before the year long manufacturer's guarantee runs out, it has gone wrong!
The front wont stay connected to the unit sufficiently enough for it to work, and on the rare occasion that I can get it to stay, one bit of acceleration and it's all quiet again.
I've got the receipt and the manufacturers guarantee, but it looks as though I forgot to register the guarantee in the excitement of Christmas. Is it still valid or will they laugh me out of Halfords later?
Thanks
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Normally the replacment unit is against the original purchase date as you do not have a new receipt for the new fridge. You can try your luck and use the registration card. Regards Peter
Wife's Focus, 3 yrs old, 26K miles has started making a whining noise from the rear end. This rises and decreases in volume with road wheel speed. I've checked under car for trapped debris / loose lines etc. to no avail. I've come to the conclusion it's likely to be one / both rear wheel bearings. Is 26K miles par for the course with a Focus ? Is it as easy a job as it used to be on Escorts/Fiesta which I've done several times before ?? Thanks. Read more
You would be well advised to replace the other side.It is normal practice.And save you the £8
VW Passat 95 N
My headlights have clip-on plastic protectors fitted by the previous owner.
One has broken - must have happened last night coming back from Scotland down the east coast running ahead of the snow.
Anyone know where they can be purchased?
Who makes them?
Thanks Read more
If they are Smoothy Light Guards by Signam then go to
www.signam.co.uk/Guard.Car.asp
or your local Halfords
Anyone got any personal views/preferences on the Jaguar X-type?
After drawing up a shortlist of cars in this class, I originally thought an IS Lexus would be a good idea. However, due to fidgety ride and the fact that an all new model arrives in 2005 thought I ought to consider the small Jag.
Thoughts on reliability etc. much appreciated. I think the 2.5 SE Auto would be the best all-rounder for my needs.
Thanks. Read more
"I bought the X Type, at 61 years of age,"
Speaks volumes for the reliability anyway!!(Sorry!)
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Motoring??
I thought not.