January 2004
My daughter has just bought a new Mazda 3 1.6TS saloon, and I am most impressed by the quality of engineering. At tick-over the engine is almost inaudible with no mechanical noise whatsoever, - the only engine that I have ever heard as quiet was on a Lexus LS430.
The platform is similar to the next generation Focus and gives an excellent balance between ride comfort and handling.
From our early observations, Mazda have a potential winner on their hands with their legendary reputation for reliability, and a great spec for the price. Read more
Just trying to get an old radio working for my daughters car, its a Volkswagen Passat 1993 that we have just bought, the radio is a Pioneer model KE 4930 but its not wired up. Can anyone help with the following terminal markings? I can quess a few but not sure of them all.
1) BT
2) BA
3) B+
4) L
5) G
6) R
7) AA
Thanks Read more
I have a two-year old Vauxhall Astra 1.6 Estate with factory-fitted LPG conversion. Since mid-October the "Exhaust Emissions" light (engine symbol) has regularly been illuminated, sometimes flashing when I accelerate. The car is still under manufacturer's warrenty, so at no charge to me the "DIS Pack" (Direct Injection System?) has been replaced in early November and again in mid December, but in each case the light illuminates again within a week or so. On the third occasion the garage diagnosed that a Crankshaft sensor needed to be replaced, which had to be ordered. This arrived last week, was fitted on Thursday, but the light was on again by Saturday.
Have any of you good people suggestions? Thanks.
Read more
Ive just withdrawn from a deal on a Fiat Stilo 3 door JTD because they kept putting the delivery date back and I would have waited over 5 months for it, so im back in the market for a new or pre-reg car. I commute 4 miles each way to work and do about 30 miles at the weekend, mostly country roads, pretty clear etc. At work i drive Diesels all day but im very flexible about what I get. Ive been looking at loads of cars, Fiesta, Focus, Fabia TDi, Polo TDi,prereg 323, octavia Tdi (import), Megane Dci 80, Almera 1.5, I dont have a family .I like diesels but my commute is short. I value comfort and a good driving position, and I like a bit of space, and I have a limit of around 10k to 10.5k tops. Read more
2 of my mates have just bought Citreon C5's 6 months old with 8k on the clock, 1st was £8200 2nd was £7900, i've tried to find fault but I can't, they are just one very good bargain.
I have a 1994 punto and it seems to have a problem with the brakes. When driving along normally, virtually all the time there is a squeal coming from the brakes. This ceases when the brakes are applied. I have been told by my local mechanic that the discs are worn out. The pads were recently replaced and the mechanism seems free.
The car has covered 61,000 miles and this appears to be early on in the cars life to replace the brake discs.
Any ideas or am I resigned to the fact that I have to replace these parts?
Many thanks
FP Read more
When the pads were fitted, I bet no anti-squeal compound was applied to the backplate, this will cause it to oscillate at high frequency and produce a noise as it rubs on the disc. A satchet of anti-squeal goop should cost about £1 at a motor factors. You can sometimes get away with copper grease or similar, but I find it tends to get washed away, especially if you have alloys and a pressure washer can wash the pads.
It's easy to swing the caliper up on this car and whip out the pads, wipe them with meths or brake cleaner, and apply the anti-squeal paste and leave 20 mins to go tacky and refit.
Watch this clip - unbelievable.
www.neumaerker.net/files/city.wmv Read more
The rider is crazy and not very good either, but he does have very large cojones!
Anyone else watched 'Rendevous'? It's the Ferrari across Paris at high speed film. Again, crazy, dangerous, stupid, but great to watch.
I have a 89 Golf GTI 8v which has been well cared for throughout it's life. I really enjoy the car and it has been very reliable. However, it is due some big money spending on it with Cambelt/Tensioner change due and a clutch replacement looming. The heater has also stopped working - I think the matrix has gone bad. It had the bypass installed in 1998 by VW so no chance of getting them to do the work gratis. So I am probably looking at £250-300 labour for all these jobs plus parts. My mechanic doesn't even want to do the heater matrix as it is such a hard job!
It has 130k miles and the engine is still very strong; the car feels fast. It has a slight gearbox while in 4th. Now I am considering if it makes sense to spend all this money on it which probably equates to over half the value of the car. Thoughts from Backroomers? Read more
Yes done the tstat ages ago; first thing I tried.
I'll just get one from GSF and have a go at it soon.
2nd question of the day. In Basingstoke traffic calming measures have sprouted like weeds on the lawn. I say the hump devices damage your cars tracking-steering- suspension - etc leading to prematurely worn tyres : obviouly dangerous....any comments? Read more
"My local highways engineer bloke told me each hump cost £2000"
Ooops i meant £4000 before someone corrects my maths!
I am running an m reg mercedes 220 diesel with 130000 miles on the clock. I say I should sell it and update but my wife says keep it and only change when the crusher looms. Who do you think is right? Read more
Unless you actually want rid of the car, keep it. It's worth maybe £4000 and doesn't really owe you anything. Look after it and it'll probably be good for five more trouble free years, after which you'll still get a grand and a bit if it's all working. Okay, it's a bit slow (0-60 in about 18 seconds IIRC) but it's still practical, reasonably safe, probably reliable, and the image of an old Merc is generally of someone who's made it and is satisfied with what he has in life.
Of course, if you're asking this question because there's a nice new car you have your eye on, then there's no reason to deny yourself if that's what you want to spend your money on. There's just no pressing financial or practical reason to get rid of it.
My son went out and bought some Sparco peadal covers without checking if they would fit.Unfortunately the fitting holes are in the centre of the metal covers,which means the top fitting hole is directly in line with the pedal arms where they join/weld to the original pedals.I notice other pedal manufactures have their connecting holes at the edges which would fit and miss the arm.Anybody fitted the Sparco pedals to a Punto and if s,how.
Regards
Steven Read more
Could you clean them up and use araldite or low modulus silicone sealer?
Browse
Not sure if this wiring code will help as some are different.
yellow/red........ignition aux
white/blue........+ positive permanent supply tuner memory
brown ............- earth
blue/yellow.......)
grey/white........)speaker
blue/green........)
grey/black........)speaker
red/green.........)
brown/black.......)speaker
brown/white.......)
red/yellow........)speaker
Can`t remember which sides or whether front or rear for speaker
cables/As I said it may not apply to the pioneer.but if it helps if not discard