February 2004
An elderly Aunt has a '96 3 dr Punto 75(1.2)ELX which hasn't been out the garage (or even started) for around 18 months. It's been SORN'd but has no MOT. She is looking to sell it and wont be buying a replacement.
I've been asked if I could have a look - my wife has a similar Punto, though my wife's is a slightly older 5 dr SX. I want to help but I'm not sure where I should start;
The battery is going to be flat - should I recharge it or would it be less hassle to get a new one (£25-30)? What other things should I look at? - oil/filter/coolant change, brakes, tyres, spark plugs perhaps? Bear in mind that it just needs to be MOT'd and will be sold almost immediately afterwards
Thanks in advance,
Chad.
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Anyone changed their car, and as result, found it changed the driver? After over 20 yrs' driving autos, latter 2 yrs with a Lexus 200 auto, I have managed to find what I'm told is fairly rare 5 door A3 quattro turbo diesel sport, 6-speed, and suddenly I am "driving" again! From being cossetted in a comfortable small limo with rather gutless performance, I'm now rejuvenated (at age 61) by the A3. What a handsome, rewarding hatchback - exciting and returns over 40mpg, even on local runs. After rear wheel drive, this is so sure footed (canna wait for next snow!). So comfortable, too - the seats are firmer, shaped.
Better stop there. Just to say: I enjoy my motoring much more now, and (hey) am much happier person! Read more
3 pledges (in public): I stick to 4 wheels, never wear a baseball cap (even right way) and don't touch burgers (especially at Box Hill).
Saw a program about Steve McQueen who(unbelievably) would have been 74 next month. Anyway it got me thinking about an older family friend who I think tried to model himself on the Star. Fast motorbikes, Porsches, private pilots licence - that sort of thing and always a pretty lady on the scene. We youngsters were always mightily impressed with both cars and the women.
Well he is now in his 70s, certainly not impoverished, but sedately drives a little hatchback with his fourth(I think) wife. I asked him recently if he didn't miss all the exciting cars he used to drive. He said it was the motoring equivalent of impotency and quoted George Melly who famously said that losing his sex drive was like being untethered from a wild beast!
So are we all destined to become Septuagenarians pottering around in shopping trolley mode in our little cars? (the GRowler will be a notable exception)
But it did occur to me that the two conditions might go hand in hand!!
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While entering the local bicycle shop this morning, I had the pleasure of holding the door open for an 84 year old gentleman who had come to collect his brand new mountain bike. I just had to stand and watch him pedal up a road grade that I have personally cursed as my own 33 year old legs ached while ascending.
On the last part part of the westbound Chiswick flyover at Brentford where it slopes back to ground level are 3 pairs of purple lights attached to the lighting masts just above the central crash barrier. I've travelled this road since it was opened and have never seen them lit or have any idea what they're for. Do any backroomers know? Read more
Sighting lights for Heathrow? ;)
Stolen from SE1, London. Cream W123 Mercedes estate 230TE. Stolen between Sunday 6pm and this morning 9.30am.
I presume I have been a victim of the gang of Balkan thieves mentioned in the Telegraph
tinyurl.com/yu7nv
There\'s a healthy reward waiting for anybody who finds this (some chance). Identifying characteristics: green interior, badly worn patch by drivers right arm - horsehair showing through; no front mats; some rust over wheelarches as usual.
Why they have to steal these cars to break them, when you can buy them for almost nothing on eBay is anybody\'s guess.
www.mercseller.com is maintaining a register of these thefts - as mentioned in the Telegraph article. As he has been so kind & sympathetic to me this morning in my hour of desperate fury I hope you mods don\'t mind his getting a mention.
If I work out how, I might even manage to post a picture. Read more
I have just been down to Walworth Road police station to make a statement. Very nice PC laboriously (v. hard) wrote it out for me, and I signed it. He'd watched the video footage, and apparently got some good pictures of the 'tow-rag what nicked it'. Ordinary car thieves, apparently. This whole 'shipping them to the Balkans' thing appears to be a myth - although he would cheerfully have done that to the 'tow-rag'. Hopefully this means that the next one will be safer - perhaps removing the rotor arm is the way forward for on-street London parking!
Needless to say, I am now parked directly under the CCTV camera, rather than 200 yards away! And (see other threads) I shall be guarding my patch jealously, and have acquired 2 milk crates (do they seriously exist in London?) to mark it out.
ive got a 1998 ford fiesta diesel 1.8 which requires a replacement engine, ive located a unit fro a 1998 ford escort 1.8 diesel, does anyone know if it will fit?
thanks in advance. Read more
in short yes it will fit straight in. Though if you use the escort gear box you have to modify fiesta driveshafts, hope that helps
I have done many fiesta / escort swaps you might have to use engine mounts of of fiesta block
There has been a dramatic fall in the number of petrol stations round my way in Balham, south London. There used to be about 15 petrol stations that I knew of within a couple of miles of me about three years ago, but that number has dropped by about half since then.
Most of the old stations seem to end up as development sites for housing. I guess there is far bigger profits in apartments than in petrol, but it now means I have to consider filling up when my tank reaches about a quarter full just in case the next station I try and visit has also closed.
Is this a nationwide thing, or do I just live in the wrong area?
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Think 15 stations within a couple of miles was maybe too many!!
Is there a way of opening the boot from inside the car?? The boot was frozen this morning and I have managed to break the "handle"! It now hinges, but does not activate the mechanism. There was a distinct "crack" noise as a vital part snapped....Goes to show that you never know your own strength... Read more
On a fiesta, there is literally a little metal rod which works as part of the lock mechanism inside the boot. Reach into the mechanism, pull on this and the boot pops open. Maybe your Omega has something similar?
Some time ago, I promised ( see www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=18...9 )to run an experiment running my car on Optimax for the edification of the backroom gang. I've complained often enough that I've never seen a scientific test of "quality" vs supermarket fuels; I offer the next best thing, an utterly unscientific test.
Premise:
There is a benefit in fuel economy to be had using Shell Optimax petrol.
Equipment:
One 1999 Vauxhall Omega 2.5CDX, mileage 85,000, almost exclusively run on Tesco fuel - Clubcard points!
One credit card (Tesco)
Lots of Shell Optimax
The M3, M25 and A3 mainly.
Method:
Fill car to brim with Optimax (from as near empty as I dare). Drive 3281 miles that match usual driving mix as far as possible.
Fill car to brim with Optimax (at the same pump in the same garage)
Work out fuel consumption
Results:
Used 107.3 Gallons, equalling a fuel consumption of 30.6mpg
Usual consumption of car is 31mpg, so this is probably within errors an unchanged fuel consumption.
Conclusions:
For my car, for my mix of driving (mainly motorway) Optimax offers no fuel consumption benefits.
Discuss.
V
PS. I reckon the Optimax over Tesco has cost me £24 extra. Any chance of a virtual whip-round?
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Tesco's rules OK!
Hi
BMW 318 1999 model 47,000 kms
Car started to suffer from steering wheel wobble/shimmy at 50 -60 mph so took car to local tyre place, changed the two front tyres Bridgestones, had them balanced and also had the alignment checked, balancing was out but alignment ok, chap said steering dead straight. I remember him placing something over the steering wheel and also checking the distamce between the two wheels. He did not undo or tighten. re adjust any rods etc.
I week later still the same, steering wheel wobble at 50 60 mph, sits in my car and we go for test drive, say's every thing ok no sign of wobble or pulling. However comment that noise coming from rear tyre, says rear tyre has not worn evenly accross width, I check tyre looks good to me with plenty of tread
Can anybody help please, are my rear tyres the cause of my steering wheel vibration/shimmy or is it the front wheel alignment should I get my two rear tyres changed (4 tears old) but have plenty of tread. I live and work in the middle east where the temp can distort rubber.
Thanks for any replies
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Hiya.. and update on my BMW tyre prob..
update, had the car properly aligned, alignment out and adjusted, went on test drive car better but not perfect, back to garage, wheels balanced again, and then tested again some improvement noticed, but again not perfect, back on ramp car checked...seem control arm bushes are worn out......
could this be the problem...apparantly they should be tight, but mine have some play in them.....cost of bushes from BMW circa 100 GBP
over to you gentlemen.
Thanks for all replies and comments.
Rgds.
kal
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Don't be surprised if the battery appears to draw no current from the battery charger for ages. I once revived a battery that had discharged over the winter (but not 18 months) and it drew virtually no current for a day or so then suddenly came to life and charged up normally. A new battery may be the easier route.