February 2004
I recently inquired at a GM dealer about the timing belt design of the new vectra and was dissapomnted when told that it requires changing at 4 years or 40,000 miles. Surely this smscks of low quality design specifications designed to keep garages busy. Back in 93 when the Ford Mondeo was first produced it to has rubber belt which was superior in both design and construction and can last up to 60-80k, the new Mondeao has a chain cam as well as a large number of Japanese and German cars.
What do you think ......any comments would be appreciated. Read more
Hi, I have had a problem with my central locking for a few weeks now and while I haven't tried absolutely every solution yet I am more than a little worried by the fact that I can't lock my car!
Basically, locking the car ('96 N reg) with the key activates the door locks, but they all immediately unlock again. My passenger door lock is extremely stiff and so I have sourced this as a potential problem. This does mean, however, that there is no way of locking all the doors at the same time. Is there a way of turning off the central locking so that the front doors can be locked just by pushing the handles in in the interior (as with the back doors) without affecting any of the others? Pushing the handle in on the front passenger door activates the central locking and so they all reopen again. It is extremely frustrating.
Thanks in advance! Read more
Ah, removed the central locking fuse for a quick fix. It's off for an MOT and service on Tuesday so I'll ask them to take a look at the locks as well, and report back if it could be of any help to anyone.
due to the awfulness of the new 5 series, i'm trying to replace my very high spec 12/98 528 with one of the last of the e39s either 530i or 530d. Nobody seems able to tell me whether or not the 'comfort seats' which i have in mine were available on the 2001/2 models. i've been told the only choice then was 'standard' or 'sport'. true or false ?? if anybody has a late e39 spec or extras brochure, i'd be v.interested.
terryd
Read more
Terry,
If you would like the spec of my car then e-mail me at junk@chrisps.com. I can certainly give you more info on the diesel. (may be a delay in reply as its a filter address)
Can you help us to choose a replacement, sometime in the next 6-12 months, for my wife's Honda Jazz? The Jazz is excellent but she wants something a little faster - although as we're in our 50s, nothing too boy-racer-ish.
It doesn't need to be big, as the Jazz is second car to a VW Golf TDI estate, shortly to be replaced by an Audi A4 Avant 2.5 TDI. But she needs comfortable, supportive seats.
Possibilities are the SEAT Ibiza 130 TDI (maybe too hard a ride?), the Skoda Fabia vRS (if I can get her even to look at a Skoda!!) or the Honda Civic S (bigger than we need but not excessively so).
Any other ideas? Our budget is about £15,000.
Best wishes
David Duvall Read more
Maybee thats why Mrs Vansboys' minis have been getting even SHORTER, since owning hers - saves creasing or splitting a longer skirt!!
VB
Every so often something happens that gives you a shake and makes you have a diiferent outlook on life.
I, like most people, know that car safety have improved, have heard of NCAP etc etc. However I could probably quote you top speeds and equipment lists before I could give NCAP ratings and numbers of airbags.
My friend was recently involved in a fatal accident, thankfully he survived but 2 people in the car he was in collision with sadly were fatally injured. The police have admonished him of all blame but that doesn't bring these people back.
My friend was driving a Mondeo and walked out it with minor bruising.
I for one, will have a serious rethink about the cars I drive and how important is it to have electric windows, air con etc, as opposed to having a car that I can climb out of after an accident. Read more
Marcos: have to agree that its multi-facetted, but most fatal/serious injury accidents in the UK happen at lower speeds than you think. Around two thirds of all accidents in which people are killed or seriously injured happen on roads where the speed limit is 40mph or less, according to DfT. Therefore, the NCAP results are highly relevant, particularly the aspect related to pedestrian/car incidents. As an aside, walking on unpavemented rural roads, yesterday, we had 3 low-speed brushes with cars which were reluctant to divert away from us. In one instance they deliberately drove, slowly, close to the kerb (mud/grass on the other side) to force us off. But I've got the swines number!
Does anybody know whether the dump valve for an escort RS Turbo (petrol) will work on an escort 1800 Turbo diesel? Read more
Turbo- diesels don't need a dump valve because they run unthrottled.. your never going to get the turbo blowing against a closed throttle like in a petrol turbo during gear changes so no benefit from having one.
Hi all,
I've tried solving the rattling problems with my Mk4 Golf, and after reading other postings on the 'net i'm one of the many sufferers. Build quality has plunged to new depths in my opinion.
I'm trying to find the reference on this site that explains the fault with the dashboard clocks, but i can't find it anywhere ! Does anyone know where i can find it ? I've been told that VW know of the problem (thanks enr1) i'm just looking for something that i can print off and shove under my dealers noses as they're not listing to my suggestions as to where the fault lies. Their line is ' it's the alarm siren' and after losing a days leave for them to do it the rattle is still there.
This is my last VW.
Please help !
Read more
i was wondering if any one knows how easy it is to do a cam belt on a toyota camry j reg hope for some feed back soon thanks
Read more
From what I know, the camrys are very well laid out and a cambelt change should be very easy compared to more complex cars. If you check out the haynes manual for this car, it will tell you more about the difficulty level.
Hi there,
I currently have an Audi A4, bu since the arrival of child number 2 it has become apparent that the A4 is just to small.
A Colleague has a new shape mondeo which feels about twice the size inside of mine and I think would be more than adequate for my needs.
I have started looking around at a few and have come across a very high mileage 3 year old example. The mileage dosent bother me as I had a MK1 mondeo which had 160K on it when I sold it, but my question is does anyone here have any experience with the new shape mondeos with high mileages, and is there anything I should look for which is prone to failure?
Thanks Read more
Yes, I know though it seems that these guys were discussing the '96 facelift model from the comments made.
For some strange reason n the last few weeks my crankshaft pully has started wobbling only at idle mind.
Anyway it makes the car a touch noisy at idle.
Whats the best way of repairing this, obviouslt a new pulley is required, can the woodruff key be replaced or is it a new shaft job.
Or is here a bodge i can do! The car has only done 120k, and is otherwise running fine.
Any help appreciated. Read more
In line with some of the wonderful advice given above, I used the Loctite, Liquid metal epoxy route to repair a damaged keyway on my 406 1.9 TD. It works fine,(+10,000 miles so far). I would offer the following bits of advice.
1. Clean out the thread in the crankshaft for the pulley bolt, mine was full of junk where the loose bolt had been rattling back and forth. Use Loctite on this bolt, get a new bolt if it looks ropey.
2. Use a flywheel locking key, you'll never get it tight enough just holding the engine by keeping it in gear, I tried this at first and the clutch simply slipped.
3. If you are using loctite on the pulley to shaft (I did) I would be sure the cambelt, idlers, water pump, oil seals are OK as it will be a hassle getting it off again.
Good luck!
Canuck
Browse
Ah......so a lease-car isn't always a safe buy with FSH then!
--
groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....