February 2004
Are there any body panel fabricators that would be able to make replacement body panels for a reasonable cost? My car was hit at the weekend and it looks like a new wing (if available) would likely take several weeks or months to arrive. A brand new replacement would cost around £300 including VAT so anything up to that price would certainly not be a problem. I was hoping the damage would just knock out but sadly it doesn't look like it will....
teabelly Read more
Can anyone recommend a company offering insurance for the loss or theft of car keys? I realise most car insurance policies will cover this but for me personally the increase in future premiums may put me off a claim.
I imagine the hassle and worry of having these nicked might be worth it, especially with the increasing prevalence of remote central locking and the expenditure of replacement keys/locks and/or the re-programming of immobilizer codes.
I noticed one company quoting £40 pa for the cover of 2 keys with up to £1000 worth of cover. But how much is a replacement likely to cost based on people's experience?
Cheers.
Read more
... Modern immobiliser keys may well be more than a couple of quid, but a lot less than trying to sort it out after you've lost the original ...
Hmmm! Think yourself lucky you don't apear to own a current generation Volvo, martin123! Replacement keys will be five King's ransoms, and coding them to match the car (ignition as well as remote locking) another two. Whether conducted before or after you lost the orignal makes no difference, as in either case the key has to come from Volvo, and be programmed by a Volvo agent. Oh yes, there's another King's ransom in there too, because any other keys that you still have for the car have to be taken in for reprogramming as well! Security, it seems, comes at a price.
It has not happened to me yet, but I know several Volvo drivers that it has happened to. They were not best pleased!
With some cars now being produced with F1 paddle shift gear change selectors; if you were to take your driving test in one of these, would you be categorised as passing your test using a manual gearbox, or auto? Read more
"here we are three and a half years on"
That's the trouble with these boards - people can pick up on what you said long after you've forgotten! :-)
Over the last year or so a lot more of these gantry signs seem to have been installed, presumably at great cost ,but they don\'t seem to me to be being used well.
Sure I\'ve seen them warning about upcoming tailbacks, etc, but alot of the time they are blank.
I\'d like to see them used more to repeat 2 messsages:
1. To say that in mist, spray, twilight, dipped headlights are required . I can\'t believe how many people either will not switch on at all ( and when 98% are illuminated, they become even harder to see) and then when they do insist on using parking lights until there\'s pitch darkness.
2 re mobile phone use .Since the law came in I\'ve still seen half a dozen or so people using hadheld ; today a can driver navigating a miniroundabout near me .It was always stupid and arrogant to do it, now it\'s illegal as well Read more
Maybe the operator sets the speed limit equal to their IQ.
Seriously though, _occasional_ messages such as
"Do you need to change lanes?"
"Do you need to turn your lights on?"
etc.
might be useful. They have to be infrequent though, as otherwise they will be ignored.
As the 10% Off Breakdown Ad right has a picture of an Alfa, is HJ trying to suggest something about the reliability of Alfa?!... ;-) Read more
Grrrr.... [shakes fist]
After reading in the car by car that you need to specifically ask for the multitronic steering wheel - I did just that (3 spoke version) and it turned up without the buttons.
First line I get from the salesman is - "that it's only available on the four spoke steering wheel."
That's rubbish as I have a brochure with pics of the three spoke version. Besides, I would have expected them to get back to me so I could choose.
Before I go back and put my parts on, I'm assuming that the wiring is all there as the box itself is multitronic.
Can anyone say whether it's a big job for them to swap over and give me what I specified? I would like to go back with a b/s deflecting arguement.
Grateful for any help. Read more
Thanks very much Blurred, that?s a great help.
It shows it can be done, OK it's not as simple as just changing the wheel but it's their mistake and their problem.
Audikid ? it?s a cabriolet and I didn?t want the ?sports? (i.e. no) suspension option, hence the six month wait.
I take the point about it being very good in drive ? but when I tested one, I found the kick-down nowhere near as good as the buttons. The kickdown is the only slight disappointment - otherwise the multitronic box is superb. Very smooth, with petrol consumption less than the manual!
My previous experience of tip/geartronic would have had me less interested ? but the Audi?s are really quick.
I have a ’95 Xantia 1.9TD with 164k Miles. Yesterday it would not start and my wife called the AA out who diagnosed 3 defective glow-plugs. Having had no prior starting problems I was surprised at this but figure to get all 4 changed. The AA did get it started, but no surprise that I couldn’t get it to start today.
Called a few garages and am getting quotes of £100 - £130 / 1.5 to 2 hours labour plus about £9 per glow-plug.
1) I was surprised at the 1.5 – 2 hours labour
2) As I live several miles from the nearest garage, how do I get it started to get it in for repair – I can’t even tow it due to the suspension.
Simon
Read more
How is the age of the car a factor in not doing a proper job Cyd?
M.M
Anyone know how to store the stations on the radio of a '99 Pug 306 Hdi? It's an LX. I've looked in the handbook but my model's not featured. Of the radios that it does discuss (a 'PA 3010' and a 'PA 3035'), it says pressing one of the numbered buttons for two seconds will remember the tuned in station.
It doesn't. :-(
Read more
The push and hold method worked in my '95 306, but i guess that had a previous model radio perhaps.....
It seems that a couple of you have trouble minding your P's and Q's, so I've deleted the whole thread, rather than edit it - the former is so much easier, btw.
May I remind you to take a look at this previous thread:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=12524
I can't wash your mouths out with soap and water, but I can lock accounts if you persist in this activity.
DD, BR Moderator. Read more
just brought 2.0ltr rxe but it has an idle problem the tickover goes up and down like a yoyo changed the usual (plugs,leads,etc etc) had no effect anyone got any ideas please. Read more
still got problems with renault espace 2.0ltr inj seemed to of cured hunting but now ticks over at about 2500 revs any ideas would be grateful
Browse
Further to my post above, only today has the subject come up on the MB Owners Club bulletin board and the advice from owners with experience of pattern parts and from technical experts is avoid them and go for OEM parts if you can.