March 2004
when I accelerate I get a dip in power and then the engine seems to shudder for while was advised it was the accelerator pump diaphragm, change this to no avail still same problem when I pull the choke on it seems to help any ideas Read more
Female friend of mine just part-exed her 306 and got herself an Almera. With the part-ex price agreed at £1800 and a week to go before she picked her new car up, the 306 spits its dummy out and costs friend £800 to fix. Takes longer to fix than expected, friend explains situation to dealer who promptly reduces part-ex value to £750...
Personally, I'd have kept quiet about the repair but there you go. So, is this dodgy practice on the part of the dealer? Read more
Take it to another dealer and get a good P Ex value
H
Had a discussion (argument) with a colleague this morning on the 'best' technique to use when descending relatively short hills. Not your Alpine pass variety, just a mile or so which proves too steep to keep in check simply by closing the throttle.
I've always favoured braking using a series of relatively forceful (but not sharp) applications of the middle pedal (or the left-hand one for us auto drivers!), whereas my friend advocates steady continuous braking all the way down the hill. I can't really back up my argument with blinding science - it's just a 'gut feel'. What do you think?
I've also found that braking reasonably firmly from the start in normal driving makes it much easier to 'taper off' if coming to halt, avoiding 'dipping' the bonnet - which I find a wee bit irritating when I'm a passenger! Read more
Some very good points here LHM, Graham Hill (for one) never used engine (or gearbox) braking - not even at Le Mans, especially so perhaps. His reasoning didn't really have much to do with heat dissipation, more the adverse effects of repeated reverse loading on the transmission elements. As you (and G.H.) said, brakes and discs or drums are far easier and cheaper to replace than transmissions.
Just occasionally I think I\'m getting more like Victor Meldrew - this certainly prompted that reaction. What do you think of this?
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3568245.stm Read more
I'm not quite sure what planet some of these magistartes are on but it must be a very long way from here! I feel sorry for the police in cases like this. They spend precious hours processing scumbags like this, eventually get him to court and what happens!
I think it's time senior police officers spelled out to the courts just how much precious time, effort and money the police have to spend to bring these people to book. Perhaps then the magistrates mught act more responsibly. It's no wonder the police don't bother with certain offences when stuff like this happens.
Very complicated I\'m afraid
Some of you may remember a previous post of mine some months back about electrical damage done to my polo whilst it was being repaired by a garage (they set fire to some of the wiring whilst using a battery charger).
They are defending the claim and have submitted a counter-claim for damages (for fixing my car, which they never did). If they have made no attempt to contact me about any outstanding money owed to them, does their counter-claim for the repairs stand any chance of success? It is a village garage and they are relying on \"witness\" reports from a couple of their mechanics who are saying that I authorised them to carry out the work at my expense (this is untrue). Among other things, I wrote to them a few weeks back (before I submitted my claim), asking to see copies of all documentation they hold about me under the data protection act and received no response (I sent two letters, one by recorded delivery which they rejected and I still have unopened). Can they now turn round and say \"well, actually, you owe us 500 quid\"? Will the ridiculousness of the counter-claim help my claim for the damages?
I have an expert report saying that the damage to the car\'s alternator, wiring etc. was likely caused by the incorrect use of a battery charger (i.e. the leads the wrong way round) and in their defence statement, they did state that a battery charger was used.
They have ignored all my attempts to get a response out of them apart from one very abusive (a *lot* of swearing) telephone call to tell me where to go. They have hung up on me repeatedly when I have tried to talk to them.
Also in their defence statement, they denied that they had carried out any further work on the car but I can prove that they sent the vehicle to their own autoelectricians on two further occasions. (I obtained copies of the invoices from their autoelectricians under the data protection act, listing them as the customer.)
anyone know what my chances are?
Any help gratefully appreciated,
~James
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Nothing in the civil procedure rules requires you to use registered post or recorded delivery. Normal first class post will do. Using the more expensive types of post merely gives them an opportunity not to accept delivery of the letter. You have already achieved one important aim in that you are now able to demonstrate to the court the nature of the company that you are dealing with. It sounds to me as if the judge is going to be looking for his biggest heaviest book to throw at them!
I've seen a very good deal on a new 04 reg Vectra elegance saloon. The dealer is vague about when it was manufactured, so does anyone know how I can work this out? I'm guessing it was built towards the end of 03. Additional useful information would be if anyone also knows what happens to Vectras after they roll off the production line - are there fields full outside Ellesmere Port? Thanks for any help Read more
Hi,
For Vauxhalls - I KNOW that all the vehicles have a special code called the SONO number (sales order number). This is in the form AB1234 and is stamped on the VIN plate which is under the bonnet. Make a note of the SONO and ask a friendly dealer to enter the SONO into his computer - this will reveal exactly when the car was made. Don't be fobbed off with can't do it - make a note by looking under the bonnet and ask him (or others to assist you). The service depts also have access to the information.
VIN encoding may also help - but won't give an actual date - just location, model year and assembly sequence number.
Good luck - & let me know know how you got on.
Regards .............. Robert
Hi All,
I have had a look around the forum and not seen any answers so here goes:
I have a \'95 Renault 5 1.4 with approx 80K milage, serviced according to schedule etc.
Recently when I switch off the engine after driving, I notice that there is a whining from the back of the car which stops a few seconds after the engine is switched off. It sounds like what I would expect a pump to sound like when spooling down.
Having a look around I\'m pretty sure that it\'s the fuel pump. If this is the case are these early symptoms that it might be on it\'s way out? (there has been no noticeable change in performance or efficiency)
I just want to know if I should think about replacing it.
Thanks
Alex. Read more
No that I can detect (tried it this morning). It seems only to occur after I have switched the ignition off after a run (doesn' t happen if I just fire up and idle).
I\'ve just seen a Rolls Royce Phantom (the new one) for the first time and I\'m still reeling from the shock. The photographs don\'t do it justice - it really really is pig ugly! Doesn\'t look too bad from the rear threequarter angle but that\'s about it. How can designers get the proportions of that classic radiator so wrong? The grille is too wide and the whole front of the car is six inches too high for the overall shape. I presume someone did admire the Camargue after all? The interior woodwork looked to be of excellent quality but there was so much there that the \'driving compartment\' as RR used to describe it reminded me of a 1950s cocktail cabinet. When I took a close look at the body I couldn\'t believe my eyes. The shut lines around the bonnet and front doors were so wide you could look in and see the rubber stops. I saw it parked outside the casino in Monte Carlo so I was able to compare it directly with drop-dead gorgeous Bentley Continentals nearby and (just around the corner) a real RR Silver Cloud 1 and a real 1920s Phantom in the Prince Rainier car collection museum. Dear dear. At least I would know where not to put my £250,000 I guess. Or maybe I\'m just too picky... Read more
Just a little update...
Last Saturday's Telegraph has just reached me in France and what do I see on the front page of the motoring supplement but an advert for the Rolls Royce Phantom! What's that about?
Surely it must be decades since RR had to advertise and you could probably count the number of readers who might be potential buyers on the fingers of less than one hand.
Reminds me that not long ago Renault was advertising the delights of possessing a company pre-owned Avantime - factory since closed...
The vast majority of motorists may not be wealthy but they know what looks right!
Hello!
If Arosa = Lupo
and Ibiza = Polo,
does new Altea = New Golf?
Is that a good or bad thing?
Thanks
Read more
Length/size of car ain't no guide to the platform it's based on. The platform determines hidden fundamentals like suspension and other 'chassis' components. Wheelbase is just as variable as the overhangs either end.
Prime example: Audi TT = VW Golf. Well, same platform/floorpan...
Hi all, I'm organising a sales conference for a client and I'd like to give away a CD compilation of great driving music to delegates as the theme is F1/performance driving.
Can anyone point me towards a CD compilation currently available on the high st. The age of the delegates is 25-35 yrs old so nothing too old.
I'm not looking for suggestions of great driving tracks, but to quote our mods "I'm sure that won't stop you"
As always thanks in advance Read more
Nice one PAJ, can't believe I forgot one that I've got myself
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I reckon it's a carb fault ( if it has one ! )
On some of these carbs there is a brass jet that loops into the top of the carb and squirts fuel when throttle applied . It is held in by 1 screw , take it out and you will probably find that the two parts have parted company , there will be a little plastic ball inside. Retrieve the lower half which is still in the carb . All you have to do is roughen the sides of the top half and refix the lower half with the ball inside . You'll be amazed at the difference.
Let us know if it works.