April 2004
Our volvo v70 tdi has started to produce excess smoke, even after a hard run it still is puffing out black smoke. Car has been serviced but still does this. It has done only 125,000 miles. Any ideas? it still drives 100%. Read more
Theabove generally has been a good starter but on ocassions it turns over but will not start Its had the following repairs new distributer cap,relay immobiliser bypassed but each time runs a few days then the problem reoccurs
Any ideas Mike Read more
Now I know this could be embarrassing, so I am quite prepared to accept answers which begin with 'I didn't see it myself but....' or 'a mate has informed me' ;)
But, someone has asked me what car the captain (Conrad Gates - the suspiciously Beckham'like character) was driving when he pulled into the club car park.
I didn't see it, but I'd like to be able to tell them authoritively.
Anyone got an answer for me .... please?
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Thank You to your esteemed colleague DD :)
I had 'googled' but not seen that link.
It was dark grey in colour and had "doors that open a bit like a de Lorean" apparently
See....it wasn't for myself I was asking after all.
I am toying with fitting a Blaupunkt DAB52 radio, in a Mercedes 230E 1992. The wide range of stations and standard fitting are attractive. Has anyone had experience of this unit. Is the CD player the normal 'one disk goes into the front slot of the head unit' arrangement?
What is the dab reception like. My experience of kitchen dab radios is that they can very touchy about positioning and aerials. Is this unit easy to fit and operate? Read more
I put the DAB52 into my 1990 Audi (and probably doubled it's value...).
A button on the top right causes the front plate to pivot down, and reveal the CD slot. Insert the CD half way, and the motor draws it into the drive. Push the front plate back up by hand.
DAB reception is patchy while driving - perfect sound quality when available. Mostly the problem is that an ensemble is not available when you select a service, rather than it disappearing when you're listening (I suspect it automatically tunes back to BBC R4 on FM, but I've never caught it in the act).
The unit was very easy to fit - it has rectangular ISO connectors on the rear, so the previously fitted B'punkt Casablanca just slid out, and the Woodstock slid in.
It has a second small aerial connector on the rear, and comes with an SMA (I think) adapter. This needs to be routed to a DAB aerial - mine came with the radio.
Operating it is probably no more difficult than any other modern aftermarket radio. A fair number of small buttons, not as easy as OEM radios. Most things are controlled through a menu, so really need to be set up at install time, eg bass/treble/fade/display. Volume & source selection/tuning are about the only things with their own buttons.
The unit gets a bit hot, so I'm in the process of adding a small amp to drive the speakers, rather than the amps in the DAB52.
BTW, I bought mine from Scan, as part of their 'Today Only' others - UKP235 including VAT & aerial.
Ian.
I have seen some pretty grotty two-three year old cars and it's made me wonder whether the 3yo/1st MOT rule is correct.
Most examples will have travelled around 30k miles in 3 years, some double or more.
Equally, a lot of older cars will only have travelled a very few thousand miles since their last MOT.
Would it not be more sensible to have MOTs set at (say) every 10/15/20 thousand rather than by date?
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RF, you may well be right about less cowboys but they do still exist.
I know one where, for £50 you get a guaranteed pass, with a note of any faults found, and he always puts the wrong vehicle colour on the certificate - presumably so he can say it was a different motor if challenged.
There was a thread which touched on quality of fuel etc, and the nub of an argument was cited in my last response. Can't now find this thread which possibly has been removed editorially! Since then I have had a helpful response from Shell:
"Combustion in an engine will always result in carbonaceous deposits being formed. There may also be issues with oil leakage which can results in further deposits on combustion. Engines run on stop start cycles will be much more prone to deposit build up than those run continuously over long periods of time (probable explanation for the test bed comment). Most major motor manufacturers now recommend detergent fuels. Specific references you may find interesting:
LM Gibbs, Chevron Research & Tech: Gasoline additives - when and why SAE paper 902104
GT Kalghatgi, Shell Research Ltd, Deposits in Gasoline engines - A literature review SAE paper 902105 (This extensive paper describes not only deposits and where they form, where they come from and their harmful effects, but also how they are controlled)
MJ Papachristos et al of Associated Octel, fully synthetic gasoline additive packages to meet the needs of the 90s. SAE paper 932809 "
Unless there is further interest/argument with the papers cited by Shell, I am satisfied that there is merit in only using fuels with a claim to quality. Read more
WRT this topic, what is a knock sensor - do ordinary cars have one?
Does this change ignition timing according to fuel RON rating?
Will my car fail its MOT if on ly 4 of the 5 forward gears are working? Read more
You'll have no problem with the missing cog - the gearbox doesn't come into the test.
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
Driving home the other night, just as i passed my local at 11.15pm a man pulled out of the pub carpark right in front of me, and then proceeded to drive at a steady 15 mph for the next two miles (30 limit) before pulling into his driveway. He even managed to drive the whole distance with the handbrake on all the way home, while me and the missus where choking on the acrid fumes.
Now i know where he lives, should i have a quiet word with him, call the police, or do something else?
Thanks,
footy
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I never drink and drive.
It spills onto your trousers when you negotiate a roundabout.
my olds are about to sell their galaxy, and are in the market for prefrebly a 7 seater but maybe a very spacious 5 seater.
Badge not important, 2 requirement, its a diesel and its reliable.
just seen the fiat doblo 7 seater with the antastic 1.3 dielse engine for £10,595 ( so it wil lbe bout £9,500 with internet discout).
Firstly, is the doblo reliable, what are the concerns. Yes it has been revised but the mechanics are all the same in general. Its a fiat, but cause its a converted van - are they more rugged and reliable?
Also, After the doblo, what are the next 2 chepest diesel 7 seaters?
Thirdly, seen the fusion 2 diesel on motorpoint, good price, but are their any other good space diesel 5 doors for similar money (£8,500).
finally, is a late volvo v40 diesel worth considering in estate form? Read more
My wife has a Mk1 1.2 8V Punto and I don't think it is particularly noisy for a small car. The engine is very "zingy" and seems to like being rev'd.
Chad.
Just had this replaced on my 98 car. Originally thought it was something far more serious. Seemed like head gasket or worse as the noises made when it was just about to cut out were awful.
The AA man that rescued me said this was a common problem with French cars and also some Vauxhalls although I couldn't find reference here apart from in HJ's car reveiw.
This is really just to advise other owners who have such problems at sub 40k mileage that your problem may not be terminal. Read more
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Stuck open EGR valve???