April 2004
Last December SWMBO had a slight incident when parking - her foot slipped off the clutch and her car jumped backwards and dented the door of a Pug 106.
The dent was about a foot wide, but not too deep, and could probably have been sorted out privately, but the other driver insisted on going through insurance companies.
The claim was all settled without hassle, but while renewing my own insurance recently I had to find out from her insurance company the value of the claim. I was quite surprised to be told the figure was £2000.
Anyone got any idea how they could arrive at this figure? Last time I got a dent repaired in one of my cars it was less than £200 all-in, and even if this one needed a new door I don't see how it could reach £2000 - that must be a third of the value of the car! Even adding in a hire car for a couple of days surely couldn't make that much difference.
Don't know if it's relevant, but it seems the other driver has a relative who runs a bodyshop, and she has now replaced her car altogether. We do have a witness to the amount of damage the original bump caused.
If this claim was excessive, would it be worth reporting to the company concerned? Read more
In over 14 years of driving it's not often that I see emergency vehicles wanting to come past with blue lights on. So what is the best practice to adopt?
The natural thing to do is slow down (not necessarily stop) and pull as far over to the left as possible indicating to let the driver of the emerency vehicle know that you have seen him. However, I vaguely remember watching something on TV with a police or fire service driver saying that we should continue as we are and let them pass in their own time as they are trained for such situations.
Any ideas? Read more
efad & shoei are spot on. Also, if you're at traffic lights (on red) and an emergency vehicle needs to get through, don't spend so much time getting out of the way by pulling onto the footpath/central reservation that the lights have changed to green and the EV is still stuck in traffic behind. Above all demonstrate what you intend to do to the EV driver, either by indicators or road positioning. It's a bit of a half-crown/ sixpence job when someone brakes to let an EV past on a blind bend or blind brow. And please don't overtake on the motorway. Why do you think the EV is on the mway? Do you want to run into the back of an existing RTA?
I have a Citroen Xantia 1.8 8v 95 yom i have a problem with a slight loss of oil i have a feeling that it is coming from the rocker cover but i am not too sure, there is a slight bit of oil settled around the spark plug area are they hard to fit and does anyone know do i need to use any of that silicone sealant with it, also why does my dipstick on my car read min on one side but halfway between max and min on the other side, as its reall frustrating, as i am always worried as to whether i have enough oil, can anyone help me, please!!!!
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Hi Adam
My Xantia (same engine)used to do the same. I can't remember if I ever really worked out why, but I suspect that the rubber seal on the top of the dipstick was worn and allowed oil to spray out under certain conditions. Of course, you'd suspect an engine fault if it was doing this, but my one always seemed fine. The oil tended to 'pool' round about the coil, but in reality was probably less than it seemed.
I'd certainly check all your breather hoses - if they're blocked or split that might contribute. (I seems to recall one of mine splitting down behind the oil filter somewhere.) Check them out.
It's an almighty thing of a dipstick in the 1.8 Xantia! Seems to go right down to the bowels of the earth! Pull it out - clean it - push it right home again with a slight twisting motion - the check level again. Be sure engine has been switched off about 10 minutes or so to get a reliable reading.
Graeme
306 turbo diesel lucas fuel pump.
The above mentioned piece has an immobilser fitted to it, I have been advised I can remove a steel plate and take the immobiliser relay out of it. This is not due to theft or anything, I bought a complete engine to replace a normal aspirated engine. Anyway, I have removed the pump from the car and I\'m unsure as to where this relay is hidden and dont want to start removing parts that dont need removing. If anyone knows anything about this I would appreciate it.
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That wire goes to the cold start advance device IIRC - leave it disconnected for the moment?
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
Watch out those of you who try to sell your car online.
There is a Nigerian scam that starts by them obtaining your e-mail address from websites selling cars and then trying to get you to export your car to them along with some cash. The e-mail goes like this:
I am interested in buying it since the price is reasonable and affordable at £....
The fact is that there is a client of mine in the UK owing me the sum £6500 ... he promised to send to you a cashier's cheque of that sum he is owing me to you ,then you will send the excess balance via Western Union [an Internet payment system] to settle when the shippers come to pick it up.
There are other similar ones at www.carsearch.com/mb/read.php?6,1,page=3
They will ask for pictures of your car and their interest in buying your car may hook you in. Don't give them any personal details!
Read more
Well documented at....
Also:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=14570
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=16019
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=17484
And several more using the "Forum Search" where you log in/out, hence thread write locked.
DD.
Hi People
My partner's sister has just given birth to 3 beautiful girls, but enough of the good news. We need to aquire a people carrier (for obvious reasons) with enough room to carry 5 plus everything else to keep a small tribe running.
The budget is £6,000, we've looked at Zafira's & the like but they cannot fit 3 baby seats, any advice would be most appreciated.
Thankyou in advance.
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Many thanks for all your suggestions, apologies for not responding sooner but I've been away.
I will look at all the vehicles mentioned in the next week, in the meantime they've been offered a Seat Alhambra 1997 R 2.0 manual with 60k F.S.H, and little in the way of extras - any ideas on practicality, reliability & price.
Thanks again.
Just returned home from a very wet weekend walking with friends in the Lake District.
After dropping a friend at Penrith rail station, a 35 mile trip down the M6 through the Shap fells saw almost 50% of cars either on side lights only or no lights whatsoever. All this in driving rain, combined with heavy spray and copious amounts of standing water.As V.Meldrew would say ''I don't believe it''.
The standard of some driving, and kamikaze speeds, was truly awesome.Just occasionally, the 4wd traction is very reassuring, and I was glad to leave the M6!
How on earth can we educate some of these people to make allowances when driving in these conditions?
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Ok. Try this for an idiot.
M1 Yorkshire. Dark clouds. Pouring rain. Navy coloured car behind sits behind me in the rain - with no lights - in the blind spot over my right shoulder. Hard to see through the spray even with the blind-spot mirror.Stays there for 3 miles while I hold a steady speed overtaking lorries.
The point is, some drivers have no road sense at all.
As to lighting :in most of Europe, headlights are compulsory in poor visibility, so no real argument for sidelights.
2 year old disco done 36000 miles needs attention to brakes .it wanders a bit when stopping hard .discs are a bit grooved but still plenty thickness, pads not at the limit yet (all original from new),dealer wants £575+vat to renew all at service.landy original parts can be bought for £312 inc vat or lockheed parts for under£200,any problems with lockheed parts and would it affect warranty .also if enough wear left is it possible to polish original discs back to smooth and use again Read more
Discoverys have brakes?
was going to make the same comment it must be a deluxe model or a limited edition then(;-P)
Another reason for not having speed humps.
The Ostrich Inn, Colnbrook On the old A4 west of Heathrow.
"The present pub dating from the 15th century stands on the site of an earlier Inn, in which King John is said to have quaffed ale on his way to sign the Magna Carta in 1215.
There have been recent reports of poltergeist activity at the inn, witnessed by live in staff and customers. The haunting is said to have become more active after the street was disturbed by the council installing speed humps."
Every little helps?
Any reports of this problem in your area? Read more
henry k, any chance the ghosts could do their stuff on the barrier that stops anything except buses actually driving through Colnbrook...ie making it the least good place in the world to install such humps???
pat
It's great to see folks after a bargain but I reckon my old pal had us all beat. All his adult life he ran Citroen 2CVs (he is in his 60's now) He rarely paid more than £100 for one and got them two at a time. He then cannibalised the cars and got one decent one fron the two! He reckoned the engines were about unbreakable and any bodywork welding was done with baked bean tin metal, apparently this was the right gauge. In the holidays he would tour France going into the alps- and probably causing huge tailbacks-but the cars served him well for decades. Anyone beat that for cheap motoring? Read more
cheap mtotring - well here is my attempt.
Got my lady a K plate, Citreon AX 1.4 diesel with quater tank petrol, 3 good tyres, 5 doors, sunroof, and 44k on clock (previous owner female)and MOT till late may for £320 quid out the auction today.
thats gotta be cheap potential motoring.
Browse
It has got completely out of hand. A Transit clipped the rear wing of my car a while ago. We exchanged details (Always go through the insurer! The one time I didn't it cost me dearly) and I went off to have the very slight damage inspected. The quote was for more than £300. I found that ridiculous so told my insurer to drop the claim. I made sure I told them why as well.
After polishing off the white paint the Transit had left behind and a bit more polishing out of the scratches you could hardly see anything at all, just a very shallow dent on the lip of the wheel arch. I didn't bother to try to knock it out as it was so insignificant. The eventual buyer didn't even mention it.
I know the repairer has costs but imo that is a blatant fraud against the insurers. It seems to me that they don't care as they just make us all pay more to cover it. Complain!