April 2004
Does anyone know how to adjust the digital clock on my 51 Reg Citroen Berlingo Multispace? My (pevious model) handbook doesn't cover it. Read more
I have a VW Scirocco with a Pierburg 2E carb thats giving me lots of problems. Firstly it would idle very high ( about 2000 revs ), so thought the auto choke was knackered/ So fitted a manual conversion kit. It still idles high upon start up with the choke off. But when the engine temp gets to normal afyer about 5 mins the revs drop and sometimes cuts out. If I use the choke it wont start as sounds like too rich. ( correct me if I am wrong ) Apart from that annoying problem that even my garage cant fix, it runs really well. I hav e ordered a Haynes Pierburg book. Can any one help pin point the problem.
Thanks Steve
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Try looking at http://www.edgebiz.net/pierburg2ecarb.htm
I had all sorts of advice and discovered a leaking vacuum pipe and a floating ball valve. There are photographs on the link.
Hi
Vaux. Cavalier 1.7TD 1995, approx middle March this year the battery went flat for no apparent reason. A jump start got me going again. The battery charged fine from the engine.
Since then the rear heated window hasn't worked (fuse is fine, i haven't checked the module yet)and the alternator light is now on continuously.
I have used the car since during days and nights and the battery seems to be getting a charge.
Today (29th april) after work, same thing happened...the battery was flat again.
Another boost got me going and again, the battery got a good charge on my way home.
any ideas???
thanks Read more
OK. Thanks for that, I will give that a try this weekend!!! It may be the most expensive piece of cable I ever bought!!!
Even disconnecting the starter cable after the engine is running may prove or disprove your suggestion... (Hopefully without shorting everything out and setting the whole thing on fire which at this moment in time is not totally undesireable!!!)
My dad has been offered a good deal to upgrade his two year old Primera to a brand new one.
His current car is the 2.0 petrol, but he now has a choice between the 1.8 petrol and 2.2 diesel.
The published figures and HJ's roadtest imply the diesel is the one to pick, and I suspect it might suit his low revs driving style. However Nissan diesels were, pre-Renault, rather naff.
Any views gratefully received.
Thanks
Peter Read more
I am sure you will be pleased with your new Primera.
I have the 2.2 SVE with leather and have covered 17500 miles since November 2003 (yes I am a rep!!) but these have been 17500 trouble free miles. had an Alfa 156 before that never broke down but had plenty of visits to the dealer for minor things.
My Dad also has a Nissan Primera SE 2.2 but the 126ps engine. He likes it but you notice the extra tourqe of the 138ps engine.
Its not a prestige car and my colleuges often opt out for BMW's and Mercs but none of them have leather seats or Sat Nav :)
Enjoy
James
im not getting any fuel being sent by the fuel pump. has anyone got any suggestion as to how best diagnos this problem? i cant hear any noises from the fuel pump, when ignition is turned on. on this particular model its up to the fuel pump to pressurise the system and thats not happening. all suggestions most welcome. Read more
Remove the relay (engine compartment fusebox) and short across the feed terminals, does the pump run?
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
Phoenicks' post about buying cars on finance reminded me of something. From the AA website (edited to save words):
"Mr Stanley noticed a car with a 'For sale' sign on the rear window. 'The guy seemed really genuine and was asking £3,500 for the car, but he said that he would drop the price by £1,000 for me,' said Mr Stanley.
'I rang up for the AA car data check and was told that the car had £4,500 of outstanding finance owing. I was shocked that the seller didn't say anything about this. I asked why he didn't tell me and he said that he was going to pay it off with the proceeds of the sale. He may well have but I couldn't take the chance and felt he wasn't to be trusted. I didn't buy the car and potentially saved myself the £4,500 in outstanding finance on top of the £2,500 I'd have paid for the car.'"
I'm not sure I understand this. Why could this chap be liable for £4,500?
Surely he doesn't assume the liability from the 'previous owner' of the car. The issue is, I think, merely that the 'previous owner' didn't own the car as title doesn't pass until the last payment has been made. So Mr Stanley might lose his car, that I understand, but is he really liable for the outstanding finance.
If the AA is correct, perhaps I shouldn't be so casual about buying unchecked old bangers that might have hundreds of thousands of pounds secured on them...
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I too, many years ago, worked for "Britains Best Finance Company" and there was certainly more than one occasion when we lost title of a car to an innocent private purchaser.
I think that the onerous conditions imposed by the CC act (no repossession once one third of the HP price was paid - without a court order, etc) made many Finance Houses switch to Credit Sale or Personal Loans on which it was relatively easy to obtain a CCJ enforceable by attatchment of earnings order and so on.
Roger.
In my lunch break yesterday went for a mosey round the local Lotus garage. Got chatting to a nice sales manager who went through some sales figures with me. A new Elise 111S - £25,995 with a £4000 deposit can cost £350 a month over 3 years with a £15k odd residual payment.
Now dont get me wrong that is a lot of money, but that doesnt seem a hugely expensive way to get an expensive car that i would have thought previously is out of my reach.
Does anyone else know of what sort of cost it is to get some tasty machinery?
Also, any other views on this? Makes me wonder about being able to get something other than buying a boggo car! Read more
Ok, time for me to chuck my handful of coppers into the pot. There are a lot of valid points on here (in fact I'm struggling to find a single post where I'm not agreeing) but one thing has been missed by some of those posting.
Choice.
Individual circumstances may be such that slapping £26k onto your flexible mortgage and paying it off over 2-3 years is affordable on a monthly basis. A low interest rate combined with monthly affordability means it isn't a scary proposition (or at least no more so than any other debt).
PCP suits others as they may have a relatively low deposit but can still afford £350-£400pm, possibly due to a recent change in circumstances or unexpected depletion of savings. They may be able to afford £700pm but derive greater comfort from saving £350 whilst paying back £350. Doesn't make sense on a balance sheet, but if we all made our decisions based on what is best based on numbers alone, the place would be in chaos (anyone remember Equitable life? We don't pay commission to middle men so the numbers look good.... Ah, forgot to mention we were a bit rash back in the 80s).
Psychology is very much part of financial advice. You have to establish where people's comfort zone is. The best course of action may be entirely alien to the client and outside their comfort zone. If presented with this as the only solution to their dilemma the client will more than likely procrastinate. There may be a less ideal solution, still well on it's way towards the ideal, which is more familiar/acceptable to the client. In this instance they are more likely to act.
So faced with best solution, not taken up by the client, possibly turning the client off the concept of providing solutions
or
Compromise solution that goes 80% of the way and provides comfort
Which is the best adviser? The one that sticks to the first option because he knows what's best? Or the latter, providing best-fit solutions?
Same applies to borrowing, car purchase, building work, in fact pretty much anything where advice is sought.
Hi all, long time, no see. Think I'm about to swap trusty 90K Carina 2.0l petrol for a new /nearly new Mondeo. Requirements : more accelerating poke than a Carina, a bit of fun, reasonable MPG, ability to tow a camping trailer and growing family round Europe and something that won't cost me a packet to maintain and service. Which model, engine type / size, hatch or saloon ? Advice welcome. Thanks in advance. Bob Read more
tdci every time! Marvellous car.
And 130PS is plenty after an old Carina. One small step at a time Marlot. I'm still getting used to mine after a Cavalier diesel!
Splodgeface
A6 1996 2.8 V6 108,000. Timing belt changed at 65,000
Noticeable rattle of the type you might associate with an exhaust, fades before the engine is fully even within a mile or two. Just been MOT'd where they sealed the exhaust.
Any thoughts?
Cheers Read more
Hello
If the car is costing too much you must weigh in whether or not its worth hanging onto even if its newish as it will bust your bank in the long run.
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(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters
According to the initial quality study from JD power, Hyundai & Honda are now graded joint second and Toyota are top.
The study doesn't show such great results for VW, Nissan or Kia however.
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" According to the initial quality study from JD power, Hyundai & Honda are now graded joint second and Toyota are top.
The study doesn't show such great results for VW, Nissan or Kia however. "
nissan now owned by renault!
kia made in malaysia, labour quality on par with india.
vw - we all know why they are in trouble.
miitsubishi - also in trouble, being abandoned to bankruptcy/administration by part owner benz-chrysler.
mazda - now part of ford.
that leaves just honda and toyota as mainstream japanese maunfacturers.
hyundai and bmw - who knows if their success will continue longterm but they have my support more than any of the british/french/italian makes.
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Thanks Dynamic Dave, that worked perfectly.