May 2004
BMW E34 525 1989. Feeling pleased with myself after using the DIY method of resetting the service indicator board lights for the first time, I thrusted my surge of enthusiam toward finding out why the in-built alarm chime doesnt chime when I (occasionally)forget to switch off my headlights.
The chiming speaker unit on the removable panel in the drivers footwell seems to serve all other alarms/warnings, and is tested and working. It has two multi wire connections, both checked as seated, and the Haynes wiring diagram suggests that it connects straight into the engine management system. My handbook confirms the chime should sound.
Any idea where I can go from here? Ive lived with it for eight years, and now Im intreagued more than inconvenienced.
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I have a right hand drive Seat Ibiza, but noticed that the 60/40 split in the rear seat means the single seat is behind the passenger (on the left). Consequently, if I need to put anything big in the back, I need to fold down the portion behind the driver's seat, and to move the driver's seat forward more than is comfortable for me. As a matter of interest, do any UK spec cars have the larger portion behind the passenger? And as a further point of interest, which side are the indicator controls on in such cars? (Mine are on the left.) Read more
I have a 1971 Rover P6 3500 auto, which has had some engine troubles lately. It started to run fine from cold, and when you stopped at a junction or set of lights didn't stall. As soon as the engine had warmed up and you stopped - it stalled even with the choke out.
It then started to use a lot of water and when the engine stopped there was a lot of pressure under the radiator cap - and steam escaping from the breather hose. However there didn't appear to be any mayonnaise in the oil or oil in the water.
I suspected the head gasket and have taken the head off, though I can't see any obvious signs of the head gasket having blown.
Does it sound like just the head gasket - or could there be another problem such as the head going porous in certain places - or a crack in the head? Read more
Take the rad cap off whilst its cold and start it up. Keep an eye on the water level and I'll bet you have a steady stream of bubbles which gets worse when you rev it. If it is then it's a weeping headgasket. From my experience of RV8s they rarely get oil/water mixed. Heads may need skimming but be careful as if its original it runs 10.5:1 Comp ration and was marginal on 5 star let alone modern unleaded and skimming the heads will increas this problem and make it worse. Better idea is to pick up a pair of s/h heads off of any other RV8 with the standard size plugs 1976 on from say an SD1 or a Range rover get these reconned and use those then you can get away with super unleaded. Be careful fitting the valley gasket as it will leak oil if carelessly put on. Also run exhaust manifold gaskets as the original P6 didn't.
Jim
Hi,
Can anyone advise me regarding my disabled mums rights to renewal of her motorbility scheme car which has just been declined on the basis of insurance difficulties.
She is on the higher rate of DLA and has severe mobility problems. She has had a motorbility car for 3 terms (9 years). She has just filled in the forms for renewal to obtain her new vehicle as usual. However, the Royal and Sun motorbility scheme Insurers have said they will not insure her and hence that she can not have a motorbility vehicle. They state the reason is that she has made 4 insurance claims in the last 5 years has exceeded their arbitrary threshold for insurance claims. However, of the claims made, one was a small accident in a car park and the other 3 were due to criminal damage caused to the vehicle while simply parked outside the house. The most serious was when a stolen car smashed into the vehicle (and several others) while parked during the early hours of the morning. The other 2 unrealted incidents involved local youths damaging the vehicle (and several other vehicles in the street), again while parked. In each case the police were informed and crime numbers obtained, however the Police have yet to come up with anything - even though much information regarding the stolen car was available. My mum has made a number of complaints to the local police who say they have limited resources
Surely my mum should not be penalised for incidents beyond her control? - surely she should not be exclused from the motorbility scheme and hence left without any form of transport.
Can anyone advise? How can she appeal? what rights does she have?
I sincerely hope someone can help and advise as my mum is now distraught with worry at not having transportation.
Thanks,
Mark Read more
The words rights and Motability tend not to share the same sentence, the whole scheme is hedged about with discretion. Try and talk to a manager and consider whether your mother can make other insurance arrangements. Alternatively, if she takes her DLA as cash what is available on private lease/hire/purchase schemes. Don't assume Motability is automatically the muts nuts!
Hi
Wonder if someone can help..
Got my Ford KA3 roof skin replaced recently and since then Ive noticed MW radio interference occuring when I put my foot down.. Have they not connected the roof aerial back up properly or something? Its only MW, FM works fine. Anybody any ideas?
Cheers
Marcus Read more
It entirely depends on the type and source of interference. FM is susceptible to pulse intererence (ignition), AM to lower frequency noise. AM also amplifies noise in direct relation to poor signal quality. Aerial earth problems give classic poor AM signal quality and susbsequent rise in noise.
Car Aerials are a much better match to FM than AM where a short aerial has little chance of matching any proportion of the AM wavelength.
This problem could even go as deeply as poor bonding of the new roof skin, which will only show up later as galvanic corrosion at the seams.
Given that its cropped up after the Roof skin was changed, then Aerial erth is 90% chance of cause.
Lorries overtaking at their governed max (60 mph?) on dual carriageways and 2-lane motorways frustrate me!. Their speed differential is often only a fraction of an mph and it can take miles (literally) for the overtake to be completed, holding everyone else up in the meantime. I appreciate that they need to overtake, but why doesn't the driver on the inside ease off slightly if the overtake is becoming overlong? Is this a macho thing, or is there some other reason why it isn't done? I would be very interested to know. Any lorry drivers or psychologists out there? Read more
Reading these posts prompted me to look up 'professional' in the dictionary.. there are a couple of definitions that seem relevant to this thread:
'Engaging in a given activity as a source of livelihood or as a career.'
'A skilled practitioner; an expert.'
On the evidence of the opinions expressed in this thread I guess most truck drivers fall into the first category.. or am I missing something?
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My wife says I don't listen to her, or something like that
I've got a X reg 406 coupe thats done 52,000 miles. Yesterday with no warning the mileometer reset itself to 180,000 miles and is increasing as normal from this point (now up to 180,072). Has this happened to anyone before? Does anyone know how to return it to its correct mileage?
Thanks for your help! Read more
hey guys just randomly looking for advice for my 406 and came across this site.
I need to get a new set of plugs for my beloved Coupe - what can you recommend?
x
Has anyone noticed the difference in torque characteristics between the 306 and 206 wth the same engine?? I test drove the 206HDI 90 and was disappointed with it's bottom end performance when compared to my three yr old 306 estate with the same engine.
I have been told the engine management setup can have an effect on performance but, the supersalesman tried to convince me that was rubbish. He maintained the 206 was better, "You see sir it's a lighter car and technology has moved on since yours was made!!!" No Comment.. Can anyone comment on this..
Jeff.B Read more
Ref; Maybe the 206 has different gear ratios making it feel different.
I'm pretty sure gear ratios are not the problem, it's low end grunt, there isn't any. The salesman did get it to move, but flooring the pedal and changing at 3,500 to 4,000 revs in town is a kids trick, I asked him to drop me off after half mile, the bone head..
Regards, Jeff
One year old Citroen C3 16v HDi. Had rear wheels off recently and noticed that there are damp marks from oil down the struts.
Only place this could have come from is the dampers themselves.
The dealer says they are fine and demonstrated the MOT 'bounce' test to me. My argument is that:
a) They should not be leaking at all.
b) If they are leaking now (as they are) then I will need to replace them sooner than I would normally need to. Possibly outside the warranty period.
Am I being unreasonable because the struts are apparently serviceable and are doing what they are supposed to do...at the moment.
Regards,
Alf
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No, a slight weep under the bellows is acceptable.
Trust me.
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
Hi, Anyone know what the two drain plugs are in the sump, one I presume is the drain for a std oil change. What is the other one for?? Has a manual been printed covering the HDI 90 engine..
Jeff.B.
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Ref: I have been recommended to buy the equivalent Citroen HDi manual for the engine stuff and the 306 manual for everything else.
Thanks Chris, I'll have a scute at it and post my findings.
Jeff.
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V. Omega has the 60 behind the passenger & the front seat also fold flat forward.