June 2004
I've noticed that I glance at the speedo every 5 or 6 seconds. Is this an obsession that I should try to conquer? I regularly exceed the limit by an indicated 3 or 4 mph (hangs head in shame), so it's not because of a desire to be squeaky clean.
How often do you glance at your speedo?
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L'escargot by name, but not by nature. Read more
My Vectra is now out of manufacturer's warranty and I do not want to let them service again - I prefer my local independent to do a better job - however I want to keep the corrosion warranty. I would think that the inspection can carried out independently of a vehicle service.
Has anyone tried claiming on the Vauxhall 6 year perforation warranty without Vauxhall service? Read more
Any idea of the cost when not part of the service? IIRC it's about 20 minutes allowed time - £15~20ish?
I think I am finally within sight of getting a UK tourist visa for my partner. We have been fobbed off by Brit Embassy people for 2 years (in interviews I was not allowed to attend and which twice reduced her to tears) for ages and I won't go into that here because it's OT. But it represents a minor triumph for me and the dream of a lifetime for her.
She has a Philippine driver's license and is a competent careful trained driver, but of course has no experience in a very regulated environment like UK. We expect to arrive UK mid-July. I will rent a car (using my Philippine licence not my UK one). Of course she has never driven on the "wrong" side of the road, so that would take some acclimatisation.
Can I nominate her as a second driver using her foreign licence on the rental agreement? What are the implications? Insurance etc.
I know I should be addressing this to Hertz or whoever but I would prefer initially to mine the rich vein of BR wisdom before I get a standard page 33 operations manual response from the rental company.
She would not drive great distances, simply back and forth to the pub etc on country roads when I've had a few (we have a house where we'd be staying). The assumption is I would do most of the driving otherwise. Although I suppose that's not going to carry much weight once she's declared as a second driver.
Of course it may turn out to be not worth it but I know she would love to say she once drove in UK.
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Well, full marks to Hertz/Manila, they got the job done and all over the phone as well.
Delightful young lady led me through the whole process (of renting a car) and didn't try to sell me stuff I didn't want. Prepaid voucher for car collection at LHR sent to me by fax, no problem with additional driver, any valid national licence is acceptable.
I forgot I had a Hertz No 1 card from years ago so they have asked for an upgrade subject to availability and I get American Express miles as well. Only snag is I've paid in USD and they say there may be a variation in the final charge subject to exchange rates. I just have to present plastic at check in for extras in case.
the old 1.3 pushrod engine ? Surely a 1.25 zetec engine will fit in a Ka engine bay ? Does anyone know if the latest 1.3's still emulsify the oil ? Read more
It's a bit odd if they can get a 1.6 litre engine under the bonnet, but not a 1.25 litre unit. Is there something unusual about the 1.25 engine that makes it bigger than one would expect, or is the 1.6 engine smaller than one would expect.
Maybe they don't fit it for some other reason. It has been suggested in an earlier post that it is because it is an expensive engine, or the fact the design work was done by Yamaha.
They are driving me mad.They open (on the switch) then dont close. Or the other windows wont open. Then they work perfectly. Then they dont, again. Any suggestions, short of getting a different car?
John Read more
No offence and point taken mech1.
I'll check both of these suggestions.
I'm setting up a website, as a "shrine" to the cars i used to own, cos i loved them so much.
Was the last Cavalier the Mk3 version?????
cheers
Ste
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1983 (A) Vauxhall Astra 1.3L
1993 (K) Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0i GLS
1999 (T) Renault Laguna 1.6 Read more
Was the last Cavalier the Mk3 version?????
Yep. 1988 to 1995, IIRC.
Just returned from a holiday in Switzerland in a ?traffic free? resort. This is Wengen, I?ve been there before, and can recommend it to anyone like myself who spends holidays doing NOTHING, except of course walking.
Traffic is restricted to the valley below, and there is not much of that. There is a big, well hidden, carpark next to the railway station, and then you are on the cog railway up to the village.
In the village there are hotel vehicles, which are mainly electrically driven buggies for luggage, with a dickie seat on the back for brave guests. There are also a number of Piaggio and Subaru 4x4 minibuses which I have not seen in the UK. Outside the village there are a number of small number of vehicles for local residents. Those vehicles are a mixed bunch of small 4x4s, mostly Suzuki. The place has so many steep hills that I wonder if any of them ever get beyond second gear.
The lady proprietor told me that the village had very few cars, but one of them had ?overcrossed? the hotel cat. This was a handsome white thing which was wont to walking and lying on the dining room tables. I was sad at her distress, but from the hygiene point of view maybe it had a positive aspect.
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Bazza - it depends where your chalet is, but you may not know this until you get there. We went to Sherwood Forest Centre Parc and had one of the largest chalets. It was 15 minutes walk from the swimming pool, restaurants etc. Bikes were a very expensive necessity as other activites were further away. Take your own bikes if you can and plenty of cash for the activities!
Hi all,
I may be buying a '99 Ford Focus and need your advice on the air con. When you put it on full belt (setting 4) it isn't really that powerful - there is definitely something coming out but when you switch it to the recirculated air feature it becomes a lot more powerful. My question is, what is wrong? Does it need to be regassed? If so, how much would it cost?
Thanks very much,
Cheers
Adam
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I am not very familiar with the Focus a/c system, but whether the a/c is switch on or not shouldn\'t affect the blower output - it will affect the *temperature* though. The only caveat to this is that on some systems the a/c itself will not turn on if the blower is \'OFF\' (to stop the evap. from freezing straight up).
Generally, assuming a warm day, the air will feel colder at lower blower speeds. At higher blower speeds the air will not feel as cold, but the cabin temp. will drop quicker.
In my cars, on a very hot day, I tend to drive with the windows open for the first couple minutes to let all the really hot air out. That helps it cool down quicker.
My golf gti 1.8 (year 89) has an idling problem. Sometimes it idles ok and other times the idle speed goes up and down. I think it could be the idle control valve. If it is were would i locate this in the engine and how would i repair it? Many thanks. Read more
The ICV gets gunked up from not changing the oil often enough/using cheap stuff.
Take it off (can be a little tricky if the rubber under the circlips has been undisturbed since birth) and give it a thorough clean out with carb cleaner.
I had to clean the whole breather system before mine would behave itself (and sometimes after parking up on hot days it still goes a little beserk).
Rob
Hi
Does anyone know where on the internet I can find resources about old models that still produced in developing countries(like the VW golf Mk1 in South Africa for example)?
cheers Read more
That's your take - I very much read it as producing retro cars complete with 70's style quality control.
Anyway, I've got a theory that cars don't evolve, their owners
do! With our first cars, we were forever under the bonnet or any other part of vehicle we could get to, making sure everything was as it should (regardless of whether it needed it or not).
As time went on we ensured that if something needed doing we did it and went no further.
As more time went on, we could afford better cars that needed less attention, eventually we either bought new or got company cars and now we're lucky if we check the oil and tyres every month.
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NO good, you need an ASRSSM