June 2004
Engine revs to around 5/6000 rpm before auto box changes gear (all gears). It only happens intermittently and after I have done around 100 continuous miles. When cooled, seems ok again. No faults reporting on the auto box, EVAP fault (I think Ford damaged it when fitting a new water pump) on the engine. Auto box specialist took car for a 10 miles test drive but the it drove perfectly - typical. Gearbox was serviced 2 months ago. Could it be a sticking solenoid when the box gets hot, if so, can this be identified electronically when the fault is occurring, and can it be repaired without removing the box? Any help would be appreciated. Read more
The condenser for the air con on my 200X mondeo (last of the old shape) is being replaced as according to my local Ford dealer it is leaking. I had the aircon regassed a month or so ago, but its effectivness went downhill soon after.
This is an expensive job (£450), is this a common problem - and if so is it something that needs replacing regularly? The food dealer said that they are prone to damage - is there anything I can do to make sure that the new condeser lives a long and happy life?
Thanking you in anticipation..... Read more
I doubt if it was damaged, as busted ones let go of their gas really quickly. It's probably just gonethe same way as all mondeo condensors went, ie it fell apart at the bottom. Many didn't even make it through the warranty. Caused by corrosion around the bottom mount.
£450 is about right from a dealer. I used to fit a genuine Visteon one for £300 incl VAT, and it only takes about 40 minutes. To protect it, put some mesh across the front, and for the corrosion soak the bottom corners in waxoil or something similar.
The Lord does indeed work in mysterious ways!! From the local paper...
Fate, in the form of a car driven by a dominee [vicar, to you lot!], caught up with the leader of a highway ambush gang - he was run over and killed as he lay on the N7 in Cape Town posing as an injured pedestrian.
At the last possible moment the man sat up, but it was too late.
In the dark, NGK minister François Hanekom saw the man at the last instant, and was unable to stop in time, he told the Cape Argus on Tuesday.
The would-be robber died instantly.
Hanekom stopped within 100m of the scene and called the police.
Police spokesperson Nina Kirsten said two people, believed to be accomplices, had emerged from the bush beside the road and approached Hanekom's car, but ran away as police arrived.
A detective later recognised the dead man as the leader of a highway gang operating in the area - hunted in connection with similar attacks.
Hanekom said on Tuesday he was going public about his ordeal to warn other motorists.
"My wife, Riana, and I were on our way to the movies.
"I was travelling in the slow lane on the N7 and passing the ostrich farm near Van Schoor's Drift when my wife shouted that there was a man lying in the road.
"I saw him too late. He obviously realised I was not going to stop and sat up, but I was on top of him and I unfortunately hit him."
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I hope it didn't damage the Vicar's car.
In the car-by-car breakdown, HJ notes the new Mondeo "153bhp ST TDCI from May 2004, gets to 60 in 8.4 seconds". That's almost as quick as my current BMW 330d! I know they showed this car at the motorshow, and the press release at the time said first deliveries from August.
I've already decided on a Mondeo. If the lease prices are right, I'll wait for this over the 130PS version, but I can't find out anything! I've tried the Ford Information Line (who say they've been flooded with calls for it, but don't know when it will be available - but they didn't even know about the press release, so they're hardly the source of knowledge!).
Do any of you guys with inside knowledge know when the pricing and specs might be released? The lease company wanted me to place the next order today, but I've negotiated an extra 6 weeks - hope its enough! Read more
I've just spent so long composing the reply that the system timed out and lost my text. The reason it took so long was making sure that it wasn't a rant about the 'service' I've received.
So I won't go into lots of detail on the transmission whine which is still there/getting worse after four or five visits to the dealer. The new diff (£1100) and new rear brakes (?) made little/no difference. Or the fact that since they replaced the rear brakes, the only way to get the handbrake to release each morning is the reverse a few inches before driving forwards!
I'm not a badge snob, and the latest Mondeo is a pretty good car. It doesn't handle as well as the BMW (but the BMW is spectacular), but I'm not prepared to have another company BMW.
A motorbike, that is. I know there are few bikers out there, and I'd welcome their thoughts on what to buy for general commuting (50 miles/day max) and occasional fun.
I have a full licence, also an old R80 BMW, but it's becoming rather high maintenance, and I'd like something lighter with brakes that work!
I'm not ruling anything out (except perhaps scooters), but there seems to be huge void between 125's and 600's, with the exception of one or two 500's. The old Suzuki GS500 seems to go on and on, but I would like something a bit less ordinary, maybe.
Singles are OK (I favour something narrow after a wide flat-twin!) but a V-twin might be nice. Something like a Honda Transalp would be OK, but I'm trying to keep the weight down (I'm quite light myself).
Any feedback much appreciated, as ever. Read more
Thanks, G. I have to admit that if I had found an SV or a Bandit in really nice order locally, I would probably have been tempted, but the bird-in-hand principle does make a difference. As it happens, I think Fate has been on my side and I shall have a machine that suits me better than an out-and-out sports bike.
I tend to agree about the buzziness of fours. I had one of the original Honda 400-4's, which ran sweetly enough, but there was an ever-present tingle, and the only four I've sampled that doesn't is the Blackbird, which I believe has a balancer shaft. No doubt things have improved (as I'm sure the Hornet/Fazer supporters will insist by return!) and maybe I shall revise my opinion in due course. I do notice that they seem to have their engines relatively high in the frame, though, which must raise the C of G somewhat.
Thanks for the closing advice :-) I will keep you posted...
Does anyone on here banger race?
Just wondering, ive been doing it for about four and a half years now and I think its great, any opinions comments?
Cheers Read more
I'm very interested to hear about what used to be where
Sainsbury's is now in Rayleigh, i.e. a Stadium! We moved
down to Benfleet in 1986 and I can clearly remember Saisbury's
and Perrys etc. being there then, so this must have all
happend well before.
The Weir Stadium was home to the Rockets from 1948 until 1973, which is when they pulled it down, the Rockets, and many of the supporters travelled to Rye House near Hoddesdon, Herts from 74 on. The Supporters Club used to run coaches from the Weir pub car park every Sunday up to Rye House for some years after. The actual stadium itself wasn't actually on the site of the Sainsbury's store, we used a bit of licence to make a point, but further up Stadium Way nearer where Perry's/Essex Ford is now.
I have to admit to my misspent youth being in the late 60's/early 70's!
Cockle
Here's the symptoms:
Sometimes (usually after being parked in reverse, but not always) the clutch won't disengage. I know this because, in gear with the pedal to the floor, the car pulls forward.
When like this, selecting gears is nigh on impossible without switching off the engine (and even then...)
Yet, after a while, it will work fine again. For days. Then I'll park up, start up a while later, and it's red-face-no-gears in the middle of the street again.
Clutch changed about 30k ago. Did it myself, used the little packet of grease on the splines. Box oil level ok. Slight oil leak from diff flanges. Car used almost every day.
Is taking the gearbox off with a new clutch kit to hand being a little rash?
TIA, Rob
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Have you got a manually adjusted clutch or an auto adjuster one. If the latter the ajuster may be loosing its grip. Next time it happens fully depress the clutch then let your foot slip off the pedal and slam up to the top. ( neutral of course ) This will jolt the auto adjuster into life and remove the free cable length. Regards Peter
Buying a secondhand toyota camry for trouble free motoring turned out to have its problems. The neat motor that retracts the offside wing mirror just failed and guess what - its not covered by warrantydirect's standard policy.
If I could get the glass out of the wing mirror it should be possible to check whether it is something simple. Question is, how does the glass come out. By tilting the mirror right over I can see some tantalising lugs and things but reluctant to shove in a screw driver and start levering.
Does anyone know the best way to get the glass out - preferably without breaking it?
John
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V
Beat me to it!
Charles
I have a 1997 Vectra 2l di 130k, the problem is that lately the brakes have gone spongey at the pedal, feeling very vague, and after a few seconds slowly head for the floor,as if i am loosing fluid or have a knackered servo, but have no fluid loss,at the same time the engine is as dead as a door nail, nearly 50% down on power, this problem would come and go, but now it is aways there, and feels like i am towing a bus everywhere,,,,can anyone help, before all my hair is pulled out..
{No need to SHOUT!! Which by typing soley in upper case is effectively what you were doing. Duly edited. DD} ;o) Read more
Check for a siezed brake. This would fit with the loss of power and the siezed brake will boil the fluid making the pedal soft.
Andrew
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Simplicate and add lightness!!
I have a mad idea to 'invest' say £4000 - £5000 in an old convertible - ideally a Triumph Vitesse mark 2 or a Morris Minor. I can change plugs and points but am no mechanic, so it would need to be fully restored.
The clubs have plenty for sale, but the question is whether maintaining it would cancel out any appreciation as an investment - but against that there is the fun factor.
Any thoughts? I rather hope Aprilia will comment as what we need is a realist who tells it as it is. If you do - is your name in honour of those wonderful old 30s Lancias?
I can see I'm being boring using my own name - but then I'm a chartered accountant and a training manager, so boring on both counts, especially as I actually enjoy my job!
Many thanks
David Duvall Read more
It certainly will be fun. The 11 seconds 0-60 time quoted by Practical Classics doesn't fully reflect the fact that these big sixes have incredible pulling power in the mid-speed range. If you drop out of overdrive at 50-60 and put your foot on the floor you will surprise a lot of drivers in modern cars.
At the other extreme it will pull smoothly from 10 mph in top, and you can do all your driving just flicking in and out of overdrive.
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Thanks Adrian, I have tried the Galaxy & fixafordcar sites but have had no replies. The autoboxes are so complicated these days I think it is very difficult to diagnose any mechanical problems without a complete overhaul.