June 2004
Hi Gang - anyone know if/where we can get a replacement key card to replace Mrs V's lost one (Card 1)? She still has card 2 (the spare) but doesn't want to have a major problem should she lose this one too.
If they're still available, any ideas what one of these might cost now?
Thanking you! Read more
Apparently in the case in question, the driver caused an accident but was treated with lenience by the courts because it could not be proved that he was actually *watching* the video that was playing on his in-cab television, and he claimed to be merely listening to the soundtrack.
How on earth could anyone prove this one way or the other?
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A TV in your car is covered under your home TV license.
A piece of coiled piping leading into/from the engine of my 1997 VW Polo fell off this morning. It led to a narrow black plastic vent at the left side of the engine.
I know this is probably very basic but does anyone know what it is and also is the car safe to drive home to a mechanic? The car seems to running fine without it. Read more
If it is the pipe from the exhaust manifold to the air intake it won't do any damage to run without it indefinately. It may have some detrimental effect on fuel economy in the winter, so I reckon you've got about 3 months to get it sorted.
Has anyone else had experience of the power steering stopping on a 2002 Fabia? My father's car has done this a few times recently but it recovers after an igintion on-off cycle.
Does anyone know who manufacturers the steering?
Thanks in advance Read more
Trying to find information on your fault it appears that the weighting of the steering can be altered by reprogramming the software.
Apparently the steering is rather light and many people opt to have slightly heavier steering to get better feel.
Try the Briskoda forum for more details.
Over the past few months I have noticed a judder under braking, especially noticeable under slow braking, as it seems connected to wheel rotation.
My local mechanic suggested new front discs and pads, as my \'97 Legacy estate had 85k miles on the original discs and he thought they may be warped.When changed, the pads still had plenty of life, and I was told that the discs could only be checked for warping on a special machine?
The judder, although less noticeable (possibly psychologically?) remains.The brakes work efficiently, although I have yet to try an emergency stop, but do not inspire confidence as I expected ultra smooth low speed deceleration with the new pad/disc combination.
Any thoughts on this matter please?
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As far as i know the standard test for warped disks is to measure run-out so not sure what the special machine is.
Ideally the new disks should be fitted and then checked for run-out with a dial gauge as it only takes a spec of grit trapped between hub and disk to cause excessive run out.
D
Ford Cortina 1.3L
From cold my MB230clk auto starts okay but tends to stay in first or second gear for about a quarter of a mile then works okay.
Is this any cause for concern? The car has only done 33k miles and is a V reg. I can't say I have noticed this in the past.
Hope a big repair job is not looming!
Steve Read more
I presume that you have the 5-speed electronic type. If so I would get the gearbox oil changed as this can cause these problems. Go to an independant and get it done as the Mercedes dealer will tell you the unit is sealed for life.
It didn't occur to me until the weekend, but the passenger side airbag on the C5 doesn't have a airbag compartment cover like most cars. So, in the event of the airbag operating, it will ruin the top section of the dashboard, which will require replacement which, no doubt, is going to be an expensive item.
Does anyone know of any other cars with this design foible?
The reason why this suddenly occurred to me is that, for some reason, we can now see the outline of the airbag compartment under the trim, on our C5. Why this has suddenly occurred I don't know. Has anyone seen this on any other C5s? Our car will be 3 years old in August, so it is one of the early ones. I have asked the local dealer if I can make a claim, under warranty, to have this section of dashboard replaced. Mind you, that might cause more problems than it cures, as I have had an horrendous experience of shoddy workmanship, in having trim replaced on our Xantia after a bodywork repair. Read more
If the airbags go off in the laguna its:
The passenger dash ripped,
The steering wheel boss ripped,
The sides of the seats ripped
The headling and b posts ripped.
I cant see where any of this lot errupts from except little logos telling me where.
I was recently involved in an accident, the situation is this, near where I live is an alleyway that crosses the road, there is no restrictions in terms of speed or barriers to stop someone from riding their bike from the alleyway on one side of the road to the other side, on this particular day three kids (about 12 or 13 years old) were chasing each other (their words) and the lead rider failed to stop for the road (again in their words) fortunately, because of the road layout I was driving slowly, however the lead rider ran into the nearside front of the car, the bike pedal putting a hole in the bodywork near the fog light, the repair bill is in the £400 to £500?s region, I asked the father of the bike rider to pay for the repair, and he has refused, saying it?s a knock for knock situation, I don?t see it that way, am I being unreasonable?
The rider who was knock down did suffer bangs and bruises nothing more thank goodness, and her bike was badly damaged, but none the less, I believe the dad should pay, what do you think?
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a word of warning here, a similar thing happened to me, i was reversing from my driveway and noticed a kid on a bike, on the pavement i might add with no lights at 10pm. I stopped and he went straight into the back of my car, his parents agreed to pay the cost of repairs.
I took the bill round which came to £900 and they refused to pay it all but gave me £300, i was 17 and £900 was a lot of money I had to claim on the insurance and used to £300 to pay SOME of the excess, the insurance company tried to claim off the kids parents and obviously they wouldnt give any more to the fault was then placed down to me in insurance land.
Now I know nothing about insurance and the law but if i were you id give the names and addresses to your insuance company and let them sort it out, I lost out for the following 5 years on my insurance premium and it still enrages me that people can cycle with no insurance whatsoever.
On out estate there is a walkway that crosses the road and the cars have to giveway to pedestrians and cycles. there are giveway lines and signs and everything, we cycle there often and i still wont go sailing through and expect a car to stop, it just all seems like a recipe for disaster and im sure one someone WILL get hurt there.
Hello all,
I could do with your help. There is a slight (and I stress slight) chance that I may be getting a new car. (either Mondeo or Focus.) Not new new, but no earlier than T reg. Anyway. To cut a long story short, I need to sell my Fiesta should I get a new car and I want some thoughts as to roughly how much the value will be.
The car itself is a 1996 Mark 4 Fiesta Ghia 5dr 1.25 Zetec-S. It has around 84,000 miles on it and all the usuals you'd expect from a Ghia such as electric windows, temperature display, rev counter, c/l sunroof etc etc..
The car was an automatic but then a very good engineer friend converted it to manual and it's been fine. Also, apart from the documented minor problems with the car (a quick forum search will tell you!) it is mechanically sound. In fact, the only problem with it is that the rear offside doorhandle has snapped (which I will duly replace should I sell the car).
Any thoughts??
Many Thanks
Adam
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Michael,are you sure your figure of £1100ish on a group 12 car,for a driver aged 19 is correct. If so I would be interested in which insurance company that is with. Thanks.
According to JD Power the RAC is the top breakdown service www.whatcar.co.uk/News_Article.asp?NA_ID=208976
This is the first time the RAC has been graded above the AA in the time that I can remember.
Its something that I would agree with, all my dealings with the AA have been a disaster while the RAC has been fantastic (even when I cancelled). Read more
I find the earlier post about the AA leaving Mick in a ditch absolutely horrendous and for that reason will NEVER go with them. I understand that everyone may have a bad experience but this thread seems to rip into the AA. I thought the AA was the best service but after reading this...
I'm with Green Flag and after my car ...ahem....locked itself with the engine running I called G.F. Anyway - you could tell the bloke was dying to laugh but managed to tell me through the sniggers that they'd send out a company (who I later learnt were very prominent throughout the Northwest). The man came very soon after but I was at home so it wasn't really a problem waiting. Goes up to the car, opens it, job's a goodun'.
Made up with Green Flag but hope I don't need them!
Cheers
Adam
Browse
Not sure if this will help but worth a try.
www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/verona.asp