June 2004
heya
Problem on my T25 camper. It has a 96 2 litre turbo diesel. Runs very well (75 on motorway!!), starts like a dream. Problem is the dashboard lights start to flash after it warms up! The oil pressure light and glow plug heater lights flash.
The glow plug light flashes like it is a rev counter, the higher the revs the faster the flash. Even though it is a cool effect (!) still worrying. The oil pressure light flashes on tickover when hot. As soon as you add revs it stops.
The only other thing is there is a little bit (none on motorway, occasional when pulling hard up hills) very pale grey blue smoke.
Any ideas anyone.
Stay happy
__________________
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Just trying to gauge why we are all here in this backroom.
Is it for information, advice on buying or selling, advice on running and or insurance etc?
Do you feel part of a community?
Are you here for fun?
Hugo
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No one yet seems to have wrestled with the metaphysical aspect to Hugo's original question. If I remember correctly, the answer is 42...
Or, what can happen when a 1930's style trunk road (complete with the marvellous "road house" pubs) is sandwiched (no pun intended) between a motorway and a major dual carriageway www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004...l Read more
Lost the left-hand door mirror in France on a dark country road.
Still wonder at the closeness!
Car designers have a long tradition of following each other, but things seems to be getting worse. Once upon a time, some designers broke ranks, but now even Citroens look much like anything else: when a designer does something new, it seems to take only a few months for the others to follow.
The result is that the roads are now full of design clichés, such as:
1. Big headlights
They looked great first time out, on the front of the mid-90s Mercedes E-class (albeit in a butch I-own-the-world sorta way). Now everybody's competing to get the biggest eyes, and it's getting silly. Please folks, can you just stop before the lights meet in the middle and stretch up to the windscreen?
2. "Projector-style" headlights
They may have a place on a sports car, though they really belong in a nightclub. On a common-or-garden hatchback, they look as daft as a big fin on the back.
3. Tiny windows
I hate to spoil the fun by being practical, but windows aren't just ornaments. There's a reason for having big ones, so please bring them back before it's not just the kids who have to stand up to see out
4. "Aluminium-effect" interior panels
A poor euphemism for silver-painted plastic: if you want the aluminum look, just use aluminium. Easily-scratched painted plastic soon looks tacky, even if you liked it in the first place.
5. Black insides
Once upon a time, cars came with a variety of interior colors. Now it's black or black or "charcoal grey", (which is black for everyone except pedants). Only teenage boys want entirely black rooms, so please please please may we have some colour in car interiors again? (no, madam would not like to consider beige)
6. Crushed metal
80s cars consisted entirely of straight lines (including the Golf Mk1, a premature 80s baby). In the 90s somebody discovered curves and the sheep followed. Now the sheep seem to be on drugs, and every other car looks like its curved body panels have been scrunched by a giant hand, and a very unhappy one at that. Design probably is a tense job, but there's no need to take it out on the sheet metal.
7. Sloping rooflines
If someone wants a coupé, they'll buy a coupé. If we want a 4-door car, it's so that people can sit in the back, including adults. (Yes, that does mean upright). There's nothing cool about putting a large man in the back seat or a large saloon car and watching his head squashed sideways against the ceiling.
8. White instrument dials
Brilliant: the one place where matt black has a real use, they ditch it. White instruments may be very smart, unless the driver wants to read the dial ... in which case they're very dumb.
9. Hidden door handles
OK, this one hasn't really caught on yet, but maybe we can warn them off. Just leave it to those niche-market Italians, and let the rest of us see a handle first time we look for it.
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The Fiesta is a classic example of size inflation.
The latest ones are as large as what used to be the Escort, I've often had to read the name badge to decide what I'm looking at, a new Fiesta or old Escort!
I would be asking who was the driver of the Golf? Someone dangerous perhaps?
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HJ, the local Surrey traffic depot is just round the corner, near St Peters hospital. Any bump within three miles of there then all area traffic cars in NW surrey respond hoping to get near base for some "refs" (tea break)
My usually reliable indie declares himself outwitted by a combustion imbalance on my car: 99T showing 37K miles, with oil/filter changes every 6K, coolant changes, etc. For the last 1000 miles a grey cloud had been visible in the r/v mirror when accelerating, and gobs of soot are sometimes ejected at the rear.
Other data: oil consumption not measurable between changes; fuel has been up to 60mpg but is falling; starting and running are normal; temp gauge normally just below 80° but went up to 95° in a traffic jam recently.
Just had its 36K service, with fuel and air filters, and things have improved (cloud not seen so far), but indie says it's not quite right and he would need the Pug diagnostic to sort what he believes is an electronic problem. Any suggestions? Read more
"new cambelt (and fuel pump)" = water pump, of course ...
On the way back from work today I noticed the coolant temp was unusually high- coming up to 90 C. I initially feared the head gasket had sprung a leak but the coolant system isn't overly pressurised and the oil looks clean and mayo free. I then realised that the twin rad fans weren't coming on as they should- I 've just checked the 2 fuses near the battery which are ok so I assume that its a sensor or relay problem. Am I right and where should I start looking now? Many thanks 9000 Read more
Usualy says the thermoswitch for the fan/fans has packed up.I dont know the Xantia but would try that first.?
Would there be any difference in quality (longevity, etc) between a Toyota original pump, and a non-OEM one ? Read more
BIG price difference, anyway !
www.autospares-group.com
have quoted me about £38, instead of literally DOUBLE that from my local Toyota dealer ! And they tell me it is the same unit Toyota use !
I owned a mk.2 golf for 15 years. It was well made from quality components and proved to be durable. I now cannot decide between a polo sdi or a yaris d4d. The yaris, on paper, is more reliable, but does this mean it is better quality? I have examined both cars carefully. The yaris shows signs of severe cost-cutting-for example, if you raise the hatch, the edges of the metal pressing are poorly finished, and the paintwork inside is is left with a rough finish. The panelwork is very thin and the fixtures and fittings appear flimsy. The polo, in contrast, appears to be solidly built, and the bodywork is galvanised. There are several quality touches like the bonnet gas strut and substantial door hinges which do not suggest cost-cutting.
So what is the truth? Have vw's engineering been compromised by forcing their suppliers to cut costs and quality, while vw cleverly but dishonestly give the appearance of quality, or do vw's still have an underlying engineering integrity which will show in the long run? Are yaris's only reliable in the short term, like japenese videos? Any comments? Read more
I'm just about to buy a passat highline - shall I think again?
Bored
The new Corsa comes with either as a 1.3CTDi (70bhp) common rail diesel engine or as a 1.7CTDi (100 bhp). The 1.3 is a joint Fiat/GM design but does anyone know if the 1.7 is as well, or is it a newer version of the old Isuzu engine? Read more
I think the 1.7 is a development of the GM design with chain cam drive and 16 valve. Used to be the 1.7DTi then changed to CTDi.
The 1.3 is a Fiat design, received good reviews but I'm unsure if it has a cambelt or camchain.
Browse
I think your oil pressure light would be biggest prob.when was last oil change/filter done no specifics given on this.none regular changes will cause a prob with turbo.can even destroy turbo.