July 2004
Can anybody help?
I got a pug 306 and i wanted to try and program the remote control. I followed the manual and the imobiliser has activated and the front lights are flashing when i open the doors (i think) the alarm is not activated at the master switch. what is the problem. Read more
I must have missed something - who is this celebrated GRowler?
Makes me think - now we've had favourite cars, best / worst design features etc. what about most memorable, inimitable motoring noises - growly or otherwise?
Anyone old enough will remember, for example -
- Morris Minor 1000 (for some reason, not the 803) on the overrun
- first gear in one of the Austin Counties - Devon, Hampshire etc
- the two-stroke diesel Commer lorry of the 50's.
Newer cars seem less memorable - perhaps you can think of more recent sounds. The Subaru flat-four perhaps. Read more
I've been out to play this evening in a Didge Viper GTS, 8000cc V10 sounds beautifully smooth
--
I read often, only post occasionally
I sold my old Micra about 5 weeks ago and received a £40 congestion Charge Fine in the post a couple of weeks later.
The incident occured about a week after i\'d sold the car.
I send back the form saying I\'d sold the car but couldn\'t remember the full address of the buyer - but i had sent the registration document back to DVLA as required by law.
This morning they sent a further letter rejecting my reason and saying that DVLA had confirmed that I was in fact the owner on this date. What can I do now? DVLA don\'t seem to have received the log book and I don\'t have the new owners address so they are holding me responsible for this fine and presumably any other offences commited by the new owner in the future.
Has anyone come across a similar situation before? Read more
One other point that is worth noting. The reason the police chased me, even though I had sent the change-of-ownership slip to DVLA is that the DVLA refused to accept it. Why? Because the dealer denied the transaction and it became my word against theirs. As in so many other areas, the villain need only lie his way out of it. However, after I had sworn the Stat Dec I heard no more, but don't assume that you are fireproof just because you returned that slip.
Mods, this is a strange post so I can understand if you want to delete it but here goes.
One of my more....boy-racerish mates emailed me a link to a Boy Racer forum post and said he couldn't believe it. I checked it out for myself and to be honest am disgusted.
The long and short of it is, someone posted on how his mate had been sent to prison for 2 years after driving whilst banned and hitting, thus killing someone in a car not even registered to him. The poster was asking if there was any chance of his mate "getting off" and more shocking, information about driving again and how he could get around the 5 year ban.
That to me is...disgusting to be perfectly honest. I don't know if it's me being overly sensitive but he drove a car not belonging to him so presumably not insured, killed someone and wants to get behind the wheel as soon as possible?
Utterly shocking.
Sorry for the pretensious post; I just thought I'd share it all with you.
Adam Read more
If you want to view the above, simply cut and paste into your browser. No "WWW" required.
No Dosh - Backroom Moderator
mailto:moderators@honestjohn.co.uk
i just picked up a recon alt for my 1.3 1988 polo, the orig one has a 12v bolted on, a blue wire,and the suppressor thingy
this new one has a bank of three spade terminals marked D B and blank..plus another one thats ofset which maybe the suprresor
can this be adapted?? cus i got it cheep Read more
anyone know where i can find out on here?? thing is i got it for a couple of quid, and id like to use it
im capaable of crimping on 3 spade conectors ...just which goes where
I am concerned about the use of connecting blocks on car wiring being dangerous. Any electrical work I do on my car I always use conneccting blocks to join new wires and as yet have had no reason to doubt them. But some are of the opinion they are dangerous and could start a fire. Opinions?
Read more
Personally, I'm always amazed at the standard of electrical connectors and fuse systems in cars - crimp blocks and soldered wires with insulating tape !!
Go have a look at:
uk.farnell.com/
There are high-performance waterproof connectors - proper strain relief systems with wires soldered into the connector. Providing you solder correctly (no dry joints) and clamp the strain relief, the connector will stay electrically sound for years - probably outlast the car.
I bought a one year old Corolla, 1.6 auto, which I am very happy with. Its my first car with air con, and I must admit i cant seem to get it very cold in the car at all (if you have an air jet directly on you its cold, if not it doesnt feel that cold at all)! At first my Dad said it would need re-gassing after one year anyway, so I phoned the Toyota dealer and they said oops yes it should have been done and did a full re-gass.
I have to say though, despite being re-gassed it doesnt seem much colder, and now there is a musty smell that wasnt there before it was done!
The manual recommends using the air intake on fresh and using face air jets, which I do, but i need the keep the temperature dial on coldest setting to get enough cold air out. Am I expecting too much of air-con (or the Corolla's air con) or should I be able to get my car feeling like a fridge??
Also there is a definate 'clunk' from the engine when it is turned on, is that normal?
Mike Read more
The clunk is fine.
As for the performance, any Toyota I've ever had has done a pretty good job of depressing brass monkeys. Do you have access to another of a similar model you could try ? Maybe take one for a test drive or something.
HI,
I have a chugging noise coming from my Fiesta XR2i any time I haven't got the front wheels dead straight (when moving). I have had both front tyres replaced and the tracking is spot on. The noise appears to be coming from the tyre area and don't know if it's a suspension problem or something else. Any ideas greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Steveo4869 Read more
Have you looked under the car to see if any of the cv joint rubber gators have split?
If they show no signs of tears, then find an empty car park (supermarket one, Sunday Evening for instance) and drive round in a circle slowly on full lock. No repeat on opposite full lock. You should be able to detect which side of the car has the dodgy cv joint. I'd be very surprised if both sides have failed, unless or course the car hardly ever gets serviced ;o)
My Polo apprently needs a new Power Supply Control Unit at a cost of £400 [paid for under warranty thank God].
As my technical knowledge is nil, could anyone explain in laymans terms what this is and what it does?
Thanks,
CF Read more
Thanks Andrew - It was changed to attempt to fix the long standing problem [intermittant] whereby the battery dischages completely if the car is left for a couple of days. 3 batteries have been consumed this way in 12 months.
I guess the brain was not shutting everything down properly when the ignition was turned off?
Hopefully this will have sorted the problem.
CF
Will a small amount (say 5%) of LRP in unleaded damage a cat?
Thanks in advance. Read more
LRP normally uses phosphorus in place of lead and it is death to cats.
Browse
The master switch only turns the alarm siren off, If the headlights are flashing it means the alarm is armed & will need disarming with the remote key.
What year is the car??? What imobiliser do you have?? Keypad or transponder key??