September 2004
could any one reccomend a decent garage in the manchester area that could carry out a wheel alignment check properly? thanks Read more
my misses has just had a replacement engine in her 306 turbo diesel but the rev counter does not work any more any ideas cheers Read more
The exhaust on the Camry V6 is finally failing (after 13 years). A Toyota replacement is £288 plus fitting and VAT. As good as it is, the car won't do another 13 years, but I don't really want a Kwik-Fit job.
I thought to try out a custom-build stainless steel supplier and found a newish chain called Longlife Stainless Steel Exhausts (www.exhausts.uk.com/). Price for the Camry V6 unit, whether they take out the old cat or leave it in, will be £329 all in, which sounds all right. Does anyone know if they are any good?
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As N_C said why not try a trusted independent. Labour charge is usually a lot less than toyota. And may do a better job. I for one am not in favour of removing cat. Its there for a good reason ie its a converter. Also. not so sure stainless exhaust is going to be of benefit?. As old system lasted 13 yrs. what makes you think another wont last that long?. You did say you didnt expect it to last that long. IIRC toyota engines are fussy with exhaust/inlet changes. may be wrong?
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Was mech1
Firstly I'd like to apoligise - I'm not quite sure if this should go here or not. If it doesn't, then I would be grateful to the mods if they would move it.
Hello all,
As you may or may not know, I have 1 dent (very very tiny) with a scuff down to the metal on my Ford Focus' bonnet. Also, some of you may be aware that on the back, where the chrome lift handle meets the paint, there is the tiniest bit of rust (really small). This is due to a fault on the Ghias and I have the technical service bulletin to take into Ford when I go tomorrow and see what the man says.
With regards to the both problems, I'm thinking that I may get it sorted elsewhere than Ford because let's be honest, I bet this time tomorrow when I post about my visit I'm not going to be very happy. I have been told that to someone who knows what he's doing, it's relatively easy given the size of the rust and the size of the scuff.
My question in case you are wondering is, does anyone have any idea how much this is going to cost? Rough figure. It's one of those things where it's either going to be relatively cheap (for this, my idea of relatively cheap is £70 - £100 or massively expensive. Ford are presumably going to charge me for a liftgate handle which I know to be £65.
Does anyone have any experience of how handy they are with a tin of Dulux?
Many thanks
Adam Read more
Sorry - once is enough!
Adam
Can anyone confirm if my catalyst will suffer as a result of high oil consumption on my FSI engine?
I'm using 0.5l/1000km at 27k miles 12mths old!! (No help from Audi as they say this is to spec!) Is my CAT still working ? Can anyone advise if my car would pass an emission MOT test?? Read more
What happens is that the surface of the catalyst becomes coated in combustion particulates ('sooted up' in simple language). Its difficult to say what impact this will have, but I wouldn't be happy if it were my car.
If it were my car I would take it to local MoT station and ask them to put it on the 4-gas analyser and give you the print out (they'll likely only charge you a tenner - 10-minute job). Then look at the figures - post them on here or ask the MoT inspector his opinion. At least you then have some evidence of a problem if things go pear-shaped out of warranty.
Picking one of these up tomorrow, a 1.3CD model, 96/P (new shape). Anybody got any experience of these, and what they're worth in a private sale. Car is excellent condition, 3dr in white, PAS, EW, ESR, CD player, 87k miles, T&T both 4 months.
Thanks Read more
should fine one with the same mileage going for sub £1,000 at an auction.
quite high for the car.
Can anybody help. My E240 Merc '98 Plate has just failed MOT on the fact that it has no power getting to both front and rear sidelights
I need an auto electrician but they seem in short supply
Regards Read more
You have said the fuse is ok, so why not put a test lamp or voltmeter on the terminals of the side light switch? Is there a sidelight relay? Is it working? Many cars have different off and near side fused circuits so it could be a missing common feed. Probably not too easy unless you have a circuit... Good luck.
Has an "incident" this morning whilst dropping my son at school, one of the mothers decided to reverse into my Passat and has damaged the drivers side wing.
From what I can see the wing is badly crumpled, the paint is broken and through to the metal , the tyre is punctured, and the inner wheel arch is split.
My insurers are Liverpool and Victoria and to their credit the car was at the bodyworkshop by lunchtime and a decent sized hire car is on its way as the woman responsible has already admitted liability to her insurance co.
I have confused the bodywork place by asking that an estimator call me tomorrow to agree the repair methodology ("we are not required to do that sir" was the initial response) my reason for doing so is that I do not want a repair of that consists of the panel being knocked into shape and filled with body filler. I would like a new VW OE wing with all the protection from rust that that implies as well as any other parts being replaced with genuine VW parts.
My question is this, is this request one I can reasonably make and insist upon?
As I understand it the insurance company paying for this should put me back to the state I was in before the accident occurred and to my mind this is a car that contains only genuine VW parts and has no filler in the body.
Any comments for or against this view or any advice on my request.
As always
Mark Read more
Thanks Dalglish
The link looks useful, I will peruse it more over the weekend.
I would guess I now need to get some ideas of the difference between the value of the car were it undamaged versus its damaged but repaired value, shouldnt be too tricky I might visit a couple of dealerships this weekend seeking a PX value and once obtained I shall "remember" the accident.
I will trawl through my policy and look at any weasel wording it may contain. The whole process has been quite smooth so far becuase the other driver admitted liability I have only had to get places to pick up hire cars or return them although today was very inconvienient and has cost me some work.
Just hope its sunny and dry tomorrow so I can make a judgement about the colour matching, any doubts and no messing about it will be back at the bodyshop first thing Monday,
Thanks again for the link
as always
Mark
Halfords' 20% discount off Castrol GTX Magnatec (and other items?) closes tonight, as I've just discovered. Read more
...new offer at Halfords will appear tomorrow, a la MFI/DFS/Currys/Dixons/PCWorld/Harveys/
Dear all,
My friend, who is about to move abroad, is offering to give me his W126 1987 420SE as he believes it would be effectively worthless and time consuming to sell it. I am thinking of keeping it long-term (until it becomes a classic or 500k miles) but I am worried about it being a liability. The history is that he only used it for going to the pool/gym in the weekend and drove around 5 miles each weekend with occasional long trip, around 3000 miles p.a. for the last 2/3 years. It had a major service and passed its MoTs every year. The body is pristine and all electrics works. I worry about its under-usage and under-service. The questions are,
1) Should I go for it? Assuming I do all the work myself.
2) Would the under-usage and under-service have fundamentally damaged the car to the point where no amount of servicing (multiple oil changes then oil change every 3 months, "italian tune-up", ATF change, etc.) can revive it?
3) What should I do and, more importantly, not-do if I take up his car?
Any advice welcome. I guess worst case scenario is to scrap the car but I do not want to have started reviving it and find it to be a bottomless pit.
Thank,
Gazza Read more
Work on the basis everything with rubber will need to be rpalced and all brake and fuel lines. If you see any change from £3,000 after doing that, buy yourself a pint. That's about all.
I reckion Fiesta servicing/repairs/tyres etc costs £250 pa. On an SE I would multiply by 4 or 5.. and add the £3,000
madf
FYI Solara, there are about 3 different types of sensor, the one I got was the correct one from a factor and was identical even down to the numbers on it to the original when I fitted.
Sounds like you got the wrong one or a dodgy one!