October 2004

Question Vectra N Reg Kms to Miles

Citroënian {P} on 26 October 2004

Hi all,

Does anyone know how to change the computer/mileage readings from Kms to Miles? It's managed to swap to kms and I'm not sure how it happened - it's a UK car!

Thanks,
--
Lee
MINI adventure over. Now having a Fabialous time. Read more

brianrh on 1 November 2004

My pleasure. It's nice to give a bit of assistance for a change.

It's also very nice for people to come back with a result and gratitude.

Cheers Lee

brh

Question Tips on looking after a new shape mondeo

Ford Dagenham on 26 October 2004

Hello.

I have just taken delivery of a Y registered Ford Mondeo.

Iam was wondering what i should look out for in terms of the cars reliability and what could go wrong.

The car has 44,000 Miles on the digital display and has all its service stamps. so it looks like it has been well looked after.

Thankyou in advance.
--
(iam not a mechanic)

Martin Winters Read more

henry k on 27 October 2004

What is RTFM?

Read The Friendly Manual or a similar expression.
Identify and mark in it the parts that apply to your specific model.
Cross reference in the manual for ease of future reference.

I checked all five wheels they are all nearly new except

for the spare that is new (i.e. not used many times)

>>
>>Have you 2. Taken the wheels off, checked the tyres for damage,

and put the wheels back on with the corect torque setting.

If not this should be done.
This first allows you to confirm no inner wall damage and no tread damage.
It then reassures you that a wheel can be changed without resorting to brute force and then maybe failing.
Are the vents in the front disks clear of rust or crud?
Are the disks in good condition and within recommended thickness?

The bulbs are quite difficult to access though this is because

of the bigger engine and because of the shape of the car.

>>
See later responses and the manual should advise on this.
I have physically checked what bulbs are required for my 98 Mondeo and have been surprised at what discrepancies I found.

It was mot'd on-site before i purchased it and it came

with a printout that showed that it passed with flying colours.

>>
I get added reassurance from getting all my families cars MoTed at a long established company that ONLY does MoTs.
I watch them do it and they give advice on the car as they progress the test.
They do not sell cars, do not repair them and have no association with a garage.
I suspect they are a rare establishment.

(iam not a mechanic)

Of course if you are not sure of any of the above then you can ask the same questions of a garage or a friendly mechanic.

All my suggestions would apply to any seconhand car.

Question skoda octavia ambiente 2001 MY

wd 40 on 26 October 2004

anybody got a 2001 MY Ambiente ?

does it have a low fluid level indicator for the windscreen washer ?. Mine has no working indicator at the moment, but I think it had when I bought it last year.

If it should, i'd like to get it before the warranty expires, but the dealer says it was never fitted to that model, while skoda customer services say it was ?

Read more

Forum Focus MPG

kal on 26 October 2004

I recently hired a ford focus 1.6 16v whikst in south London and it did around 35mpg with not much use of a/c and plent of fifth gear usage even in town, chnging up quickly and keeping revs around 2-3k etc etc ....is this reasonable I would have expected nearer 40 mpg, how much would an equivalent GM Astra or Honda Civic 1.6 have done.

Any replies will be appreciated. Thanks. Read more

GrahamF1 on 27 October 2004

So who can get the best MPG then??!!!

My 1999 110bhp Passat TDi returns around 65mpg on my 42-mile run up and down the A1 (Cambs, Beds & Herts) to work. Meaning over 700 miles from a 62 litre tank.

I'm sure someone with a feather-like foot can beat that.....

Question vw polo tdi engine noise during change

Neil McK on 26 October 2004

Hi Again, thanks to all the responses to my previous query about oil for my tdi. I ended up getting quantum from the dealer, not cheap but at least I know for sure that it meets the spec.

I've noticed a noise coming from the engine when I change up through the gears, noticeable when the engine is warm.

It's a kind of "chirping" noise, noticeable when I change up at around 2k revs. It also happens if I lift-off whilst in gear so don't believe it's the clutch/gearbox.

The car is a 51 reg with 70k and a full dealer history.

Being new to diesels I'm not sure if the noise is normal or if it's a aign something expensive is on the way out.

The car drives v.well (pulls like a train) with no smoke or loss of power at any point. Economy is also excellent.

Any hints or tips would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Neil. Read more

DL on 26 October 2004

Possibly turbo noise?
--
groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....

Forum Italian Electrics

Robin Reliant on 26 October 2004

Guy across the road bought himself a 51 reg Alfa two months ago, not sure of the exact model name but the one with T-Spark on the back.

Anyway, I got home from work quite late tonight and as I was unloading the car I could here what sounded like someone's central locking being activated every few seconds. Couldn't see any one about in the driveways opposite where the noise seemed to be coming from, and listened to this for about five minutes or more. Then the alarm on the Alfa went off, and the neighbour came out to investigate. What was happening was the electric fuel filler cap was opening and shutting of it's own accord which was the noise I had heard. He had to operate the key fob five or six times before it stopped.

When I commented he said a few loud prayers about Italian cars and reckoned all the electrics had started going haywire, the mirrors self adjusting of their own accord while he was driving and the boot lid releasing every now and again among many other things. It is due in to be looked at tomorrow, but he is now wishing he had never bought it. Apparantly when he told the dealer on the phone that he might disconect the battery overnight, he was advised not to as that would confuse the ECU and cause real problems.

I know Italian electrics have had a reputation for being a bit eccentric in the past, but I thought they had got their act together by now.

Or is he just unlucky. (With apologies to the Alfa fans on this forum) Read more

No Do$h on 26 October 2004

A 147 owner has had similar problems on www.alfaowner.com

iirc it was a good 6 months back. Not heard of any other instances like this. That's multiplex wiring for you.

Forum SORN and Road Tax Refund

IanT on 26 October 2004

I've just posted a SORN form to the DVLA (my 309 is now off-road for the winter!).

Because there's still several months road tax left, I've used the special SORN form from the Post Office instead of the annual tax renewal form. There is minimal guidance supplied with this form, so ...

Will the DVLA automatically refund the outstanding road tax? Or do I have to take the tax disc to the local Post Office for a refund? Or should I have included the tax disc with the SORN form (too late now)?

I am assuming the car can't be both taxed and SORNed simultaneously.

Ian Read more

IanT on 26 October 2004

For your information, the first form I got from the Post Office and sent off, was a V890 "Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN)".

The V890 is a pretty useless piece of paper. There's no mention of what to do if your vehicle is already taxed (other than a comment that there is no need to declare SORN while a tax disc is in force). Its limited uses, as far as I can see, are ...

1. When you buy an untaxed car and want to immediately declare SORN without taxing it.

2. Or, for some reason, you don't get a tax renewal reminder and so can't use the reminder form to declare SORN on the renewal date.

3. Or, you are already using the car illegally without tax or SORN, so the V14 isn't applicable.

Hope this helps.

Ian

Forum Buying a Vel Satis

Vincentus on 25 October 2004

We're talking 3.5 V6 Initiale for about 20 000 Euro in Germany, 2-years old. HJ's Car-by-Car Breakdown says it's:
"A very different driving experience from almost anything else.
Curiously un-carlike to drive, but not unpleasant."

Hmmm... I'm scheduled for a test drive on Saturday. What do you think ?
Read more

Vincentus on 31 October 2004

Nah, nah, nah - you got it wrong pal, all wrong. Vel Satis IS loaded, but C5 2.0 (brand new) IS NOT (we're talking no more than 20 000 Euros).

Question Clutch Drag/Clutch Slip

Adam {P} on 25 October 2004

For once, no problem but a question.

Given that this place is a collection of the most intelligent people I know, I was hoping someone could enlighten me.

/flattery off.

Could someone give me a detailed explanation of what clutch slip and what clutch drag is please? I did a forum search but all I can find are sentences saying well it isn't clutch drag

I know it's an unusual request but I've learnt so much about cars from here in this last year, I hope someone could add to that (limited) knowledge.

Many thanks
--
Adam Read more

madf on 26 October 2004

or by sticking clutch cables or faulty clutch springs or - in the case of mid 1990 Citroens - especially Xantias- by both together.!:-)

madf

Forum delivery mileage?

jallopy on 25 October 2004

What is delivery mileage for a new car? What is a good mileage for a delivery and is 277 miles a second hand car? or bad luck? or a good percentage off the asking price.?
Read more

Civic8 on 26 October 2004