October 2004
The Telegraph 'Weekend' insert of Oct 23 has on the back page a strange column on British pubs.
The article states that the Vincent Black Shadow ('apocryphal tale), was the only bike that could do the run from the Ace Cafe to the Hanger Lane roundabout and back within the time taken to play a certain 45 rpm record, presumably on the juke box.
1. Any fact in this?
2. What was the record?
3. Is it true that they chained the plastic teaspoons? Read more
In my never ending search for a new car, I'm thinking about an A3 Sportback. Like the thought of a 2.0tdi. I haven't driven them yet, but should I be focusing on a sport or SE. Is the ride significantly better on the SE. Also, if snybody owns an A3 diesel, any idea on running costs. Thanks. (No, I don't like the Golf) Read more
You looking at Sportback or 3 door? Sportback has new grille now, 3 door apparently doesn't get it until next Summer according to Audi Customer Services.
My 406 is fitted with this (2.0L petrol, low emissions) engine but it hasn't run properly all this year. The dealer says there's a problem with the unit that advances the valve timing (apparently it has VVT just like the Honda's). They change the unit but within a few wks it plays up again - misfire/hesitation under load. Even when it's 'fixed' it's still only 85% OK, and the engine always feels very 'flat'.
It's back the dealer again now. Has anyone any experience of typical faults with this engine? The dealer seems baffled & I'm on the verge of giving up with the car. Read more
Just thought I'd point out
Hondas don't have 'VVT', they have VTEC - and, unlike most of the lookalikes, it works and goes on working.
Hope you get your motor sorted before long, anyway. Good luck :-)
I've just noticed - this is ancient history...
Not sure if this should be in Discussion or Technical. However, my exhaust has came apart between the front pipe and the actual "exhaust", at the join.
Front pipe was replaced by Kwik Fit in Jan. Middle part of exhaust was replaced 15 months ago by an independent.
My question is, should it go back to Kwik Fit as it would be covered under warranty, or will they wash their hands saying that actual downpipe is ok, its just the join?
Unfortunately, SWMBO will need to deal with it and I don't want to end up getting fleeced?
Any thoughts? ( I realise its hard to comment without seeing but both bits look ok, as if they just need bolted back together)
Read more
Kwik Fit..Not as bad as painted. Though would take back to them for repair.When its taken in.. stress the point.Nothing else wrong.It really wont matter who takes it back. Assumming you have the receipt. they are usually pretty good.Cant say I have had any probs with them..
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Steve
I have a 2 month old Renault Clio.
The problem I am getting is that more often than not the car just will not go into 5th gear. Its like something is stopping it. I have noticed that it seems to happen more often on slight hills (I think its when the revs are at about 3000).
This is getting quite embarassing when a car is behind me and I am stuck in 4th gear trying to get to 5th. I release the clutch and try again and sometimes it doesnt go in until the 4th attempt!
I had it in the garage a few weeks ago and they could find nothing wrong with it (I guess they only drove it 1 mile). I drive 50 miles round trip every day.
At first I thought it was something I was doing wrong but I have got used to the car now since I have been driving a manual for 2 months (being an auto driver for 2 years).
Sometimes when I do get it into 5th it seems strange when moving the stick (a similar feeling to when you have to press the gearstick down to put a car into reverse).
Can someone please help sort this out because I am at the end fo my tether. I am going to phone Renault tomorrow and book my car in for the second time Read more
The garage have just called and cannot find anything (again!).
I said you probably have to take it for longer distances.
Maybe they should have the car for a week (although I don't fancy they idea of someone else driving my car for a week). Anyway I suggested this and they said they have someone elses car in a for a week at the moment but will consider mine after.
They are going to take it out again now and see what happens. I just can't believe it is ok for other people!
i have a 2000 x new shape rav. the engine dash board warning light came on and i had it checked out by an independant garage. they read the ecu and the fault code said that i had a lambda sensor problem. i asked them to sort it and took the car back a few days later for a new sensor to be fitted. they did another ecu check and found 3 other fault codes. they advised me to take it to the dealer. I did this and the toyota dealer says they are not sure, but have reset the light and deleted the fault codes. has anyone had this problem and if so any idea what it is all about? Read more
Has anyone else had this problem at all? the light has come back on and the dealer is telling me it's a two day job to trace the fault! any help would be appreciated! the car is running great. i can just feel a big bill coming my way!
My son bought a 97 Passat with one of the above Tdi engines.
After a few weeks he noticed that hard acceleration above 3000
revs caused the engine to suddenly loose power & go into limp home mode.
This problem has been well documented on this forum. Fixes have ranged from split vacuum pipes, faulty airflow meters, loose air pipes & new turbo's.
I checked everything except the turbo on this car & in the end decided the problem must lie either with the ECU or turbo.
I came accross this info on the web which may be helpfull to others - www.technologie-entwicklung.de/Gasturbines/VNT15-T...l .
The turbo came off fairly easy which surprised me as all the bolts get exhaust temperature hot. Some are fairly inaccsible so it was just as well. But to cut a long story short, cleaning out the adjuster mechanism did cure the problem completely.
Having now seen the difference between a working/stuck turbo mechanism, just watch the adjuster rod from the vacuum canister on the turbo. Run the engine at tickover & disconnect the vacuum pipe to this canister, if the rod moves less than 0.5 inches the adjuster mech in the turbo will be jamed.
It's a bit of a pain to do the job, but at least a no cost fix. Read more
Never having had my hands on a turbo before, I hadn't realised you could partly dismantle one without disturbing its ballance.
So the illustrations give you the confidence to tackle the job.
I will get a log-on for Freds tdiclub and put a post up.
hi, any1 now if i can fit mk2 head lights on my mk1 vectra? Read more
One day they *might* actually get around to putting the pictures
back as well!!
Looks like they have for this particular task.
forum.vectra-sport.com/showthread.php?t=4631
www.vectra-sport.com/uploads/HowtofitMKIIHeadlight...c
Note, although it's a word document, you *should* be able to view it using MS Wordpad, if you don't have MS Word.
ps, the link I previously posted no longer works.
Hi guys,
Had a theory. It should, in theory, be possible to purchase a facelift E39 5 Series on around an X or a Y plate, in excellent condition, from a BCA Top Car Auction for around £10k.
You could run this car for a year-18 months, putting no more than average mileage on it, and then sell the car privately for the price you paid at auction - around £10k.
You could then use this £10k to buy a replacement E39 5 Series, say, on an 02 or 52 plate by this time. A year-18 months later, you do the same thing again.
Net result is that you always own a 3-4 year old 5 Series, but depreciation costs are minimal and when you decide to do something else you sell the current 5 and pocket the £10K you originally started with.
No profit, but crucially, no loss either.
Thats the theory. In practice, would it work? What time period would one need to sell an auction sourced 5 Series at in order to receup the money privately, again assuming initial budget of £10k?
Hopefully some of you can see where I am going with this. Is it feasible? Read more
Slightly different class, but I bought a 2000 'W' Renault Clio, 30000m, FSH, for the wife, two years ago for £3200 from BCA. Sold it six months ago for....£3200. Less the cost of one oil change and an MOT, as good as it gets.
Can anyone shed any light on the differance between the Dodge Ram and Dodge Dakota,I have only ever seen a Ram in the flesh,but the Dakota seems to be alot cheaper,as I have only seen pictures of the Dakota,is it a smaller version of the Ram,or is it still a fairly big truck like a Nissan Navara or Toyota Amazon thanks. Read more
I promise that those figures were all nicely spaced before I
posted it....
Looks fine to me ;o)
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I used to have one. Black Shadow.