October 2004
The nearside alloys on my X-Trail are showing marked discolouration on the spokes. This first manifested itself on the front wheel but is now also evident on the rear. There is no sign of it on the offside wheels.
The wheels do not appear to have been particularly scratched and there is no pitting, just a dull, rough patch on each of the splokes. I've tried to clean the wheels with a variety of cleaners but have had no joy.
I should say here that I regularly clean the alloys with car shampoo so that the wheels never get too dirty.
Anyone got any ideas on why this should be happening, and particularly to the nearside wheels? Read more
I have noticed that my Fiesta (W reg 2000 1.4 zetec A/C) has a water leak in the passenger footwell. This only seems to have appeared after driving in very heavy rain. Are there any common things to check ?
Thanks
Des
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All sorted.
many thanks for the advice.
Took the car to my local garage (Prince Brothers , Twyford, Reading). They fixed it by clearing out the A/C plenum chamber drain tube. They reckoned this is a common cause. Took them 10 mins and no charge. Top marks to them.
Hiya,
I am new to this forum but have been on many others; mondeo, seat, bmw, audi, focus, peugeot, golf etc etc. I am on my 38th car and about to swap it for my 39th, but, what do I get next?
I wondered if I put my requirements on here, you lot out there might be bored enough to have a read and come up with some answers for me.
Heres what I am looking for:
Must have some go, not a fire breathing perol drinking monster, but still have a fair turn of speed.
Good handling as std, aircon would be nice and must be reliable and decent on fuel (30+)
3,4 or 5 doors, estates are OK too.
Small - medium family is perfect, not looking for anything as bi as a 5 series or anything as small as a Punto.
There will be 4 of us at most in it, two young lads (7&9) plus 2 adults, me being the biggest at 6'2" and 15 stone.
I don't mind what fuel it uses.
Good luck, hopefully someone will hit the spot with this one.
Thanks in advance Read more
I was going to suggest a Focus. But then I notice you appear to have had one of these. Perhaps you should list the 38 cars you have already tried and let us know whether you wish to exclude them from your list?
Andy
Apologies if this has been covered in the past few weeks whilst I've been away from the forums...
My parents ordered a new car in mid-July for delivery 3rd week of September. They are still waiting....
Part of the reason for delay has been, according to the supplying main dealer, that the car delivery (transporter) firm that the manufacturer uses in the UK has gone bust. Anyone know which firm this is? - and what happens to the new cars in their pounds awaiting delivery? Read more
Madux - no, it's not left-hand drive and wasn't due to be shipped to them via USA! It's now at the dealership - dad was there today to sort out paperwork (insurance certificate etc) and will collect it next week-end. Can't wait until it's my turn to have a go!
Just been listening to a very interesting radio programme featuring a car valuation expert. A chap just enquired on the value of an immaculate '04 Lexus GS430 sport? with 12k on the clock and fully loaded. IIRC he paid £42k for it about 10 months ago and today's valuation is.....
..... £26k!!!!
Ironically the owner bought Lexus in the belief that they retain they values well but apparently this car is not much in demand anymore.
The flip side of the coin is, though, that some lucky devil's gonna pick up a hell of a bargain. Read more
Or buy a Rover instead...(I'll get my coat)
or even how about buying Rover itself?
'ducks and waits for world war 3 to start!'
I live in London, and can not understand how we let the various councils charge us extortionate amounts of money in order to park.
They raise the price, we pay the price.
How can they justify it?
Surely some MP/Motoring Group should be asking them.
The more we pay, the more money it gives them to hire poor cheap labour to give us tickets, thus increasing their booty tenfold.
PS.
Yes, I have just had another parking ticket. Read more
Agreed, Bromptonaut. I was being cheeky!
But there is a sensible point. Most people travel by car, especially when away from home and therefore not familiar with bus routes, times etc. So, HMG:
(a) discourages use of cars in built-up areas. Limits to car parking, traffic calming measures, congestion charges on the way.
(b) moans that our town centres are dying and that ugly out-of-town developments are springing up.
Am I alone in thinking there is a slight lack of intellectual rigour here?
the chief of police are lobbying the government for more cash to maintain 'bobbies on the beat'
I can not rememember the last time I saw a bobby on the beat. Do they actually 'walk the beat' anywhere in the UK? Whilst driving, shopping, strolling in the park, commuting, etc. the bobby on the beat is an illusion. The local police launch has also been decommissioned. When I last saw a 'bobby' he was attending a motor accident, but of course he was informed by a passing motorist!
So if you spot a 'bobby walking the beat' please reply, and perhaps we can all visit this strange & rare sighting.
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Just more Cop bashing I'm afraid.
Yep. Thread locked.
DD.
The dog has chewed the rear door handles on the girlfriend's courtesy car, a Rover 75.
Can anyone suggest where I can get replacement handles if not from a Rover dealer and how do I get the handles off. I presume that the inside door covers need to be removed and that they are screwed on to that from the inside??
I admit that I haven't had a proper look yet but if somenone warned me first then I 'd know what to expect!!
I'd be very grateful for any advice... Read more
No bother DL. Her alfa has been repaired and, I hadn't known until we went to pick it up, but it was repaired at a CD Bramall Rover bodyshop in Aylesbury. God bless them, when we explained our predicament they said that they would fit the handles and valet it for us free of charge!! We took the Alfa and left the car for the hire company to pick it up from there!!
Hi
My Escort has an HCS engine with carburettor. The specified spark plug gap is 1.0mm. However, when the garage fitted new plugs (champion copper core/electrode), they didn't adjust their gap and left them at 0.8mm. Being as this didn't affect performance, I though I'd leave it as that. However, I've just had a rethink, and was wondering if there is any damage being done to the coils in terms of increased current?
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Mike Farrow Read more
Well, Got to agree with NC here. The plug gap is nominal in the same way a 12v battery is. A couple of volts higher (or lower on starting) or a few thou. either side won't make that much difference.
Browse
Don't believe the hype, Frostbite. An F1 driver's relationship with a team is purely business these days, and all about preserving your worth. Regardless of the Williams shenanigans, JB has proved quite capable of playing contractual hardball on more than one occasion.
Button wants to preserve his worth, BAT and Honda want results from BAR, Dave Richards is a professional. Short of a technical clanger expect more of the same.