October 2004
Very quick one here - I'm driving a hire car down to Portsmouth tomorrow and have been told I'm being given an auto. I've never driven one before so does anyone have any hints and tips and general things to look out for. TIA! Read more
Hello.
I have noticed that the car has developed this small problem.
When engaging reverse (After holding clutch pedal for 3 seconds the gear still makes a small crunch.
If i still hold the pedal for a minute and move in and out of reverse (Whilst stationary) you can hear the gears engaging (moving slowly then stopping.)
Also it is hard to get into first when cold..
What could it be
--
(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters Read more
Hi
The Reverse gear would crunch even if the pedal was pressed and left for a minute or two.
It must have been the clutch sticking.
On Friday the clutch went it must have got stuck and caught fire or something.
--
(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters
Finally, finished the bookshelves in the study (3 bays and each 10 shelves high) and SWMBO insists on sorting the books by subject and alphabetically so we can find things rather than my more usual random posiiton and memorise where you last saw it technique.
One by product of this is that assembled in front of me are a number of motoring books, aside from the usual pretty picture books of cars I will never own and a number of Haynes manuals of cars that I have indeed owned...there are a number of books that I have only kept for historical or curiosity value. I doubt that I will ever read most of them.
In date order:
1. The "Royal" road book of great britain with 400 contour plans. Gall and Inglis, 2'- net (no date unfortunately)
A series of major road descriptions and contour section showing the lie of the land. Used by Grandfather extensively in 1920s
as it has pencilled in notes throughout.
2. Anglia Instruction book 2'- FoMoCo 1953
Usual owners manual....but purchased separately. Almost as much detail as a Haynes manual for regular maintenance such as decarbonising (a whole chapter), suspension grease points for every 1000 miles.
3 and 4 Two Pitman's Motorists library,
The book of the morris minor 1000 (all models to 1960) 5'-
The book of the Ford Cortina, Corsair, Classic and Capri (all models to 1966) 7'6d
Both books by Staton Abbey. Similar in content to a Haynes manual but small paperback in format.
5 Ford Escort Repairs (Escort 2 range) by BC MacDonald 40p
Again similar to Haynes manual in content but standard paperback size
Any other BR posters have interesting books hidden on shelves at home?
I must look up the contour description for Telford to Newcastle!
StarGazer Read more
I have an old Lambretta manual which refers throughout to "blubs" instead of bulbs. Always makes me smile...
I have a 77 xj6 which after being "tuned", by an apparently knowledgeble friend of mine has developed a nasty case of over-running when switching off. I can't help thinking that it can't be good for it apart from anything else.
Any ideas? Timing seems spot on and retarding doesn't seem to help.........aaaarrrrrggghhhhhhhh?
Help!!!! Read more
as Kith said with no disrepect to my friend he is most correct! I couldn't see what he did wrong (timing looked good while tuning etc), but it didn't do it before! Shall i take bets with him as to what it turns our to be?
I've now decided to have it proffessionally attended to as it's cold outside and there are a couple of other things that need attending to before winter sets in and i'm left stranded by the roadside in the dark somewhere.
Thanks for all the replies, i'll keep you all posted as to what the man with the spanners says post fiddle which hopefully will be this week.
My S reg. 5 Series BMW Touring has an intermittent - could be 2/3 times a week - no start problem.
I switch on the ignition and all the panel lights up as normal. Turn the key to the start position and absolutely nothing happens - no clicks, no whirring noises, no dimming of lights. I sometimes have to turn the key 7/8 times before it will start and then no problem during the running. The symtoms occur with either key.
BMW have interrogated the fault computer and found nothing. Tracer lights attached to the starter suggested that when a no start occured no volts were getting to the starter. Both the ignition switch electrical block and the immobiliser aerial have been changed to no avail.
Has anyone any ideas. BMW say they haven't heared of the problem before - but then they said that about the high sulphur petrol bore liner wear problem too ! !
Read more
There are two types of key on models of this age (S reg). One type has replaceable batteries and the other has rechargable batteries. To recharge the batteries you only have to use the key once a year for about an hour or so.
You can reprogramme the keys yourself (although a dealer might not tell you so...).
I'm toying with the idea of fitting a new interior to my vectra estate will a saloon or hatch interior fit?. obviously i know the boot is a no no ?? but what about door panels, rear seats and carpets(the car is a 98 R ).steve Read more
The rear door panels WON'T fit, they are different to the saloon/hatch.
I just caught the tail end of an item on wheel clamping on BBCs Watchdog. It centred on a clamping operator who was towing away legally parked cars and (seemingly) getting away with demanding a £200 fee to release the car.
Can anyone explain why such operators are allowed to operate outside the law and are not immediately subject to a visit by the police? If a person can prove that their car was legally parked, as I am sure these people could, then surely there is no legal basis to demand a fee for release of the car.
Was there something I missed in not seeing all of the program? Read more
Seems I got the amount of money they were asking wrong, but everything else is as I remember it.
Have lost the car keys today.The car is locked and fitted with an immobiliser/alarm.The car is a 1994 Rover 418 any suggestions friends? Read more
Due to my SP2 problems. Wasnt able to reply as I wanted..L/M reg rovers needed a software update to the alarm immobiliser. it prevents straying of signal from blip unit. to both. in some cases several presses of the remote as I call it.was needed to unlock/shut off immobiliser..In my case needs it.Update is either from Rover or address I mentioned before..Glad you found your keys..As I recall most of rover cost is labour..
--
Steve
I quite fancy a Mini diesel for my next car and was wodering if any BR`s own one and if anybody has knowledge of power chips available for this model to boost the meagre 75 bhp/ 180Nm power/torque figures. Read more
Having run a Golf GTi in the past and had appalling problems with VW servicing, I vowed I will never touch another VAG group car with a barge pole.
The car had only covered 11k miles when purchased and the engine would just die without any warning. After repeated attempts the local Main $tealer was unable to fix it and I sold it at a considerable loss - (3k in 6 months) - so don`t intend to get caught a second time.
Incidentally DMS Automotive only deal with quality cars such as Porsche BMW & Mercedes.
Does anyone know where this is?
Both a Vauxhall and a respected Isuzu dealer have failed to locate it. It's not where the Trooper's is.
Any clues, anyone, please?
I've wasted almost a day of my precious self-employed time so far waiting in service departments.
Cheers
rg Read more
Madmechanic,
Many thanks!
I have since found that mine is one of the early models which did not have a ABS diagnostic multiplug, but the three-pin-socket which requires a link across 1 and 3 to generate flashes at the dash.
Thanks again!
rg
Browse
Good to have your feedback. Thanks for that.
I am sure others will respond in detail.
Watch this space.