October 2004
Double thread really - first one is to vent my spleen, second is a question for more mechanically minded readers.
One shopping channel wound me up again this weekend with their claims about fuel magnets and charged £25 for the privilege of owning a lump of iron which does nothing for your car! The presenter asked the 'salesman' why if the product could save you 10-30% on your fuel costs they aren't fitted as standard. Response - (i) the manufacturers are in denial about how well they work and choose to ignore them! (ii) the manufacturers are hand in glove with the petrol giants and do not want their engines to become more efficient than they already are!!
Then another channel was showing a US product which allegedly reduces friction. The test was two engines - one in a car the other on a bench. Both engines had the product put in, run for a while then the oil removed and left empty. The car was then taken on a very long run (over two hours) and it didn't seize. The second engine was a V8 on a test bed. This was running with no oil and then the water hose was cut - the engine continued running. Is the product so good, or would an engine run for hours without oil anyway? Read more
Hi everyone,
I was cleaning the inside of the car yesterday (inside because it was raining) and I noticed in the passenger footwell, what looks like a heater vent, a tiny amount of water tricking down.
The footwell isn't wet but there is definitely water getting in somewhere. The 'vent' isn't actually a vent because I had a feel inside and it's solid - I can just about reach over the top and can feel a little water but not enough to constitute a flood. However, I want to get it sorted so that the car isn't immersed in water one morning.
I shoved an sock (the same colour as the interior (lucky)) in the gap which today is completely wet but rather there than the carpet. I can't see anything more above this vent so,
Any ideas please?
Many thanks
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Adam Read more
Hi people,
I have a Y reg Focus and need advice on how best to dry out the carpet.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has their passenger playing in a private paddling pool!
I've had the problem before, most noticeably when I park with the front nearside as the highest point, but a garage thought removing some leaves might fix the problem (ah, bless 'em!). Last week I parked it with the front nearside upslope again (Doh!), it proper rained for a while (gotta love the Lake District in July!) and my Girlfriend was treated to a foot bath in the car when we got back to it!
Help! The car's going to ford dealer this week to be looked at, they agreed with me that it's likely the pollen filter and said it'd be around £55 all in to fix. OK, I guess I'll have to stick this cost, as I've had leaky cars before (renaults love the rain in my humble experience!) and don't want another. How do I best dry out my sodden carpets and 'underlay'? I can't leave the doors open where it's parked, removing the carpet seems like a monster of a job, and besides I don't want to play with removing front seats and seat belt bolts. I can remove some of the plastic surrounds by the doors and force my hand under but this seems like a lot of effort for not much return.
Efficient and effective suggestions requested please. (Stuff it - ANY decent suggestions please!)
Ste
A friend of a friend has a model steamboat. He fuels the boiler with a 50:50 mixture of paraffin and petrol. He and all his steamboat club mates have switched to Optimax because, unlike other petrol, it leaves their engines and smokestacks clean as a whistle. I kid you not. Interesting. Read more
I don't know for sure whether Optimax is a superior fuel; I choose to believe that it is, so I use it. I do know that no scientist would regard the test conducted by the Sunday Times team, albeit in a reputable lab, as a serious piece of work.
From all the opinion and what little evidence I have seen, the effects from using Optimax or any other premium fuel are:
* Slight if you car's engine does not have a high compression ratio and therefore cannot benefit from the high octane rating -- 98 RON, and HJ reminds us that it is the only one on the market at 98 RON.
* Highly unlikely to be manifested in the short term, let alone instantly.
* Possibly significant in terms of engine cleanliness over the long term, specifically because of the detergent additives. The report from the model steamboat people appears to be consistent with this.
I take no more notice of those who claim instant improvements than I do of those who declare the product to be rip-off rubbish after one tankful. I do take notice of serious sources (e.g. HJ) who say that many people (certainly dozens and possibly hundreds) report perceptible benefits and improvements over the long term. I have asked the Consumers Association to conduct proper long-term comparative tests; the request has been acknowledged, and I am now prompted to remind them. Indeed, I am going to copy this response to them as evidence of serious interest among motorists.
Driving home last night in a torential downpour of rain , when all of a sudden the passenger side wiper decided not to move ! Just lucky it wasnt driver side as I wouldnt have been able to see a thing ! ! ! Car in question is a 2002 Vauxhall Vectra.Anyone know if this is an easy and inexpensive repair .
{Subject header amended. DD} Read more
Problem is that the wiper mechanism inside . One of the sockets has popped off , when I pop it back on the thing is so loose it just comes straight back off . Phoned Vauxhall and theres a 3-4 week waiting list for the wiper assembly !
Hello All.
What are the real benefits of fitting a K and N replacement filter not those racing types just a standard replacement?
The box i looked at in Halfords says it lets more air in and give you more power and acceleration.
What are the real benefits?
I like the idea of the million mile warranty.
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(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters Read more
Surely for the filter to allow more air in than the stock paper filter implies that the original is restrictive at WOT? Somehow I doubt this is a likely scenario, unless blinded by dust, or the mfrs have blundered in their calculations.
To cut a long story short I am waiting to take my new car back to the large dealership I bought it from because they never did the service etc. they promised before I collected it.
One thing which is puzzling me is the accelerator and I hope someone here can give me some suggestions so I have something to go on when I return it.
Firstly, there appears to be a good inch of travel in the accelerator pedal before it engages - this has taken me some time to get used to and even now I have a habit of stalling at slow speed. Not experienced this with any other Corsa in the past so wonder if there is in fact a fault here.
Secondly, whilst driving you feel vibrations through the pedal. Its like you can feel every single bump in the road - again something I have never experienced with any other car including a Corsa.
Any suggestions Read more
I didn't say it was the part of any well-designed throttle and the current Corsa has no real problems that I noticed, but it does seem to be more than a one-off for late first model Corsas. You learn to drive around it, but it's not great.
Mate has problem with missing at"Basically any revs". though intermittant.. VX replaced camshaft sensor saying diagnostics said that it was at fault. his prob apart from missing is airbag light is on/fuel light is on..I went with him to collect car after it was fixed. no explanation was offered as to what the prob is..Dont have time to look into it.Any ideas
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Was mech1 Read more
Thanks..According to VX there is nothing wrong. But after my FIL having had problems with the same garage. tend not to trust what they say. I will be having a look at it tomorrow..
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Was mech1
Anybody had experience of Isuzu suffering from very bad pulling power below 2000rpm? Turbo lag? Quite frankly completely gutless below approx 2000rpm until turbo kicks in and then not satisfactory. Diesel additive required? New air cleaner? Read more
Ta, that's what i thought it was - but it's nice to get a second opinion.
Want to buy a basic Mercedes ML 270 CDi with metallic but no other expensive toys. Any ideas of best place to buy? Thanks Read more
www.drivethedeal.com has them for about £30,700 with metallic. It'll be a bit of an odd spec though and have you considered the VW Touareg as well?
Not quite as bling but it seems more complete to me, should be a little cheaper, too.
i am thinking of buying a astra 1.7 td. the guy says it's got the better izuzu engine witch is better than the vauxhall td engine. is this true and in what way is it better. its on a n plate with 120k on the clock.
thanks in advance Read more
The rev counter not working usually means the alternator drive belt has slackened thats all, a very common problem. It is best to re-tighten it by removing the drivers side wheel, which gives easy access. Another common fault is the brake vacuum pipe attached to the alternator splits, resulting in un-servoed brakes. This part not available from dealer, get second hand, or repair with JB weld or equivalent. Air-bag warning light coming on means alternator over charging, either get fixed, or simply put on rear screen de-mist etc! The valve clearances mentioned earlier are often neglected, if they're correct, the car will start better and run smoother. Good engine otherwise.
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Every motor I`ve come across thats run out of oil. either wont start. or did but run really rough.I remember a Special edition Capri. Which ford released IIRC 1987.One came in for service oil drained/filter replaced. Tech forgot to fill with oil. Test drive carried out. broke down about 2 miles from garage..Result rebuild. Also know of one car that never(untill I`m asked)gets checked..when I do check its because this fiesta wont start ie run out of oil.Fill up and its fine
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Was mech1