November 2004
The tyres on our C5 2.2 HDI have W rated tyres. Is this a case of an excessive margin of safety, as this car would never get near the speed limit of these tyres, which is 168 mph?
Would it be more sensible to spend less money on tyres with a lower speed rating, say H (130 mph) or V (149 mph)? Read more
I am aware this is a common fault. There is a metallic knocking noise from the front offside suspension area on my 1998 S80 2.4.
Can anyone tell me which parts it is likely to be?
Thx
Read more
My parent's 1998 S80 2.4 had both front track rods replaced under warranty (actually a Volvo recall) when the car was nearly new. May be yours escaped?
Volvo P2 platform cars (S60'V70/S80) are however unfortunately known for early suspension component wear, so for more info, post in the S80 forum at www.volvospy.com and you'll get a spot-on answer, no doubt.
I've gone all techno and swapped my Nokia for an XDAII. Is it a simple switch over job to replace just the cradle for my car kit or is it a start from scratch job? Read more
need to run richer on the warm up cycle?
I have always wondered this and not seen much of an explanation anywhere. Reading how engines work on howstuffworks.com didn't shed any light either. I can understand them needing a bit of extra fuel to start but I don't know why extra fuel is needed while the engine is cold. The only possible reason I can come up with is that cold oil has more resistance so you need more fuel & more power for the same amount of work as everything in the engine is battling against thick oil rather than thin runny oil. But this doesn't explain why diesel engines don't need extra fuel as they would have the same problem with the resistance of oil while it is still cold.
Anyone know the answer to this vexing question?
teabelly Read more
>so you need more fuel & more power
There is a commonly held misconception that more fuel = more power. Maximum power is generated with _just the right_ amount of fuel, unless I am much mistaken.
-Mark
I've recently been researching a family car to replace one of our two hatchbacks, I've found the advice on this forum very helpful, but so sensible Im changing my mind too often (not that Im complaining)
Anyway, before I do a 'What car' post, I wanted to know why family cars Ive seen (non mpv's) come with 2 rear adult seats and a very uncomfortable middle 'bit'?
Why cant the manufacturers do an optional extra for 3 proper seats in the back but moulded to kiddy proportions?
Until recently (maxi cosy being on the front seat) I cant remember the last time I travelled in the back so 3 comfortable kiddy size cushions would be no loss to the adults in our family. Read more
I think a few people, including myself, would like to have
the choice of a saloon that would seat five people in
comfort.
Sorry, not possible. Your choices now are:
* saloon that probably only seats two adults, unless those in the back carry their heads on their laps
* Hatchback, similar to the saloon, but with less luggage space cos they chopped off most the tail when they added the gate to it. Heads still on lap.
* estate car with pathetically truncated load bay, because it is not designed to carry a family's clobber. It just takes a few brightly-coloured bags for shiny people with an "active lifestyle" who spend their time driving to sunny beaches and pristine ski resorts.
* MPV/MSV/UAV/(insert meaningless-acronym) type vehicle with enough height to wear a top hat inside while you stand up on stilts, but nowhere near as much luggage space as a real estate car.
Of course, this must be progress...
123firm.biz/f/
now come on, this one MUST work
1/ its approved by the Ford Motor Company
2/ All those little green dots all get lined up so it MUST be working! Read more
>>"Nothing less than 8 cylinders will do"
How many magnets do you use ;-).Oh and wonder how many more threads will mention this Daft Magnet..I remember an ad that says one born every minute. Beginning to think it right. I have a hate for them as my above post mentioned..poss fire hazard. had experience of it many years ago..Not forgotten..Best advice
is leave well alone Ie dont buy...
--
Steve
Dear all
I'm off to view a classic car on Sunday with a view to buying it.
This car will not be used every day - I have my Accord for that - so I'm looking into a classic car policy.
I've just spent an enjoyable (interesting definition) 15 minutes discussing insurance with my current providers, who have explained that I cannot transfer my NCB from my other policy, as I'll be keeping it on. Their answer - "We don't do classic car insurance, you'll have to get a trade policy!"
Hmmm.
Before I get on the phone to some classic policy providers in the morning, I got to thinking some of the Backroomers must be in a similar position, and can pass on some tips, or recommend companies? The car in question is not a "bona fide" classic, but is rare enough and in good enough condition for me to be considering an agreed-value policy with the option to buy back salvage, if the unthinkable occurs.
What are people's experiences?
Thanks in advance
Richard
PS I'm sure this has been asked before, but I can't seem to get the Search facility to work at the moment. Read more
Another reason form Classic insurance being cheap is that the risk is spread over a lot of like minded classic owners. These owners don't tend to be boy racers, love and tend to their pride and joy more than the missus! and do relatively low mileage. My last SD1 Vitesse cost just £170 fully comp and agreed value with Peter Best Insurance.
--
\"Nothing less than 8 cylinders will do\"
Hello there,
To keep my Sapphire cosworth company (or more to take its place while its off the road for a while) Ive been strongly considering a Mondie ST24,
The said car is a metallic burgundy RSAP Model with 90000 miles,
Im basically looking for a bit of guidance on what goes wrong with them and what to look out for,
also what they like to drive (hard) and live with, I accept the fact that theyll no doubt be thirsty,
Cheers in advance for any replys
Ross Read more
The 24 valver Mondeo could do 10mpg and you would still love it. I guarantee it.
--
Adam
Has anyone else had one of these installed? I had one done at the end of last year when there was a great rush before the new law came in. Mine gives lots of 'feedback' (high pitched squeeking) which makes it pretty difficult to use. Also the person calling me can hear themselves echoing around the car, which they find off-putting. I have had to resort to buying an earpiece, so effectively the kit is just now an expensive phone holder.
I know that I have been pretty inert in chasing this up as my nearest branch is someway away - should I pursue this a bit more than I have with Halfords (has been under a year) or put it down to experience?
Thanks, Yoby. Read more
The feedback and the echoing sugest that the microphone is too close to the speaker. Its a problem often found with the cheap (£9.99) universal kits.
Where is the micorphone mounted? and where is the speaker mounted?
(Glass-Tech)
Sorry to be a bit vague on this one, but it's something I've found so amusing and intriguing for the past day or two that I felt I had to get to the bottom of it!
The mother of a friend apparently was sitting in traffic the other day in a fairly new BMW (May 2004) Sorry, as I say, I don't know which model - just that it's a beamer.
Apparently smoke started to come from the car - I think from the clutch area - so the lady immediately called for assistance and the thing was taken to the BMW dealership.
They 'checked it over' and announced that 'they all do that in traffic' and sent the lady merrily on her way. Obviously, she was not best pleased because the car had not been cheap and also because that was the second time it had broken down since May!
Anyway, does this make any sense to anyone here? Is this a known phenomenon on any or all BMW models? Or (as I suspect) has the lady been fobbed off?
Assuming the smoke was coming from the clutch I suppose it's not inconceivable that the lady had been sitting with foot on pedal allowing the clutch to slip continuously. Even then, I would have thought that smoke would have been unlikely on a car of that quality(?) and age.
Answers on a postcard!
Glad I went for that nice reliable, quality built, Citroen...........
Ho ho ho!
Graeme Read more
None of mine ever did it.
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It is interesting to note that Michelin recommend H rated tyres for the 2.2 HDI SX, which is basically identical to the Exclusive (which our car is), except for the wheel and tyre size.
They also recommend H rated tyres for the 2.0 16v, which has a top speed in excess of 130 mph.
www.michelin.co.uk