December 2004
Hi
A question for HJ really. In the write-up on the 2005 MY Honda Jazz, HJ mentions that Honda are not importing the more powerful version of the Jazz because they are using the Jazz model to maintain their CAFE rating. I had never heard of CAFE but a quick search on the Web revealed it stands for Corporate Average Fuel Economy ( www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/cafe/overview.htm ) but the only references I can find seem to indicate that this is target used for the American market. Is CAFE a target used in the UK?
Andy Read more
A few days ago while driving in rush hour traffic in the gloom, I came up behind a poor old chap all doubled up over the handlebars of his invalid carriage and making his way along the gutter of a main road. Couldn't believe it. I saw him OK ... but what chance of him being spotted from the cab of an HGV, coach, etc? What does the law say?
Oz (as was) Read more
At least it was British, damnit! And you never see a rusty one.
Here's the scenario:
Driving to mother-in-laws on Xmas eve, about 5 miles away after a trip of some 130miles and sudden loss of power. Reason turns out to be that the engine has stopped. Pull into convenient gateway. Engine fails to restart.
Call out Tesco recovery person (pretty prompt though the callcentre was useless) who quickly diagnoses failed cambelt by checking cam movement through oil filler when turning engine.
Now I am given to understand that some engines are 'safe' (I've also seen the term non-interference) in terms of pistons not hitting valves when the timing belt goes and I am hoping that the lack of any horrible noises or feeling at all when it happened is an indication that this one is - can anyone confirm this? Unfortunately all the garages seem to be closed until Wednesday to add to the fun of having a broken car sitting in a car park 140miles from a home I've had to return to by train.
The car is a 98 Pug 406 3.0 V6 engine code ES9J4 (not the revised ES9J4S).
Any help would be much appreciated...
Justin Read more
Have now had this looked at and all the teeth on the timing belt had actually been sheared off - looked like either something seized or a fault developed with the belt tensioner.
I've gone for the option of a 2nd hand engine which hopefully will get it back on the road.
>Sprice: I guess it depends how define 'is worth' - 2-3k is about right on Parkers price guide but you can't generally find an example of the same spec (leather, cd changer, climate, full electrics) for sale less than 3-4k. So while I grant that it may not be 'worth 3k in working order' I couldn't actually replace it for less than that.
... Hi, I've got a Renault Clio 1.4RT (1999) and I need some advice regarding a tickover problem.
When I turn the engine on it sits idle at about 1500rpm and so when I'm in gear will actually move without me pressing the throttle. Some people have said it is the tick over screw that needs adjusting and other have said its just the choke. Which do you reckon it is and is it easily adjustable by someone with little knowledge of engines?
Thanks!!! Read more
Cheers Schnitzel - very detailed info. I have to say I still wouldn't have a clue where to look but it's good to have a fair idea of the problem at least.
Thinking about it a leak does sound the most probable cause as there is a smell of oil from the bonnet which would signify that oil is leaking somewhere. If oil is leaking out then obviously air is leaking in! Plausable???
Briefly read a news story a day or two ago (Christmas day?) about an elderly man (80?) who managed to join a motorway on the wrong carriageway, drove the wrong way for several miles and had several collisions on his way before being fatally injured in the final one. Aside from the obvious sadness for all those involved and relief that more weren't hurt/killed I just can't help wondering how things like this still happen. Read more
"Wheeled, Tartan shopping bag!!!"
Now there's something that really should be banned!
Only joking :)
Can anyone advise change interval please. Car is 3 1/2 years old - £56k miles, twin ohc. Read more
90,000 miles or 6 years, whichever occurs first
--
groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
I shall be driving past Blackbushe that morning and as the whole world will be shut down anyway a bacon sarnie and an hour or so watching the bidding would seem like fun.
Anyone else there who wishes to say hello I will be wearing a Northampton Saints scarf which is green black and gold and looks like a university scarf, I myself went to the University of St James (this is a Northampton joke).
Thommo.
Read more
I shall be on a flight myself on the 13th.
Will do a quick report if anything interesting is around.
FURY AT LENIENCY
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REBECCA SHERDLEY LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT
12:00 - 24 December 2004
Road safety campaigners have criticised the sentence handed to a learner driver who killed her sister in a crash.
Mother-of-three Mandy Rawlinson, of Station Road, Carlton, was given a 15-month sentence, suspended for two years, at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday. She was banned from driving for four years.
As the Post reported Judge Jonathan Teare spared Rawlinson from prison after he heard it may result in two of her children going into care.
And he said he was satisfied 35-year-old Rawlinson was stricken with grief and remorse by the accident.
She admitted causing death by dangerous driving and driving with no licence or insurance when she crashed into an oncoming car. Her sister, Angela Rawlinson, died.
A family friend also in the car was in a coma for two weeks and two of Rawlinson's children were injured seriously. All have
since recovered.
After yesterday's sentencing hearing, Geoff Pay, from Astral Grove, Hucknall, who lost his daughter Kirsty Pay in 2002 after she was killed in a 'death trap' car, said he was furious.
"We show continuous leniency towards these offenders. She showed total disregard for the law. Why does society have to allow for this because she showed remorse?"
His daughter Kirsty, 18, was a back-seat passenger in a Ford Escort XR3i when it smashed into another vehicle - splitting the car in two and flinging her body into a field. The car had no MOT and had been up for sale for spare parts and advertised in a supermarket for just £100.
Wendy Carter, for road safety charity Brake, said Rawlinson had to live with what she had done for the rest of her life.
"I hope people will hear about this and think carefully before driving. The sentence is very lenient, but she does have a life sentence for dealing with it."
The court heard Rawlinson, who had no previous convictions for driving offences, had been in a Ford Mondeo on December 18 last year when she crashed on the A611 between Hucknall and Newstead Village.
Rawlinson turned right in the path of a four-door Vauxhall Cavalier. The impact, on the front-seat passenger door, killed Angela, 32, from Newstead.
Vanessa Marshall, defending, called for the exceptional course. "This was an incident that arose out of a momentary lapse of error," she said.
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So, if..... The rest is of no use whatsoever to anyone.
Hugo BR Moderator Read more
Thommo
Just to reply, your response sits comfortably with me. The use of the word 'trollish' may have been inapropriate, and thus I would be prepared to substitute this for the term 'unnecessarily emotive'.
Having been a contributor for some time now and seen how unnecessary areguements are started, I tend to reword emotive posts that I feel could draw out such an arguement between backroomers, thus hopefully avoiding the need for even more moderating later.
Your post was obviously written in good faith but we don't need any possible bandwagons etc at the moment.
I hope you would agree that the essence of your post is still present and the point you have made is still explicit.
I have now amended my edit of your post to reflect the above.
Oh, and it's not my website but HJ's unfortunately ;) We just try to keep things ticking along nicely.
Cheers
Hugo - BR moderator
It has been decreed that new car time is rapidly approaching, so I am trying to find the best place to buy a three-ish year old Picasso.
Ten years ago there was a definite price advantage in favour of the auctions (taking into account risk, no test drives, hassle etc) but now I get the impression that the big sites are pretty close on prices - are auctions worth bothering with for the private buyer?
I await your comments with interest Read more
done 11K in 5 months and today was reminded by the car to check the oil. Did so and found it was black and about on min. Added the free litre they gave me and it now reads max and still black. It it time to visit the main dealer. The sticker on the windscreen says longlife servicing. Read more
When my Passat had it's first service, the service guy asked me how many miles I wanted to have put on the computer for the next "variable" service.
Borasport20 says the computer allegedly messures the acidity of the oil, I think he is right to be suspicious.
I think the variable service interval on VWs is just guesswork, fancy leaving oil in a new car for 31000 miles, it is cruelty and madness.
My car has done 25000 miles, and I have had the oil changed twice, using SLX11. I would change it myself but I can't find the filter.
Browse
Indeed. CAFE is the reason that we're becoming overrun with 4x4's. The US automakers were struggling with CAFE but then spotted that 4x4's were outside of its remit (classed as 'trucks') so they started to promote them heavily - flogging them as 'lifestyle' vehicles, ideal for going down to the local Mall and Home Depot. The rest is history.