December 2004
Hi
I'm new to this and know very little about cars hence the query.
My Saab has been overheating a bit. Took to garage and they confirmed my fears that it was head gasket. Its done 140K. They didnt offer any other info. They said the job was too complicated and werent interested to fix it themselves. Though didnt charge me for that info. They gave me a few nrs to try. Everyone is busy before xmas obviously.
What should I look out for/ ask/ check/ be weary of/ expect to pay? Could I drive ot to a garage or would I cause more damage.
Any good recomendations on garages. I'm in bristol.
Thanks
K Read more
What needs to be looked at for when considering getting hold of of one of these? What are they like to own and maintain? I'm looking at them from a 'hobby' viewpoint and not everyday transport. Any comments/tips appreciated - thanks. Read more
i'm suprised no one has said this yet
One for the ladies?
As you can tell I got done for a red light offence.
When i got it i was shocked because i couldn't remember thinking
"Oh what a naughty boy I've been! i went through a red light."
Now i heard from a friend that maybe if they dont have a calibration certificate for the camera they are not allowed to prosecute me. (This would also mean that the camera may have made a mistake)
So, i sent a letter to the traffic criminal OCU (London) asking for a copy of this certificate.
The problem i have is that it is now coming up to the end of my 28days in which to accept their offer of £60 and 3 points, but no one has got back to me yet.
If my appeal fails can i still take up this offer or will they take me to court. If they do start court proceedings does it cost me?
Any suggestions and/or help would be much appreciated.
Also if anyone has a contact number for the traffic criminal justice place that would be great.(Because i cant seem to find anything to contact them apart from the p.o box address on the penalty notice).
Thanx in advance for anyone who can help. Read more
Many/Most Red light cameras are triggered by the light being red
and a sensor in the road and as such do not
require calibration. some road sensors are also speed sensitive as you
may have gone across on green or amber but were going
to turn right and the lights changed whilst you were waiting.
Regards Peter
Hi
I'm a caqreful driver, but we can all make mistakes.
We were travelling to my sisters who lives near Heathrow airport. We were waiting in the middle to turn right and could only move if it was safe. The lights turned red and, but we had been waiting for more than a minute in the middle - the flash went off as we turned - I was worried but felt i could easily expalin this away. Got no notice as i guess the camera showed that we were already in the middle and waiting. That road has been made a no right turn now.
Just bought a 1.6RXE Clio and everything seemed fine. It had been in some ones garage for a month and had had head gasket work done on it etc - £600+ worth.
Went to see it a few times and it seemed fine. Drove it home today (longest run its had in months as the guy towed it to get the engine job done, and the MOT test centre was only 4miles down the road.) and the fuel light was on as i set off.... fuelled it up, And set off home. Drove 30miles - Not going over 60mph for the work on the engine - Parked it up and thought "great!"
Went out about 2hrs later and now it sounds like a diesel! Its struggling to tick over (under 1000rpm) and when i turn things on it will cut out. I need to keep my foot on the gas to keep it running!
What i want is an idea what it is, so i don?t get ripped off at the garage!
ANY Advice would be good, and VERY welcome!
Regards,
Trevor
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I have also had a problem with my clio (RXE 1.6 98 S-reg) which i posted a while ago and found out today that it was the ignition coil. Is going to cost £106 at a Renault garage to fix, so I was quite happy. I found that when I turned on the A/C and things like that its revs went even lower to the point of almost cutting out.
Just thought I would add my comment here incase someone else has the problem.
Hi there,
My dad has got a 1995 Citroen Xantia 1.8sx. It has an annoying problem in that if it's left outside overnight, it struggles to start and sometimes end with the alarm kicking in. If it's left in the garage overnight - no problem (unless it's left for a few days). It has had a new battery fitted so can't be that.
Any ideas ?
Cheers !
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The 1.8 Xantia is prone to collecting water at the bottom of the plug wells. Give them a good clean out in case moisture is collecting. Check plugs are good at the same time.
Have you checked to see that the battery isn't draining away all night because something like a boot light is staying on unnoticed?
Is the alternator charging properly? Is drive belt in good condition and tight enough?
Earth strap OK?
Presumeably the engine is cranking properly? (Starter motor ok?)
The alarm on the Xantia does indeed go off when battery becomes critically low and because it has its own internal battery there can be no stopping it - even if you disconnect the main battery! I know this to my cost because I once drove 10 miles with alarm going to buy a new battery!! Wouldn't care, the battery (original) was only 9 years old........
Is the immobiliser OK? Check wiring to it (if you pop off the gearstick gaiter you can put a hand in and push up the immobiliser pad - I seem to remember a push on connection block below.
Is the fuel clean and uncontaminated? (No water/dirt in fuel...?)
Air filter clean?
The coil did actually go on my Xantia once - unusual but not impossible! Damp might accentuate an underlying weakness.
'Distributor' cap ???
Just some thoughts!
Graeme
im in croydon ,surrey and need oil filler cap for toyota estima 3ct....anybody have any idea...i thought get a performance one if nothing else,just dont know any shops round here Read more
now all i need is a performance brain to help me drive better .....tis cheaper than toyota for oil filler cap .
I expect most have seen the series on Sky.
Watching one, where they refurbish a BMW 325i Tourer, new bonnet, bumper trim, exhaust, filter kit and clutch slave etc.
Anyone know where this 'SuperStore' is based and its address or Website. He always seems to get a good deal with the parts used in the programme.
I've tried searching from what can be seen on a poster in the back ground of the counter, without any joy. Read more
German, Swedish and French car parts has pretty much the same stuff that Eurocarparts has and the website is much easier to search. Prices seem to be about the same too. Motormec specialize in BMW spares also, but their website is not as comprehensive as GSF's. Before buying from either of those, I would suggest checking main dealer prices. I have been surprised on more than one occasion when my local main dealer had prices on par with the above mentioned.
I have just bought a used Peugeot 106 and have found the Clarion CD/Radio only partially illuminates at night. I have checked the LED's inside the removable front panel and 5 out of 6 are not working. I have searched everywhere on the Net and can only find 3 and 5 volt replacement LED's. The originals were 12volt and 6mm long by 3mm in diameter Can anyone please tell me where I might be able to pick some up. Would appreciate any suggestions..... Thanks Read more
Yes been here before. The original illumination was mini bulbs and all had blown Pug 106 1998 sourced 12 leds from Radio spares fix prod and nice illumination level. Regards Peter
okay i have a 88 vw polo, there been a noise that sounds just like a worn wheel bearing from n/s/front...the typical wurr wurr noise
so i fitted a new bearing..old one looked servicable and the new one didnt improve things at all
today i pulled back the cv boot...there was enough grease in there and every thing looked good...so i regreased it and put the boot back ive also recently changed the gearoil..no swarf in the old oil
so guys...what now?
this wurr wurr is noticable from walking speed up to 50-60 where the road/engine noise cover it,its worse when not straight ahead and at its quietest when accelerating( but that maybe engine noise drowning it out)
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GGH what did the inner sound like?? did it change when steering/straight etc
thanks
After reading the thread by VTiredeyes "Amazing Megane" it has made me realise the cause of a problem with my new Primera
I just bought a new Primera and have not been happy with the feel of the car since I took delivery. Exactly as mentioned above, tramlining and harsher ride than I remember. However, after reading this it has just dawned on me that when I originally test drove one I had the SE (16" wheels) but I got such a good offer on an upgrade to an SVE (addes leather heathed seats, Cat 1 thatcham immob, upgraded stereo, sunroof (with climate already in the package?) headlamp washers, and increased size alloys) that I grabbed it and didn't test drive - same car thought I - the penny has just dropped - 17" wheels and lower profile tyres!
Is there an easy way to trade in the wheels & tyres for a 16" set or at least try them before I spend a fortune to change over?
Any advice really appreciated.
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Before you do anything too drastic and/or expensive, try lowering the tyre pressures 2 or 3 psi. My Renault Megane has low profile 17 inchers as well. For me they came as a bit of a shock having had previous Renaults which glided over the rough roads. This Renault bumps and thumps it way around but I lowered the psi a bit and now it's great.
My next Renny will not have these wheels...
Browse
Independent SAAB specialist: Perry And Prouse 2 ex SAAB technicians who set up their own independent about 3 years ago, well recommended Trouble is they are in Taunton.So not so far if you can get it trailered down.