Wife's Saxo diesel needs topping up with coolant now and again. I cannot see any evidence of where it might be dripping from underneath the car, but at the back of the radiator the top corner has grown a bit of a blue fur coat. Am I right in thinking this is anti-freeze and this is where the problem is? The car runs ok with no wheezing or whistling and there is no evidence of water contamination in the oil.

Thanks in advance for any ideas. Read more

Hi, My wife recently complained about her car warming up too quicky. I had a look (no I'm not a maechanic but have been driving afew years with some usual experiences) and all seemed OK - it wasn't over heating etc. To be honest I was too busy to have it checked out, anyway couple of days later the temp went too high and 'smoke' started coming out. Had it rescued to a local garage who said the thermostat went. Got a new one fitted etc and all seemed well, when the next day she complained again of it heating up too quickly from cold. Basically from cold it would reach the quarter mark by driving about 1/4 of a mile and reach 'normal' as in halfway after about a mile. I checked the coolant level before setting off and it was fine. I drove it a couple of miles and then let it idle until the fan kicked in. Temp stayed at half and heaters were blowing hot air. Nothing seems to be wrong just that it heats up real fast. Moreso than my Golf anyway.
Your thoughts appreciated. Read more

I'm buying a CD/MP3 player for my wife's Daewoo Matiz (with bog standard speakers) and can't make a final decision from the following (in current order of preference):-

Clarion DB348RMP
Sony CDX F5500
Kenwood KDC W4527G
Pioneer DEH P3600MP
JVC KD G401

Want one that won't struggle playing MP3s and is decent quality, whilst having relatively simple controls without too many silly flashing lights & effects.

My maximum budget is £115 (which all of the above are available online for).

So which should I go for? Read more

HI,

The car will not go above 60 mph, takes a long long time even to get there. Intermittent but frequent cut-outs at low speed, re-starts immediately though.
Starts well from cold.
Fuel filter changed and tank filter checked.

Any suggestions pls?

Nick
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Not an exhaustive list, more of a work in progress. Feel free to add to this thread and in a day or so I'll cut and paste your suggestions into this post and make it "sticky". Please only add those that you frequently use or see here in The Backroom. I don't want this to turn into a complete list of every acronym on the planet so would welcome slang terms within reason!

AKAIK
As far as I know

BIB
Boys in Blue. The police.

Bling
Ostentatious show of money above taste, i.e. chromed wheels, gold chains, white leather interior. "He's blinged his car" meaning "He's added lots of over-the-top accessories"

FWIW
For what it's worth

Greed Camera
Speed Camera set up in a manner that lends nothing to safety and everything to local scamera partnership coffers

HTH
Hope this helps

HWSBI
He who should be ignored; hubby/boyfriend

IME
In my experience

IMHO
In my humble opinion. Also IMO

IIRC
If I remember correctly

LOL
Laugh out loud

RTFM
Read the flipping manual

Safety Camera.
This one was in the swear filter. These things have little to do with safety these days.

Scamera
A Greed Camera

SWMBO
She who must be obeyed; the better half

Talivan
Speed camera van. Derived from Taliban, who exercise a similarly mindless approach to an arbitrary set of rules


No Do$h - Alfa-driving Backroom Moderator
mailto:moderators@honestjohn.co.uk
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