January 2005
VW sharan 2001 model, 2.0L petrol, engine code ATM.
The engine fault light came on, so the fault codes were checked. 2 codes were found, 16795 AIR pump, valve, hose(s); & 17560 AIR system etc. What is this & how do I test it? Any help gratefully recieved. Read more
Just finished watching the Bourne Supremacy. Xcellent. What make is the indestructible Russian taxi? Read more
In the mid-1960's these were imported into Britain (sharks'-teeth grill in those days). There was at least one of the Worthing Station taxi rank for a long time.
I would imagine they were pretty indestructible: there are plenty still running around in Afghanistan.
In 1969 my then partner and I travelled via the Trans-Siberian Railways from Khabarovsk in the east through Siberia, on to Moscow and Leningrad and out through Finland. Imagine a 3-week tour for the equivalent of 65 pounds then. Magnificent trains, accurate to within seconds. All tourists had to specify their precise itinerary and be prepared to followed and their activities logged by the KGB. Thus everywhere we stopped in cities we had minders, invariably in a Volga. This was the Russian autumn and already very very cold indeed. The Volgas all had magnificent heaters in them and I remember thinking how advanced they were compared with the puny efforts at comfort of the average British car. The cars came with monster toolkits and the driver had to be able to fix stuff miles from anywhere.
Hi Lads
The wife has bought a 93 Fiesta, nice motor.. problem.. door locks hell to unlock! both doors and boot. can stand fiddling for minutes to it decides to unlock. Could it be the key?
Though the key works ok in the ignition, any ideas?
Johnny. Read more
Wifey went to Ford dealer, who looked and said...new door locks required, at ninenty pound a lock fitted.
Ignoring that, she went on the advice of some of the lads on this forum, and reqested a new key cut, which Ford said wouldn't work......Perfect! worked a treat on all locks. Makes you think doesnt it.
Well done lads.
Johnny.
I retire in about a years time. I swear that then, I will never ever get on another train as long as I live!
I travel into the city every day with the rest of the herd. I am amazed at the sheer uncaring attitude of others in public places to those that share their space for the journey.
If you use the train into Liverpool Street and go through Ilford, Seven Kings etc, has anyone else seen the guy slouched in his seat, wide screen lap top computer on his ...well....lap? He was watching a DVD at full belt volume with no earphones on? Obviously, this was in competition with the 16 or so telephone rings or message alerts every minute or so. The one I hate especially is the morse code alert at full ear splitting volume. Then there is the girl picking at her eye lashes with her tweezers and smearing cakey stuff all over her face and eyes. Darling, you need to get up way earlier!
I really, really, really want to travel to work, cocooned in my own private world in my own comfortable and virtually silent, gas guzzling, global warming, tree harming....other passenger free motor car. Read more
"I'm lucky, I'm old enough to have a bus pass that also covers trains and ferries over a very wide area."
I'm old enough for a bus pass, with some to spare, but have not yet applied for one. Buses are only every hour in our village (trains too, for that matter). I used the train for a quick journey into Manchester last week. It took half the time, and was probably just as cheap when you take car park charges into account. Watched some very interesting people too.
I used to commute to and from Stockport at one time, but when the schools came out it tried my patience. The worst was when girls from the private schools in Alderley Edge put their feet on the seats. One short plump girl had to stretch quite hard to put her feet next to me (pink legs, white socks round ankles). If I had admonished her would it have been harassment?
Does anyone out there know if I can claim against tax 100% of my contract hire payments on a Light Goods Vehicle (van)? I'm self employed sole trader.
I know it can't be done for contract hire of cars with a sale price of over £12K, but I'm getting conflicting views on vans. Read more
Provided that it is a contract hire agreement, ie you hand the asset back at the end of the hire and you cannot ever opt to purchase, and it is a proper van, ie one designed primarily for the carriage of goods of burden then yes.
If it's a dual cab pick up possibly ....
I bought a three year old Ford Mondeo TDdi Ghia X from a dealer 14 days ago.
At the time I made my concerns clear regarding a mistake in the logbook - it stated the car was a 4 door sallon Ghia - when infact it's a 5 door hatch Ghia X. The salesman assured me it was probably typing error on DVLA's fault and I should contact then to have it rectified.
But - I have just found out the car is actually a German Import - I was not made aware of this at all.
Am I entitled to confront the dealer?
Is there anything I can do?
Should I be worried?
Charlie Read more
Every sympathy for Charlie - but may I just say that it's good to see you back as a moderator, Mark. Obviously reports of your resignation, as your namesake Mark Twain said about his death, were greatly exaggerated.
Hi Roomers,
My fiancee is considering selling her car, to free up some cash for a house deposit, and i need a price for her car....
2003 (53 Plate) Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 16v Design 3 door in black sapphire pearlescent. She has owned the car since new and has only covered 2000 miles. It has a very high spec including CD player, Air con, electric heated mirrors.
What sort of price could we get for a private sale?
Thanks in advance
Rich Read more
Plenty around in AutoTrader with slightly higher mileage under £6k from dealers, who do things like part exchange, finance, etc - which most buyers of this type of car will be looking for. Stress the remaining manufacturer's warranty on the car in the ad, so that people are aware of that.
Unfortunately, only having done 2k instead of 12k will not add to its value significantly, and it's still due a service and oil change if it hasn't had one already.
I'd go for £5,495 and haggle based on the interest you get on that, and if no one bites, go down the eBay route if you can't get a value for it elsewhere.
I have a fault where the rear doors lock, then open again straight away when activating the central locking from inside the car. When locking from outside the car all doors lock fine.
Does anyone know why this would be?
Cheers,
DB Read more
Driving late last night on an unlit dual carridgeway I saw something in front that looked like a paper bag but when I got closer it was a rabbit and there were one or two others coming onto the road. So I swearved into the second lane just about missing the crash barrier on the outside, could have been a nasty one but luckily wasn't (any bunny was saved).
So what do backroomers think, should a driver take avoiding action as there isn't any time to think about it ? Read more
For every problem there is a solution.
Fit an ultrasonic whistle which gives out a high frequency sound only audible to our little creatures giving warning on the approach of a motor vehicle so that they can get out of the way.
Easily fitted cost 8 quid (including p and p) from
British Hedgehog Preservation Society
Hedgehog House
Dhustone
Ludlow
SY8 3 PL
www.tes.co.uk/2032366
DVD
Sitting in my Subary Forester XT last night (6pm) in a queue of traffic about 20 cars back from the junction.
In my mirrors, I saw two lads running towards me on either side of the cars. They looked menacing. I locked the car and the lad on the passnger side tried to open the front door just as I locked the car so he failed to get in. The lad on my side started hitting the drivers door window with a sledge hammer. Remarkably the window did not break and after three failed attempts to get in they ran back to their car and drove off after a dangerous U turn.
I was a quivering wreck and thankfully my house is very close to the site so I drive up the wrong side of the road (fortunately no cars coming towards me) and got into my drive asap.
The Police were very helpful and calm, and although we though we had a print, it was just a glove mark.
So a message to you all sitting in traffic in decent cars. Keep 'em locked. Five minutes after the police came (within a few minutes) there was a call over the radio.... the gang struck again and dragged a guy out of his Golf GTI and drive off with it.
I keep shivering at remembering the sight and sound of the hammer hitting the window.
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive? Read more
Don't forget that if you have a weapon they may dispossess you of it and use it on you. In car jacking and road rage incidents you need to remember that the other guy is probably an absolute lunatic.
Unless you have experience of fighting people, it is best to avoid confrontation as the people who are baiting you have some practice at it. I've been in one fight in my life, that was at school and I lost that so I decided to steer clear! Anyway, I'm a lover not a fighter :)
You do sometimes think that owning a handgun would be the great leveler and put the bullies in their place but then common sense prevails. But one things for sure, if they were legal, I would have the biggest available.
Browse
This refers to a system which pumps air into the exhaust when engine is warming up to enable the cat to start working more quickly.I believe the usual problem is a siezed up air pump motor and is not a cheap part.Unfortunatley the emission system will not operate correctly without air injection as the management system will not go into closed loop until air pump operation has been detected.Check for water getting into pump and causing failure.You should hear the hum of the air pump as the engine is started from cold.It might be worthwhile to check the appropriate fuse first-you never know that could be the problem,but I doubt it.