January 2005
Does anybody know what the best thing for scratch removal is? I don't mean surface scratches that come out with T-cut, I mean scratches that you can feel with your fingernail. What do the bodyshops use and can I get hold of it?
Thanks
JB Read more
A relative works as a salesman in a Saab main dealers.
He has been told that due to FSA rules that came in force last Friday, he is not allowed to hand out a brochure without getting a name and address from the customer as the brochure mentions insurance/warranty details.
The amount of needless paperwork has also increased dramatically.
Also he was told that any deviation from FSA rules (inc the heinous crime of giving people a brochure), is gross misconduct which will lead to instant dismissal.
He has already lost 2 customers over the weekend due to this new rule.
He does appreciate that getting a name and address is good practice, but lots of customers on initial contact just want to gather info on possible cars and come back if they are interested.
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>Unless he was trying to prove a point (or I have
missed the point) - why didn't he use an ATM?
I don't know about you, but I feel safer withdrawing money when I have 4 walls around me, a real person counting it out twice in front of you, and time to carefully fold the money and return your card to your wallet. When using an atm, you type in your pin as quick as possible (usually ending up missing a digit cause you pressed the keys to fast) and then try and select the right ammount of money while looking behind you. Grab the cash, screw it up in your pocket and walk away as fast as you can>>
Here's a curved ball for the oily brigade, following recent postings on the subject.
We have read that "100% synthetic" is designed in laboratories by little men in white coats and is a major advance in lubrication technology (great fodder for the marketing chappies);
We have also read that "semi-synthetic" is, well, not exactly synthetic and not exactly dino oil, it's actually mineral, well sort of, plus a bit of synth and actually there's a court judgement which says it's OK to use the adjective "semi-synthetic", just in case anyone disagrees. Castrol even gets away with saying theirs is magnetic and sticks to things, despite science saying that's impossible. So that's all right then. Well, "semi" to me to be stretching the trade descriptions parameters a tad if 90% of the product is still good old dino. But let that one be. Marketing is like New Labour, it's anything it wants to be at the time and tomorrow's another day, we all know that.
Now then, Mobil 1 being the Holy Grail of synthetics, as we are led to believe by earnest young men in suits, why would I find today on the quart of 75w/90 gear oil (US import) I bought, a miniscule asterisk next to the "100% synthetic" claim, which when traced down to the bottom of the can, says "except for additive carrier oil" in 3 point type?
When is 100% not 100%? When it's automotive oil, it seems.
And I'm hearing echoes of my local Harley tech, who has always said it's not the oil that wears out but the additives. So what's so special?
This was really a present for the Hog preceding a planned 1200km ride up north next week, to replace the regular Harley brand 75w/90 semi-synth oil in the transmission, which is starting to sound a bit industrial after 90,000km of Growler treatment. Now I'm wondering whether I wasted my money.
....but it does say it's OK for Mack trucks..... :+D
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I have a 200k '95 Xantia 1.9TD. For some time now the speedo has been erratic, sometimes working, sometimes displaying 50mph whatever speed I'm doing. It's progressively got worse so that now it doesn't work 90% of the time (I've been driving using the Rev Counter). Will this be the speedo cable or the dial? Is it going to cost me more than the cars worth to fix it?
Thanks
Simon Read more
Some early Xantias had iffy cables. I bought one new in 1993 and the speedo was erratic and made a clicking sound as I recall. The garage fixed it at the first service - said they put a washer into the back of the speedo (I think) It's a simple mod anyway and a Citroen dealer should be able to tell you what's needed. The instrument cluster is not especially difficult to get out. I think there are some screws at the top and then the whole thing folds forward. I remember popping my head around the workshop door just as the dealer was finishing the job off.
Anyway, afaik it didn't need either a speedo head or a cable and the 'fix' lasted the life of the car.
Check usual things like the run of the cable as well.
Graeme
Pug 306 1.4 single point injection 1996 110K on the clock.
A really annoying issue, only really happens when the car is cold.
There is a werrring/whistling noise that I?m pretty sure I have tracked down the throttle body. As I said it only happens when the car is cold, once she is up to temp it goes. Any ideas???
Also, the car seems to be generally underpowered, especially in 2nd (unless you change gear at 4500rpm). I know the gearbox was replaced prior to us purchasing it, I was trying to work out if it had the correct model gearbox fitted. Does anyone know how to check other than ring the pug dealer for serial numbers etc?..
Cheers
H Read more
Had exactly same problem with 1.4 single point 96 model 88000 on clock,
Have just replaced water pump and timing belt idler wasn't sure which one was causing problem.
She's lovley and quite now.
Hope this helps.
Does anyone have any experience of using this fuel-additive product, which claims to reduce 'bad' emissions?
Roger Read more
Yet another version of snake oil. Or how to part the gullable from their money!
Just read a post about the difference between Sainsburys and Morrisons petrol. Where i live there are a couple of Texaco stns, but the nearest Shell is miles away. There are plenty of Tescos but the nearest to me is Morrisons. They used to have a sign saying 'By Texaco' but it has recently gone. They also do super unleaded ( which i normally put in ) for only 3p more then unleaded. Because of various posts here I try to avoid supermarket petrol for my 98 Primera and 04 Fabia but is there a differnce between the supermarket petrol? Read more
Aprilia
You said "how about it, Consumers' Association?" -- I've asked them twice. They have replied to say that it would be too costly to do properly. I suggested cooperation with their counterparts throughout Europe; they said they would consider it. If you and others with your technical cred were to write to them too at
editor@which.net
something might stir.
While I'm here, may I ask you to throw some authoritative light on octane rating in relation to compression ratios (see above)?
Not sure if this is the right forum but can anyone tell me if Gem Recovery are any good? They seem a lot cheaper than the AA. My cars don't break down so it would only really be in an emergency they would be called out.. Read more
I've just joined GEM and they offer two levels of service; the insurance reimbursement type and the 'normal' type. I found it cheaper to buy it through the moneysupermarket site. When I queried the price with GEM they said it was because moneysupermarket had bought a batch of policies at a discount and passed at least some of it on. Even GEMs own price was very competitive and I'm well pleased with the price. I don't doubt their service is as good as any of the others (my mate used to work for a recovery firm and they used to work for a number of breakdown insurance companies - it was just the paperwork that was different).
1997 Caravelle Club 8 2.5 TDI with FSH, 87000 miles, ours since new, tornado red, family use only, v. clean. What would be a realistic asking price in Autotrader?
Not an easy vehicle to value as not listed in usual Parkers, etc, unless you're in the trade (which I'm not). Read more
I wonder if you have tried the VW Camper specialiast magazines and/or websites. Niche vehicle, and bound to be some VW enthusiast interest in my opinion.
joc
help lots of problems. low temp gauge had new sensor still the same. loss of water about 1 pint ever 100-150m. car slputters jerks and under powered in trafic but fine on open road.new air flow meter no change and a new coil sometime later. will coil was being replaced a nipple was broken off a pipe connected to the inlet manifold which aloud more air in a the car seemed fine then.last week the exhaust start blowing and they made a repair on it.now the problem has come back can any one help please Read more
The broken vacuum conexion & hole in exhaust would have caused the engine to run a weak mixture.
Perhaps your fuel mixture is too rich.
Presume this has injection - have you checked the water temp sender for the ECU which is a different unit to the one for the temp guage.
Browse
Thanks to all for the suggestions.