January 2005
The MX-5 Mk. 3 is to be unveiled at Geneva in March, but will be sold in the UK at the end of summer. Will values of the outgoing model drop significantly from March? Or will increased summer demand keep residuals firm? I don't know whether to buy now or wait until March.
Thanks. Read more
I do not think it is much to ask for the originator of a topic to come back to the site and complete the topic with the outcome. You ask for help yet many times fail to share the real cause of your problem and may be help other with similair problems. Regards Pete Read more
It would also be extremely useful for anyone else searching the archives for a similar problem. Otherwise there is little point in archiving a lot of loose ends with indeternminate outcomes.
I've sometimes posted what I hoped might be a useful response, ending with the hint "let us know how you get on".
My Mum's 1995 Tigra 1.4 is refusing to start. She's been away over Christmas and the car has'nt moved in about 3 weeks. First time she went to start it and got the ignition lights on the dash but refused to turn over. I suggested she charge the battery, switched the ignition on trying to start it again after a few hours charging and she says it just "clicked" and no lights came on the dash at all. I suggested she check the fuses, one was out but it has been replaced but still nothing happens when turning the key.
She lives a long way away so I can't just pop down the road and give her a hand. Any ideas would be much appreciated. Read more
Did'nt think a battery could go bad and refuse to charge after 3 weeks being left in a
garage,
It can happen overnight. Most places that sell batteries can also test them. Might be worth while before shelling out.
Talking of shelling out, consider getting a replacement battery from Vauxhall. Cheaper than a lot of people realise, and generally come with a 3 yr guarantee.
...in more ways than one. This isn't about cars but I'm hoping there will be someone tech-savvy in the BR with a bright idea that I and about 38 members of my m/c club have missed. Perhaps a bit petty but it is driving me to drink before the sun is over the yardarm. This is especially dangerous since local rum is a mere 40 pence a bottle and the local stuff imbibed injudiciously would floor a rhino.
My bike has two bullet type rear lights mounted close to the rear axle (in addition to the regular tail-light). These have red lenses, are 1¾ in dia. and double as turn indicators/supplementary stop lights. Inside each is a 12v LED spotlight combined reflector and bulb (same as those Osram domestic pin-light thingies). The "bullets" are made of that chromed plastic stuff (called "Mazak" or similar?), and the outer caps, complete with lens, unscrew to enable access to the bulbs.
Or at least they did, until Buggins had the bright idea (not) of putting a dab of Loctite on each to avoid losing them on some bumpy road somewhere. Since the bike's lights are hard-wired to be on all the time, the bullets get quite hot, and have undoubtedly cooked the Loctite. Now I need to replace a bulb and get the lens cap to unscrew. I started with those rubber things you use to get your breakfast marmalade cap off, that failed. I extremely gingerly ( - nothing to do with the marmalade) stuck protective tape around the caps and applied a mole grip (these are plastic remember) but my resolve weakened before the Loctite did.
Next the time-honored method used on a stubborn oil filter: hose clip around lens cap, tap bolt with hammer --- nada. After that one of those pipe wrench affairs full of nasty teeth with a 12" handle and protective tape again, once more to the accompaniment of gritted teeth. To no avail, but thankfully no damage.
Bullets: 4 Growler: 0
All and any fresh ideas much appreciated.
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Can you get the whole thing off and soak it in warm water ?
Saw something on the box this week about the new Focus. I am sure I noticed the guy opening the bonnet with a key. What a sensible idea, about time someone done away with that damn release cable. I have had one stretch on a Capri to the point where it wouldn't operate the catch, and another break on a Lupo. The Capri was easy, reach through the grill with a hook, but the Lupo was anything but. I had to wait ten weeks for a replacement because VW were moving their spares operation either to or from Milton Keynes, can't remember which, but it meant a regular trip to the dealer and a half hour wait while they got it open to check the levels.
Someone has recently posted on technical about the same problem on a Punto. Well done Ford, maybe one day all cars will be made like this! Read more
I saw the new Focus for the first time on Thursday and I tried to move the front badge but rather than move to one side to reveal a lock it almost came off in my hand - great build qaulity! This means that they've either moved the lock or dropped this feature on the new model. Wasn't interested enough in it to ask.
any1 know? and what were his 2 previous cars??
Cheers
Rich Read more
I see the vendetta against "old geezers" goes on.
I await delivery of the dump valve.
Been asked to look at a few Mitsubishi FTO's by a lady who wants one. There's a few for sale within a 40 mile radius (Autotrader!) AFAIK they will all be grey import and 8-9 years old.
I don't know a vast amount about these cars - apart from that they suffer the usual Mitsi idle control and rattling tappet problems.
Is there anything else I should look for (esp. body/trim wise)?
General opinions welcome... Read more
My advice would be insist on a lengthy test drive for the following reason:it is quite common for the engine on this model to cut out after a few miles as if the ignition had been switched off,the cause being either an engine ECU failure(common on many Mitsubishis) or intermittent failure of the hall effect crank position sensor.Either of these faults can be expensive to rectify,ECU rebuilt about £400 or twice as much new,crank sensor about £80 but labour element equivalent of cam belt replacement(3hrs).Interestingly I was told by the dealer that although a grey import any part is available through them if they are given the VIN.Needless to say all dealer parts are v. pricey.
Now I've stuck with BMW through all this Bangle business but even I confess the 7 wasn't the nicest looking thing in the world - neither was the 5. But I knew they were good cars. However, who will join me in staying the 645 is absolutely gorgeous? I'd venture that it's one of the nicest looking BM's to date. Probably going to get slammed I know but for the first time in my life, I know for sure what car I would buy, without doubt, if I had the dosh.
--
Adam Read more
somewhat? SOMEWHAT?
::[Huff]::
;-)
I would like to see a directory which shows for most popular cars
- Which cars it shares a large number of components and/or platform with
- Where it's manufactured
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About 2 weeks before Christmas a car appeared across the road from our house during the night. As the days and weeks passed it became fairly obvious that it had been abandoned. (A Peugeot 205, seemingly in reasonable nick, but tax disc due to run out 31/12/04.)
Not wanting to interfere in case someone had parked it legitimately I did nothing until one morning we noticed a large dent in the back wing that hadn't been there the night before!
That day, I popped into the local police station and mentioned it to them. They took the details and said they would 'look into it'. Sure enough, the following day when I came home from work it had the familiar 'Police Aware' sticker on the side.
The day after that, the front number plate mysteriously lost a screw and the plate swung to the ground! The next day it disappeared.
Since then nothing whatsoever has happened, although obviously I'm concerned that it will continue to attract the wrong sort of attention.
To get to the point - what is the idea behind the 'Police Aware' sticker? If it's intended as a 'keep off' warning, it probably does the opposite!
Is there a due process that has to be gone through after it's stuck on (ie will the car be removed by them after a set time?)
I thought it would have been the easiest thing in the world for the police to check the reg number on the computer and immediately contact the registered owner. If stolen, that would become immediately apparent.If simply broken down, then I would have thought that the rightful owner would want to get it shifted before the tax disc ran out - knowing that the police are 'aware' of it.
Do the police actually do anything in a situation like this - other than stick a sticker on?
Also - on a similar theme - what is the idea behind the current craze for 'torching' abandoned vehicles, other than sheer devilment? This is what I fear the next step might be.
Graeme Read more
May be the same one, IIRC the officers involved got P45's.
Browse
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Then it depends how 'used' you want to go.
The prices won't hurt 2-3 yr old stock, or certainly anything older.
Obviously buyers would need a VERY good deal, on run out models. & wouldn't expect initally any discounts, on the new car.
If you've got the £$£$£ ready, get it out now!!!
VB