February 2005
I had my Xantia mot tested yesterday, it passed but only after the 4 main indicator bulbs had been changed. Apparantly they were not "orange" enough I mentioned this to a friend at work, and he asked where the test was done. I told him and he said that he had his mot done there last week, same result - 4 bulbs changed for the same reason.(different model and age of car).
How do you judge degree of orange, or has the test station obtained a cheap bulk supply of bulbs? Read more
Hi,
Shopping for Insurance quotes the best price I am getting is from a broker with Highway Insurance - I've never heard of them, but a web search says they are one of the most profitable ins companies - does that mean they dont pay out as willingly as others ?
they are quoting much the same price as privelidge, direct line, etc but will do protected NCB and a much lower excess for the same price.
Anyone got any experiences ?
thabnks Read more
do you want to drop me an email ?
anything to the arthington.com domain drops into my inbox, so how about highway at arthington dot com ?
ta.
Mark
I've been looking at a friend's Golf IV to replace my maligned Corolla ... but, when you either accelerate hard at low speeds, or bleed off speed below 30mph, there's a funny rattling noise from the rear of the car (can't work out where, though). Any ideas, anyone ?
How much should I pay for a 2002 1.6 3-Door, BTW ? (with Air-con) Read more
I presume you've checked the boot area, including the spare wheel well, to ensure there's nothing loose rattling around?
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
My Leon has developed an odd fault, in that on frosty mornings the temperature warning indicator (red flashing light and three audible beeps) will come on indicating the car is overheating. This only happens at ignition, when the car is stone cold. The temp gauge is working fine and holds its positon on the scale as it should when the engine is at normal temperature. I have a few questions...
1. is the sensor likely to be knackered providing an inaccurate reading back to the ECU.
2. I have had this car for four years since new and covered almost 100K miles in it. It has always taken longer to reach normal operating temperature than any of my other cars, including its VW Golf cousin with identical engine. From where I live there is a four mile stretch of fast A road before reaching a roundabout. The leon will never be at normal temp before reaching the roundabout. The golf would have been at normal temp about half-way along this same stretch of road. Dealer told me the cooling system was over efficient, therefore the engine would take longer to reach normal temp. Could this sensor have been dodgy from new, and not shown on VAG disgnostics???
3. I have never been able to exceed 45mpg in this car regardless of how I drive her. Friends and colleagues brag about 50 - 55mpg from thier MKIV engined motors (Seat and VW) - I am stuck at 45mpg. Could there be a connection between the lower MPG and a faulty sensor?
4. Lastly - is changing the sensor a simple drain cooling system, unscrew, remove and replace sensor then refill the system? An indication of its location in the cooling system would be useful too.
Am curious as the equivalent, previously mentioned golf used to regularly return 50-52 mpg under the same conditions / driving style.
Leon Read more
No problem.
It makes sense that I had the three bleeps when there was no coolant in there (hopefully) rather than the engine overheating.
I'm not convinced either that the coolant never needs to be periodically changed although it probably factors in that problems like this or, say, a faulty water pump, means it gets renewed.
James
The trim strip on my car roof has sprung leaving it well clear of the channel.Any advice as regards re-attaching this strip and thus avoiding more dough going to MB would be much appreciated.
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Many thanks for the advice,very helpful
The performance/consumption figures advertised for this 1.8 Merc look too good to be true.I would appreciate any feedback on this car particularly on performance using automatic transmission.
Thanks
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Many thanks for the responses,the Nissan Micra comment hit the spot and I'm going for the E320cdi, the wife will have to hang on to her Panda for just a bit longer.
I like the look of the forthgcoming VW Golf Plus, which is a slightly taller version of the Mark 5, sort of roughly Peugeot 307 shaped. Truly a niche model if ever there was one, it sits between the Golf and Touran.
I wonder what the thinking behind introducing TWO new Golf hatches, so similar except one is 4 ins taller than the other, is. Although the two Golfs resemble each other superficially the body panels are totally different. Are VW trying to hedge their bets over the future of hatchback design, testing the water to see which way to go with the Mark 6 Golf?
Cheers, Sofa Spud Read more
I think VW are doing a Fusion. In a few years the Golf pkus will have disapeared without trace.
I have just checked the oil on my 190bhp model and found it to be a bit "foamy" and caramel coloured. What could the problem be please? Read more
That's what I said and I have an RX8.
The RX8 Owners Club UK has many threads on this topic as many of us have had our cars for 16 months now and are well aware of the problem.
Cheers
Simon
RX8 Owners Club UK
Committee Member
Yes, I have had a good read through past posts using the forum search, but I am still very ignorant of these things!
I feel like treating myself to a new "toy" and fancy a PDA with satnav. Have seen a Navman Pin 300 for £399 in PC world and there are also a couple on ebay for around the £300 mark. Anyone with any experience of these systems? Any advice with regard to advantages/disadvantages welcome. Any better systems for about the same price? I fancy something that is movable from car to car and also fancy the PDA bit as well as the Satnav bit. Thanks in advance!!
PhilW
P.S. please use simple language - I ain't too hot with regard to modern technology!!
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I use mapstore/via michelin on a palm tungsten T3. Overall, I am hugely impressed with what it does for the price (EUR 150 plus cost of PDA). Especially as it includes maps for the whole of europe - this made a holiday in Italy so much easier.
The software works extremely well once set up, but entering a new destination can be a bit of a faff. I am also a bit frustrated that even if I set 'shortest route', the software jumps back to 'quickest route' at the drop of a hat.
The bluetooth GPS receiver seems to have very good battery life - happily goes all day without a recharge. It would not work in front window of a rented picasso - but I solved that by putting it on the rear parcel shelt instead.
The price asked for factory fitted GPS seems a dreadful rip off compared with what you can get on PDA devices now.
I am currently looking for a hot hatch in the region of £12000 and have decided on either the Ford Fiesta ST or the Seat Ibiza FR. Can anyone suggest which to go for? Does anyone own either of these cars (user road tests)? Performance and Fuel economy read very similar but im just not sure. Post any thoughts on either of these cars here??? Thanks, Tim
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There is nothing 'different' about selecting a Ford Fiesta or a
Seat Ibiza, especially as the former is bound to become a
boy racers choice in years to come.
Although out of the three cars being discussed here, i'm fairly confident that the Seat will have the lowest sales numbers (for each model range, that is). Therefore the Ibiza would be the most 'different' out of the three.
Browse
Funny because the side indicators on my car are completely clear with clear bulbs - and the Ford garaged passed it!!
Then again it also had completely clear rear lenses and no rear reflectors .....