February 2005
I want to plan drive to Spain/Gibraltar and back using the shuttle. Does anybody know a WEB site/tour company that is usefull with hotels etc, I have sat nav. Any advice welcome.
Richard Price Read more
Hi, am thinking of getting a 416 but here contrasting stories regarding the engine.
Some say engine is terrible and head gaskets always go othrs say the Honda engine is superb.
How can u tell which engine the car has?
Also any other major probs to look out for?
Thanks in advance Read more
Had a Rover engined R reg. Really good & smooth but very annoying engine jerkiness on small throttle openings / taking up drive. The only way I could get away from it was by changing it for the Honda engined Auto !!
Good luck, Vinnie
My brother leaves university in June and has got a job. He will need a car for making travelling a short distance to a from work daily and for making 50-60 mile motorway journeys at weekends. He wants a car which is resonably cheap to run but has good performance and high specification, he is looking at mid sized hatch backs and wants to spend around £10k. I think a new Seat Ibiza 1.9tdi se would be good with high levels of kit as standard. What is everyones opinion on this car? Does anyone have any other suggestions? Read more
Now in my day, an old VW combi with some little luxuries was a perfect solution.
Accomodation and transport all wrapped up in one.
OK so ideally you needed a bathroom as well but some say they were great for those emergencies when they lost their digs due to running out of money!
If your finances weren't up to this, then a cheap van was the answer. Again, stick some windows in it and bed down in that. A bit cold in the winder but great for going out drinking. You park it in the pub car park and simply get in it when the night is over and hey presto, no drink driving, no taxi costs and no B and B costs! You just get up in the morning and drive home, or back to a car park/layby where you wouldn't be moved on!
H
- Been looking at a new Fiat Panda today: base 1.1 petrol model is going for only UK£5700 brand new (not pre-registered) at the local dealers.
Seems like a sound buy to replace the ageing Fiesta! Over a grand cheaper than any special offer Clio/C2/Fiesta I can find. And 5 doors is a big plus for my family.
Only 1 airbag and no power steering though - should that bother me? I can live with the manual windows, locks, and lack of radio.
Will only be doing approx 6k miles/year (second car) and I want something as new as possible, so I know what I'm getting. I plan to keep it several years.
So, a good deal? The only other possible "bargain" I can think of might be a new Daewoo/Chevy Kalos? Read more
I was with a collegue at BCA preston today.
56 panda, 63k on the clock, decent nick, 1.1 active, went for £1850 plus fee.
They hold there value!
Hi, I have a 1.1i Fiesta and have a problem when I take my foot off the accelerator and back on again there is a slight hesitation before the power comes back on with a slight jolt. Its noticeable when changing gear and coming off junctions. It does not do this however if you have the foot partially on the throttle and lift off, not completely, and back on again. I've 'played' with the throttle when the car is idling and the response is fine.
Any ideas would be grateful. Could it be the clutch on its way out?
RG Read more
If thats the carb version?. It could be an air leak on the throttle butterfly spindle..To tell check the sideplay.If none (unlikely)it wont be that.But if their is. it may be that causing it..Other points to check would be plugs/Ht side breaking down..Clutch wont have anything to do with it
--
Steve
MOT advised slight play in offside wishbone. What would this involve to fix, and is it straightforward to DIY? Read more
Hi, is this a mk 1 Laguna? if so I have never had the bushes go on a Laguna wishbone. so it must be the ball joint has play. I would advise you to fit the ball joint rather than the full wishbone, as the bolts mounting the wishbone have captive nuts which come away from their welds and its not a nice job. If you swing the hub to one side and get a axel stand and support the wishbone next to the ball joint so as to give you something to knock against, the ball joint will come away from wishbone, its only fixed in with splines. You might just need some heat around the joint. Good luck.
Experiencing a problem with the factory fitted Philips unit in a CDX. Unit refuses to switch to FM range, despite following manufacturers instructions, would like another option to "5 Live"! Any thoughts?
Read more
Thanks for your thoughts Dave, I'm certainly hitting the ULM button, but I think its going to come down to a power reset, which I was hoping to avoid.
Hi
Late last year I purchased a MB C-class - on the 54 plate, pre-reg with 200 miles on the clock. the car pulled left - steering off centre. At local MB.
They have loaned me free of charge a similar model to ours - C-class Avangarde. This car has got abot 800 mls on the clock and this pulls two and steering is slightly of centre, on on a very level surface.
I have read reports about many cars doing this - the new Fiesta Zetec Flame and the Mondeo Ghia do no pull to the left to an extent where you notice it with hands on the steering wheel - also the steering is point straight.
The BMW 5 series that we recently sold drove straight as well.
reason we bought the MB - was going to buy the C-max auto - but build problems/cvt, etc - so went for the MB
Any views!!
Thanks
Lucian Read more
Plenty of new cars have been damaged before selling "as new" to its first owner.
In my BMW 3-Series I have a 6310i phone in a cradle on a Plummer console, which works fine, but would like to convert to utilise Bluetooth (i.e. take the console out, which will also free up a little space in the passenger footwell). I'm told Nokia offer a retro-fit kit for this conversion. Using it involves a single push-button I'm told. Anyone got any knowledge or experience of this?
Oz (as was) Read more
Many thanks RF and all respondents so far - the *#0000# check came up with:
V 5.50
03-03-03
NPL-1
(c) NMP.
I'll review all this my retro-fitter.
Oz (as was)
Hi all
Further to the auto box query I've found a couple more....
(Volvo 850 GLT M reg, 2.0 20 valve, auto saloon)
There are two diagnostic units adjacent to the washer resovoir. On unit A (with the fly lead) instead of an led and rubber button I have some soldering, a mounted led (looks functional) and two small circular contacts that would have been beneath the original rubber button (obviously the mounting cap that held the original button has been knocked off/damaged.
The dash warning light works ok and goes off after engine start.
Question is...to read any possible codes can i use something like a flat screwdriver blade end to 'jump' across these two circular contacts? would this replicate the action of the original rubber button?
Second question...the switches to the right of the shift selector for 'Sport/Economy' and 'Winter' are in one switch block but don't appear to work correctly. The 'Sport/Economy' button is very stiff and is stuck in the 'Economy' mode (no bad thing) and messing about with the 'Winter' switch did result in a 'W' icon appearing in the dash once, but it's intermittent. I know the box had two new solenoids (?) fitted last year (have the receipt) could the refitting have been carried out badly, resulting in these switched becoming jammed?
Or could it be more sinister, like a deliberate bodge job so these functions weren't accessible?
Thanks for reading this far.
All advice appreciated.
Bob
Read more
I would post your question on the Volvo Owners Club forum. There's a guy who made his own LED thingy that plugs into the diag socket, and it sounds like maybe someone has done that on yours.
Also the solenoids etc don't sound like uncommon problems, so I would ask for advice there.
You have to register to post but its free and they're all very friendly. Just Google for it.
Browse
We drive down annually to Portugal but this year went to Southern Spain. Used Speedferries to Boulogne in 40 minutes at a cost of £50.00 booked on the internet or £60.00 by phone.
They were excellent although they only have one boat but another due in April/May.
If you feel happier pre-booking overnight accomodation so be it but there really is no need unless you go in August.
We have never booked as its so easy to find. Any town you pass you can simply drive in and find somewhere with no problem which gives you more flexibility.
Speedferries also allow you to return on any ferry if you happen to be late or early on return simply by paying £10.00 on arrival at the port.