March 2005

Imagos

offside rear door on my 98 GhiaX Mondeo refuses to open from the outside or inside. Seems isolated from rest of central locking.

When you try to open from inside the door handle goes back to locked position when you let go. Accept that central locking isn't working on this door but how do i open it? It can't stay shut forever!

Anyone any ideas?

tia. Read more

Onetap

I don't know, but know a man who does.

Try the forum at www.fordmondeo.org.

Someone there will be able to help. I think you'll have to register. Try a search first, the question may have been asked before.

John Doubledime


I am replacing a headlamp bulb on my 96 Primera.

Mr Hayne's manual advises me to disconnect the negative battery lead before proceeding.

Two questions. One What am I risking if I don't disconnect the battery lead?

Two. Will I need to input the radio security code if I do disconnect. The code may be hard/impossible to find.

All advice gratefully received Read more

fossyant

Don't disconnect the battery, just remove the lamp from the housing, then change and plug back in - easy job ! Check out nissanprimera.net !! You are very welcome !

spikeyhead {p}

My mate's got a CLK that the blower motor is permenantly on, even with the ignition off.

Turning the switch that controls this makes no difference as does removign the switch.

The only things that stop the blower are removing the fuse or the plug that carries an assortment of wires into the motor.

Has anyone got any ideas what's happening and how to fix it?
--
I read often, only post occasionally Read more

elekie&a/c doctor

I would suggest that the electronic fan speed regulator is faulty.It is an aluminium half moon shaped unit that is secured to the bottom of the blower motor,usually with a 3-pin connector.It is a sealed unit & not easily repaired.Cost approx £125.

John Doubledime

Can any one recommend a reputable motor hirer and a make and model suitable for two people touring the west coast of Ireland.

I keep balking at the £500 excess required, am I being unreasonable in wanting to remove this potential liabilty with a CDW payment Read more

John Doubledime


Any advice gratefully received.

andymc {P}

I've recently been chewing over the idea of building (or rather, getting someone to build) a custom motortrike. I have a reasonable idea of what I want it to look like and so on (not entirely dissimilar from the machine Billy Connolly rides on his World Tour series), as well as what I would use as a donor engine etc.

Thing is, I don't know much about what would be involved in insuring such a beast, how easy it would be to do so, cost, etc. (especially considering that I live in NI), so any experience or advice about this would be welcome.

Nor am I entirely sure how I would ensure that it is road-legal. I've heard of SVA, and from hazy memory, this stands for Single Vehicle Approval and is the test a non-EU car would have to pass to be road-legal in the UK - I think that passing this test is necessary for the vehicle to get a Certificate of Conformity. Would this also be the test used to ensure that vehicles such as a custom-built trike are roadworthy/road-legal? Assuming it is, what are the aspects of the vehicle they look at - is it essentially like getting an MOT from new, for example, or is it more involved than that?
--
andymc
Vroom, vroom - mmm, doughnuts ... Read more

andymc {P}

There's more than one way to skin a cat ... all I'll say is that if I manage to afford a second trike as a custom build, I won't be too worried about MSVA. Probably helps to know one of the best trike builders around though!
--
andymc
Vroom, vroom - mmm, doughnuts ...

tyre tread

Why do people park cars on pavements even where the road is wide enough for them not to restrict other vehicle movements.

Until last year nobody ever parked on pavements in our quiet street until a new occupant moved in and started doing so. Now everyone (except my household and my immediate neighbour) has followed suit?

Not sure why it bothers me but it really does!
Read more

Simon (Anne\'s Other Half)

What should I do?

Park with my wheels on the pavement and risk being fined for obstructing the footpath?
Or park 'legally' on the road and risk being fined for obstructing the highway?

Seems I can't win......

madux

My (nearly) new 10 year old Volvo has just sailed through the first MOT I have had done on it. The last time I had to spend more than about £10-£20 to get a car through the test must have been in about 1989!
Am I just lucky? Or just a careful owner?
For example, a friend of mine had to spend over £300 to get her car through it's FIRST MOT ten years ago!
What is the average cost for backroomers?
(Apart from the price of the MOT itself, and obvious parts such as tyres, bulbs, pads etc) Read more

Hugo {P}

Discovery

Feb 2004 sailed through, no problems

Feb 2005 £500 of welding!

Well I knew it needed some work doing anyway when I bought it and got the cost of that knocked off the price so I'm back to where I started. I bought the K reg TDi at 95k in 2003 for £3k inlcuding £500 knocked off as I knew it needed bodywork.

Garage mechanic says - "you don't want to have this car next year"

The problem is I'm so lazy etc I will still have it next year as I won't have found the time to look for a replacement or sell it, so I guess I'll just have to shop around for quotes :(.

H

Question MAF audi A6
dba

Hi

my car sometimes cuts out at traffic lights or when just started if i dont give it enough revs. im not sure what the MAF does - but ive heard that this could be the problem.
can this be fitted DIY or is it a garage problem - if it actually is the MAF that has gone.


many thanks

dave
Audi A6 1.8T 1998
Read more

Dave Andrews

just taken it to the audi garage and they have said it is the throttle body.

is this something that can be done myself - im not too bad with cars. thanks in advance.

BrokenBerlingo

Check this out: www.speedydelivery.co.uk/car-tuning-power/triumph-...l

"Boost your Triumph toledo engines power by up to 20+ BHP and increase your fuel economy for an amazing £4.95!

This simple, yet effective unit will allow you to boost the power output of your Triumph toledo cars engine, without sacrificing reliability or comfort. It consists of a small electronic device that is inserted between your Triumph toledo cars air sensor and the ECU."

Errrr..didn't they stop making the Toledo in 1976, about 20 years before ECUs were introduced?
Read more

Roberson

>>I'm sure it was a little quicker than the 14.3mph that site suggests.

Well, it depended upon what engine it was blessed with:

1.8 (b-series) = 16.2
1.7 (o-series, in replacement for the above) = 14.8
2.0 (o-series) = 12.9
2.2 (E-series 6 cylinder) = 12.2

But, if you added the twin SU carbs to the 1.8 from British Leyland special tuning, it could outrun an MGB, with a 0-60 time of 11.6.

The reason why the Princess was never produced with a hatch, was due to the simple reason that the men at BL thought that a saloon was more up-market.

From what I believe, the gear change wasn't the best on the market, but wasn't by any means the worst. That title was unfortunately given to the Austin Maxi, with the cable operated gearbox.

Provided you look after it, it would probably be a capable everyday motor, even today. I don?t think the reliability was as bad as it was made out to be, and when the Ambassador was introduced, build quality was much improved, but no one noticed.

VTiredeyes

just worked out my last years mileage.
i have done 47'000 miles in a year from 1st april to now.
obviously will have to do extra few miles next week as well
i am claiming back from the tax man for the difference between .18 ppm and 40ppm for the first 10K miles then .25ppm for the last 37K miles.
is this right?

also, based on the mileage im doing, and the cash i get.
its around the £1000 mark, i guess, £300 from work and £700 odd pound for petrol/diesel.

which is going to be best now then?
that puts the bmw out the window for sure dosent it?
whos gona want an 03 plate bmw with 100K miles on it next year?
thats if i can buy one now with 50K miles on.

found a 51 plate midnight blue 530d seMan 44K miles fbmwsh saloon for £15K sat nav and beige leather.
how much is that gona be worth in a years time with just under 100K miles on? would i sell it for £10K ??
Read more

VTiredeyes

yes wifes clio 182