March 2005
I have a passat 1.9tdi 130 se on a 2001 plate i recently had it lowered 35mm with sum apex springs and when i put the wheels back on the car was 12mm higher on the passenger side front i was told that my shocker was weak on 1 side so i replaced both front shockers and switched left right springs to eliminate them to but unfortunatly the car is still 12mm higher on the passenger side front could you help or some one you know
thankyou
cheers
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Mitsubishi make some good and reliable cars, but they really need to sort out their UK parts pricing, which borders on the ridiculous.
I will be servcing a Mitsi at the weekend. Just been down to the dealer to get some parts:
1. Asked for Mitsubishi antifreeze concentrate (it needs a coolant change). Told that Mitsi don't sell their own coolant anymore. "What do you use then?". Reply - "Oh, just anything - the cheapest".
"Erm....OK" (Scratches head and rolls eyes).
2. Ask for oil filter. Cost is £17.95!! Is this a 'Made in Japan' filter flown over from Tokyo with its own seat and in-flight entertainment on a B-747? No. Open the Mitsi-branded box and on the filter inside it says 'Purflux - Made in France'.
3. Even worse was to come when I asked for a new alternator belt. Nearly £45 for just a belt!!
In the past I helped someone source a Mitsubishi idle valve (a common failure point) from Australia for about £100, when the UK dealer wanted over £400.
I dread to think what non-service items cost in the UK. This kind of pricing does need to be brought to the attention of potential buyers - its just stupid. Read more
Had a Spacewagon (1995) bought in 1998 and decided to fit aftermarket air con at the Mitsu dealer. I was told it was an approved Mitsu kit.
In 2002 the a/c failed due to a hole in the condenser. The Mitsu dealer could not source the same condenser and neither could two specialist a/c people. It seems the approved kit was a mix bag of parts made all around the world and was altered at any time as long as the bag contained parts that fitted and worked together.
As the latest kits were different to the kit already fitted, we had an unuseable a/c system thereafter. That'll teach me to fit aftermarket stuff.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
Hi everyone,
Does anyone know of a good independant MB garage in Wilmslow or the surrounding area?
Cheers,
Miles Read more
I've had no experience with Alderley Prestige. I think they are now called Highams, www.highamscars.com . Chris Jackson only sells high end cars and their service charges probably match.
I would have thought that the Macc garage would be ok.
Jonathan
Can anyone give me a bit of technical knowlege on the Vauxhall V6 engine (2.5 belt cam).
A colleagues 1997 Vectra V6 broke its belt, and the vauhall garage started to strip the engine. After romoving the heads he was told they would have to remove the pistons to check for piston ring damage. I thought this a bit over the top and suggested he go alobg to look at the car him self.
On looking, there is no evedence of valves hitting the pistons, and he has told them to just rebuild the top end with new valves where needed. They told him that the reason both heads needed removing is that the cambelt drives one camsharft, and a 2nd belt links the 2 cam shafts together. I wasn't aware the Vauhall V6 had this arangment, I thought it was one belt....
Any ideas?? Does cambelt breakage on this engine normally cause bend valves.... or is the dealer trying a sneaky one?
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Neil T
Mondeo Ghia TDCi 130 Estate, SEAT Toledo 20VT Sport, Various Montegos... Read more
Hard luck on your colleague. There will certainly be damage to some of the valves. The stems are incredibly thin which seems to confine the damage as on other engines I have come across with sturdier stems the resulting contact of a belt breakage can cause the top of the piston to distort and pinch the top ring. Never seen this on a late Vauxhall though unless bits of broken guide have added to the fun. Go ahead and have the heads rebuilt by an independent reconditioner and make sure the guides are inspected and replaced if necc.
Andrew
ps it is only one belt btw.
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Simplicate and add lightness!!
Had this fault with my 1997 A4 TDi - it would start readily but stop after about 1 sec.
Was getting gradually worse, something had to be done.
Upon investigating, it appears the transponder reader coil is a weak point on the A4 and possibly other VAG Diesel cars. Reading the fault codes from the immobiliser ECU flagged a "Transponder low output" fault code, kind of confirming the fault.
Replaced the ignition barrel, cut to the car using the VIN so no coding etc was required by Audi (I refuse to pay £84+VAT/hr labour rates...)
Now I know how to replace the barrel, it's easy, but it was a bit of a fiddle at the time!
Just passing on my success story.....hope it's of help to others.
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words..... Read more
I've just been looking at reliability statistics published by Warranty Direct. Surprisingly the much-vaunted Golf has an index of 82, whereas the lowly Focus has an index of 29. (The lower the figure the better.)
Who would have thought it?
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L\'escargot by name, but not by nature. Read more
>>Damn French rubbish, all style over substance.<<
Hmmm. I have the style problem too - but of a different kind.
;-)
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Adam
Hi
I just found this really useful link which will calculate tyre radii for you. Makes life easy if you want to work out speedo accuracy via tachometer or vice versa; or if you're thinking of getting bigger wheels.
www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html Read more
The Website doesn't say whether it uses rolling radius data or not. The rolling radius is significantly smaller than the radius with the wheel off the car, and it varies with tyre pressure, axle load and (probably) speed to name but a few factors.
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L\'escargot by name, but not by nature.
I am on the cusp of changing my 145,00 mile '99 Accord 2.0l saloon. Suddenly a grinding sound has come from the rear. Checked the pads and they are to the metal, discs look ropey. Honda garage want £255 to fit new discs & pads - tempted to do it myself. Is it simple, is there a site to give guidance - am reasonably competent given a steer. Read more
Forgot to add that on the Honda discs the minimum thickness is sometimes stamped on the disc. Lockheed supply decent brakes parts. Don't lose the small circlip that holds the brake cable on.Mike
Well after 68000 miles and 7 years the exhaust on my '98 2.5 v6 mondeo has finally bit the dust. Sounds like no exhaust connected and it's blowing badly somewhere near the front of car.
Anyone got idea of prices? Will i need new catastrophic conveter? or could i get away with just a front pipe(s)?
Believe it or no first time an exhaust gone on me for over 10 years. So no experience replacing one with a catalyst. Read more
Got it sorted today at a independant, Pipe had split in two on center so it's a new middle section inc silencer. £109 inc the vodka. Whether this is cheap or no i've no idea. Just glad it's done.
Hi
Peugeot 406 2.0
Had the car serviced on Saturday. It seems to have developed, today a small mis-fire every now and then at idle or very slow speeds. Is there anything I can check before I take it back and any guesses what it could be?
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Ask them what they did! Cars will always idle faster when started from cold, then settle, its normal.
Browse
iv compared the old springs there higher than the new ones
car bounces normally same all the way round dusnt make any odd sounds.