May 2005
l need to replace a lower ball joint on a 93' 306 1.4 petrol, the ball joint is riveted into the wishbone arm, do l need to replace the wishbone or do l grind/drill the rivets out and replace just the ball joint? any help please.
Duggie. Read more
Hi all,
My VR6 has started to "misfire" in low revs. This does not happen all the time and there is no pattern to when, it just randomly does it under 2000 revs.
It seems like the car is running on 5 cylinders for no more than 10 secs and then clears.
A month or so ago, when looking under the bonnet, I noticed that one of the plugs was arcing against the cylinder head. (It had new plugs and leads 12 months ago.) However, I have not seen this since and as the car is rarely used, I put it down to condensation.
The backbox seems to be on its way out, there is no obvious leakage but I believe the baffles could be the key.
Could this cause back pressure and cause the misfire?
Any thought / suggestions?
It had an MOT 1 month ago and passed emmisions.
Thanks all.
Read more
Thanks NC,
As you say, I think that buying a single HT lead is probably best action. If it improves, then obviously a new set maybe required.
I wasn't sure if the exhaust was at fault or the plug/leads.
I will let you know what happens.
Cheers
Just seen this on the news about a woman driving with seven teenagers. Three killed plus the driver of the car she hit head on.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/4590713.stm
Why can't people understand that there is a good reason for the number of seats/seatbelts in a car ?
Tragic for all those caught up in this - however can't help thinking she should be prosecuted to the limit of the law.
Steve Read more
This tragic accident has only just happened. I think it is
a poor show to pre-judge and place blame until the full
Police investigcation has been completed.
Quite. And on that note, thread locked.
DD.
A neighbour of mine has a 97 Escort with a Zetec engine. When Starting from cold when it has been standing for approx 6hrs is abit of hit and miss.
Sometimes it starts first time or maybe after 4 or 5 goes. They have taken it to a garage who fitted the gizmo to tell them the fault. They found that the temp sensor was showing a temp of 28degs which would not engage the cold sart, they also replaced the airflow sensor.
But its still the same. Any clues what the fault maybe ????? Read more
I have a friend who is asking for advice and is about to buy SatNav, having looked at Tom Tom and the 510, on paper. He travels mostly in the UK (retired) with a few holidays in France.
He likes the idea of post codes, roads at street level and voice prompts and the fact that the 510 has a storage slot of 512MB to take maps. He says at £349.45 Inc. VAT it looks to be the better buy. Except for the £200 he looks like having to pay for a map kit in order to get one for France.
I think he should also look towards using scamera data (yes I know there is talk of banning.
The colour range of the 500 has a wider spec. but whether this translates into it having a better display in practice is another question?
So, which should he buy? If he bought the Tom 300 would it be possible to swap the map chip, for another pre-loaded one, when he got across the channel -- he can understand French if need be.
RF: .the bubble aerial you mentioned (elsewhere). Is it active or passive and is it coupled into the car cab via window glass?
Read more
Confirm, GPS & database systems are legal and no plans for banning (unlike detectors)
I read a few threads on insurance recently and took up the advice when my wife's insurance renewal hit the door mat, from Direct Line. First stop was the DL web site which came in £80 cheaper than their own renewal, but to be fair, that's with a £150 excess. Other quotes (confused.com and anyone I could think of) came in much the same, maybe up to a further £20 lower. I'm leaving out companies I've not heard of here.
So, worried that "it can't be right", wife rings DL, pointed out that web quote was £80 lower but had a voluntary excess, what would the phone quote come down to with a voluntary excess ? This is where the comedy starts. Because she is a "long term customer" they couldn't offer that option and told her to go with the web quote. She's done that, has all of her documents from DL and has been asked to provide proof of her NCB. She's sent them a copy of her postal renewal !
DL were polite and courteous throughout but they're just relying on all of us being too lazy to logon / phone up. That's £80 in my pocket (alright her purse) instead of theirs and I'll be doing something similar when my renewal comes in.
So - thanks everyone. Virtual pints all round.
John
Read more
Its simpler than that; they just insist on seeing your licence.
After having new tyres fitted all round on SWMBOs car, I took it to a wheel & tyre specialist who took one look at the vehicle and informed us that both 'Front Suspension Rear Bushes' need replacing.
So, now I have to have them replaced, I would be obliged if any of our learned Backroomers might be able to advise me as to the potential costs invovled, viz.:
1. Would this be considered to be a major job?
2. What would be a reasonable labour time?
3. How much might each of these 'bushes' cost?
4. Anything else I should have checked/looked at while I'm having this job done?
Many thanks in advance...
-----
Im not plain stupid, just a special kind of stoopid. Read more
I am looking for a newer Diesel to replace my Citroen ZX and two of the cars I am considering at the moment are the Rover 620 Diesel and the Peugeot 405. I am familiar with the XUD engine as have had Peugeots and Citroens before with this engine - and have found it to be reliable.
The car I am not sure about is the Rover - because I have had no experience of the engine, and don't know anyone who has had one either. Is this engine fairly reliable? The economy and performance figures look better on paper than the Peugeot but am not sure about the reliability of the Rover - nor potential problems to look for when I go and view the car.
A couple of cars I am interested in are the Rover Diesel with around 90k on the clock and a full stamped up service book - and a 405 with 120k and FSH - both the same age and the same price. I know the XUD engine could potentially go on for at least twice that mileage again maybe more, if it is looked after - but what about the Rover?
Many thanks,
Owen
Read more
The Rover engine is the L Series direct injection unit. It's a very tough and reliable engine, with an impressive turn of speed and decent economy.
The disadvantage is it's a bit noisy compared to modern diesels. You will find the XUD more refined but remember the XUD is indirect injection.
I'm seen it said several times now that timing chains thrive on regular oil changes. As a mechanical dunce, I struggle to see the connection. Isn't the chain on the 'outside' of the engine and the oil on the 'inside'? If so, how does the quality of the oil affect the operation of the chain? Read more
Ahhh... that explains it, thanks.
I've only ever been shown a belt, and I (rather naively) assumed the chain would be in the same place.
atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/dealerservices_photo...6
i have put down a deposit for it and also gonna get the rac to inspect it on tuesday
i am paying 10k for it,
what does everyone think? Read more
On the subject of no-spare three years ago the AA refused to use the aerosol provided with my wife's peugeot 206. Later admitted that he could have done but they had a communication problem - checked with RAC and they will so after 22 years in the AA guess where her business is now!
I don't know what they do if the tyre is damaged beyond the aerosol - probably just call out the KwikFit mobile man for you but check with them before assuming you get recovery. All our cars have a space saver or better now.


If the joint is riveted in the arm has been replaced at some time - not surprising since the bushes wear out easily, especially if you thrash it, and a new arm is not that much more expensive than the bushes, and saves all the hassle of changing the bushes. You did well to get the rivets out. I think a new ball joint should fit, but if not, then just stick another (cheap!) arm on.
--
RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....