May 2005

Essexlol

Access to the headlamp bulb holder on the passenger side of my Focus is not as straight forward as I expected (Due to battery shelf etc). Whats the easiest way to get to it, and how long will it take ?
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none

There is one Ford model - might be a Focus, but I can't be sure, where the front bulbs are accessed by removing a small flap which is part of the wheel arch liner. Even then it's a bit of a fiddle, but quicker than removing headlamps, batteries etc.

Adam {P}

Hi all,

I've been told I need a new back box for my 1.8 Focus. Ford want £130 which includes fitting.

Good deal or not?
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Adam Read more

Adam {P}

Just an update.

I went this morning to get the backbox fitted. Ford Wigan never had any so I went up to Bolton. Gordon's have a Rapid fit who didn't have a Ford part but had the "next best thing" for £90. Essentially the same as a Ford unit but not..a....Ford...one. Turns out the middle part was rusted through too.

The bloke was friendly enough, did a good job and providing the exhaust doesn't fall off anytime soon, I'd recommend them.

The job, all in cost £160 plus twenty quid's worth of compulsory Optimax (no "normal stuff" left and I'd been running on fumes for the past 10 miles!)

Thanks for your help anyway. Quite where I'd be without you lot I do not know.



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Adam

mare

I saw today an absolutely stunning car*, which i have now tracked down via the web. The link to the advert is below for the photo's - i am not linked with the garage, but posting it for interest.

snipurl.com/e578

What is a Toyota Will? Has anyone come across before? I am going to research it further, just interested in others' views.

Thanks

*i should point out that i think that the Renault Megane is a fantastic looking car, so i understand if it's not to everyone's liking.

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mare

Thanks for the useful advice BH and others.

I went to have a look around the car, the boot is tiny, it reminded of the boot in a Capri as the floor was so high. Very plasticky inside, but pretty funky. I love the colour.

I'm goping keep my eye out and save some cash.

Mister T

Just had my old 216 written off after somebody pulled out in front of me. I now have a short time to buy another car. I am after an estate with a diesel engine, used but am not sure how used to go for.

I have heard lots of good things about octavias but a quick look on autotrader and they seem to come out a lot more expensive than similar vectras (12k vs 9-10k), all about 1 year old. Why is this? I thought the octavia was supposed to be a size class down from a vectra.

Is getting a car that is only a year old economically sound as compared to one that is 2-3 years old?

Can't spend much above 12k but would prefer 10k or less. Any ideas? Read more

Dynamic Dave

Vectras have good old basic direct inj diesels, easy to work
on, chain driven,


Apart from the new CDTi's, which have a cambelt.
highflier

hi...been having some idle problems with my astra bertone 2.2, it started a couple of weeks ago,

the car would stall from a cold start but then run all day without any problems until the next day it will stall from cold again, it has now started to idle erratically settling on around 1500 rmp instead of the usual 750...there is also a whiff of petrol coming from somewhere...is the choke sticking??

i have had a diognostic check done on it but no faults came up, the garage suggested it may need an idle re-set done

somebody else suggested to clean out the throttle body with carb cleaner

doese anyone else have any suggestions??? Read more

Caveman

Won't be the choke sticking - they don't have them anymore. All electronic these days.

Not sure if the 2.2 have an idle control valve or not ~ having a fly by wire throttle? My 1.8 Vectra has one and caused me all kinds of trouble until I washed it out with carb cleaner.

school boy

Have you herd of the Gumball 3000, do you think its stupid or fun? Please comment

Or delete thread if wrong. Read more

spikeyhead {p}

I'm doing te Cannonball 8000 later this year.

Looking forwards to it immensly
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I read often, only post occasionally

Sprice

Noticed that they are doing good offers on oil and filter changes at the moment.

Its £10 for mineral, £15 for semi-synthetic, and £20 for fully synthetic. Looks like they've knocked a fiver of the price of each, but only until 31st May (but they sometimes seem to have these offers on-going!)

www.national.co.uk/main/offers.asp?offer=specials%...p Read more

Stuartli

>>It's run of the mill stuff.>>

Actually it's not and National is quite correct.

If you check the viscosity range for your Zetec engine it is different to the type used by National - use the wrong oil and you could end up with sticking valves etc. It's well documented as well.

My son used to have a Fiesta with the 1.4 Zetec engine and always bought the correct oil and did the oil and filter change himself.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by

Forum New scoops
school boy

If you want new scoos of cars go to www.autoscoops.be,,you have to register though,dosent take long,thats in english. The rest of the site is in german.

Thanks. Read more

Adam {P}

Well I thought it was something to do with the bonnet at first - making it look like I had a supercharger.

Then I thought it was something to do with the skirts/bumper to make the car go 20mph faster. In the end, I decided I'd make do with my variable fuel switch which I bought off eBay for £5.99 and which looks distinctly like a cooker swtich.

Then I realised I was uncool.

Like, y'know. Whatever.
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Adam

alban

Hi
Have Primera 1.8 saloon reg in 2000.
I have a crack in the nrside front ABS rotor causing slow-speed brake judder from the ABS firing inappropriately(?). In an old posting on similar problem I read it's poss. to replace just the rotor in the '99 model. Is it poss to do the same in this model - is it the same as they changed in '99? So far everyone says "new CV joint mate, that'll be £80 +1-2hrs labour". Where would you get hold of just a rotor? Is it a DIY (very inexpert)job?
Thanks for any info.

Humble apologies for double posting - stupidly didn't read the instructions! Read more

alban

OK - Cheers that settles it.

mat brown

Hi

I recently purchased the above car, and have lost the keys.
Rover have given me the Key code i needed (the one that came with the registration), and i have has this cut. TO no avail, clearly the locks have been changed previously. The question is, how easy is it to change the door locks/ignition barrel, and how much would these partxs cost. Is it more efficient to get a locksmith in to just make up a key?

Cheers

Matthew Read more

mat brown

I used one of the chaps from that website - he was very good and only charged £50, came out, cut a key to fit, showed me how to turn the immobiliser off without a keypad.....

Good recommendation