June 2005
I am needing to hire a car for a week or so in France in August and was wondering who is doing good prices at the moment. My usual people aren't as competitive as they once were.
Read more
Can anyone help in giving me the procedure for changing the 3 drive belts (air con, alternator and water pump) on a 1.8T engine for a 99 saloon. There does not appear to be enough room to access the belts.
thanks
Read more
Well, I have done it on a A4 and two passats which are in essence the same as an A6. There is a bit more room on a passat than the A4 and your A6 is about the size of a passat.
The aircon belt has to come off first and you must do that from underneath for access to its own tensioner which is static.
If you peg the ribbed belt (serpentine) tentioner with a nail or allen key you will find that there is just enough space.
FWIW I have changed the belts in the past but in hindsight they seem to go on for ever so if they are not damaged\fraying or cracked then I would not bother.
Rgds
I have previously asked for, and received, alot of useful comments when I was considering my lease car choice. Having narrowed it down the Audi A3 sportback in 2.0tdi guise, I then stumbled across the Golf GT TDI which for me works out nearly £60 per month cheaper when you add things like metallic paint etc. Having driven the Golf I was impressed (basically the same car) but the fit and finish is not quite up there with the A3, but then should I be worried if ultimately I hand it back in 3 years? I then read a few reviews of the new Passat with the same engine, and everyone appears to rate the build quality and range of features of the new model. As with other VW's, it offers an attractice lease option due to strong residual values. Has anyone driven the new Passat and could comment on it?
Am I mad to choose the Golf over the A3 to save £700 pa. The other minor point is the 3 month wait for the A3, whereas the Golf is available in 2 weeks.
thanks for any help that will make me finally make up my mind!
MM Read more
I made the same Golf vs A3 choice and went with the A3. I didn't want dual zone Climate Control, but I did want Climate control not Aircon. That meant adding Climate Control to the Golf. I didn't care about the arm rest (they infuriate me in the front), but I did care about the VW looking rather plasticy. We have a Touran now as well as the A3 and the cabin feels that little bit less plush for want of a better way of putting it. Yes it's subjective and what one person likes another hates, but if we made all decisions with the head not the heart we'd all drive Focuses because after all they're adequately fast, well specced, drive well and cheap. I'm happy with my choice of the A3 for one reason alone, every time I get in it I get a smile on my face, and I can't help thinking that the "novelty" of the Golf would have worn off by now while the Audi still feels special.
Hi, I have a 99 406 and it has developed a leak in the engine bay. It seems to only happen above 2500rpm (80mph+)and apart from this the engine runs fine. I have had the injector unions checked and changed the fuel supply/return pipes just in front of the cylineer head, where the leak appears to be. could it be a partially blocked return pipe ?
thanks
Simon Read more
I expect it will be the steel high pressure supply pipe from the high pressure pump to the fuel rail.
IIRC there was a recall on this very part some time ago.
--
groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
Just been quoted identical prices from a local VW independent and main VW dealer for a 70k service on my Passat(£94). Main dealer throws in a loan car.
No incentive to go independent this time and I can get an authoratative assessment of the dodgy interior light control module.
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty. Read more
My car has suddenly taken to cutting out while I'm driving. The only things I've noticed are that the temperature gets just above halfway (which it hadn't done before) and the fan doesn't cut in, and that it's usually in an area where I'm doing 40mph. The fan does cut in when the car is stationary, but not while I'm driving. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Read more
The illumination for the tacho has failed for the lower right hand quadrant of the tachometer. Please can any backroomers advise if a fix is possible without resorting to a new tacho? Read more
Thanks El Dingo.
I used to love changing cars but I am beginning to think that my hard earned is better spent on other things. How long do you folks keep yours and what makes you change it? Read more
re my previous entry re my Sierra I would add that it has now 131000 on the clock. I bought a Peugeot 205 auto for my daughter for £400 2 years ago. When purchased it had 130000 on the clockand all it has needed is a new radiator. it has now done another 20000 miles and she is delighted with it.Completely rust free. They dont make cars like they used to!! good to see that other contributors are beginning to see the light.Hasnt let her down once-touch wood!!
I'm asking as I have managed to get Castrol Valvemaster Plus all over my hands, the petrol forecourt and the petrol cap! I don't know who designed the bottle but they obviously never tried to use it when there are people queueing for the pumps glaring. First I couldn't get it to squirt into the reservoir; then once I had poured it into the filler neck it went everywhere again. I used up all the paper towel from my pump and then started on the pump next door! All the while been glared at by various people waiting and cursing under my own breath. I ended up stinking of it last week when I filled up the last time and I was more successful then. It's a shame as the car does run a lot more smoothly on the stuff. I'm in two minds about whether to quit using additive and go for an unleaded conversion (how much for a triumph vitesse 2 litre one wonders?) or give millers vsp a go as it has a bottle with a long and narrow neck.... and millers can be used in double concentrate without worrying so you can dump the whole lot in 20 litres.
teabelly Read more
I once accidentally dispensed 4 litres of GTD Magnatec onto the ground after forgetting to replace the sump plug after draining out the old oil.
Help! My dad used to service my car, but he recently died, so I am trying to remember what he taught me. I changed the spark plugs on my Daihatsu YRV, which had 3 prongy-things, but the ones that I was assured by the motoring shop were the correct ones, only had 2 prongy-things. After having driven about 30 miles, the malfunction indicator light came on (orange, engine logo).
I rang Daihatsu who were surprised that 2 prong-thing sparks would have caused this to happen, and suggested putting the old ones back in, which I have done. I started the engine after putting the old sparks back in, but the MIL was still on, which is really confusing me.
Is it possible that changing the spark plugs did this? I replaced the air filter at the same time.
Does it take a while for the light to go off, after all, it took a while for it to come on?
Have I knackered the engine?
Is there some other reason for the light coming on?
I'd be grateful for any help, especially since my oracle is no longer at the end of the phone to help me.
Cheers
FF Read more
I have finally fitted the new spark plugs and success - the engine warning light has not lit up! Thank you all for helping,
F-F
Browse
Do try www.moneysupermarket.co.uk. I booked a hire thru Hertz in Italy, well in advance, and subsequently found it £30 cheaper on this site but still with Hertz and I got the difference refunded before I collected the car. I put some hypothetical details in for you, and found a Megane at Lille for one week, in August, for £129. Is that good, compared wit what you have found so far?