June 2005
My 1998 Rover 100 (metro) makes a metallic rattling noise when it goes up a steep hill with two people on board. The noise goes when I drop down a gear.
Is it pinking? If so would using a fuel additive get rid of this but damage the catalytic converter? Read more
Haven't been here for a while - I hope this isn't an old topic!
I have a BMW 318ti Compact, 1999. I bought it 2 and a half years ago (not from a main dealer) with a full BMW service history.
I've maintained this history with BMW. My last service cost £257 (inspection 1) which included the 10% discount they give for 4 year old+ vehicles.
This was quite a blow to the wallet but I convince myself it's best for the resale value and the continued reliability of the car.
Am I wasting my money using BMW? Is the dealer stamp *that* valuable on a nearly 6 year old car? Should I just use a decent independant garage in future? Would this be much cheaper?
Your thoughts would be appreciated. Read more
Find out who is strongly recommended as the local independent outlet by owners of similar models and you are unlikely to go wrong.
I can't imagine that the (possible) extra PX allowance or sale value for a vehicle would come anywhere near matching the savings made by using an independent and the work will almost certainly be far more thorough and trustworthy.
I've used a local VW independent specialist for nearly 15 years and he's still to let me down in any way.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
After having surging problems with the G/F polo I blanked off the EGR valve which cured the surging but reduced the power slightly. Tonight the car decided to emit huge clouds of smoke after about 30 miles since said modification and was undriveable since down on power and smoke emmited. Any help would be appreciated, car has only done 70K and has full history Read more
Further to that problem, the car will not now start, I'm thinking the immobiliser is cutting in since the car only runs for a couple of secs. I've tried both keys with the same effect.
Anyone know how I can bypass this ?
What's the geographical extent of the Jeepney. Are there any in the UK and if not why not. One up on the Hummer! Read more
Yes there is a factory at Zapote close to where I live. The Sarao factory will turn you out a full jeepney (recycled Isuzu truck engine and transmission) along with hand cut and beaten stainless steel body) for about $5-6,000. The exotic paintwork and ornamentation (essential) will cost you more. Many families (we have large ones here) will have their own private jeepney.
They are unique to the Philippines because of the historical connection with th WW2 and the US. The name is derived from "jeep" and "knees", because the inside seats have all the passengers rubbing knees with each other.
Some rambling from RF
I was working early on Saturday morning, supervising one end of a computer room move. Well just as the last of my trucks was about to leave the loading bay I spot it has a flat rear tyre.
So while waiting two hours for a recovery van to arrive and tend to a truck containing 2 million squids worth of kit I spot a B&Q across the road and decide to wander over and get a pipe thermomoter to make sure the hot water was not too hot entering my new shower pump I had recently installed.
And here is the motoring bit.
The external temperature display (16c) is accurate to 1c as measured by the thermometer clipped to the mirror (where the probe is)
The cold air coming from the vents is 20c (4c higher than ambient)
The aircon can bring this 20c down to 2c
The heater can blast out 76c of heat (thats HOT)
Yes it was a boring two hours. Read more
I generally agree that manual air-con allows you to make it do whatever you want, but regarding this:
Me too. When I was got my Megane I specifically wanted
air con rather than climate. I like hot air to the
feet and cold to the air vents.
Surely you're as able to do this with cc as with air-con?
My climate control system certainly allows split-level in this manner.
Whilst sitting in a car park today I noticed that all alloy wheels, no matter what the manufacturer was, had an odd number of "spokes". No car I saw had an even number.
Is this purely a cosmetic thing, that it gives the designer more of a "pattern" option, or is it from any other angle eg. strength etc? Read more
If you do not clean them they will look awful and begin to corrode.
Now, let me get this straight. Last week darling Alistair (and his sidekick Mr Ladyman) announce that the aim of road charging is to reduce congestion, especially during rush hours by charging up to £1.34 per mile. Today Ruth Kelly, (that 16 year old boy with a woman's name) the education secretary, announces that all schools will form 2006 be open from 8 am to 6pm to cater for children whose parents work. Does that mean that instead of the "school run" taking place between about 3 and 4 pm it will be transferred to 5.30ish to 6.30ish. Is that rush hour? Does this ensure that not only Dad will be charged £1.34 per mile but also now school running Mum? Will this decrease congestion? I am confused . Please help me work this out? Read more
The school hours thing was mentioned quite some time ago. I remember seeing a question about it on question time.
I dread to think what it will do to congestion. The school holidays really show how clear the roads can be when you get all these school runs off the roads. The kids should all be taken to school in school buses and be done with it. If you also take away the choice of school and every child just gets sent to the local one more of the darling couch potatoes could walk although there are some around here that drive half a mile to drop their kids off....
teabelly
I'm going to change the pads in my focus next weekend and while i'm at it i'm going to change the disks because there looking quite thin.
When i undo the 7mm allen key bolt to withdraw the pads will the disk come off then or is there something else i need to do.
The ford service manual on cd says that it will slide off when the caliper is off?
Read more
Cheers Quinny100
I do intend on doing them at work next saturday which is a fully fitted out train depot so i'll have what tool i need to hand.
On the service cd it looks very easy so i should have no problem doing them but you never know. Theres always something that wants to give you a hard time.
We've got a very big industrial cleaner which we use to clean engine etc components of oil so the new disks might get treated to that for 10 minutes.
Does anyone know about the timing gear on this engine?
Where are the timing marks on the cam gear and the crankshaft gearwheels (I cant see them)?
How do you disengage the distributor drive whilst maintaining some sort of reproducibility when it comes to re-installing? Read more
I can't speak from experience of your engine, but in the distant past I've come across timing gears with 'shiny' teeth. No dimples or other marks, just one tooth on one wheel highly polished, and the next gear in the train with two 'shiny teeth'. Just mesh accordingly. As for the distributor, set the the engine at Number one cyl TDC firing, and mark on the distributor body the spot where the rotor is pointing. Even if you turn the engine after distributor removal, just reset the engine to the original position and line up the marks you've made. Can be a bit fiddly with helical gears as the rotor moves when the dizzy is replaced.
A friend has the chance to buy a new Rover 75 at not much more than half list price, with a two-year warranty. Should he go ahead? Read more
Aim for minimum 50% discount off list
Probably succeed imo
madf
Browse
Several Italian tune ups I'd say. loosen the coke first with a can of Slick 50 Petrol treatment. Worked on my wifes Metro 1.1