July 2005
...
Certain Death.
I'll let the suspense build up first.
--
Adam Read more
On the 5th May 2004, Tim Nicholson and Joanne Bowlt, set off from Oxford, England, to drive to Oxford, New Zealand, in a fifty year old Morris Oxford.
Our local news channel (Central News) reported that the round trip has now been completed and the car never once broke down.
Not bad for a 50 yr old motor.
www.oxford2oxford.co.uk/
Read more
Sturdy, reliable, goes on forever. Bit like some of my posts...
Took out a new contract on Friday with T-Mob and got a FREE Smart Phone with CoPilot satnav. Have to say that I am rather impressed. It works well, easy to use, can drive or walk with it. Phone Links to a Blue Tooth GPS receiver which is quite small and discreet, charges from the cigar lighter and lasts up to 6 hrs per charge.
If anyone interested in buying a satnav, bite the bullet and have a peek at this. Read more
Following my recent post regarding my alleged head gasket failure on my 97 Vectra diesel,I've had it checked out at the local diesel centre,and he is of the opinion that oil coolers on these cars tend to fail,more than the head gaskets.
So he's flushed the system out,as the header tank seemed to contain more oil than water,and he's by-passed the oil cooler.
Now,does the oil cooler have water flowing around it somewhere to keep it cool,because until I see what he's done tomorrow,I'd like to know what's been by-passed,if not,what has he by-passed?
What he has said as well,is that the system may need flushing a couple of more times to try and rid it of any remaining oil in the water,so if that is the case,in order to help it,are there any products on the market that I can add,to dissolve any remaining oil,before it has it's final refill with anti-freeze?
Failing all of the above,it looks like a new oil cooler is on the cards,which is the route I may go down anyway,as I'm not a big fan of by-passing a system. Read more
Your Vectra does have an oil to water intercooler and these do sometimes leak internally.
Bypassing it will do no harm in the short term as long as you don't work the engine hard for any distance, but obviously if it is leaking it should be replaced.
I have flushed heavily oil contaminated cooling systems with a strong Jizer mixture to very good effect.
In one of the papers today there is a Mercedes advert. It desribes how an E-class equppied with the new 3.0 V6 diesel did 100 000 miles in 30 days running "day and night".
By my maths that's 3333.33r miles per day, or an average of 138 miles per hour. Considering time for new drivers and fuel it must have been going faster.
Would they have bothered changing the oil?
Wonder if, when and which make will be the first to do 1 million non-stop. Read more
That must have been stunningly boring (on a banked circuit the car will steer itself, so it's effectively going in a straight line) - I wonder how the drivers stayed awake? Maybe they didn't!
hi i own a 1993 vauxhall cavalier 1.7 td saloon and i just decided to change the timing belt when i came across a problem, the tensioner is stuck fast in place. i have gone by the book for loosening the tensioner but it wont budge any ideas would be appreciated. also id like to know if anypne know how to remove tyres from alloy rims looking forward to replies! Read more
thanks for repling m.c. seeing as the only time that i could actually work on the car was after work i didn't read what the manual said properly (the words were floating off the page!) you are quite right i was only loosening the top and bottom bolts which is probably why it wouldn't budge!ill let you know if i manage to release it soon , thanks.
to steve.o's reply the drum wasn't hard at all to take off it didn,t even need tapping i have replaced the cylinder and the metal brake pipe it joins to i also bled the system so it should be fine now thanks for replying.
I've just been dinged in a carpark. Because of the height of the ding I am fairly sure that it was a 4x4 on the school run. I am fully with the Tory grandee who proposes a £1000 yearly tax on 4x4s if it hits the person who dinged my car. The indent is just where the dent man can't get to it.
One of my workmates, with an R reg. big Jaguar, makes sure that he doesn't collect any by intruding quite a lot into the adjoining parking space. People being tidy, as they generally are, leave that space and park between the next two lines. He did, though, collect a very bad rear end shunt on the motorway by somebody rubber-necking an accident and not stopping when they should have. Good old crumple zone!! Read more
Don't forget it could also be the McDonalds Run, not the school run...
I am not sure whether to work myself up into an incandescent rage, or not.
For one reason and another, the insurance certificate was still not available by the time I went on holiday a fortnight ago, so I could not renew the tax disc - which had expired at the end of June. The car is parked on the street.
Upon returning home, no car. It had been towed away as it was 'abandoned'. The car was apparently inspected by a 'senior traffic warden' who decided that the car looked as though it had not moved for a long time (in fact, only 3 days). A large yellow notice was slapped on, requiring removal within 24 hours, and it was then towed.
Indeed, when I collected the car, it was covered with bird droppings and bits of tree. Clearly I had parked under a tree with a bird's nest in it.
So, on balance, is that a fair cop? The car had a fresh MOT and was insured (as the computer would no doubt have told them). It has no chips, dents or blemishes. It is 1999 vintage. Read more
and that costs the local taxpayer about £1000 - £3000
>>
underestimated:
" .... the cost that would have been incurred had the
vehicle been set alight. A Home Office7 study
estimates this to be £4,000 per vehicle. ..."
"" ... The fire service is perhaps the best agency to
report burnt out vehicles, as they attend all those
that are reported (obviously some vehicle fires do
go unreported, and other agencies and the public
can also report such vehicles). Projects in Avon
and Swansea have both utilised immediate
recovery schemes; to remove burnt out vehicles,
in some cases ?while they are still smoking?.
The vehicles removed still need to be traced back
to an owner if possible, although they can be
destroyed immediately. The contractor engaged to
conduct such removals must have planning
permission for the storage and destruction of burnt
out vehicles (these are classed as hazardous
waste). ..."
" . In 2001, 79% of car fires in the UK were
caused by malicious ignition (arson) ? a rise from
57% of all car fires in 1991. .."
and remember, arson is a serious crime punishable by serious time in jail. ;-)
Have got myself into a spin trying to decide what to purchase as my next car, and am hoping that the BR will offer some useful thoughts.
Presently have a '95 Vauxhall Cavalier - bought it as a temporary car two and a half years ago, and with it being almost boring reliable, have not had the heart to get rid of it. However, it now has 12 months MOT (no cost) so it is as good as time as any to offload (recognise that it is probably almost worthless). Wife has a '51 plate Mondeo Estate, which is a great car - carries all our stuff and 3 kids without a problem, and is very reliable.
I am self-employed, so do not have the opportunity to chose from a company car list, and have cash of up to 14k to spend on a replacement. Until a week ago, My head was telling me to buy a Tdci mondeo (nearly new or car supermarket), but the prospect of being a two Mondeo family is a little too much to take!
Heart decision is to buy a late '80's Porsche 911 3.2 (G50 gearbox), either Targa or Carrera. Very different, but I don't need to take the family (I can take all but one of the family for short journeys in a 911) and in my head, the extra maintenance costs of a 911 will be 'sort of' a trade off against the depreciation on a Mondeo vehicle....(Heart telling Head!)
I am bonkers to contemplate the 911? Wife is supportive (which is cool) and I now the tales of "You're a long time dead....", but the fear of a monstrous bill is making me nervous!
Or - am I missing a trick? - a three year old 330d, or ... I guess I want something to make the pulse race, but that is not going to be ruinous in the long term.
Advice - sane or otherwise, gratefully received.
Jono Read more
968? Yummy!
Ok quick and simple i got white film on the oil filler cap i wipe it off drive it about 100 miles and its back its a 1.4 l reg astra is it time to worry?
thanks Read more
If your car isn't using coolant, then I think there is nothing to worry about.
One reason why you might still be getting a build of condensation and oil emulsion is that either the thermostat has been removed, or one which opens whil the coolant is too cool has been fitted, thus preventing your engine reaching its correct operating temperature.
Number_Cruncher
Browse
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Judging by the Gov't's performance on IT projects, a 50% correct first time rate would be a significant improvement.
So is it one week until you get a decent car and not one of those Focus things which look like
they were cobbled together by an IT contractor - on a bad day?
madf