July 2005

potholes

I go through roughly a car each year (usually about 8-10 years old) over 2 miles of farm track to get on to main road. Always exhaust, bearings, shocks, suspension, cv joints, track rod ends. Not worth repair. Should I bite the bullet and shell out for off roader - I'm thinking it will be cheaper in the end if these things dont go on it. I can get a friends discovery 2 years old for 7750 with 18000 on clock. i really preferred idea of a suzuki jimny. Would either of these stand up to my track though or would i now be paying for a new car AND everything else! Read more

mare

I meant a Vauxhall pick-up, I have seen them before, but
don't know the model name (if they even have one).
Looked to me like an Isuzu pick-up clone.

They're called a Brava.
wrightyl

Hello all,

I've posted here before about an idle problem with my escort, the revs stick at 1500 and drop to 800 and fluctuate between the two making the idling erratic. Thought it might be a problem with the idle speed control valve, someone advised i take it off and give it a clean, which i have not done as i haven't got a replacement gasket yet.

However, i can hear a hissing noise that sounds like its coming from the inlet manifold area, yet i can't locate where its coming from. As well as the idle problem the car seems to be very hesistant when you boot it which gets worse when the car is at running temp, like its holding back a bit, i don't think its a flat spot so what i wondered was could the idle problem and the hesitation be related if there is an air leak round the inlet manifold area? The car does seem to get a bit hot as well, i've noticed the temp gauge is often in the high end of normal. Thought it might be the thermostat but the top radiator hose feels hot, so i assume its working ok? Could the head gasket be on the way out? Theres no white in the oil, which i changed today but the car does feel like its lacking in a bit of power too. I'm not sure if there is one common thing going on here causing all the other symptoms?

If anyone can help,or would like me to clarify the above, i'd be grateful!

Cheers
Read more

wrightyl

Cheers Railroad for the reply,

I'll give it a go with the wd40 and see if i get anywhere, if i can't find it, it's off to the garage!

Car

Does anyone know of a website where I can look up previous results of the annual JD Power UK car customer satisfaction tests. Have looked for many hours on internet but with no luck

Thanks Read more

Dalglish

Have looked for many hours on internet but with no luck

>>

it took me ten seconds.

google (restrict to uk only) "jd power survey 2005", or whichever year you want.

AndrewMarc

I am having a problem where I am brakeing to a stand still and the engine cuts out. It mainly happens when I get to a roundabout and i need to then turn the ignition off then back again and it starts straight away. There is no shuddering or any thing. HELP HELP Read more

ka razy

yes would agree with the above,had one of these which did exactly the same,a clean out of the valve solved the problem

welshy

Just had the car back yesterday , Vectra C new shape 2002 1.8 manual after having a recon gearbox and complete new clutch . When driving home yesterday it felt Okish , but today when driving most of the day in town I am getting the same grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr noise as before when it went in the garage . Also now getting a noise when idling which goes when I press in the clutch pedal .

The most annoying thing is , I can get hold of the garage that did the work . Should I worry , or is the paperwork which the guarantee is written on a load of rubbish . Where do I stand here please ?? Please help me . Read more

welshy

Car was in the said garage 5 times for a different gearbox because I wasnt happy about the noise. The 5th time I actually stayed in the garage and watched them take my gearbox out , and replaced with a different one plus new clutch and reales bearing . Drove away , once car warmed up same noise ! ! ! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH can someone in south wales please help me ????

Vansboy

Apologies if I'm repeating things!

A simple idea, following on from this weeks bombings, but a commonsense practice, we could all do to make things easier for the emergency services.

ICE (In Case of Emergency)- just enter it in your mobile phone, with details of those you wish to be contacted, should the need arise.


www.eastanglianambulance.com/content/ice/default.a...p is the link, to confirm things.

VB
Read more

BobbyG

Cheers for that Dave

Dave Angel

Hi there,

Does anyone know where I might obtain an electronic/lumination upgrade kit suitable for a 1965 Vanden Plas Princess 4 Litre R? Read more

nick

You'll need to convert to negative earth, if it isn't already.

CharlieF

If I have been driving my 3 1/2 year old A3 1.6 auto (36,000m) around London's bumpy roads for more than 30 mins the front suspension/sub frame starts creaking continuously like floorboards. It does not seem to happen on a long M or A road journey only in town. After stopping for a few hours no more noise so it could be heat build up related e.g from engine gearbox or friction in a bearing/mount. Ideas please on where to start with this problem
Thanks CharlieF Read more

El Dingo

Could be the rear suspension... this is also common in Golf derived cars.
El Dingo.

FrankSm

Hi folks

The indicators on my '73 Stag no longer flash - they just come on and stay on. The system is wired (by standard) such that there is one 2-pin flasher in between the power supply and the flash switch, and then the flasher switch activates either left or right. The problem occurs both on left/right. The emergency flasher is a separate circuit and that works fine.

I've checked all the bulbs and they are fine & fairly new; the connections look good. The fuses (shared with side-lamps) are fine and connections are good there.

I have replaced the flasher unit, and the symptoms persist. In fact, I hooked the flasher unit up to a pair of 21w bulbs and connected to a 12v supply - worked fine, so it's not the flasher unit itself at fault.

Any ideas ? Has to be something in common with both left and right circuits, but all looks fine although I haven't taken the switch apart.

The only other problem with the car is that the alternator dash-light has been lighting up recently when the engine is running (and not lighting up before cranking) - I have a new alternator on the way, just haven't received it yet. If the alternator is only partially charging the battery, and the battery is therefore weak does that manifest itself in a non-flashing flasher (amongst other things) ?

Cheers

Frank

Frank Smyth
\'95 Vauxhall Omega CDX 2.5TD
\'96 Mazda MX5 1.8 turbo Read more

elekie&a/c doctor

Buy a standard 3-pin electronic flasher unit that is fitted to a lot of Fords or Vauxhalls and transfer the wires as follows;The green ignition supply will be the terminal marked 49;The green/brown or purple will be the 49a.Make up a short piece of wire & terminals & earth pin 31 of new unit.It's that easy!!

Robin Reliant

A petrolheads delight there, HJ. I am DiYing today in order to spend tomorrow in front of the box without any hurtful comments about my apparant inactivity.

Only annoyance is that the Moto Gp is not live, thay are running about an hour behind the race. A voluntary backroom agreement not to spill the beans by those with Eurosport is called for.

Well done BBC, Laguna Seca is potentially the highlight of the bike season and we only get higlights. Read more

J Bonington Jagworth

"..the tactics of it"

Still a poor substitute for the raw edge-of-seat excitement that comes as standard in most motorbike races, IMHO. I also feel a bit sorry for the F1 drivers, whose skill must be diluted by the pitting arrangements and the need to preserve engines, not to mention the draconian penalties for even minor rule infringements.

It would be nice to see some all-out racing for a change, with a simpler set of rules - say any sort of engine you like, but with a fixed quantity of fuel per race!