August 2005
Anyone else ever watched this ? If not, it's like a makeover show for cars. They take someone's battered old banger and turn it into basically a drug dealers car with 18" chrome alloys, jazzy paint job and half a dozen lcd screens. Then for good measure they usually stick an impossibly loud stereo in it !!! Read more
My 1999 Vectra 2.0 CDX heater has stopped working, but the climate control, fan and air conditioner all work fine. All the fuses are good, so I'm guessing the heater matrix has failed.
What might cause a matrix to suddenly fail? If it's become blocked can it be cleaned or is replacement the only option? Read more
Problem solved! I replaced the coolant shut-off valve but it made no difference, apart from getting me frustrated over taking an hour to release two "quick release" hose connectors to the matrix.
In the end I took it to the garage. They said the air conditioner was not venting. They charged me £135 to clean out the vent pipe and drain off the condensate. It now heats fine.
In the P&O yearly report I received yesterday they stated that they are to discontinue the Portsmouth Le Havre ferry service in November.Anybody who might have been thinking of using this service will have to look for an alternative.Apparently they are loosing money bigtime on all cross channel services although the number of travellers as a whole has increased.
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The problem for P&O is that they are not making any money on any cross channel car ferries according to their balance sheet.
Went to Tesco (Portwood, Stockport) to fill up tonight. I was on fumes, but had to queue cos half the pumps (unleaded) were out of action. When I got to the till the girl asked if I had filled up ok. Apparently they had almost run out of petrol! Could this mean I have filled up with the carp from the bottom of the tank? (It was a good deal by the way. Only 85p a litre after allowing for the voucher I got in store.) Read more
It must depend on the type of engine. I tried a tankful in the Audi (2.5 TDI) and it made no difference. Mine goes like a bomb anyway so I didn't realistically expect an improvement.
Please can anyone advise me on how much it should cost to change the cambelt and tensioners on a T reg Mondeo? Read more
Interestingly they gave a 60k mile guarentee
Just thinking as you do stuck at work all day, Could you realistically buy cars for under say £300 to run around for a year with out repairing it ?? Read more
I thought it was the K-series engine which suffers from head gasket failures?
It is a bargin though!
Over the last few months I have been considering buying a new car from one of the discount dealers that advertise on the internet (including some on this site).
All the ones that have given me quotes say,that in order to be able to give the discount, they have to retain the registration document for up to 6 months.
I finally placed an order with one of these companies for delivery in September.
I have recently contacted my insurance company for an amended premium for the new car, and they have told me that they can not insure me unless I am the registered keeper of the vehicle. I have since made enquiries to several other companies, all of whom give me the same answer.
Does anyone know how to get insurance under these circumstances? Read more
They cannot keep the documents there is some sort of tax scam involving vat going here.Docs or no sale.The old adage buyer beware.
Hi Room
Thinking of buying a new PDA which has good all round pc sync ability plus a really good mobile sat nav system. Any advice from the room? Read more
I've just ordered an X51v along with a TomTom package. Came to about 350 pound altogether. Will let you know how I got on, though I bought it more for gaming than sat nav.
Often read here that speedos tend to be 'over cautious' in their readings, does this mean that the milometer is taking is measurements from the same source?
If this is so , are some cars worse than others for this?
Is this a contributing factor to some peoples poor ecomnomy?
Does anyone know exactly how accurate a speedo must be ?
Are there servicing and warranty implications if a speedo transfers a 10% error to the milometer?
Be interested to hear your thoughts chaps!! Read more
The digital reading in mine fluctuates rapidly - probably because it's very very accurate. A quick glance to the sat nav showed that it was bob on.
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Adam
Hi All,
I need to go to Leyton in East London tommorow morning for 9am....
Both the RAC and AA say I should go straight through the center of London.... Not sure If I fancy that on a friday morning, Any suggestions ?
thanks Read more
Well not much notice to get advice so this is probably too late.
If you choose the A3 route then I have tried many many routes over several years from Esher to Paddington and this is by far my preferred route.
Should be fine outside rush hours.
Most of the route is fairly easy to follow.
Just a little bit of back route by Charing Cross Hospital
A3 beware of GATSOs
I think on the Esher section after the Esher turn off approaching the first underpass at Hook.
For certain, Just after Hook underpass, Down the hill after Tolworth underpass
On the bend just after the Mercedes car lot and finally just after the next rise
Just before Wimbledon Common pass ASDA on the right.
At the next lights Left onto A306 Roehampton Lane
Beware immediate Gatso 30mph
Past the Queen Marys Hospital
At the next major Junction with the A205 bear right B306 Queens Drive
Beware a really nasty speed hump at the exit of 1st mini roundabout.
At Putney Bridge left over Thames
Keep left and at roundabout 1st exit take A219 Fulham Palace Road.
Just past the entrance to Charing Cross Hospital on the right
Turn right at lights and pass the side of the hospital on your right.
St Dunstans Road.
Follow throught to Barons Court tube station.
Turn left at station and cross over the A4
Take 2nd right Edith Road
Immediate 1st left Auriol Road
Turn right at main road A315 Hammersmith Road
Past Olympia
Left at 1st major junction onto A3220 with Bristol Cars showroom on left.
Straight over at Shepards Bush roundabout. i.e.over the A402
This lead up to the A40 where right towards Paddington etc.
This avoids the Congestion charge Zone.
Then straight on to the East.
I have no experience of the Leyton end of the route.
Browse
I suspect it's ignored.
AFAIK they butchered a Morris 1000, soundproofed the engine bay as the old "A" series was a bit noisier than usual, and it expired on the way up the M40.