September 2005
I've just given up trying to change the oil on my Fiat Multiwagon, having discovered that my new Halfords wrench for removing the drain plug wont't fit (this has nine heads and 'fits most cars'). I've also found that it is impossible to replace any of the front bulbs myself, as the battery blocks access on one side, and the washer fluid bottle on the other, and have been unable to help with jump starting a neighbour's car due to my battery being boxed in by a cover attached by star screws, which I couldn't remove without the appropriate tool.
This whole thing with manufacturers trying to tie customers to their dealers for even the simplest of jobs is annoying and potentially dangerous (ie inability to replace bulbs).
I'd like to rename a few FIAT cars before I finish my rant. Obviously mine should be a Stealo (you money), there's also one that should be called Idiot (which is clearly what they think of their customers), and how about the Creama (more profits from customers).
Now I've finished, and feel a bit better! Read more
Nissan quoted me £580 inc. VAT for a MAF sensor which I thought was too expensive. I went to two of the motor factors in East London (E14) and neither of them have the MAF available and suggested main dealer.
Can anyone suggest where to get the MAF cheaply?
Many thanks,
Gazza Read more
Gazza
Your problem doesn't really sound like a MAF sensor fault. MAF sensors usually go bad on a permanent basis and the symptom is blunted acceleration and lack of power at higher RPM.
You are describing some other kind of intermittant problem. I would be looking at fuel supply (pump, pump relay or wiring) or possibly ignition fault (intermittant failed coils). The fact that it happens under the same circumstances - i.e. an upward facing slope, makes me think it could be a connector/wiring problem somewhere.
With parts the price that they are nowadays you really can't afford a 'poke and hope' approach. I would note the exact circumstances under which you get this problem and take the car for some proper diagnostics.
hello everyone just wondering if anyone would know how to change fuel filter for a toyota corolla 2ltr diesel m reg (2c type engine)I've had a look underneath and I think it might need a special tool to undo the bottom connection maybe not though ???I haven't a clue basically!Plus if anyone would know of the wherabouts of a workshop manual for this engine I wuold be very interested.Many thanks to any responses Leachy. Read more
Bugatti have got the tree huggers in a froth by building the worlds fastest, most expensive and most polluting sports car. With a top speed of 253MPH and a selling price of £700,000. The 'Veyron' is in production and has around 40 0rders. A spokesman for friends of the earth was crying into his organic water about climate change and gas guzzlers. The fact that only a few hundred of the cars will ever be sold and that their contribution to atmospheric pollution will be unmeasurably small does'nt occur to such people. The few cars that are sold will give pleasure to the owners and will have no effect on the rest of us. So, bravo Bugatti. 0 to 62MPH in 2.5 seconds; naughty but nice. Read more
Reminds me - I must renew my LGV entitlement so I can get a nice Formula 1 style car transporter with lots of internal padding so I can take the Veyron out for a drive!
Cheers, SS
From the News section on the Autotrader website...
Ford is recalling nearly 70,000 Focus small family cars and C-Max MPVs for checks on the windscreen wipers.
The manufacturer has found that water can work its way into the wiper motor along the arm of the blade. If the water contains salt it can cause the motor to short circuit and leave cars without working wipers.
In extreme cases, the short circuit can also cause the wiper assembly to overheat and melt nearby trim components.
Ford is contacting the owners of 68,722 Focus and C-Max models built between April 2003 and March 2005. The vehicles will be fitted with a new cover, which better seals the motor from water, free of charge. Read more
Ford really seem to be struggling to waterproof the Focus -
theres known leaks all over the place!
As the owner of a 03/03 Focus I'd be pleased to know exactly where it might leak, or where it might be leaking.
--
L\'escargot.
In our great and pleasant land we have some unusally named roads.
Near to where I live there is a Sparepenny Lane. The origins of this were by using this road horse and carts saved paying a penny at a toll gate.
Labour-in-Vain Road is another nearby, but I have never been able to find it's origins.
Do you know of any other interesting examples?
--
Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to add to the thread. Read more
This thread has started desending to a level inapropriate to the high BackRoom standard that we like to maintain.
Enough of the risqué road names please.
DD.
In July my sister bought an almost new (second hand) Ford Fiesta from a large Ford dealer in my area. As is usual in all large motor factors we were told that we would receive the amended Registration Document (log book) in the next few weeks or so.
Well after six weeks we had not received it and several calls to the DVLA and the garage did not get us anywhere as both could not explain why we hadn't received it. We decided, therefore, to get a V92 form from the Post Office and send this together with the 'New Keeper supplement' to the DVLA before the two month period was up otherwise a £20 fee would be payable.
Two more weeks passed and then suddenly a Registration document appeared on our doormat, at last, but surprisingly two days later yet another one appeared and so we have two.
Has anyone got any suggestions as to what we should do. Do we keep both or chuck one away or, possibly send one back to the DVLA with a covering letter?
Read more
You've learnt a valuable lesson in life now - Never listen
to me.
...join an orderly queue ;)
Has anyone any experience and/or opinions of the transmission on this car? Is it reliable, for instance? I have found a 2003 model, with around 22k miles, listed at availablecar.com, for about £12K. Does this seem a reasonable price? Read more
You don't say which model you've seen, but asuming its cost
new was between £20k and £25k, £12k looks reasonable.
The ad says it is a 2.0 Sport.
Having tried these after reading a post on this site, the 'three for a pound' ones from Poundland seem to have disappeared. Has anyone seen these elsewhere recently? Read more
Lidl sell them I think, probably Wilkinsons too.
Correct (at least for Wilkinson). You get a fairly biggish one for 99p (IIRC)
Aldi are doing towels (like beach towels) made of Microfibre at the moment. There is no reason why you coundn't buy a one of these and cut it up into whatever size you fancy.
I read in todays press that ministers are considering the introduction of Road Trains that are 110 ft long and weigh 84 tonnes, compared with Juggernauts that are 62 ft long and weigh 44 tonnes.
The damage that these monstrosities could inflict on our already third world road network surfaces would be appalling and us poor motorists will be penalised even more to cover the costs. If you happen to drive a low powered car with poor acceleration, the overtaking times are going to be doubled and could lead to even more accidents.
As fuel prices rise to their unacceptable level, hauliers will push for their introduction to reduce their unit costs, but it ends up with additional taxation on the already over taxed motorist. Read more
This has been discussed here fairly recently so if you do a forum search you should find it.
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IIRC these £200 Xeon bulbs are to fit HID units- High Intensity Gas Discharge units. These operate on a totally different principle to conventional headlamps.
High Intensity Discharge H.I.D. Lamps create a light source that is produced by a stabilized arc that burns at a much higher color temperature which creates a whiter light output than a standard halogen bulb.
On new vehicles they are an expensive option.
So you cannot use any type of so called normal bulbs in HID units however the bulbs are described.
To use conventional bulbs instead of HID would probably require a complete pair of headlamp units plus I would guess some wiring changes.
There are now kits to convert convential units to HID.
www.piaa.co.uk/lamps/lampshow.asp?ID=HID