October 2005
Just watched this and can't stop laughing.
www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=13458 Read more
Does anyone know a Mobile Car Radio Fitter operating in South London/Croydon area? Read more
They really have got very easy to change in recent years. If the car is anything newish, and I mean 10 years old, it will probably be a stright swop, or a worst it may need an interconnecting jack plug/box thing. Before getting a fitter, get the new unit out of the box, pull the old one out, and see what needs doing. This is also useful, as I bought the interconnector, and did not need it. Halfords were so use to this, they refunded it immediately. You may be very surprised by the simplicity. Somethimes the bit that needs changing is the oblong alloy cage that holds the stereo in. I suspect that each model/ make might use a slightly different one, with slightly different locking lugs.
www.turbonator.com/index.html?id=adWordsMercedes
+35 hp and +31mpg? Wow! Now where's my wallet... Read more
I like the default value in the "How much horsepower does your car have?" calculator ... 400!
An interesting read, perhaps for the wrong reasons.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4360372.stm Read more
Also that Ford(us)and GM plans are about 4 times as generous as any other employer.
The airline industry has had good success with improving safety. Is it not time that we adopted some of their techniques for ourselves?
Regular re-certification
Less of a blame culture regarding accident reporting
Looking for root causes
Certification: We could require that each driver undergoes some training (not necessarily a test) every few years. Given that the number one cause of accidents is 'lack of observation', the focus can be on an accompanied drive, with a suggested list of things for the driver to work on following the training.
Less of a blame culture: By training everyone to look for reasons why it was the other person's fault (as encouraged by our insurance companies), we're not looking for our own faults. Even after an accident.
Root Causes: We're not putting enough effort into finding accident blackspots and eliminating the problem. Nor into the fact that many motorists drive too closely together. We could drive people behaviour via the recertification route.
Based on the airline experience, this could slash accident rates?
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Surely geting your eyes tested properly and frequently is the first rquirement whatever your age.
I am amazed that so many are ignorant about getting eyes tested especially older people. It is an invaluable health check and it is FREE to oldies. I believe many older people fear it will incur a vast expense for new specs but of course you can say No I do not want new specs.
Would you fly with a pilot who did not have proper vision?
I guess the admin would be with Swansea but the opticians would certainly rise to meet the need for tests.
SWMBO and I both have the most expensive lenses and spares as we consider it so so important.
My trusty old 1.3 Fiesta has racked up 97K, which isn't so bad for those old push-rod units. Anyway, it failed it's mot on it's emmisions. Had it tested twice. Here's the results....
failed on CO the first time 3000rpm 1.11 % CO
after having it serviced the CO was fine (0.00%) but it failed it's lambda test giving a value of 1.22
So couple of questions, what is the lambda figure a measure of ? How come the lambda figure passed first time but then failed the second time after a service ?
Cheers
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Just an update, I've taken off the cover to the air filter and it's vanished !! No air filter, strangely it was in there when I took it in. I can only assume that they took it out to get the CO figures down when it failed the first time. Now, without the air filter the lambda probe is picking up a weak mixture.
My mechanic had better have a good excuse. :o(
Hiya. To be precise it's in a 2000 406. The CD ROM disc itself has siemens vdo in the left corner & Navtech on the right.
I expect you can guess what I'm really asking for?!
Whose CD ROM mapping can I update it with? What with all that stuff on ebay, which seems to be banging on about BMW units.
What's a TCM? in sat nav speak
How do I search this site for anything on 'sat nav'? Put these 2 terms into the search & nothing comes back?
Thanks for looking at this & sorry if it's all been covered. Stick a link in & I'll go away happy!
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I wouldn't worry Editor unless you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing in Poland!
Help, my reputation is at stake! My neighbour, who has just aquired the above car, cannot start it as alarm sounds as soon as she turns key.
As I have never owned a vehicle with an alarm, never mind immobiliser, I am at a loss, however as I spend lots of time under various bonnets, she is looking to me for help.
The key she is using looks normal to me, i.e. no buttons, no batteries, or bells or whistles; is this the problem? Surely a key should have a transponder to talk to the car, if someone could confirm this or advise if the wretched thing can be disabled or bypassed, she would be pleased and I can hold my head high again
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One mans junk is another mans treasure Read more
Quick update; pulled central locking/ alarm fuse No. 25, car started with no alarm sounding, therefore no superduper immobiliser, now obviously no central locking.
Noticed that red LED in clockface is illuminated continously, according to OM this means that alarm is pink fluffy dice, take it to friendly main dealer.
To anticipate her next question when she comes home is it possible to restore central locking without the *benefit* of the alarm. The car is not really worth as much as a new Ford fitted alarm, nor will anyone be likely to steal it!
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One mans junk is another mans treasure
Does anyone know roughly how much it costs to replace the front suspension bearings on a 1993 Clio diesel. Is it a job I could do myself....I know you need a spring compressor tool, so can you hire these??
Many Thanks
FP Read more
I think he means the bearings at the top of the strut,not the hub bearings.Yes you will need a compressor,make sure you get a good quality set,there is a fantastic amounr of potential energy in a compressed spring.Otherwise a straightforward job.
You can buy them for £10-15.
I've just had one of those heart thumping moments whilst doing a DIY oil and filter change on the Pug.
I'd drained the sump, changed the filter, put a new washer on and put 2 out of the 4.5 litres of oil in the filler when I nudged the engine cover as I leaned over. One of those silly plastic twist studs with the metal springs decided to jump up and disappear. I missed seeing where it went, but was searching towards the back of the engine bay which is where I thought it should be.
SWMBO was sat watching and piped up "I think it went down where you just poured the oil. Does that matter?"
Aaaaarghh! At least she noticed though!
After peering with a torch I saw it, and then tried to grab it with a pair of long nosed pliers. No luck, but lots of swearing!
Eventually resorted to taking the rocker box cover off to get to it.
A half hour job lasted 2 hours. I wasn't impressed, but mightily relieved. Driving off with it in the top of the engine still sends shivers down my spine.
I think Anne might be coming with me to do other jobs on the car again..... Read more
Not so much a close shave as a real "D'oh!" moment when I forgot to replace the sump plug after draining the oil from the engine last year. Poured 2 litres of extremely expensive GTD Magnatec down before I realised what I'd done!
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I suspect that the chances of it not being a setup are very small indeed.