October 2005
im looking around for 3 weeks car hire in los angles, i need a meduim(prefer american car) size car with any insurance to keep me legal
can anyone suggest any companys /sites
ive found if i search brandx.com then search brandx.co.uk it comes up with completly differant prices and car models
i just cant afford to waste money right now, but dont want to make a booking then find i have to ££££ in extras/insurances when i get the car Read more
Hi,
I recently bought a replacement Puma engine to go in my car and having installed it, I've just realised (by pushing the car forward in 5th gear when the spark plugs were removed for replacement) that the engine doesn't turn over freely. The engine resists being turned when pistons 2 & 3 are approaching TDC.
I called the place I purchased the engine from, and they agreed there is a problem, but asked if I had counter-rotated the engine. Apparently counter rotating the engine would bend a valve. I know I haven't counter rotated the engine, but equally I'm rather surprised at this suggestion, as it goes against my understanding of things - surely if the valves don't contact the piston when being turned correctly, then they won't when being turned backwards?
Everything is totally amicable at the moment, and the supplier has been pleasant to deal with, I just want to be sure in my mind what could be wrong, and whether there's any truth to the counter rotating suggestion.
All comments will be appreciated.
Many thanks,
Fiestaman. Read more
I beleive there are a couple of engines that warn you about counter rotation. This is due to the fact that they have spring loaded cam belt tensioners and counter rotation can pulls the load on the tensioner side of the cam and depresses the tension with the possibility of jumpinb a tooth. I suggest you use compressed air and pressurise no 2 then No 3 to find out if the one on it's compression stroke is air tight or not. If not then it's engine out and back to the supplier. Regards Peter
With vehicles generally - which do you think is is nicer to drive FWD or RWD and why???
I know which is nicer to repair!!! Read more
Had an Omega 2.5Td Auto, RWD, must say, the best handling fun car I have driven.
However, there are limitations, If you live near a valley or near residential hills where it snows, forget it. My Rover Diesel, (manual, FWD) mad it up, wheras I had to collect my Omega after a couple of days, when the snow melted. It just wouldn't get any traction, even when in snow mode.
The FWD Rover's handling is nearly as good in the dry as the Omegas, but the RWD Omega was more accurate and fluid and predictable.
Totally the opposite in the wet.
Hope this helps.
Can anyone please tell me if anyones had a problem with incident warning light staying on ,and what maybe the cause ,car is clio 1.4 rt 4 speed auto ..cheers...beejay
{Shouting - ie, upper case letters amended. DD} Read more
can anybody please tell me where the front wiper relay is. i have been told that its a red relay but not sure where it is. 1998 escort gti. Read more
Red wiper delay relay is situated on relay board which is the top part of the fuse box.Unclip the retaining clip & hinge down the whole unit .
My son is having problems with an R reg Rover 100, with about 15000 miles up (yes!!). It started with a coolant pipe becoming detached, and it now seems likely (damp exhaust gases) that the head gasket has gone. His friendly local garage advise him to sell the car, saying that if they skimmed the head etc and replaced the gasket it would go again quite quickly, at least within the year. Cooling problems are an issue with these cars in the HJ website, but nothing suggests they are pretty well incurable. I can see no reason why the garage would want to mislead him, but all the same it seems a bit unlikely on the face of it.New head bolts would seem to be essential too.
Any knowledge/ advice out there?
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Thank you gentlemen for your assistance. I have been (indeed still am) in foreign parts, so was unable to read your replies. The car has overheated, so gasket failure may be an issue. The garage concerned said that fixing them on these engines was unreliable, which was my main concern. But it is V. low (and genuine) mileage and in good nick, and I am reluctant to scrap it.
I strongly suspect an intermittent thermostat problem, which could cause enough of an overheat to blow off a hose (don't know which, but low down somewhere). He topped up and put in some Barr's leaks, and after sorting out bleed problems it was OK for a while. I told him to replace the antifreeze too. It started to overheat again, and this time he says the exhaust is wet.
I have told him to replace the thermostat if faulty, and how to test it. I had not thought of a compression test. (Thanks!)There is no oil in the water, and no mayonnaise or water in the oil.
I think, with the benefit of your advice,
1. Replace or check the thermostat.
2. Compression test
3. If needed, replace HG and skim if needed
Once again, thanks!
Has anybody any views on this Glass Wizard tool for cleaning car windscreens that is currently being advertised in the national press.???
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Does your hand cleaner jelly go runny after a time? If so, pour it into an empty Heinz Tomato Ketchup bottle ~ the squeezy sort with the stay clean cap that you store upside down. Don't forget to re-label the bottle of course.
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L\'escargot. Read more
Glad to hear the GS is fine, JBJ, and that you've got plenty of riding in. Yes, I'm still happy with my Hornet, thanks, and on the basis that the rear tyre lasted one summer (4,000 miles) it was a good one! I was on the IOW during the summer, but unfortunately at the helm of a VW Shuttle with six passengers, not on the bike!
8< SNIP 8<
no naming - shaming here. Thankyou. DD.
Locked. Read more
Can anyone help?
My Audi A6 2.8 auto 1999 keeps leaving permanent spots on my driveway. They are located dead centre of the front seats.
I thought it was an oil leak but after Audi checked it, they said that there is no leak and the undertray was completely dry.
What can it be? I managed to touch the liquid once straight after the car had left a drop..it has a yelly oily complexion but not as thick as oil.
Could it be the aircon discharge? Does it need regasing if the liquid is leaving permanent marks on the driveway. Could it be powersteering liquid or brake fluid?
I have checked all levels and they are fine and the car itself runs fine without any warning signals.
It is driving me mad can anyone suggest what this could be? Please help!
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>>Is that possible on a car that's 6 yrs old, and that summer is over?<<
Yes, I thought about that before I posted.
I had a Golf that leaked wax from the tailgate for the nearly ten years that I owned it, any time, summer or winter.
It does seem an odd place, tho. Just an idea, and I have heard of this happening on an A6.
El Dingo.


As Cardew says, I found Peter to be very helpful and he clearly explained each and every item on the bill so that when we picked the car up the Alamo agent could not find any 'extras' to hit us with. Sunchase I believe deal only with Dollar and Alamo.
The only extra we had to pay at the airport was a 'one way' charge because we were dropping the car off in a different state and we were made aware of this by Peter before booking.