November 2005
I have a 2004 A4 1.9 TDI and in the intstruction manual it eludes to the fact that if ECON is off, the climate control can provide auxiliary heating at very low temperatures before the engine itself gets warm.
Is this likely to be present on my model or is it an extra fitted in countries where it gets very cold as a matter of course ? Read more
I've just found a gallon of 15w/40 that must be at last 4 years old.
Will it be OK to use, or will it have separated out into its 15 and 40 constituents?
Read more
All you ever wanted to know about creosote. In my view this is another daft intervention by Brussels but there we go.
www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/facts/creosote.htm
Does anyone know if Bosch make wiper blades suitable for a 2003 Mazda 3.????
Have been to check out Halfords, but there were none there specific to the Mazda. Thanks Read more
AR-CoolC
>>Bosche are the OEM for the Mazda 3. Halfords chart is
probably a little out of date and doesn't show that car
yet as it is quite new.
21" drivers and 19" passenger aero twin wipers.
>
Many thanks for your helpful reply>
Sorry, I know nothing about this sort of thing.
However, I can suggest that you might stumble across someone more mechanically-minded if you posted this question in "Technical Matters" {Duly moved, along with replies - DD}
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Life is complex; it has real and imaginary parts. Read more
When this happens the "spanner" icon comes up in the dash
diaplay, which I think means it is indicating a service is
due
Service interval reminder should only come on when you first turn the key (that's of course if it's service time)
The light I think you're refering to is the Engine electronics, transmission electronics light.
To quote from the manual:-
If it lights up when the engine is running, there is a fault in engine or transmission electronics. The electronic system switches to an emergency running programme. Fuel consumption may be increased and the driveability of the vehicle may be impaired.
The Coupe won't start this morning. She was started for a very short time on Saturday, to be moved up the drive, and switched off again. That's the last time she was used. Is this vapour lock? If so what can I do to cure it?
God knows, at the moment I'm just praying it ain't the cambelt
The alternator belt is still going round, does that tell me the belts are fine?
Anyway, breakdown company will be here within an hour... Read more
BB,
If only you'd stuck with the Alfa. You wouldn't have needed concern yourself with reliability issues then. ;-)
A colleague took her Type R in for a service on Friday at her local main Honda dealer. She had the day off and received a call to say her car was ready, but on the test run had received a 'minor' knock. They told her to keep the courtesy car and they would call her when her car was ready!
She said she wanted to come down and see it but was told there was no need as the car would be sorted - keep the courtesy car etc.
She went straight to the dealership and saw the car - 'minor' damage is a whole new front end including bonnet, front valance, both wings, lights, radiator and other possible engine bay damage.
The dealer principle wouldn't speak to them at first. After they performed a 'sit in' he had no choice but to see them and his attitude was one of 'oh well these things happen and we have offered you £270'. He told them a cock and bull story about how the guy skidded on ice, no one else involved etc etc. After much discussion the manager let slip that there was third party involved. The other guy was sat at some traffic lights when he was rear ended! There are independent witnesses to the event.
The compensation offer is 50% of the service cost of £540.
Needless to say she is less than happy - any advice on how she should proceed? Read more
Probably not to be honest mate, but seeing as there's no guarantee that you will hit any given volume until you've actually hit it (and even sometimes it's still not certain after you;ve hit it due to cancellations) I don't think it's fair to take manufacturer bonuses into account.
Bottom line is, as far as dealer is concerned, one new unit has less than 10% in it, from what I remember when I bought my Fiesta, it had about 7% of list price in it, the only times that this can be made bigger is if the manufacturer have a specific promotion on that gives extra incentive to the dealer, or indeed if the customer is taking finance. If the customer take the finance AND the dealer is in a very generous mood, they can use the finance commission to reduce the cost of the car further (I've done it once, maybe twice)
I'm quite drunk at the moment so will probably read this again soon tocheck that I haven't posted total twoddle! :-)
Blue
Airbag light has just started to come on and stay on. Does this mean I need a new airbag or is there also an electronic unit/sensor that may need checking? Read more
fair enough ,job done then.
Morning all. Sorry to bother you on such a mundane one, but my knowledege of this stuff is now a bit dated. Used to be the case of using VW's stuff, as recc by HJ, but now seems to be unobtainable. What's the best one shot stuff around at the mo? Yes, I now, use proper fuel & you won't have any issues, but my dad lives just next door to Sainsbury's...
Actually for my (carbed) bike i use a silkolene additive after each winter, just to be sure. Positive I've a bit left in the garage. How about this?
BTW how can I find old threads I've subscribed to? Otherwise it'll be 406 HDI 136 performance improving Q's all over again!!
Thank you all. Read more
Just to add: Went to my VW garage and ordered some, so yes, still available.
£6.13 per bottle including VAT
I currently own a 2 litre carina with 40,000 miles on the clock and it now has what sounds like a clonking problem.
The car runs fine, sounds sweet and economy is brilliant. But, whenever I change gear or accelerate/deaccerate, I hear a clonking noise from what seems to be under the car somewhere at the back. It is getting a lot more noticable now.
What could this possibly be?
Your comments are much appreciated.
Greg Read more
It is clonking when you change gear. When you change gear the engine is "rocking" on its mounts as the load is taken off it and then re-applied.
Several things could be causing the noise:-
There is probably a link from the bottom of the engine/gearbox to the car body.(Running straight towards the back of the car) This will have rubber bushes at each end. One may have become weak, allowing the engine to move too much.
One of the other engine/gearbox mounts may be weak.
The exhaust may have a broken hanger.
There is probably a flexible joint in the exhaust, it may have siezed up, causing the exhaust to move too much
The gearchange mechanism has a linkage running from the lever to the gearbox, it may have a worn bush or loose bolt.
The car has a low milage for the year but at 13 years old, time may have taken its toll on the rubber.
HTH
I´m thinking of lowering my Fiat Barchetta. In fact that´s bit of a fib, I´ve bought the springs from eBay for ?60 for the set of 4 and they claim to lower the car 25-30mm.
Aesthetically I think the B rides a bit high. I don´t want to completely pimp it to the tarmac, and would appreciate any benefit in roadholding over the standard Fiat springs.
The new ones are made by Vogtland and have covered (apparently) just 2000km.
I´ve also put an engine brace strut in today and it makes a big difference.
Any thoughts? Should I go ahead? Read more
Update - the car is now 30mm lower, and it makes a big difference. Corners much better than on the standard setup, which could admittedly have been a bit kippered.
The shocks were incomptatible with either spring set so I had to get new ones (Grr.)
New 17" Zender alloys and P-Zero tyres being fitted tomorrow too.
Just don´t tell Mrs Barchetta...
I´ll post a photo when it´s all done, as it looks like a proper little sports car now rather than something a failed hairdresser would run around in...
Thanks all for the advice - esp. Aprilia, got the tracking done too on your suggestion.
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Standard equipment on the TDi's, and very effective too. The heater on my A4 tdi gets warm within 2 minutes of start-up, wheras my old Golf Mk4 Tdi used to take 5 miles of driving before the air was anything warmer than stone cold!
Uses a wee bit of go-go-juice though!