November 2005
Trade press reports that Visteon (Formerly Ford's components division) will be providing USB ports and iPod input in an unnamed production car in Feb 2006. Cheaper than CD changers, and no CDs to tempt opportunist theft. iPod audio and video could be used, and software upgrades flashed via the port.
I wonder why this hasn't been thought of before? (A Smart concept vehicle had one once apparently). Read more
Does anyone know where I can find information on fuel consumption and maintenance/off-road issues for the vans like the Ford Connect and Vauxhall Combo? Read more
Thanks guys, I will try these options out.
Hi all, my mate's 1994 Mondog broke down on him two nights ago. I wasn't there when it stopped, but apparently the engine was running fine and then just died, (the oil pressure light came on but my mate assures me that this only came on after engine stopped) when he tried restarting it the car stuggled to turn over and the lights were dimming heavily.
Even as we stood beside the car with the hazards flashing you could see the interior light dimming every time the flashed, this leads us to the probable conlcusion that the battery has died.
But, there were no warnings of any problems with alternator, what exactly would cause a battery to just stop working in mid jounrey?
Unless anyone can think of a more likely culprit for the lights dimming etc?
Blue Read more
Just my two-penneth....
My alternator packed up on my old 95 TD Mondeo and I managed to drive for another 30 mins before it eventually conked out.
In todays Telegraph, "Chaper 11 risk after GM admits profit error".
www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/20...l
It seems as though there is now a 40% chance of this happening within the next 2 years. This could increase further if sales continue to slide and the strikes at Delphi become a reality.
Toyota are now poised to become the world's largest car manufacturer, and they are also profitable. Can GM survive in the medium to longer term?
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Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
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A Ford-GM merger? Henry Ford did start the company that became Cadillac, after all!
It was his second attempt at a car company, originally called the Henry Ford Company, I think (his first attempt, the Detroit Motor Company, had failed). This new Henry Ford Company was successful but Henry fell out with his business partners and was forced to resign, causing the company to be renamed Cadillac. The rest is history (which is bunk, of course!). Ford went on to found the Ford Motor Company that exists today, while Cadillac went on to become part of GM.
cheers, SS
Well I have had the car just over a week now and am pleasantly impressed in general,two small problems the glow plug light comes on sometimes for no apparent reason and the front part of the exhaust has a something vibrating.The car handles well is very quiet in 6th gear on the motorway and is registering 44mpg. I have also discovered it has tyre sensors so that could over some interesting problems in the future .The garages 132 point pre delivery check failed to notice a vacuuum pipe hanging of so I think I shall be giving them a wide birth in the future for any repair work.But overall very pleased. Read more
The noise was the air filter housing loose and the warning light was caused by a bad conection on the maf sensor caused by the loose air filter.I am still impressed with the car makes a C5 seem like something from stone age.
We keep an old Renault 19 (95) for occasional use. We have put in a new battery some weeks ago butv it still looses its charge within 24 hours. I have checked for bootlight/glovebox light etc but to no avail. Any ideas?Thanks Read more
Alternator diode it is. Secondhand alternator £15 from scrappy. Thanks - thats why this forum IS THE BEST!
My mother-in-law is a sort of upmarket minicab driver in London and drives a Hyundai Trajet V6. Well, she did until an accident has probably written the car off. I won't bore you with the details, as I am not sure of them myself.
Anyway, she will have almost no money for a deposit for the replacement, but at least she had GAP insurance to cover the difference between the expected payout and the amount owing on the finance.
As you know, SWMBO has a diesel Trajet and we may let MiL have this on a soft loan. Our Trajet is only 14 months old so MiL is getting the benefit of a professional son-in-law!
So the question is....
Frankly, we probably don't need a car the size of the Trajet, but seven seats is very handy. We want automatic and whilst diesel would be handy, we probably only do 10,000 miles pa, so its not vital. So we are looking at the following vehicles: -
Zafira
Verso
Grand Scenic
is there anything else, and are there any recommendations regarding these vehicles including best value spec and engine/gearbox combinations? Any other comments (and no, you can't become my MiL!)
TIA
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive? Read more
I really wouldn't recommend you get an Avensis Verso, they were based on the old avensis and make the idea of a owning a mondeo TDCi seem pleasant.
The corolla Verso is much better but the rear two seats are for kids or short journeys only.
If you want any more info on the toyota side of things give me a shout.
my daughter as a 2001 y reg corsa 1.0 12v(suzuki engine?) its never been the easiest of cars to drive but now it is becoming difficult to engage 1st gear is there a mod availiable to rectify this any suggestions appreciated i know it will never be perfect thanks Read more
"its never been the easiest of cars to drive". Something must be up as I find my wife's 2002 1.0 Corsa quite enjoyable to drive on the odd occasion she will let me, with a reasonably slick gear change.
Hi, I've got an R reg 1.8 Diesel, and I've just had the clutch replaced. I took it out for the first time today, and I'm a bit concerned as the gears keep grinding every time I put it into 2nd.
I wouldn't have thought that a new clutch would need to be 'worn in' a bit, but is this normal? Read more
Hiya,
I work in a ford main dealer parts department, and have done for over 16 years.
I'd suggest that the garage that did the work on the car didn't replace the clutch slave cylinder/release bearing assembly. Ford always recommend changing this whenever the clutch is renewed, and with good reason. When a new clutch kit is fitted, the cylinder will return further than before, and more often than not this will cause leakage problems. They only need to be very slight to reduce the effort the cylinder can supply, resulting in a draggy clutch. Basically, if we get a clutch returned as faulty and the customer didn't fit a new cylinder, then there's little chance of ford paying us out on any warranty claim we submit.
Of course, it could also be the seals on the end of the clutch pressure pipe weeping if a new cylinder was fitted.
Hope this helps
Graham
Hi all,
I have a problem with sticky steering wheel, gear lever knob, indicator stalk and window winder handles. All these items have a sort of soft rubberised finish and become horribly sticky when damp.
I've tried all sorts of cleaning potions but nothing seems to help.
I have known this problem with a number of previous vehicles, but my present car is particularly badly effected.
Has anybody found a cure for this? Please! Read more
The stickiness may be caused by glyols which are used in hand creams, soaps and sunblock to thicken them.
Glycol is also used as a plasticiser in processing plastics and rubbers, so your warm, glycol-coated hands cause the outer layer of the gear knob or steering wheel to soften.
Rubbing a little talc powder into your palms might help solve the problem - or a change of sunscreen.
Browse
in reply to a few comments on this thread, I bought one of those cheap FM transmitters from ebay for a few quid. Seems to do the job ok, radio didn't find the channel on seek but I got it Ok on manual search.
Since I bought this for my FIL then I am sure the quality will be ok for him. Not too convinced that it is stereo transmission though?