November 2005
Unfortunately, my parents old 94L 850 T5 has developed a leak from the ABS pump, which it is presumed needs replacing. Due to the age and value of the car, I do not think it is worth fitting a new pump even at main dealer "trade" prices- about 650 plus VAT for the part.
I have been unable to source the correct part from the breakers I have tried- does anyone know where I might get hold of one? I am also considering fitting a reconditioned one- where can I find one of these?
The Volvo part number is: 30639115 I believe, and I have found the following Volvo number on the pump- 9140933.
Finding a part has been particularly difficult, as I believe the unit I require was only on the '94 year cars.
If it were my car, I would be inclined to try to sell it as it is. The leak is only minor (if a brake fluid leak ever can be). This brings me to ask what would be the best means of disposal. If I were to take it to a car auction, would I have to declare the fault, or would it simply go in the sale as sold as seen? Alternatively, would I get more for it on Ebay- it has had a fair amount of recent work, has good p zero tyres, bilstein sport dampers and a genuine 80k miles on the clock?
Thanks.
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Just thought I'd share a tip with those of you who regularly do their own oil & filter changes. (It may have been posted before, but I haven't checked).
If your car has an oil filter that points downwards, e.g. the open end is lower than the covered end, it is difficult to get the filter out without spilling the oil it contains around the engine bay.
My wife's Scenic has this type of filter orientation and having spent ages in the past trying to mop up the oil spillages, getting my hands & arms snagged on all the pipes and connectors, etc., etc., I thought about a solution.
Having initially loosened the filter with a socket strap I then placed the open end of a resealable food bag over the filter, ensuring that it covered the entire length of the filter all the way round. I also stuffed some kitchen roll between the bottom of the filter and the engine casing.
I was then able to quickly unscrew the filter through the bag and lift it out with barely a drop of oil spilled. Saved me ages of cleaning time & the scatched hands / arms! Read more
I didn't try it in the end (and I have no idea if the oil filter is on the return trip of the oil or not!).
I painstakingly filed the sump plug back to a square then a smaller square so a brake adjust spanner would fit on it. Then it came undone, and fairly easily as well.
So no crazy antics with removing the filter and starting the engine required!!!
Does anyone know what I could expect economy wise from the 249bhp 4.0 litre V6 model? Is 15mpg about right? Normal on-road use BTW.
Thanks Read more
I am not pulling anyone's leg. It is a serious consideration for next spring, although I am quite keen on the Discovery 3 as well. The reason, if you're interested, is that we want to get a nice large caravan to tow around when we go down to Devon and Wales.
The economy, within reason, is not an issue. As I said above, it was more just out of interest. Curious to know what a large petrol engine would do to a gallon.
I want to keep my Renault because firstly I like it, secondly it's useful for long trips especially to France and thirdly I've only had it a year.
I have no intention of cluttering up the streets of Bath in it, in truth I try and avoid the place like the plague.
I appreciate there's no logic to any of this, certainly no financial logic and it's probably not the most PC thing to do. No we don't need it and there are probably dozens of more sensible alternatives or strategies we could follow - such as getting a decent estate car. But I have this desire to have one we can afford it.
Nice to see someone getting one up on local councils.
tinyurl.com/bztov Read more
Pointless parking on the pavement - restrictions run from the edge of the carriageway - including the pavement - to the mid line of the road. Right up to property boundaries, as I understand it.
I have seen pics of the new Civic and really wonder if this is a wise move for Honda. The car looks like it is aimed at the 20-30yr old MP3/Ipod generation almost to the exclusion of other segments. I can't imagine my Dad working out how the dashboard works at all or liking the fact that the new car must be almost impossible to see out of when reversing. He has a previous model Civic which has proved to be an absolutely perfect buy for him.
I suppose my point is are companies like Honda making that classic mistake of allowing their "yoof" obsessed marketing departments to define how a car should evolve and failing to realise that by making the appeal of the new car almost antagonistic to a wider range of people including older people (who buy more new cars and have more disposable income than the younger generation).
I would level the same criticism at alot of other car companies that have often followed the same trend to obsess about performance, sharp handling etc and therefore leaving ordinary hatchbacks with needlessly hard and unforgiving rides. My parents generation and even I when I test drive cars seem to lament the sort of soft cossetting ride you could get from the Renault/Peugeots of old and instead the more modern versions of such cars are now "Germanically hard" as that is what the yoof marketiers think is what the market wants (ie ape a Golf/BMW).
You do wonder if when car companies "clinic" a new car whether they actually interview a wide range of customers or even admit internally that the majority of their customers are about 20yrs older than they would like...
PS I am 35 and not 75 by the way.... Read more
I've only seen photos of the new Civic so far, but it looks like a very neat design, clean apart from a bit of fussy detail at the rear.
BMW, Mercedes and Renault have embraced bizarre styling with questionable results in order to achieve individuality, then Honda come along with a clean, simple design that looks more distictive.
Cheers, SS
I was thinking of buying a new car from the internet. Buymynewcar.co.uk seem to have some very good deals on the car I am interested in has anyone any opinions of this company? Read more
I have just ordered a C4 from www.uk-car-discount.co.uk.
They seem to be a very fair bunch, gave a great discount on the new car and offered top dollar on my px. Delivery is free and they appear to be very helpful and call you back when they say they will.
Right, now that I've sent the S80 back, I want to get another set of wheels. After most of my driving career spent driving very large, big fat engined, floaty cars with pillow soft rides, the few weeks I had with my 160 quid Primera opened my eyes to cars that with good roadholding abilities, and how that can actually be considered a "safety measure"!
Your advice needed please!
Important to me:
Lots and lots of front legroom with reach/rake wheel, as I have a knee injury and need to keep my leg as straight as possible.
Above average safety (with lots of stability control features too)
Lots of grunt, particularly lower end
Above average roadholding whilst still being a quiet and smooth ride (do many long trips each year) over to Europe
Naturally, prefer the highest spec possible. HAS to be auto.
Not bothered about petrol/diesel as I don't drive much, or the badge on the front of the car, or depreciation as I plan to keep it for a while.
Ideally, would like to get as recent a car as possible to avoid the "high mileage" driving and handling effect.
So far I have thought of, a Mondeo TDCi/2.5 V6, Peugeot 607, Saab 9-5, Vauxhall Omega, Citroen C5. Am upping my budget to between 8 and 10k.
One option may be to take my dad's 2 year old Vectra 3.2 V6 Elite Auto off him and get him a Focus Auto since he's retired now. Drove the Vectra yesterday after many months, and it was so effortless to drive with that engine.
P.S Have rented a Peugeot 407 SW 2.0 Hdi manual for a few days, which to be honest drives and rides ok, but feels gutless to me.
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Might be able to convince dad to give me the 3.2 Vectra and for me to buy him a Astra 1.8 Club Auto. It would be a 6 month old model. The road tests say they are good cars. Any experience with the new shape Astra in the back room?
A bulb (?) has gone in my 2003 (new shape) Corolla. Is this easy to change or an expensive dealer job? Read more
Is it still in warranty? Take back to Toyota and complain (even if its not in warranty.)
My current car is a 2004 Focus 1.8 Zetec. It does about 8k a year and, driven only at weekends, has just two purposes. It goes to the supermarket and it takes me fishing.
I've started fishing somewhere new this year and the problem is I'm not too confident the Focus is going to get me off the parking areas. They are just fields which will soon be wet and muddy until Spring. I don't want to be stuck at 11pm on a February night. Snow won't be an issue, there are limits to the weather I will be fishing in!
I'm looking at getting a 4WD but I really don't want a SUV. I don't need an estate, but I'd consider one. So would the likes of a Subaru Legacy or a AWD Audi/Volvo be capable off making sure I don't get stuck? Or should I be looking at a proper 4x4?
I could go up to around 15-20k for the right car, which would preferably be nearly new and low mileage. Prefer petrol and must do 0-60 in around 10 secs or better.
Thanks,
Dave Read more
That's where a rear locker comes in handy.....
$$
On my commute I approach a major set of traffic lights at which I want to turn left. The road is wide enough for two lanes and is marked at the lights into two lanes
c.50 metres before the lights there is a left turn onto a road about 80m long which connects the road I'm on with the road I want to join. It's as wide as the road I'm on and has a give way at both ends.
At the junction of the "cut through" road and the road I'm on there is a yellow criss-cross box.
Every day traffic on the road I'm on backs up at the lights beyond the yellow box, so carefully, slowly and indicating all the time, I drive up on the outside of the standing traffic to the yellow box and turn left across the car waiting at the yellow box to join the cut through road, which I can see all the time is clear.
Is this legal?
If you're in Manchester, it's the junction of Bury New Road and Wellington Road near Strangeways
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The reason for not making a "normal" left turn is that there is a row of cars in the left hand lane who, when the lights have changed, will pass by the road I want to turn left into and carry on through the lights.
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Thanks, ill check the part number in the morning.
Unfortunately, the car does have TRACS. I don't care if it doesn't work, but i dont think i can fit a non TRACS part.