January 2006
Hi,
I have a '99/"V" Ford Focus with a Ford RDS 5000 Radio. All units with RDS capability have the facility to store the vehicle VIN in the audio unit memory.
After following the instructions in the Ford Audio Guide supplied with the car, I have discovered that the VIN on my V5C & VIN Plate is 17 characters in length, and the RDS 5000 only has a 16 character memory, 16 also being the max. length stated in the Audio Guide.
Am I missing something simple, or is there no way to store the full VIN on the radio, making this useful security feature a waste of time?
Thanks in advance. Read more
Hi all,
Further to my post earlier:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=37...0
I've recently viewed an example which seemed OK visibly and to drive, but on inspection, it had only had 6 services in 84k. Most oil changes were 12k apart instead of 9, but there was one occasion when the interval was 22k.
The car wasn't obviously suffering from cam chain wear or smoking, and to its' benefit a couple of jobs including cv boots and exhaust mid-section had been taken care of. (lambda warning light still needed resetting, though)
Is this car touchable with a bargepole if the price is right? Read more
My old car was always serviced at a main dealer during the time of my ownership, according to regulation intervals. I recently sold it to a family member (the original owner), who used to run his own garage. He thought it was a bit sluggish, so decided to service the car himself (I'd had it done 400 miles previously). Imagine the horror when he discovered that the air filter he had fitted when I'd had the car from him some 30,000 miles earlier, was still in place!!!!
2 questions: is it worth kicking up a stink at this dealership, given that I no longer have the car or the paperwork in my possession?
And, aside from taking up car mechanics myself, what can I do to prevent being swindled like this again! Read more
Not that I agree with it, but air filters are left in many cars now for up to 40000 miles. For instance in my Audi A4 tdi the air filter isn't changed till the second variable service activity which could be over 40,000 miles. I belive this to be the cas in a lot of petrol cars also.
My BMW's three year manufacturer's warrenty runs out in the next couple of months. I suspect that BMW's charge for a further 12 months warrenty will be expensive so I have been considering using Warrenty Direct(WD). Has anyone any experience of WD good or bad? Thanks, Rocky Read more
Lexus used to do a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty on used cars bought through them (was top used car deal for a while).
I think it was backed by "AON" or some company of that name. I think Lexus then reduced the warranties on used cars to 12 months as standard as they were losing a lot of money on warranty claims.
Ah, mechanical breakdown insurance. Well, if that's what the BMW warranty is for a used car, it's not the same as manufacturer warranty.
Am I asking the impossible to be hired the biggest none-people carrier type car at age 20?
I only want one for a weekend.
Any ideas?
Read more
Fly
does anyone have a glasses book price for my car. your help is appreciated
Read more
Thanks Blue
Discussion on this is continued on the other thread, which Blue has linked to.
This thread is locked
Hugo
Folks,
In removing the ABS wheel sensor from my XM, a securing bolt lost its head.
It's not in a blind hole, and the rest of the stud sticks out through the other side of the casting, albeit heavily rusted and difficult to access. This prevents the stud being screwed "out", as the female thread will encounter the male rusted bit, hence it can only be screwed further "in", and eventually clear of the hole.
I've managed these little surprises before, mainly through heat, drilling, patience, penetrating fluid, etc, etc, but would still welcome any insights from other "learned listmembers".
rg Read more
Thanks, folks!
Done! 15 minutes of heat, tweak with mole grips, ease back and forth.
In the end, I "backed" it out gently rather than driving it in furhter and out the other end.
In gripping it tight with the mole grips, I had inadvertently crimped a couple of flats onto the end. Some testimony to the poor qulaity of the material, my "King Kong" grip, or a bit of both.
Thanks again!
rg
Just wandered how many times you took your practical driving test? I am originally from Australia so converted my driving license straight to British. My hubby is from the US and has his driving license for 17 years (also holding an Israeli HGV license and motorcycle with 0 motoring offences in both countries all these years).
He just failed his 2nd test here. The first time he had one minor fault and one serious fault (slight late cancellation of signalling after a roundabout). The second time he had 0 minor faults but at the end of the test at the ?reverse in to bay? he ended the manoeuvre with the front wheel of the Mini touching the white line but within the Bay!! Guess what the tester rewarded him with a failure again!! Is there anything else we don?t know (just badly paid testers?)? Now don't get me wrong I am not against a system where we produce good drivers but this look like an overkill in both cases, correct me if I'm wrong.
Is there some quota system, or what is the best time to take the test? Our town?s DSA pride itself on 56% passing rate so we must be doing something wrong. His driving instructor told him people usually make 10 minor faults in average so how do they all get to pass? To begin with, our test system is flawed. I have not heard of another system where failure to park exactly in the middle of a bay can constitute an immediate failure. Most other systems like the US and Israel just deduct points.
I would personally like to see the statistics of how many people died due to wonky parking. Why parking not completely straight is not a minor fault but a serious one?! I can now see why passing the driving test in the UK is the hardest place of all EU countries (quote from ?Driving? on the Times newspaper) it?s not because it is a better system it?s because they can fail you on trivialities even though they know you can drive perfectly good. Ok he booked another one for March. I think you can fly to Slovenia with that kind of money and pass your driving test with ease (Quote from Autocar) and than convert it to a UK one! Read more
Don't get too upset - it's a bit of a lottery the test in the UK ! Yes it's fairly tough, but you really can't tell how well you have done - after all it's humans who are testing you !
Hi to All,
I'm really keen on the outgoing Honda Civic Type-R and made a saving this time last year when purchasing a Ford Focus 1.8 edge (£9.3k).
In a bid to buy a new car and make a saving due to the fact it's an old model and it's January - Does anyone know where the beat place to pick up a new type-r at reasonable money is ?
Look forward to your thoughts!
Nick Read more
Not here: Honda don't even do a 1.5vtec, available in most other markets. Must have bought the Type R badge down the pub....
These are from an estate with roof rails but does anyone know how to tell whether they fit a mk2 or mk3 (mk3 being 2000 on I believe?)
Warning - big pics!:
img70.imageshack.us/img70/7126/pict16269ln.jpg
img76.imageshack.us/img76/2173/pict16256sc.jpg
img352.imageshack.us/img352/926/pict16278kw.jpg
Thanks
Dan Read more
Fantastic. Thank you!
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The useful security feature is a waste of time. All Ford radios of that vintage are easily reset to manufacturing default and every scroat knows it.
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