March 2006

andy from embsay

Just in the process of getting mrs andy a Meriva Design, and i see the CD player plays MP3 tracks, which is obviously A Good Thing in that you can get lots of tracks on a CD - but if anyone's used one of these - what track info does the little display show? If it doesn't show track name then if she has a CD with 180-odd tracks on it's going to be hard to know what's on there.

Has anyone used one of these, and how did you find it?

Thanks ever so... Read more

Statistical outlier

If you want to make sure that mp3 tracks are well organised and named as you wish, then a very useful piece of software is TDT - Tag Database Tool.

It's intended for iRiver owners for sorting the database for their mp3 players, but it will also rename and organise all tracks in a specified system of directories in any way that you wish. I use it all the time, it's a bit slow once you get up to 30 Gb + of tracks, but works very well.

tdt.sourceforge.net/

Gord.

cheddar

I have got a case of the thrumming, chamfered blocks on the rear tyre(s) causing a thrum at certain speeds, there has been a few cases reported recently within these pages, I recall a 330d and a Vectra.

My rear tyres have done about 25k miles and are wearing more on the outside than the inside, the Mondeo does that, they both have a fair bit of wear left in them though the nearside is slightly more worn than the offside. I am noticing the thrum from this nearside rear. The fronts are the same tyre, Bridgestone, though newer, about 8k miles. The tyres are directional so cannot be moved easiliy from one side of the car to the other.

Options:
Get the rears turned on the wheels so, for instance, the outside of the nsr becomes the inside of the osr. Cost about 20 quid with balancing.

Move the rears to the front on the same side of the car with the expectation that the thrum will be less noticable on the front or may disappear due to a different wear pattern.


Any thoughtS?


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cheddar

Good points there Mapmaker, yes you mentioned this previously re your Vectra, I also had it before on a Vectra V6 estate and though there was guy with a 3.0 CTDi on here who had the same symptoms recently.

My rear tyres are not badly worn nor are they too uneven, it is simply the block chamfering that is causing the thrum, I think I might exchange fronts to rears at the weekend and take it for a spin to see how it drives.

geoff1248

I wonder if we take as much care selecting our partner as we do selecting our cars. For example what level of spec. did you look for in your partner. Did you go for the eco version or the lux edition. Did you shy clear of the sports version- better grip but maybe arriving at you destination a little early--and go for the comfort spec. What about V5 to find out his/her original colour, actual age and number of previous owners? Did he/she come with a hands free kit. Has the bodywork lasted? It's a minefield..........
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turbo11

After much test driving,I thought I had chosen the model to last a lifetime.Unfortunately after developing seriously annoying faults,at great expense I had to get rid of her.The younger model I now enjoy,puts a beaming smile on my face every day.This one will last a lifetime(must be a Lexus model perhaps?)

MoodyGit

Why?

The way I see it streetlighting on motorways is just an absolute waste of energy.

Fair enough at some busy motorway junctions, but why on earth are lights needed on straight sections.

If the lighting is there for safetly reasons then why aren't ALL motorways lit for their entire length?



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Armitage Shanks {p}

Gordon does have a money pot; we fill it and he empties it and we don't have much say on what he spends it on either!

cheddar

Wife broke down this am, luckily it was local, she stalled the Clio and it would not restart, would not even turn over. I attended as did a local garage arranged by her insurer eSure under her breakdown cover, the guy was there in 30 mins, he tested the battery and the alternator and advised that a new battery was required, I went and bought a Halfords Calcium four year g'tee jobby, he waited and fitted it on my return, all sorted within an hour.

Ok we are £50 worse off (could have had a non Calcium battery for £41) though the Clio was on its original battery and it is eight years old this year so we cant complain.

Great service from Williams of Shepton Mallet, thanks to Andy. Read more

Armitage Shanks {p}

Don't forget that, even if they give you a new battery, the warranty on that will only be for the period of time covered by the original warranty; ie battery bought with a 3 year warranty and dies after 30 months - replacement is only warranted for 6 months. Better than nothing I suppose!

mtbjeff

I've been offered a '92 caravelle which looks in good condition.

But it's the petrol 2.5 Litre version and it's done 192K miles...

What is the life expectancy of these engines? Will it last another 50K?

Thanks for any advice! Read more

Xileno {P}

Depends how it's been driven. If a sensible driver has had it and it has been serviced properly, then 250K upwards is possible.

However, my brother can kill a car in 60K so it's really impossible to say.

davey.j

Does any one know if Renault diesel engine is fitted to this model requests to Haynes Manuals keep refering to Megane&Scenic Regards davey.j Read more

Aprilia

I believe its a version of the Renault F8Q Diesel engine.

chrisjay

My R Reg 1.8si 16v Zetec escort has power loss at around 2000 revs when accelerating in first and second gear, I have recently changed plugs and HT leads aswell as air filter but this has has little if any effect.
wondering if anyone has any ideas, have also noticed in the past couple of days that the temperature dial on the dash does not move, could this have something to do with the fault.

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chrisjay

The temperature gauge is still reading cold although the fan is still kicking in when the engine heat up in traffic. The problem with the power turned out to be the cat, it had completely collapsed blocking the exhaust, drives like new now, thanks for help.

PaulC2004

Morning all, can someone please help confirm my diagnosis of a problem I've got on the old Golf. The car has covered about 120,000miles and recently its started to develope a droning noise over about 30 mph. Its not really loud, just noticibable but definately there.

1. I suspect its NSF wheel bearing - can anyone confirm the likelyhood?
2. Any idea how much they cost / how much effort the are to fit ?

Thanks in advance
Paul Read more

Peter D

Check you have a good fitting socket on a 3/4 bar. Regards Peter

cheddar

This is actually a massive overall hike in VED revenue masked by a supposed environmental strategy, yet this revenue will not be plowed back into roads and transport, the motorist simply has to bear an ever greater tax burden.

Good old Chancellor Brown! He will surely get a positive response to this from most quarters though the fact is that he is ripping us motorists off with one hand while he panders to the green lobby with the other.

An average medium to large petrol car can now cost over £200 to tax however the less efficient cars already make a much larger contribution to the Chancellors coffers via fuel duty. And there is a reasonable hike for Pre March 2001 vehicles as well.

The truly daft thing though is that, for instance, a a 1999 reg 1.6 Clio now costs £50 a year more in VED than a 2000 reg model though a 1999 S500 costs £30 less than a 2000 reg model and £50 less than a 2006 reg model.

How is that an environmentally friendly policy. Read more

Stuartli

I've read the Telegraph's analysis of the Budget tonight whilst enjoying a pint of Guinness in the club and was quite surprised (but pleased) just how damning it was on every aspect of Brown's offerings.

Alright I lied.

It was three or four pints of Guinnesss.
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