April 2006

Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}

Just been in the Gambia for a week. Friends living there use the bush vans and the town taxis (yellow/green), as they were much cheaper than the tourist taxis. Rode in quite a few well used Mercedes diesel town taxis.
Most of the interiors were damaged/missing, windscreens were usually smashed (vulture collision) but they kept going.
Standard of driving was excellent and they used their indicators and horns sensibly.
When we got near the hotel areas the tourist taxi operators got upset as only they are supposed to carry tourists at a much higher rate.
Quite a few newish 4X4s evident, probably needed when the wet season comes.
Actual violent crime is low but EVERYONE wants to have a conversation, often to make a sales pitch, which did not make for a relaxing holiday.
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty. Read more

Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}

Lud,
Spot on. A week was long enough.
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty.

Lounge Lizard

Who are these people who have suddenly appeared in traffic-cop style Range-Rovers? Can they prosecute and arrest people?

What do they do all day when the motorway is running smoothly, or when a disruption is not something they can solve with their high-visability jackets and a 4WD full of cones?

Do I have to slow down to 80 mph when I'm overtaking them?
Read more

Nsar

I was a bit annoying at first as they do look fairly like a police patrol, but I've got it down pat now and I reckon I can spot the difference between one of these and a cop patrol at about 400 metres in good daylight. Still working on night vision.....

Ben79

I can only think of the Citroen C4 and C5 which prevent you accelerating past a user-determined speed unless you press the accelerator all the way down.

Can anyone else think of any other cars?

Thanks

Ben Read more

mk124

Are these the same drivers who drive at 20mph in a 30mph zone, and forget to brake for mini rounderbouts/blind bends/junctions etc? (sorry bit of topic)

Jhonny.b

Hi Guys,
I have a 96 fiesta with the Endura 'E' engine which recently has decided to start cutting out. This only seems to occur when decellerating or if you rev the engine say over 3000 revs and drop off quickly. It feels like it's not getting enough fuel, checked the spark plugs, they look ok. It's had a new fuel filter, air filter, took off all the air sensors and throttle body and cleaned yet the problem still persists. I think its come to the point of having to spend some cash but where do I start?? Read more

Jhonny.b

Thanks for the reply's!

Oldman - I tried cleaning the idle control valve again, but still no difference. While tracking down a new front seat I found an Endura E engine in a local scrap yard which I was assured was a good runner when it came in, so I purchased the idle control valve (£10!), fitted it and HEY PRESTO!!! runs like a dream.

Again, thank you all for your input.

Cheers
Steve

Question Noisy Omega
Mr. D

98 2.5 V6, runs great, tick over is fine but when I first start the engine there is a loud 'clacking' noise which could be a very, very noisy tappet! Speeds up with the engine as it is revved. The noise disappears after 5 minutes or so - when the engine is warmed up? Worst when the engine is first started in the morning but also happens if the engine has been stopped for a short while and restarted. Read more

Dynamic Dave

Sounds like a leaky hydraulic valve lifter(s).

See this recent thread on a Vectra for some suggestions.

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=40902

gareth_p

Hi,

Does anyone know who manufactures the diesel injector pump on the rover 25's - specificallly a 53 plate van. I'm trying to find out if the pump is a lucas or something else. I took the engine cover off but couldnt see any markings to identify it.

Ta,
Gareth. Read more

bell boy

seconded

to the make of pump not the reason for wanting to know
delboy9999

Hi just got a Dti LS Astra diesel 42k on clock and its giving me problems first start of the day. Takes about 5 mins to start it, after that no probs apart from today when it played up after leaving it fot 3 hrs.Heard it might be injector seals letting fuel drain back into tank But also heard it could cost £300 to get em replaced due to labour involved, any ideas to try before this 1 ? Never had a diesel before any do's and dont's to owning one?
Cheers Del Read more

delboy9999

Ok thanks for the advice

audiaudi

Hello,
Drving along in nose to tail traffic earlier today in my home city with the Mrs and daughter - a car ran into the rear bumper on our newish AudiS2. The fool had parked at a rightangle to the road in front of some close gates and as we passed, it started revesing slowly, we had to stop as it was stop start traffic - the guy crashed into our car and make it wobble and loud bang - the damage appeared hefty as its our car and cost us a lot, well a lot to us any way.

Cur a long story short, it was buy a bus stop as well - i got out, the guy apologised and said not much lets leave it at that - i sais let me have a proper look and need to exhange details but i was dubious about the guy as the car had the drivers corner already smashed and was a P reg Fiat Bravo - then his mate got out and started mouthing off saying 'the driver did not even hit your car mate' (he claimed to be a passer by) and proceeded to spit on its filth hand and take of its mates paint - I told him to leave my car alone and what's it got to do with him - then got involved with driver and our daughter told the guy not to use his spit to clean our car. Both then claimed there was no accident - luckily a police car came along in the other direction - the cop in the bmw asked with windo down any injuries, the g
Fiat driver said no, within a split second and cop said we are going. Luckily I used my brain for once ans shouted, I don't belive the guys details, but had not even took them - the police turned around the car, all traffic in the narrow high street held up.

We then all moved alonf 50 feet to a wider part of the road - a lady at the bus stop ranting i want to catch my bus and i blutered 'not until i've sorted out the damage to my 40k car, that shut her up :)

The police started seriously talking to the driver and the so-called passer by who was giving me dirty looks and rady to kill me i felt.

The cop came up and told me the guy was uninsured and would be reported but allowed to continue and we had to exchange details. I refused, as i offered my car reg, name and land line number, the copper offered to taake me to the nick - so i gave in as i remembered that i needed my policy number to avosid the full details - but before they gave the details to the criminal - i told the other cop to at least look at the car as the car was smashed already and the guy looked as though he was on drugs and his mate or passer by as he claimed.

The cops then noted that he hand no licence, no tax/mot and car was not registered.

The so-called passer by muttered and pointed at my my daughter a called her "something not very nice" when she was in the car - as i was talking to the oter cop with this new info our daughter go out and behaved very badly and asked the passenger/passer by, 'who you calling a ???? You pink fluffy headrest - the cop stepped in and moved the passenger away and then said something tome and I told them to arrest him - he laughed and then was told by the cops to go away or be arrested there and then - he left to my little surprise as he looked like a 6 foot junkie that was ready to kill.

The driver and his car was taken away by the police driver and they left me with details of the court it will be going to next week - I'm going to check - but making no claim as all their apint has been romoved from my black car, and just a 9 inch scuff mark and light scratch - not worth the effort - good job the cops were passing by.

Finally, my question - as this idiot has already no licence - driving with no insurance, no tax, no mot and it claimed the car belonged to a friend - what fine will he get?

Hw said to me that he'd said sorry as he left shaking his head and i said to him that if they has not lied and let me get my head round the situation he may have got away with it.

Intially i felt sorry for him - but on reflection, it is people like that that nearly cost my wifes life as we had a hit and rn about 15 years ago, the audi that was nearly new then sustained 2500 danamge - my wife had just got in the car.

So all n all, did me and my family do well at the very least to get one unroad owrth car of the road and a criminal driver in the dock - i just feel sad that i should have lied about the the pasenger and got him searched as we are all certain he was carrying a weapon

:(

Swearing (or attempt at bypassing the swearfilter) removed DD Read more

Dynamic Dave

The driver and his car was taken away by the police
driver and they left me with details of the court it
will be going to next week


As this is going to court (I hadn't spotted it earlier - thanks to the person who did), it is within your interests not to discuss this matter further on any public bulletin board as you could be held in contempt of court for discussing the matter.

Thread locked.

DD.
y2k+4

Right, in an effort to lower costs, I'm considering switching to diesel power from my 36mpg Focus. With petrol set to rise even higher, it's becoming impractical...so what's my best choice?Factor in servicing (which I believe is usually more expensive/regular than petrols), obviously mpg and general reliabilty and such across a typical 12,000-15,000 mile-year.

I mean, I know I'll be sacrificing a lot in the Focus' other abilities...but I may just have to start getting excited about not having to fill it up every week... Read more

Xileno {P}

"But are they still made without turbos?"

I don't think any diesels are now naturally aspirated; and for good reason - they're dire to drive. Once drove a Golf SDi and couldn't think why anyone would buy this engine when you can have the far superior Tdi.

barchettaman

Afternoon all,

The Barchetta has blotted its copybook by failing its ´TüV´ here in Germany, the biennial equivalent of the MoT test. Amongst other things - all pretty repairable, thank goodness - the tester reported an uneven braking performance from the rear brakes (newish discs and pads all round BTW).

It´s been booked in to get this sorted prior to the retest, but I was wondering if anyone could give me a pointer as to what could have caused the problem just in case the garage try to pull a fast one, or something.

Thanks in advance,
Barchettaman Read more

barchettaman

Thanks Martin. Anyone else got any ideas?