May 2006
Afternoon to all in the back room.
I have a question that I dont know the answer to, let me explain....The other day I parked my car (on a public highway not a car park) on the outskirts of the city center. I left a 5-6' gap between the Megane that was infront of me and the Fiat behind. After a couple of hours shopping on returning to my car the Fiat and Renault had been replaced by a Bora at the rear and a Mini (proper one) at the front both only 6" or so from my bumpers. Both cars were parked without annyone in them and no houses around to knock doors and ask who ownes them. I dident want to force my car out in fear of damaging it (the owners of the Mini and Vw did not seem to care about there cars or they wouldent have wedged them up against my car) and I dident fancy waiting around for them to appear after X amount of time. Luckily the owner of the Bora appeared as I was loading the boot up and they drove off (thats after I told him about what both he/she/they had done and his answer was for me to pink fluffy dice off!). My question is this - if no-one had turned up would it have been against the law to have lifted the back axle of the Mini off the ground and move it a few feet foreward? Answers if you please Ladies and Gentlemen. Read more
Feature in Auto Express this week saying that scientists have been able to develop this so that it can be put in all sizes of cars. Big blurb about how safe it is as you don't need to take your eyes off the road to check your speed as on average this takes 1 sec.
Now I have to be honest, I do not drive facing straight on at all times. I look all around me, I look out my side windows, I look in my mirrors, I look at my passengers, maybe even my phone display or if using one, a Sat Nav display. And yes, I do check my speed as well.
But I would like to think that when I am driving, I am driving in a manner that allows me to glance at the speedo for a sec without running the risk of an accident.
So what benefit is this HUD actually going to give us? Is it another development for the sake of it which will add to the cost of a car? Or will we be sitting in years to come wondering how we coped without it? Read more
I have driven a 5 Series with HUD fitted. I thought it was a neat gadget and very impressive, once I'd realised what it was. I didn't see any particular real world benefit though, as the instruments in a BMW (or any modern car which doesn't have the speedo in the middle of the dashboard) are so well placed anyway. Also you have to refocus your eyes to the HUD anyway as the focal point is not the same as the cars, pedestrians, road signs and everything else which you watch whilst driving. I think the time spent looking at a speedo is actually irrelevant compared to the distraction when adjusting aircon, retuning radio or talking to passengers. It is a neat gadget though.
No seriously. I do. More precisely, I would like to source, and then buy a Rover 2.5l V6 for a 75 Tourer.
I really need your help on this chaps - I don't have a clue where to start.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Adam
Read more
Adam,I would be interested to hear what you think of it,I was surprised some time ago that the amount of these that actually cause problems is less than most other cars.
Also know people that have owned one from new without serious problems and still have!
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Steve
Hello, this is my first posting to this excellent site. I have a 1997 Citroen ZX 1.4i, 56000 miles.
Is it OK to leave the car unused all week (see usage pattern below) or better, as a Kwik-Fit mechanic suggested after the last oil change, to let it idle for 2 mins every 2 days?
If anyone's feeling patient, I'd appreciate any other maintenance advice, e.g.:
Cam belt: Citroen specify 72000m regardless of annual mileage (or 54000 for all-urban usage); carbycar here says both "every 3 years and 36,000 miles" and "50,000ml". What would people advise given my car's usage pattern & history?
Clutch: was fairly worn when I got the car (1st owner disabled, 2nd preferred automatics). Drives OK, doesn't slip but gear change notchy and occasionaly a touch tricky selecting 1st/2nd in a hurry. Am I putting undue wear on the gearbox/linkages driving it like this, would a new clutch improve the gearchange and would you advise doing this sooner rather than later?
Thanks for your time,
Dave
Typical Usage Pattern
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Mon-Fri: sits in road.
Weekend 1: 2 x 5-mile trips.
Weekend 2: 2 x 50-miles, 2 x 20 miles.
Occasional longer trips. Total annual mileage: 6000.
Service & usage history
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1st owner (to 3y/16500m): Citroen serviced, unknown usage (Plymouth based).
2nd owner (to 5.5y/33000m): incomplete SH, full service at 30000m. Used in London and to Devon.
Me: follow Citroen low-mileage service schedule (1y oil, 2y coolant & brake fluid, 4y plugs, air & fuel filters) plus the odd extra oil change. Read more
I Know that it was quite a while ago when the last message was posted on this topic but i have a citroen zx 1.4 with similar problems with the gears, I was wondering if you might be able to tell me what the outcome was that would be great. I think it might be the clutch but im just not sure.
Many thanks....
Now we all know the price of older cars has dropped through the floor.
But outside the front door of Tescos Guildford is an abandoned blue Fiat Punto S. M registered it has good tyres (please note good not just legal) a good exhaust clean body with no signs of rust and all round looks in fair nick. Certainly a world better than the MK1 Escort which was my first car.
Tagged as a abandoned and no doubt soon to be removed. Is the market for such cars now so low that its not worth trying even to get say £100 for such a vehicle? Read more
Turn the question around: Is it worth the hassle .....
.....or the cost of recovery and repair?
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L\'escargot.
We changed the bottom pipe on my mate's 306 HDi which had rotted through. He took it along to get it recharged, and the guy advised that the oil level in the compressor should be checked to ensure that it hadn't blown all the oil out of the hole. AFAIK the test plug is on the top of the compressor so you either have to be multi-jointed, or remove the compressor to check it. A quick trial made it seem that getting the comp off was v difficult. Anybody got any tips for checking the level or removing the compressor?
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RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen.... Read more
Certainly seems to be a theme with 306 aircon. Bit like XUD connrod throwing.
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Fullchat
Hi chaps,
My Son has a Smart Roadster which at the last service he was told would need new discs and pads at the next service. That time has now arrived and I've purchased them through my work (Unipart)and intend fitting them soon. I wondered if anyone out there had done this job before and advise if there are any pitfalls. I don't forsee a problem but i thought I'd ask anyway. I gather these discs for all the Smarts are the same??
As always I look for divine guidance from a fellow Technician.
Thanks in advance
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These are the views of Robin the Technician with 35 years in the trade. I fix, therefore I am... Read more
i know theres is plenty of threads on this subject as i have read them....
But, i cant seem to get my windscreen as clear as id like it. I have new wipers (bosch) and use halfords screen wash. I also tried rain ex repellant which i wasnt that impressed with. Sure it gets rid of the rain but when cars are comming towards me with lights on i feel like ive got cataracts its that blurred.
Ive tried all of the usual to try and get rid of any silicone meths, fairy liquid, vinigar etc. Just wondered if it might be the screen wash im using? i read that comma screen wash won awards etc.
Also i have a light scratch from the gritters in my glass. Would jewellers rough get rid of this as ive heard some people use it? Read more
Try a dry microfibre cloth and lots of pressure and patience. Tesco do them for about £1.40 I think (and cheaper if you go for the 3-pack of Value ones for 89p but they're not quite as good).
I don't know about everyone else, but the multitude of foreign plated cars I see around now, Particularly (I'm not singling them out) Polish cars,here long term - not just visiting.
What is the situation with regards to Tax, Insurance and conversion to UK Specification.
When I imported a LHD car, I had 6 months to convert it to UK spec so that I could tax it in the UK. I'm sure these cars have the same ruling, they must convert if they stay longer than 6 months.
What happens if you have an accident with these foreign plated cars? Will they be insured?
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VW Bora (51) 2.0 SE
VW Touran (54) 1.9 TDI Read more
Stu,
I am originally from Tarn.
My brickie mates on £140 a day have just been replaced with Poles at £40 a day on the building site just by Sixfields.
Sorry mods I know this is veering off. I'll leave it there.
Why does the young chap just across the road from me let his K plate Subaru (don't know which model) idle for about 10 minutes before he drives off? It starts first time and it idles smoothly. He starts it and then goes back into the house for ten minutes.
I know I really ought to be asking him but I don't know him to speak to and he might assume that my question means that it annoys me ~ which it doesn't. I'm just curious. I would have thought it was detrimental to the engine.
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L\'escargot. Read more
A guy living opposite me (in a small cul-de-sac) used to reverse his TVR Chimera out of his garage at 7 in the morning every day and rev the nuts off it - then go back in the house and leave it running for 15 minutes, he would then emerge from the house and give it lots more reving before roaring off, tyres squealing etc.
This is a seriously loud car & if you wern't awake before he started up then you definately were after.
Had to laugh one evening whilst down the local pub chatting to the TVR owners next door neighbour ...The neighbour told me that the noise was right under his bedroom window and used to really annoy him but he said " I just lie in bed consolling myself with the thought that he's damaging his engine !!"
The offender has now moved to Suffolk...........
I think you'll find most manufacturers handbooks state that a vehicle should be left in gear as well as having its handbrake pulled firmly on when parking. Both our cars are fitted with towbars,so feel free to try touch parking with the rear of our cars ;-)