May 2006
Just did an engine flush, oil and filter change yesterday.
After that we took the rocker cover off and set the valve clearances.
The rocker gear looked horrible. Black and cokey.
I didn't expect it to look like new (it has done 96k) but I wasn't expecting that.
My mechanic pal reckoned it wasn't worth worrying about (case of the 'they all do that's?) but I think a good clean mightn't be such a bad idea.
It looks like only 4 bolts hold it all on so I don't imagine it being difficult but I thought I'd ask around, do they all do that and is it really not worth the bother?
(BTW, it sounds perfectly ok, I've heard better but also much worse from an old push rod unit) Read more
I would welcome a little advice, please.
My car was rear-ended at the weekend, the other driver was OK about it and contacted his insurer. Due to the holiday weekend and pressure of work I have not yet had my car looked at or contacted my insurer.
Today the other guy's insurer contacted me and offered to take care of everything - arranging to have the work done by one of their repairers and supply a courtesy car. This would save me having to make a claim and initially forking out for the excess.
My only worry is that having a body repair done other than by an official agent may invalidate the warranty. The car is a 2 year old Alfa 156, the damage appears to be superficial scuffing of the (plastic) rear bumper. Obviously, there may be other damage underneath.
Worth taking up their kind offer, or should I go to the local Alfa agent (not that I think much of them)? I'd be glad of any suggestions.
Mr. T. Read more
Re teabellys reply, I'm currently arguing with my wife's insurer who in their policy say for a payment of £50 above your excess, the repairs can be done at your choice of repairer. Not so easy in reality, so be warned - they wont do this unless your repairer does it at their low repair rates, and with warranty implications etc I don't fancy the apprentice working unsupervised on our £12K worth of 2 year old car. Annoysing that if they weren't prepared to repiar it properly, then they should have declined to insure me. Beware! Very awkward staff they have to deal with as well.
Come on all you clever people-what does this mean?.My MOT man doesn't know-neither did his contact at the VOSA and it is not "vehicle check list" apparently. Read more
Feed that in as a keyword and you go into the realms of computor matters.
Dicky terminal that cannot give a pass certificate?
dvd
Can anyone advise what type of heat reflecting windscreen a Mercedes E Class would have if it is fitted?
A manager at work wants to use a Tom Tom device and the website states they will not work with athermic type heat reflecting windscreens.
His car does have a heat reflecting windscreen but is it athermic? (Sorry if they are one and the same!)
It's an E270 auto Avantgarde about 2 years old.
Andrew Read more
Andy
Search any of the GPS sites on the web for a re-radiating antenna. It plugs into the power point for power, has a magnetic aerial block, and has a stubby little aerial you put near the sat nav
bout 30 quid
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
My Passat 1.8 20V (ADR) has shed the teeth on the cambelt. I am trying to put on a new cambelt in order to do a compression test to see if any valves are bent. I cannot shift the 4 6mm hex bolts that hold the vibration damper/auxillary drive belt pulley to the crankshaft front plate. I don't want to give them too much welly in case I sheer them or round off the hex. Are there any tips or advice as to what to do, and if I do round or sheer one off what do I do next??? Read more
Luck doesn't have much to do with it.... I understand that many 1.8 VW/Audi's suffered from premature cam belt failure before VAG unofficially aknowledged there might be a problem and changed the recommended replacement from 80 to 60K. The VW garage wanted £1800 just to look at mine....I'm now doing all servicing myself, and when I change this Passat it certainly won't be for another VAG car....Volkswagen reliability & good customer service...NOT
my mate as a freelander with the rover petrol engine think it is a 1.8, it is belching out grey smoke at start up and missfiring badly also using lots of coolant, the oil seems ok but there are no leaks so im suspecting head gasket? or do these alloy heads crack? he's hoping it's just the gasket!!.
not done a commpression test yet but it's looking quite obvious, any idea of cost for head gasket/or replacement head??? Read more
Brown and Gammons actually sell a high capacity expansion tank, for this very purpose.
Helloo,
can anyone advise.
Engin cuts out but restarts after rest. New fuel and airfilter fitted, fuel tank checked and fuel lines to injector cleared but engine still cuts out.
Could fault be injector pump or electrics ???
Read more
Hi, thanks for your reply I will check the socket,
and get back to you,
dinglegal61
Please Help I'm not to sure what I have done.
Audi A4 tdi 66kw (90BHP) 1995.....every since we brought the car the plug for what I assume is the Boost Control Valve has been broke and disconnected.......it is the plug with the Red/White & Brown/Yellow Wires......plugs in to what appears to be a relay or solenoid that is fixed to a bracket on the front of the engine, just above the A/c pump. there are three hoses coming off it, one to the turbo outlet, one to the wastegate and one to the induction hose for the turbo..all the pipes are approx 8mm dia.
Any way, I have just done all the disc's, pad and bearings (yes all of them) and replaced a driveshaft / full service, so I decieded to replace the plug and plug it back in. According to Mr Haynes Manual, Brown/Yellow -, Red/White .
I plugged it in then jumped in the car. Started fine (as always) but I immediatly noticed the engine appeared to be more noisey........reminded me of the old Fourtrak 2.8TD. Anyway, pulled out of the drive thinking it was just me and pulled away, definatley more noise (not grinding, just more noise) and a massive lack of power...basically she is driving like a Nat Asp Car, no Turbo.
I pulled over and disconnected the plug, no difference, left the car for a while, no change. Disconnected the battery...no change. I'm at the loss..as I'm not to sure what this valve does or what state is should be in.....can anyone pleaseeeee help.......
I have looked in the haynes and it basically tells me nothing, it refers to the Boost Valve and a charge valve, are these the same thing.
Any help would be great.......I need the car running by Friday so the old clock is ticking...
Read more
hm,
Did you find out 'why' the fuse had blown? I would be a bit worried that the plug was disconnected due to continuous fuse failure!
BTW, just for the record, a failed or dirty MAF meter can cause similar symptoms on the VAG 1.9 TDI, I had that issue on my old Leon.
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Neil T
E90 BMW 320d M Sport, E91 330d SE Touring
Does anyone know what info DVLA hold regarding vehicle ownership?
Reason I am asking, I found out through another forum that there was a recall on rear seatbelts of Scenics. I phoned dealer who confirmed that my car was included, and it is booked in tomorrow to get done.
I wrote to Renault to ask why I had not been notified and their answer was:
I am sorry you did not receive the recall notice. I can appreciate why you were concerned. I have looked into why this happened.
I regret that you were not informed because the DVLA didn't have your details on their database. The DVLA should have the most up to date details for all drivers and this is the most reliable way we have of getting in touch with our customers. We double-check ownership details through our own network of dealers and our customer database, but because cars change hands regularly, it is not always possible to contact the owner of every vehicle affected.
As an additional precautionary measure, we also make our dealer network aware of cars to be recalled. Therefore, the necessary work can often be carried out during routine visits.
Now I have the V5 doc and was able to renew car tax online so assume they must have my details! Are Renault spinning a story here?
Read more
You can do an online search for recalls at tinyurl.co.uk/02if
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L\'escargot.
I am spitting blood at the moment. I took delivery of my brand new, UK sourced, not previously registered car in December last year, having ordered it in November from one of the well known internet companies (am I allowed to name it?)The car was fine....I have no complaints. However, the registration document didn't arrive. I queried it a number of times with the internet dealers who told me there were delays at DVLA, and various other stories.
I called them today as I have waited 5 months. I was told by the guy that the document is sent to them and they hold on to it for 4 to 6 months to stop punters selling the cars on and upsetting Citroen in the process! So my car is registered in my name but at their address! Then...the cheek of the bloke, he said if I wasn't happy, I could download the necessary document from the DVLA website (V.60'something) to say I hadn't received my registration!
When I mentioned that none of this had been stated in our previous conversations he said, "I would have told you if you had asked"
Well, you can imagine my reaction:
1: I paid in full for the car on delivery
2: It is my car
3: I do what I damn well please with it,
4: My use of the car is not their concern
5: What if I had picked up a GATSO or speeding summons I would
not have known as the paperwork would have gone to them
6: I have broken the law in France by not having it with me
when I drive there
7: I will be speaking to Trading Standards in Manchester
As it happens, when I got home from work, there was the DVLA envelope on the doormat. So, no need to battle with them anymore. But I am really angry and I won't let it rest. Read more
I just hate being lied to by someone who should consider me a good customer, and who should want to keep me. They mail me on a regular basis with car offers. Not a good way to keep a customer sweet. To sell me a car, then withold the registration document for their own arcane reasons, and also lie to me on several occasions in the process is not acceptable behaviour. I have seen numerous complaints on this forum about dealerships and bad customer service......ain't this the same?
The other point is that the company concerned features in this forum in "The weeks best deals" on a regular basis.
I am going to alert trading standards as it is sharp practice on the part of the company, who should be treating their customers in an honest fashion.
Last oil change, switched to castrol Magnatec for Older Engines. So far oil consumption down and runs slightly more smoothly.
madf