May 2006
Oh how I want this car!!
So i'm approaching middle age, is it a good idea to buy a car that I drove in my youth.
Will it be ecomomical motoring with a smile on my face or is it a money pit?
Have any backroomers done something simular.
The car in question
cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4636...1
Yes it's a Cortina but I don't care!
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I've got a manual 91 Volvo 240SE.
I think I've noticed occasional 1 or 2 moments delay in engaging higher gears, and rare momentary high revving disproportionate to road-speed. All in all, consistent with a slipping clutch.
This has been going on for a couple of weeks or so.
Is the clutch likely to fail completely without further warning? Or might it continue for a while yet; and get a bit worse as a warning before failing completely?
With this car, my aim is to minimise costs: it is a disposable vehicle which I will scrap at the drop of a hat. However, it's actually a useful runner that I'm happy with and it meets my current motoring needs. I am happy to get a new clutch if & when I really need to; I prefer elective maintenance to recovery & emergency repair.
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check the drain hole under the bellhousing isn`t blocked by dirt causing an odd pickup of oil on the flywheel
Hi guys, I have a leak from the radiator of my 1990 Golf 1.3, which seems to be coming from the top right hand side of it. I am not sure if it was a consequence of me not topping up the water recently, or if it was going to happen anyway.
I am trying to find out where exactly the leak is coming from and what needs replacing. I have put a photo here: img300.imageshack.us/img300/3908/vwgolfradiator2hz...g
Between points A and B in that photo there is a small black piece with 2 square holes in it. The water seems to be coming out of there pretty fast, but my Haynes manual doesn't tell me what that bit is.
Anyway, after noticing smoke from under the bonnet I pulled over and topped the water up from some unsuspecting person's garden tap. It leaked out that 3 or 4 litres in about 4 minutes.
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Thanks, Ian. The smoke seems to be the water evaporating off some of the hot parts of the engine, but I will not drive it till I get it fixed.
I'm sorry to say that I drove past a serious road traffic accident today. Junction 14, M56/A5117 slip-road, 11:00 01-May-06 (in case anyone knows the outcome).
Looked like 1 motorcycle plus 2 cars involved. Cars a bit dented but motorcycle mangled. Rider looked unconscious (I hope alive) and was laid out on the road. A few cars (plus those involved) had stopped and the rider was being attended to. Possibly the rider had gone over or under one of the cars. Road was greasy due to recent rain bringing up oil; not sure if this was a factor.
I was driving to a nearby house and slip-road was already bunged up, so continued my journey and rang 999 to confirm that emergency services had been informed (though I'm pretty sure they would have already been contacted).
It occured to me that it might be useful to send 1 or 2 phone piccys to cops or ambulance. In this way, they would get an initial early impression of what had happened and what might be required.
Is it possible to do this? Does anyone else think that this is a good idea; or is it an impracticable information-overload distraction?
I realise there might be investigation / insurance benefits in taking such pictures. However, as a passer-by, I did not consider this was an appropriate action on this occasion.
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>>There's no such thing as a bad idea.<<
Avantime, Vel Satis, Phaeton. You get the picture!
Is there an SU expert in the house?
I have a Triumph Bonneville motorcycle (1978) with an SU HIF6 carb conversion. Recently while out on a run (after 15 miles or so, engine nice and warm) it suddenly started cutting out on idle, and when I investigated further I saw fuel gushing out of the float chamber breather hole. Panic! I managed to get home safely by using the fuel tank tap to throttle the fuel entering the float chamber to match consumption, but now I have a problem to fix.
Anyone know what might cause this? My first thought is that the float has jammed 'open', but I'm not a carb person so I don't know what exactly would cause this.
I should mention that apart from cutting out at idle, the engine could be restarted and still ran smoothly at normal engine speeds. I should also mention that I've had the bike garaged for a few years, and I filled up with LRP (instead of leaded petrol) for the first time ever just before I took it out on this run - I mention this just in case LRP might make a difference to something inside the carb.
So my questions really are:
1. If I strip it down, what should I be looking for?
2. What else might be the problem?
Hoping someone can help....
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True, when I had a 74 Sunbeam Rapier spent loads of time trying to sort it twin Strombergs. Finally 25p new diaphragm . Always carried spares after that. Also people forget to check the oil level in the damper for SU's and Strombergs. First point of call.
The brother in law has done the unbelieveable and managed to seize the engine in his Mondeo 2.5 zetec-s(2001 my),we are having a great deal of trouble sourcing a used one anywhere,a new one from ford is approx £1700!.Can anybody advise us where we could get one.Thanks Read more
Well done! This must be the first recorded mention on HJ of the Bean car - once described as 'as dull as its name'. I read somewhere back along of a meeting of the Bean Club when no actual Bean cars turned up!
Has anyone got any experience of these? Looking to get rid of my Saxo diesel and the sensible replacement would be the Clio (used, poss 1-2 years old), although I admit I have visited 2 Skoda dealers looking at the Fabia vrS!!
My Saxo does everything I need it to, very economical, but very slow and boring! The Clio dci 65 Dynamique has alloys, A/C and all the toys I need but has a 0-60 time of 15 secs which makes me think it won't feel any nippier than my Saxo.
Is this the case or is "in-gear" acceleration better? I have hunted for the dci80 but none available in a used Clio.
Any thoughts / suggestions would be appreciated. Read more
Yeah thought of the Modus but I already have the Scenic and SWMBO (believe it or not) has told me I am not getting another sensible mummy car!
The dealer told me today, that regarding the Modus, they don't sell any brand new, they are either second hand or direct from Renault on Renaulttogo.
hi there, can anyone help??? i have an alfa romeo 156 2.0 t spark 1999 with 100k on the clock and at the moment i cant drive it because the idle speed is stuck in high revvs all the time (over 3000 and rising) basically its revving its nuts off!!
this has only just started...does any one know of a possible cause and solution? Read more
I had a similar problem with my 1.8ts. The problem turned out to be with the lambda sensor, which is basicaly analizes exhaust emission and feed back to the ECU - which thinks the car is running lean so increases the fuel flow. A new sensor should set you back £80 or so plus fitting - get a good alfa specialist ( not necessarily a main dealer !! )to do the work.
Having no faith whatsoever in my local Vauxhall garage- they are to customer service what King Herod was to babysitting- advice please, especially as this is my first diesel.
It's a 2.2 vectra June 03, 33.5k miles .When would you suggest cam-belt thingy needs replacing and any idea of cost? Read more
Re oil change - On an 03 plate it will be on Ecoflex servicing unless it's been reverted at some point to time/distance. So for a diesel that will be 30k/2 years/ service light - whichever comes first.
Has an Audi A6 98 plate got a water level detector in the coolant header tank. Thanks. Peter Read more
Any know for sure. Regards Peter
My first car was a 1977 (S reg) Cortina 2.0S, in a bronze colour and nice wood trim (I love wood trim), bought in approximately 1992.
Paid £200 for it off an elderly gent, and the car was surprisingly quick, esp. compared to my fathers 1.6L S reg Cortina he had at the time!