June 2006

RoverRunner

Hi I'm just following on from posts from Stanton Man made a while ago about the Rover air flow meter. I too got passed a quote for a lovely total of £335 for replacing air flow meter plus labour (and new air filter). I sourced a meter for £110 (compared to Rover's £180 before VAT). Just wondering about fitting the meter. Is it a serious job for mechanics only??? Does the ECU error message on next service make a difference to the running of the engine??

Sorry if that sounded ignorant, I'm in over my head methinks.




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Forum Ecotek
Schuey

I was curious as to whether anyone on the forum has had or currently has, an Ecotek valve fitted to their petrol engined car. The reason I am asking is that I have read that they increase economy - but this is only by 1%. However it does increase performance also.

I would like to know whether anyone has positive or negative results with theirs, if the item does benefit performance and economy, are there any drawbacks.

Many thanks Read more

nortones2

AS: I happened to come across this site www.fuelsaving.info/biog.htm where a number of gadgets were examined. Its interesting to read the comments on people who persuade themselves that this junk works! A number of periodicals including a deadly rival to the Telegraph appear to be smitten by it. Revenue?

Hamsafar

Disabled bay painted around car

A council has apologised to a woman who was fined £60 after workmen painted a disabled bay around her car.

When Shirley Hatcher, 67, parked her car in North Road, Southampton, Hampshire, there were no parking restrictions in place.

Mrs Hatcher, of Priory Road, said: "I had just gone to the hairdressers and when I returned there was this disabled bay and the £60 fine."

A spokeswoman for Southampton City Council has apologised for the error.


I saw the funny side of it the next day - you couldn't make it up
Shirley Hatcher

Mrs Hatcher said: "I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it.

"My car was covered in polka dots from the paint they had used.

"I was fuming, absolutely fuming, all I could think was what sort of idiot did this.

Occasionally things go wrong
Southampton City Council

A spokeswoman for Southampton City Council said the authority would cover the costs of repairs to her car.

She added: "Occasionally things go wrong no matter how hard we try to get things right.

"We were in error, as was our painting contractor, and we're very sorry.

"We are doing everything we can to put it right, and to examine our processes to prevent anything like this happening again."

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Armitage Shanks {p}

There is certainly enough c*rp around to help them! Once the plantation is growing properly there could be a flying display by the Red Pigs!

dom grimes

Does anyone know of a good independant saab specialist in the Manchester area, I've 75k on my 9-5 and whilst main dealers do a good job it is a bit pricy

Regards

Dominic Read more

ipb1962

Thanks for that, still trying to find the name of this garage in Edenfield as well...

Anyone got a clue?

Cheers

Ian.

cheddar

Having cut the grass I sat down last night to watch the France v Togo match with a couple of tins, this got me thinking.

Unleaded is around 95p a litre, I reckon the little Honda used around 20p worth to cut the lawns

Diesel is £1.00/ltr on which the Mondeo will take the family, I and a load of luggage perhaps 12.5 miles.

The 1664 was bought cheaply at Sainsburys, £16 for 24 440ml cans which works out at £1.51/ltr so the two cans I consumed cost me only £1.32, while they were most enjoyable they ultimately served to ensure that I fell asleep through Jonathon Woss.

Last weekend I was staying in a hotel where Bud was £3.50/pint or over £6.00/ltr. So I spent more on three pints a night than on diesel getting the family there and back, a 250 mile round trip.

Makes fuel seem fairly good value. Read more

Altea Ego

And coal.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >

A12FYY

I have an Alfa Romeo GTV 2.0 TS (2001), recently I have noticed the car has been running very hot. I've had the thermostat replaced a few days ago, but this didn't sort it!

Driving at low speeds and through slow moving traffic the car's temp reaches to around 100 on the temp gauge causing the fan to kick in. Also when pushing the car hard it also tends to heat up rapidly, again causing the fan to kick in!

I have checked the oil and water and they are fine (no mix of either!). My next plan of action was to attempt to replace the water pump, however before I do this I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to what could be causing the car to be running hot?

cheers.

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Altea Ego

With the aircon on the radiator fans are on all the time. It realy does sound like circulation problems throught the radiator, but nothing as bad as an airlock or water pump.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >

Unusual Autos

Just bought a EX- AA VW transporter chassis cab with the fibre glass box and electric /hydralic car lfe at the rear and roller shutter workshop body
Great bit of kit but i cant get the rear lift to extend or the winch to work
Is there a set procudure to make this work?
Any AA patrols out there who can help
My AA man has never seen one let alone use one ?

HELP!!!!!! Read more

bell boy

have you looked to make sure they havent removed the motor(s)?
after that look for the main power cord to the alternator/battery it will have a kill switch somewhere i would have thought (the big red key type?,i have one on my wagon for the winch in case of emergencies)
They are a nice piece of kit those.

Dynamic Dave

Anyone know who wrote the music in the "give them something to watch" advert?
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Dynamic Dave

::remember Dave, Google is your one stop shop::

Its called We Control, by Hyper.

www.songofthesalesman.co.uk/ad.aspx?let=peugeot

Edinburgh andy


Hi All

Now i know there are big variations in the quality of some componants some manufactures i have heard of some cars needing shocks & wheel bearings at 40k and others ok for more than 120k

A friend of mine needed a wheel bearing & shocks for MOT - 99 Pug 106 1.4- at 55k miles. I was surprised at this i have the same model of car although 5 years older and a 1.1L and it didnt need a wheel bearing until 95k and my shocks are origional at 111k.

I was wondering why the componants - assuming the manufature is using the same quality of parts- may last longer on one car the other is it just down to how the cars driven??? eg potholes. speedbumps, etc.

Also does heavy breaking have a bad effect on wheel bearings and so why?? and what would a reasonable life expentancy for wheel bearings & shocks in tems of miullage and the life of the seals

Cheers

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none

A few years ago I used to regularly service a Transit van. (6000 mile intervals I think). The driver was VERY heavy on the brakes, and I often used to have to replace pads and discs between services. Front wheel bearings were routinely replaced as the heat generated by braking burnt the bearing grease, and sometimes 'blued' the bearings.

marimba_uk

I'm going to look at a 1.3 L VW Polo - 1995, tommorow and am now a bit concerned this model is a bit dud.

I have heard the engine power is very poor and that the model in general was not very good (hence it being discontinued and upped to the 1.4 L model in same year)

Anybody able to provide some advice on the pros and cons of this model would be a great help.

The car in question has 65000 miles on the clock and has some service history. I have agreed a price of £800.00 should i wish to buy on the day. Does this sound ok?

Many thanks to all in advance. Read more

Xileno {P}

Make sure it's had a cambelt change. Also look for rust - bottoms of the doors, rear valence, boot edge.