June 2006
I'm thinking of getting the cam-belt changed in my wife's Rover 214 (K series engine). I've read various discussions on this in the past - what should I ask the garage to do? Are there any tensioners or pulleys or such-like that I should also get changed at the same time? Any other things I shoud do to keep a trust-worthy K-series running for ever? Read more
My bro is seriously thinking about one. We've got nice dealers over here, 20% off list price. Concerned about the reliability, though, as his current Avensis is just superb. We're talking MY' 06, a Z22 YH 155 BHP engine + 5 speed auto Active Select.
Isn't it a Japanese JATCO unit ? What about its reliability ?
Z22 YH is powered by a direct injection - any problems with that ?
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I am the only Pole over here. Read more
The six-speed could potentially be fitted to most of the Vectra line-up (I believe the casing is the same as the five-speed). AFAIK the factory currently fits them to the V6 petrol and Diesel and the 150PS 1.9 Diesel. I've driven the latter a fair bit and it is just ticking over at 70mph. The snag with this engine is hesitation when pulling away from junctions - there is an initial flat-spot and then a rush of acceleration as the revs build up. Spoils it a bit for me..
Will be needing to change my corolla at the start of summer to something that will tow a large 4 berth caravan....
Needs to be an estate, and probably on the large side, I checked out kerbweights/towing limits of primera/avensis size cars and they are approaching 100% of the caravan max weight - Caravan Club recommend only towing 85% of weight of car, and def. not more than 100% of car weight.
Car needs to be automatic as my mother often uses my vehicle, and she will only drive auto, and I do a huge amount of town driving as well.
and prob diesel too as I am spending far too much on petrol even in my little corolla at the moment.
I have been checking out vehicles on autotrader and most diesel estates (volvo, VW etc.) seem to be being offered at way above book price, and also seem to have huge mileages on them - they just don't look good value. Will these vehicles just be moneypits once they are past 100,000 miles ?
My (reasonable priced) mechanic is good with mechanical stuff, but not so with electronics, so something he can routinely service and do mechanical repairs (cambelts, alternators, suspension, brakes etc) to, and it could go to a not-too-expensive independent specialist if it needed any fancy diagnostics, but not a vehicle where I was dependent on a main-dealer for servicing and maintenance.
Any suggestions anyone as to what I should be thinking of buying
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A mate is also looking for a smaller diesel and he says all the cars he's been to see have been terribly tired and overpriced too....
IS the market overvaluing diesel at the moment or are people beinggreedy or buyers being stupid and not looking at the value of what they are buying ?
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Kia Sedona? either slide the rear seats forward or remove them depending on the model and then transfer some of the heavy carp(awning, tables, chairs, BBQ, bikes, water carriers, bats, balls etc) from the caravan to the car. Its never just a caravan is it?
Papho
I'm interested in getting a scooter for london and have sse a new Yamaha Majesty 250. It's 3 years old and they want £2000. It is in a shop. Is this worth looking at and what things might give trouble ie battery? Any ideas welcome. Cheers, Mike Read more
I might have misunderstood your post Mike, I was under the impression that it was brand new and had been in the dealers possession for three years for whatever reason.
Hello all, well after over 9yrs of mainly driving 306DT's I sold the old girl and picked up a nice family car....Impreza Turbo Estate....UK car, nice and tidy.......early Mk1 (1996)
I'm planning to do a gas lpg conversion on it, basically fit the kit myself, then take her for a tune and certificate...I'm just putting the feelers out to see if anyone else had lpg'd a scooby and could recommend which kit..I have heard about the Dream 21........
Many thanks
Hayden Murray Read more
yes Ian you are correct, she will still eat the fuel...18ish mpg, but because the fuel is current less than half price, that equates to approx 40mpg......I honestly do not think the gov will raise tax of lpg for a couple of yrs....and even it it does go up, it has a long way to go before it tops 90p/lt. I current can comfortably afford to run the scooby on petrol, but just because I can afford to, it does not mean I want to. Coupled with t he fact I really want to gas convert car for the fun of it.
My n/s/r door on the 406 has been damaged by a "runaway" supermarket trolley at a high profile supermarket. The incident was witnessed by three independant witnesses, and all was reported correctly to powers that be.
Conclusion today came in a letter saying that "vehicles and property are brought onto the premises at the customers own risk," therefore it is tough luck for me. I would imagine that they are probably correct in their statement, but just wondered if anybody on the forum knows better, or has made a successful claim, say in the small claims court?
In hope.
Reggie
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If you feel your claim is justified, then tell Bloggs' supermarket that you hold them responsible and you WILL pursue the matter, including court action if necessary.
If you persist and make sure they know that you are going to persist, I bet you will get your claim settled before it goes to court.
Be very calm, do not get excited, do not swear, do not be rude, be icy cold and formal.(Not suggesting you would do any of these things, of course.)
I had a claim against BAA and they paid me before it went to court. A friend has also had results with BAA and Esso.
The battery failed on my Mazda 626 the other day, I replaced it and now she starts and runs well apart from tickover which seems to be lower, you can come upto a junction and the engine will die, shell starts up straight away , but the tickover is now lumpier since the battery change . I can live with it but its just annoying .Any ideas? Read more
have you tried it on a run to get the ecu to learn its parameters as all data was lost due to battery change?
My Haynes manual recommends "honing" the cylinder bores before fitting new piston rings. What does this achieve?
By eye, the bores look perfect, there is no ridge at the top,
no scores or other visible damge. The pistons do feel tight in the bore I must say but I put this down to the new rings.
Honing = dismantling again, so, is it worth it? Read more
OK the pistons are in the the big end are on. The bores have not been rebored so the bores will not be round any more but slightly oval in the direction of the crankshaft throw. This is not ideal for new rings at all and the use of a honing tool would have been of great advantage to even things up a bit without going plus sized pistons and rings. This excludes a honing tool as it may leave unhoned areas but I would give it a try. Use grease to fill the gap when the pistons ( 2) are at bottom dead centre then hone the bore moving the tool from top to bottom at a rugular rate to produce a diagonal overlapping pattern at about 15 degrees and the surfave is matt. If the pattern is contiguous then all is well. Now move the piston up 1cm and back down and coolect the debris. back down, back up and clean again. Clean well and repeat for the other two pistons.If you do not have a honing tool to try just use 1000 grit wet and dry paper and matt the bores in a similiar pattern clean thoughly and complete your build. The bit that does not get honned at the bottom of the stroke. is under no real pressure as these is no compression at that point and the piston is moving relatively slowly. If it where me I would not be putting new rings and pistons into a used a bore unless measurement and honing put it within spec for diameter and ovality. Having said that I have seen several engines at 70K plus with very near perfect bore dimensions particulary VW Polos and Volvo's. The choice is yours but do not run new rings on glazed bores or you will melt the ends of the compression and oil control rings. Regards Peter
My local paper reports this week the case of a man driving with vegetable oil instead of hydraulic fluid in his brake system. He used it ?by mistake?. Two garages had told him the car was a death trap, but he drove on. The police caught up with him when he was driving with four kids in the car.
He caught a book lobbed in his direction by the magistrates, who also referred him to a higher court for more of the same.
Zebra
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Thanks Zebra - that clears that up!
After replacing the battey on a 1997 C Class the electric windows operate jerky and slowly.
Does anyone know how they can be reset please to correct operation please? Read more
Thank you Bill Payer
It worked well.
Browse
>>I do agree; perhaps I was being pedantic,
If you was not NC, then K series certainly is on cooling front it dont forgive mistakes,to add,the anti freeze has to be changed as well,if not, its certain other problems will arise!
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Steve