July 2006
My understanding is that an air conditioning unit it?s self can only be either on or off. So, how does automatic climate control modulate the coolth produced?
As the temperature inside the car approaches the set point does the climate controller combine hot or warm air with the cold air to produce the desired temperature? Or does it just turn the chiller on and off?
SGB Read more
Renault Scenic 1.9DCi, 63K miles, new cambelt, 250 miles later at 70mph, thump, all lights on. Recovery man said broken cambelt mate. Not me I said its new and only 250 miles. Cover removed, belt not broken but only quarter inch wide and lots of fibre threads. Garage also happens to be my employer!!! Sloping shoulders??? It might not be our fault as the belt is not broken but shredded and some wound round the back of some gears. Think the camshaft might be snapped as there's some play. Now having it looked at by specialist.
I think broken camshaft due to probable belt tooth jump, and this happened due to poor fitting causing damage. But I would think that wouldnt I otherwise I have to pay the cost.
Anyone any similar experiences/comments/ideas as I dont want to have to foot the bill. Read more
Thanks oily. It appears that there was a recall notice for gold coloured alt pulleys so all of this stuff is very useful. Finding no general problem with loads of cams snapping helps me to push back any "its your fault" riggling from the garage. And if it is a gold pulley, they had the car when it was under warranty so they should have recalled it and put a new one on. All I'm working for is a "its your problem, fix it" position!
Just about to fit some new spark plugs. Question is why do they come with a silver bit that you screw on the end (over the end that connects to the lead) and do you need to put this silver bit on?
If you do need to put it on then why not make them that way in the first place? Hope this makes sense.
thanks Read more
I use a drop of super glue to keep the sliver bit screwed up tight on the end of the plugs.
I fitted a set to a VW OHC engine the other week & had to unscrew the silver bits because it had the different type HT leads fitted.
Hello
I am the registered keeper of a second car however the insurance is in my boyfriends name as he will be the driver of it. Is this ok or does the insurance have to be in my name? Read more
My husband uses my old car on a daily basis so its insured in his name, although its still my name on the registration documents. Insurance company know this and they are not bothered, nor has it made any difference to the premium as it would be the same whether its my name or his name on the reg doc. It seemed pointless then to transfer the ownership to him as it would just mean that the car would be listed as having had 3 owners rather than 2 should we come to sell it.
I seem to remember Top Gear 'featured' an irritating device that fitted inside the fuel cap of diesel cars and emitted an audible warning when you went to refuel.
Joking aside, was this a genuine device and if so anyone know where they can be bought?
We have recently had three of our company car drivers misfuel cars with the corresponding onconvenience and expense of putting this right.
Thanks
Andrew Read more
I think nothing should be done, it could be a sort of stupidity tax with half the cost of fixing the damage going to the government or something.
Seriously why do some people find it so hard to... put the correct fuel in?
I've driven many cars both petrol and diesel and have never gone to put diesel in an obviously petrol car or vice versa, and yes, that includes diesels which are very quiet, such as 530d.
As a non-mechanically minded girl I happily take my car to the garage and let them get on with things.
However...
In January all my brake pads were replaced. In June the front left brake pads had to be replaced again as the calipers had rusted and they had worn away the brake pads. What I am wondering is whether the garage should have noticed a build up of rust back in January - surely rust can't develop from no where in just 6 months?
The garage asked me 'do you drive far?' - (whatever I say is always wrong) I said it was about average and they told me that that was the problem - I hadn't driven enough and therefore rust had developed!
As my speedo went last year and then went again 6 months later (though the garage told me it was a different part of the speedo mechanism which had failed each time) I am wondering whether they're being genuine or if they're just taking me for a ride.
Additionally, does anyone know if there is anywhere in the Salisbury area where you can study car maintenance just as a part-time. I have always wanted to learn just that so that I could save myself a small fortune by doing some simple repairs myself.
Kathryn
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>>the slides were re-greased and another set of pads fitted all ok for the next 25.000mls
actually sounds like OP problem,garage could have at least said this may be the problem,instead of making out caliper rust caused it.
However I suppose it could be they didnt really look into why,only simple quick fix for 5 minutes
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Steve
A dilemma I faced recently: I'd be interested to hear other people's views on it.
You are setting out on a 10-mile journey in a friend's car, and the owner is at the wheel driving through heavy but free-flowing urban traffic. The route takes you around roundabouts, down narrow streets with pavements clogged with pedestrians, around plenty of blind corners, and onto some stretches on 40mph dual carriageway.
The friend has been in argument with someone and is still a bit stewed up. After a mile or so, the driver decides it's time to phone the other person, and "sort it out". Apart from involving illegal use of a mobile phone while driving, (there's no hands-free), this is clearly going to be a long and heavy call, with plenty of conflict: precisely the sort of call which is likely to be most distracting.
As the driver picks up the phone, you point out that it should not be used while driving, but with one hand on the wheel while turning a corner, the dialling begins with the other hand.
I was a coward. I just kept silent, having made my point. And I don't think I did the right thing.
What would you do? Read more
Not meant to be, I just thought it was taking the idea a little far - I can't say I would be bothered about 1mph over the speed limit, I would be bothered about 50mph over the limit. I probably wouldn't be bothered by a 1min calm telephone conversation I would be bothered with an intense phone argument. - don't see the relevance or the connection.
My dad has a 1996 Ford Galaxy, it is a 2litre aspen model.
The problem that he is encountering is when he gets the car to about 4000rpm it seems to be hitting the limiter, this happens in every gear and he can only get a maximum of 80mph down the motorway in 5th gear. Thats when the road is in a slope aswell.
He has changed the spark plugs, ht leads, put injector cleaner through, but still seems to be limiting. I have suggested that he gets it checked in for a computer test to see if it brings up any error codes, would anyone else know of any ideas what it could be?
Thanks in advance. Matt Read more
Sounds like its running LOS or in english its stuck in Limp Home Mode.
Time to get the ECU fault codes read & go from there.
The rev limiter should cut in around 6800 to 7100 on this lump.
I've got a Mazda 323F 1998. I bought it 6 months ago and soon after began to make a 'knocking' noise whenever I was braking and turning at the same time.
It seems to happen at each corner but mostly front offside and I can usually feel it through the brake pedal.
It is getting progressively worse but it only ever happens when braking and turning. I thought it could be worn suspension bushes but have had this problem before on another car and it made a noise whenever I went over a sharp bump.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks Read more
Sounds like possibly a cracked disc to me. If so it needs immediate attention, I suggest you do not drive it, if a piece of the disc falls out then the wheel will lock and spin the car.
Right then
Getting a bit bored of my A3 140 tdi and saw recently that audi have launched a 170 bhp version in quattro.
Has anyone experience of this engine yet - especially in quattro guise?
Cheers Read more
Hadn't thought of that - thanks. Been a bit busy recently to answer this. Sorry.
Browse
Yes, my Mazda has climate control and a sunlight sensor on top of the dash (and the owner's manual contains dire warnings about covering up the sunlight sensor - presumably at risk of thinking the climate control system is faulty).
This car also adjusts fan speed according to how much temperature change is required, and has an ECO mode for the A?C - but I haven't worked out what that means, really.
Annoyingly, if I choose to change the air direction, by directing it to my feet instead of the face vents, it switches off the climate control's Auto Mode. That's my only complaint about the system.