July 2006
I was wondering whether there is any freely available information regarding repair times on different cars. For example replacing a clutch on different makes and models? I would have thought the trade would have access to this information but what about us mere mortals? Read more
Not really a name and shame issue as I'm not slating them, just stating a fact.
They've just told me that my Toledo 1.9 TDI 'definitely has a PD engine'; it doesn't!
I'm sure they'd notice once they had it there in front of them - but would the difference make it's way down to the final price paid...? ;o) (For a cambelt change - £300.)
Read more
I agree: reopening a thread after a year just to make that comment sounds like an inside job. Thread closed.
2000 Mondeo 1.8TD with 115k on the clock.
Problem is a "transmission type" noise audible when coming on and off the power at low speeds. It's not a whine, and it's pitch doesn't change with road speed or revs. It's almost like a whirring / grating sound. Just about audible inside the car if you listen for it, but quite pronounced outside. Can't hear it above about 20 mph - whether it disappears or is drowned out by road noise I don't know.
Gearbox feels otherwise OK - good change quality, not noisy in neutral, no whining. It's probably coming up due a clutch though - biting point quite high.
Any ideas?
Cheers
DP Read more
Hi all,
Just an update on this problem.
I have, this afternoon, replaced the right hand engine mounting with a good secondhand one (thanks Ebay). You could see the difference instantly with the way the rubber sat in relation to the metal part of the mount, and there was less than half the amount of movement on the cambelt end of the engine when rocked.
Anyhow, the grating noise has now completely gone, together with all manner of other strange clicks and vibrations which I never really noticed until they weren't there any more. The engine feels so much smoother under acceleration it is untrue! Gearchange feels better as well.
It's still a little jerky on and off the throttle, although miles better than it was, so I suspect one of the others is past its best too. I'll have a look next weekend (busy tomorrow). I actually bought a set of three on Ebay, so I have spare front and left mounts sitting in a box in the garage. Sod's Law it's the rear one gone, but we'll have to wait and see.
Not a bad job, truth told. One of the PAS pipes obstructed two of the bolts, but with a bit of jiggling it we worked around it. 90 mins start to finish, including a coffee and fag half way through.
Anyway, thanks for all the advice. Greatly appreciated, as always.
Cheers
DP
My main computer has just gone down, in quite a terminal seeming way, I wondered if anyone could give any advice.
It was behaving normally, and then suddenly went to a blue screen saying an error had occurred, if this was the first time I'd seen this screen then restart, if I'd seen it before, something else (didn't read on, I'd never seen the screen before!)
I trid to restart with the reset button, but it didn't work, so I had to pull the power. Since then, the computer has not worked at all. On turning it on you can hear it power up, but the monitor never recognises any signal (and I've tried it with another monitor too.
Anyone got anything I can try?
As an aside question, it has got a warrantee, but it's back-to-base. I've just saved a load of stuff to it that I need, so the question is: if I unplug the SATA cable from the motherboard and plug it into my other computer, will I be able to access the hard-drive to get at the files? Will I need to use the other computers power too, or will it accept power from one computer while data connected to the other? Read more
Hasn't arrived yet - give 'em a chance !
Driving home yesterday evening with my son in the front seat and almost drove into the back of an elderly and very shabby Mk1 Range Rover. I realised reasonably quickly that the RR had no brake lights. I managed to pull to the side of him at a junction and wound the window down to tell him. He couldn't wind his window down (obviously u/s as it was his drivers side window he was trying to drop) and so opened the door, which reveal a lot of rust.
He was an early 50s bloke in shirt and tie and cigarette and had a couldn't care less attitude when i told him. I t was as if he knew already but as too lazy to deal with it.
I was able to get away from him and turned off soon after. However, I felt like I wanted to report him. But who to? If I ring the police, they are too busy dealing with law abiding motorists who are going 1mph over an unreasonable speed limit to bother looking for him.
BTW I though RRs were aluminium; so why did I see rust when he opened the door. Are the doors steel?
Read more
So you're claiming that, whatever speed you're doing, you will be able to come to a complete halt in 2 seconds?
I disagree, the two second rule is designed to give you time to react to whatever is happening up ahead. Your reactions are likely to be much slower if there's no warning until your eyes spot the decelleration. That might happen almost instantly, but it won't happen as quickly as your eyes will notice two bright lights coming on.
An a simple example that your premise is wrong, two seconds at 70mph is 205 feet, but the stopping distance at 70mph is 315 feet. Since the highway code is responsible for both the two second rule, and that stated stopping distance, obviously the reason for the two second rule can not be as you state.
friend has a vw polo which is a few years old. its the model with four round lamps at the front. she just had a baby. at present the baby's child seat is in the back. is there a way to switch off the passenger air bag so she can have the seat at front? Read more
If there is not a key operated deactivator (probably a optional extra), then you'll have to enquire at a dealers about possibility of permanantly deactivating the airbag (to include a badge to stick on the dashboard warning that airbag is now inactive).
(This had been done to my daughter's Lupo when we saw it; we got the dealer to reactivate the airbag before we bought it).
Are these high pressue diesel systems really as bad as I've read? I always thought that diesels not having ignition systems were simpler than petrol engines, but it now seems the reverse is true. Also fuel consumption figures don't appear much different from my 1998 1.4 Civic which rarely goes below 45mpg between fill-ups. Read more
I agree with Cheddar. Having put up with cambelt failure on an older Diesel, I spent years worrying about cambelts. Now I buy chain cam diesels. It happens to be CR. Must I worry about that too?! Life's too short. Ignorance is bliss in my opinion. Please don't tell me what else can go wrong!!!!!
Perhaps I should stop reading these pages.............bad for my health...
Splodgeface
I have a 2.0CDi Vectra - 1999 version which runs fine, however when the aircon is put on it only blows out warm air and no cold. Went to Halfords and purchased an aircon coolant refill kit, only to find I cant find the refill point under the bonnet. Also found a second fan internal to the engine bay which appears not to be working but looks as if it is connected to the aircon pipes. Any idea (a) which fuse controls this fan and (b) where the coolant filler point is and (c) is this a known Vectra fault?? Many Thanks Read more
DD. If it is the Vauxhall Owners Network, you will have translate it into text language so the GSi / SRi / Turbo / V6 brigade will understand it!
is there any spray paint that will replace my headlight chrome on my 1993 seat toledo,. it failed it`s mot on poor headlights so i cleaned the glass and noticed the chrome(on plastic) was poor so i resprayed with `chrome` paint but it`s just a bit more shiny silver, i`ve seen cans with chrome tops but cant rember were??
Thanks Ray Read more
the extra heat from the bulbs will soon cause the paint to deteriate I'm afraid. A lot of the plating places won't do it becuase it is a used item and they say it will contaminate the plating baths. Some comapny will do them but they do them in batches just before new chemicals are due. Regards Peter
just been offerd one for nothing. i'm known localy as a bit of a wesley type chachater from last of the summer wine. its been in a garage for about 10 years........................Lud Help!!!
I've been told to get rid, or basicaly do as i like, scrap or do as i want. It looks good on first inspection it needs NO welding, but body is tatty
Read more
I had a super ten that had a remarkable habit of shedding wheels. The centre would remain bolted to the hub, but the rest would part company. After the second occurance, I examined the remaining three wheels, they were all cracked!
IIRC police 2.5 PIs had a similar problem at the same time.
Browse
Yes, Autodata is the source. Mind you, it only takes one siezed bolt and you can double some of those times!