August 2006
As the Punto is approaching its 25000 mile service interval, I read that HJ says that:
"Internal and external filters together with the ATF of the Speedgear box MUST [HJ's emphasis] be changed at 24k miles."
In the manual it simply says to check the ATF levels (which I do monthly) at 24,000 miles; nowhere does it say to change it. In addition, the service sheet for the Fiat-approved dealership places a simple tick box for the mechanic to check that the levels are o.k. However, I actually agree with HJ's advice as this would seem the best option to remove any pieces of carp in the system.
If I ask the dealership to change the fluid, how would I know for sure that they had done so? Is it an easy job...? With oil I can see the difference; ATF seems to always remain that fresh red colour...
Suggestions are most welcome. Cheers
Read more
I can't find a search option on this forum, which is a bit sad.
Anyway, there's a good discussion going on at the moneysavingexpert forums about supermarket vs big name fuel. My personal belief is that big name fuel gives me slightly more mpg. Years ago I had a crappy 1.1 Escort which would pink at the slighest excuse as I attempted to wring every last one of its 60BHP out it. With that noticed that big name fuel seemed to make it run better.
Read more
You've just contradicted yourself nortones2 - saying that cars are not set to a partilular octane, then saying that a given car requires a particular octane! If you were to buy that Audi in the US or Australia, it would run on 91-RON. Whilst 98 is the [b]optimal[/b] octane for that particular engine, it does not [b]require[/b] it at all. If the ECU is set up to cope with a particular octane, it'll work. All the "98-RON" figure tells you about the Audi is that any higher octane would make no difference, because it can't advance its timing to cope with faster-burning fuel than 98-RON.
brother inlaw arrived from st helens last night, as he pulled up , the auto fluid is spilling out , i live in bedfordsire,[hes borrowed my car to go to twickenham. ]. its a 2 litre k reg scorpio 50 thousand miler . ive read here of the fragility of these boxes , its seems to be leaking from the bell housing its a steady drip with engine running, . if he kept topping up do you think he could make it 160 miles, . does any body know the service time given to remove gearbox. by the way his breakdown cover takes the family home ,but the car only 20 miles. Read more
Running it til it dies possibly ?
I have recently heard of the pipeline card. www.pipelinecard.org.
The card has not been launched yet. The guy behind the card is trying to arrange a discount on fuel for private motorists.
Has anyone else heard of this card? What are your views? Read more
...and I'm with Vin. I signed up ages ago, on the basis that it would never happen without support. I've just had two or three emails from them, and I'm happy for them to bring good motoring-related offers to my attention. Makes a change from the more, erm, health-related offers I get!
i remember seeing a advert in one of the classic magazines for a company that sells various universal ball joint rubbers
anyone know who /where sells them Read more
If you really are stuck for replacement parts, and insist on replacing just the rubber boot, try a brake slave cylinder repair kit.
(With a bit of imagination) the dust seal fits fairly well on most ball joints, and with a dollop of grease, water and dirt are kept out.
The 2cv was designed to be
a) good for driving over fields and very rough tracks
b) cheap
Seems to me that today everyone wanting to drive over that kind of terrain wants a 4X4.
What inexpensive, 2wd car, available in the UK today would one buy for driving over very rough tracks? Read more
These bad jokes need to stop! First Oldy, now you!
I'm the only one who can make hideously bad jokes on this forum.
My gran told me that grandad's first car, in about 1930 was a 3 wheeler Morgan. Apparently her job was to lean over the back with a lump hammer to knock the chain back on every so often.
I spotted what seemed to be a brand new "06" reg old style VW Camper Van this week. How can this be? Read more
i thought that is what they were an original design engine with an injection system whacked on it to get the emmissions down but hardly a refined solution
think
ford fiesta 1100 circa 93-97
mini circa 94-98
?????????????????
2001 206 GLX - usually the rev counter doesn't get off the mark at all, but if pushed, may decide to creep up to 2000rpm. Is there anything straightforward I can try to rectify this ? All the other dials seems to be working, the only other problem it's had was a replacement indicator stalk.
thanks Read more
"a dammed good smack on the dash cures it"
Unless of course you put your fist through it LOL!
:-)
Of course everything is relative and I'm sure GM & Ford would love to only have these problems at Toyota but I read today that they are launching a major campaign to tackle quality issues and recalls. (See BBC Business pages). This may even delay the launch of various new models.
Being the owner of a 2 year old Toyota and an 1 year old Honda I have to say that the quality of the Honda is far superior to that of the Toyota.
But having said that I would safely bet money on the fact that Toyota will fix these issues and soon. Read more
> I think there is something of a decline in build quality
in Brit built Toyotas compared with Japanese built ones. In fact,
I don't believe anything comes close to the quality of the
late 80s/early 90s Toyotas/Hondas (perhaps other Japanese cars back then too).<
I certainly agree that the 80's japanese cars were pretty great build wise.
My old Mazda ( 1986 ) is on a whole different planet quality wise compared to the Ford Escort of the same age. Even now 20 years on, the carpet still looks like new, there are no cracks, rattles or bits of loose trim.
Looking at the state of my customers Focus the other day which at 15k has holes in the carpet through wear, I think its about time the rest upped their game!
Browse
Thanks, Greg. Appreciate the advice
AA