August 2006
My car is due an MOT and has a hole in the rear silencer. Would this fail an MOT because of this? Read more
Can't really think of how to title it, but when you're doing an oil change in your car do you actually read the little chart thing in the manual where it tells you what oil is suitable for what temperature, or do you just go for the broadest range multigrade you can find?
Only realised today I can safely run mine on 15w40 even as low as -10 C (according to this chart).
All I normally do is bung in whatever fully synth 5w30/40 (30 for Ford, 40 for Pug) is cheapest at the time. Read more
8< SNIP 8<
Let's leave it at that please. DD.
I was wondering where people thought things would head?
If we get punative tax for large cars, will we all be driving small cars such as those in Japan powered on alcohol or something? Read more
Bigger, heavier, plusher, safer, better specced, easier to drive, more idiot-proof, less involving, and with fun involving handling behaviour or straight-line speed completely removed from the agenda.
Double digit horsepower figures will no longer be feasible even in "small" cars due to kerbweights (Peugeot 207 is the first of many)
All feel eradicated from controls in favour of lightness and ease of use (happening already)
Oversteer eradicated by lawsuit fearing chassis designers (happening already)
Satellite tracking and monitoring (sold to the public as "all inclusive" sat nav / GPS, but automatically shops you for speeding, and links into the toll-road system). Systems will be factory fitted and integrated into the car's systems making removal/hacking near impossible. (The government would do this yesterday if they could make it work).
A 2056 Supermini will weigh 2000kg, seat 5 in 400 mile comfort, plus carry a weekly shop for four, and be the size of a current Mondeo. If you want a small, cheap, basic car from an established Western manufacturer, you will be even more stuffed than you are today.
Magazines will continue their double standards of advising peopl on one hand not to buy anything that's a bit noisy or basic, or without that fifth NCAP star, yet whinge and moan on the other that all the new cars they test are heavy and slow.
Highly unlikely to be powered by fossil fuels, or at least the derivatives in use today.
Oh, and motorbikes will be banned or have their pink fluffy dice cut off so heavily through emissions and safety legislation they will be rendered pointless.
I really, really want to be wrong on this by the way, but based on the last 10 years "progress" it doesn't look too good in my view.
Cheers
DP
this problem is due to i think speed humps because now everytime i go over one my 206 has this dry creaking sound from the front wheels as i go over them and then creaks from the rear wheels when they travel over it, is this a fault with the car or something drying up or what? it sounds if im pushing a 1920s old fashion pram! how embarrassing it is when people turn round to see me driving ps its a 2000 model 206 1400 engine with only 60k miles.
thanks any advice or simular problems from anyone and how can i stop this annoying creaking sound?
kira Read more
suspension bushes
Anyone know how to get access to the oil filter on a Terrano II 2.7TDI. I can't see a way to get to it without removing major parts such a exhaust. Thanks for any help.
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Thanks, I'll take a closer look.
hi,
this is driving my old man mad, i know this is an old car but someone may know the answer.
dad's got a hillman minx 1600, 1965 and it has started to misfire when it's hot, after about 5 miles, then it dies.
he's changed the carb, fuel pump, spark plugs, and had the distributor apart, changed the condenser and points.
the engine breather pipe is clear and the spark is nice and strong.
the timing is bang on and the tappets are spot on.
alll this and it's still misbehaving!
the only thing that is odd is the coil gets hot, very hot, like 130 degress hot, hot enough to burn if you touch it, is this normal?
any ideas what could still be causing the misfire/coil overheating? Read more
dad seems to have got it sorted.
after it died this time he looked inside the float chamber to find it empty of fuel, by tapping the side of the carb the chamber would fill (with the car cranking) this lead him to assume it is/was a sticking fuel cut-off valve in the carb.
although he had changed the carb for a brand new one it still had a sticking valve, he's put the valve from the old carb back on because he thinks that it doesn't stick as much (perhaps being a bit more worn), anyway he's got to the bottom of the misfire/dying saga.
the coil is still getting warm but we'll try a replacement.
the points in the regulator are all very good and working as they should.
thanx again
Anyone know anywhere around Heathrow area that sells throttle body cleaner?
All I can find on t'internet is American places. Valvoline Synpower looks promising. Read more
But remember that if this is something like a volo with the mm throttle body the problem is probably physical damage to the conductive surface. cleaner might clean up a bit of dirt but sooner or later yo uneed a new body - or swap trhe car while you can!
Weird abs fault
One of our VW LT28 hire vans was returned recently with a totally wrecked n/s/r wheel bearing and half shaft. (Been making a funny noise for weeks said the hirer).
The ABS sensor and ring were damaged and the wiring melted. Everything was replaced using genuine VW parts. The half shaft / bearing / sensor ring / sensor assembly was taken from an engine damaged van that we use for spares, and is known to be good. Two new rear discs and new pads were fitted all round.
The problem is, when braking with a firm steady pressure there is a single thud from the ABS unit which is felt through the pedal. This happens between 5 - 8mph and It doesn't always happen if the pedal pressure is varied or released during braking. The ABS works as it should under heavy braking, and the warning light works normally. No fault codes are recorded after a road test. If the ABS is disabled, the brakes work normally, but without the thud.
I've replaced the ABS unit, (with a known good one), bled the brakes, and adjusted the n/s/r sensor to ring clearance. The problem persists.
The local VW dealer has been helpful, but - like me - have run out of suggestions and opinions.
Can anyone help ?
{vehicle details added to subject header - DD} Read more
Many thanks to NC and DD.
The number of spokes on the sensor ring did occur to me as being relevant, but the VW parts dept.say that all of the new and used parts are compatible. It looks like a count is on the cards ! As a matter of interest, they say that whenever they replace a sensor ring the mechanic doing the job always gets another mechanic to confirm that the ring has minimal runout - it's that critical. The transplanted half shaft does have a bit of runout, (couple of thou) but it wasn't a problem on the donor vehicle.
I only have access to a basic code reader which displays no fault code after a road test.
It did occur to me that the thud happens when the ABS switches off (about 5mph according to VW) but the local mechanics insist that this would show up as a fault code. (That's why I changed the ABS unit).
any one know where the auto gearbox oil level is as cant find any dipstick as is usual with autos Read more
I have the 2.5 TDi with Multi-tronic, and the gearbox oil needs to be changed every 40K. Only a dealer can do it as apparently the new oil has to be pre-heated, and then pumped in at a certain rate??
Help! What dissolves superglue?
I've spilled a bit on what appears to be a stove enamelled surface under the bonnet.
Tried soap and water, white spirit, even cutting polish, there's still some adhering.
The surface itself doesn't seem to be marked.
Any ideas anyone?
Read more
The most useful addition to super glue is a spray can of activator. This is a catalyst that makes the glue set instantly. That's in about one second. This means you can use it to build up a layer of the acrylic to add strength, and you don't have to hold the surfaces hard together. The one I use is called Permabond CSA, and it isn't cheap, but the can lasts for years as you only need the tiniest amount each time. I've lost count of the number of things I've repaired with this method.
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My local garage allows a patched silencer as long as there are no leaks.