September 2006
Just got back from a weeks holiday down in Devon (in case you were wondering why it's been quiet in here ;) ), a few miles short of home, driving along a 60 road at, erm, approximately that speed, when an idiot pulls out in front of me at a distance where I would have had to slam the anchors on even if I was doing 30.
No accident ensued, but in order to rapidly slow down while scoping the other side of the road for a split-second, then rapidly accelerate past him, I had to do a four gear block change, which wasn't the cleanest I've ever perpetrated.
Anyway, now the gearstick has gone all wobbley. Still got all my gears and everything, but the stick isn't self-centring any more, and you can move the stick laterally even when it's in gear.
I take it this isn't a gearbox problem per se, but something wrong at the stick end, a broken spring perhaps? Any advice or suggestions? Read more
Hi
Sunday, me and the family will be travelling up the M1 and expect a load of cones.
When I see millions of these cones, I often wonder if there was a better and cheaper solution.
Several times we've seen the men drop off and pick up comes from the back of the lorry.
Does anyone think that this design of cone will ever be replaced and if yes, with what?
BTW - on the way back from a trip several years ago on a sunny day, a lorry had ran over about hlaf a mile of cones - no one was hurt but our feeling was the driver must have feel asleep - it was a French regd lorry. Read more
I have to get myself a large estate for next year and I have never driven or owned any of the options so Im hoping someone may have done.
What I want is a large and by large I mean Volvo sized, estate which is also fairly economical ( hence the diesel idea ) which will also be durable and reliable as far as you can with old cars.
My shortlist is Vauxhall Carlton 2.3D, Audi 100 Avant, Volvo 740 TD, Peugeot 505 2.5D and the Ford Granada 2.5D.
Im not keen on turbo cars really as at the age Im looking at, its likely to be knackered, so id prefer one of the non-turbo options as a preference.
My budget is about a grand or so.
What id like to know, is any of these cars proper reliable and what are they like to own. Im NOT interested in performance whatsoever, so if its sluggish, not bothered ( I put that in because I know many people like punchy diesels and may assume I do, but not in this case )
I have already crossed the Merc estates off because they are not that economical, nor is the Peugeot 504. Also the Citroen CX doesnt appear because I owned one of them and it was a nightmare.
Id also be interested in any petrol options that can get near the diesel economy, but they must run on unleaded.
Thanks! Read more
I'd go for an Omega or one of the Vauxhall's - an old Vectra if it's large enough, or the new Vectra if you want to pay more.
For the last few days between junc 10 -j 15 there have been 3 or 4 vans with signs stating they were to clean cones, but for some reason no work seemed to be done on the cones and the vans had large glass domes on the top,
Any idea what they could actually be doing.
Also saw an advert attached to lamp posts around a certain part of NW London offering "digital recalibration" (or words to that affect )- surely it's just clocking - is it that simple Read more
It isn't illegal to alter the milage provided the buyer is informed that this has been done.
--
Robin Reliant, formerly known as Tom Shaw
My 2.2 SRI Direct Vectra has covered 32K miles.it was serviced last year (10/05) at around 20K.Does this mean that THIS service will be my 40K service? If so,what should I expect to be included in the service? Things I have considered are ;
- Oil and Filter
- Air Filter
- Pollen Filter
- Keyfob Batteries
- The "usual" easy stuff washer fluid,wipers etc
Should the fuel filter be changed? Dealer says "no" but service book refers to an "external" fuel filter on the Petrol engines?
Brake Fluid change?
Thanks in advance Read more
In your service book, there is mention of what is done (or supposedly done) at each service interval. If you haven't got yours to hand, I'll dig mine out and post the lists.
I can't recall however my Vaux dealer ever changing the keyfob batteries though. With the Vec-C if you've got Check Control (the system that tells you that you've got low washer fluid, a bulb out, etc) it will tell also you if the battery for the keyfob is getting low anyway. The battery is a CR2032, and you'll no doubt purchase it cheaper elsewhere (##) and fit it yourself for a fraction of the cost that your dealer will charge.
( ## ) eg, www.batterystar.co.uk/watch_batteries.html#watch_b...2 : £1.25 + 0.99p for p&p.
Has anyone fitted the Pro-drive Performance Pack to an Isuzu Denver Max pickup?
Very interested in the performance benefits.
many thanks
Read more
Also posted in technical Matters. This post removed to avoid repetition of replies. DD Read more
Any advice would be appreciated. On acceleration, when the clutch is depressed my revs go up as if riding the clutch but I'm not. It's been in the garage twice now and they've checked it over but keep saying that they can't find anything wrong. It doesn't happen every single journey but almost and it's getting worse. Has this happened to anyone else. Read more
I think you mean not depressed?
If so, the clutch must be slipping, maybe the clutch plate splined hub is not sliding freely on the shaft which it is mounted on, or as already said, it is oily or worn. Either way a new one would be required.
Are there any funny noises, or notchy feel in the pedal travel? sometimes bearing tabs can break making the pressure uneven causing binding.
£3 on Ebay inclusive of P&P.
So cheap now have about six so they can just be left where needed, car boots, garage, bike shed etc.
Peanuts for an essential piece of safety equipment. Read more
Time to buy two extra HV vests!
This has been on my mind since hearing a comment mayor Ken made on the radio. It was part of a conversation with a black cab driver and Ken mentioned something along the lines (this quote may not be accurate) "diesel particulates that cause cancer". I remember reading an article a few years back about the PM10 particles and a link to cancer. Anyway, my question is - does anyone know of any web reliable websites/research from a reptuable source related to this subject?
This is subject that I have a personal interest in as may years ago (15 to be exact) I worked as a motorcycle dispatch rider in London. When I would get home from work my face would be blackened from what I assumed to be soot from the buses and black cabs. I always wondered that if my face was getting that dirty what must the inside of my lungs be like? If there is a proven link between particulates and cancer then surely all diesels should have particle filters as a legal requirement?
I'm looking for information based on research and real science so please don't post about any links to sites with pseudo science sites or opinions - I'm after the facts!
One other thing - this isn't an anti diesel thread :) Read more
Pretty soon someone will start claiming that a daily whiff of
diesel, or petrol, or benzene helps ward off some illness.
A village mechanic in the banana belt of northern Tanzania, with whom I drank moonshine liquor but shared no language, was a firm believer in brake fluid as a medicine. He used to snort it to cure colds.
I've seen flat ones that are flexible. After they've been run over they just pop back up again.
--
L\'escargot.