September 2006
This is just daft, it is like suing Stanley because one of their hammer is used in a crime!
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5365728.stm
As long as the manufacturers are taking steps to improve consumption and emmisions with each respective new model then surely it is the user of the vehicle that should pay the price via fuel tax etc.
How can the manufacturer control what someone does with a 10 year old worn out wrongly maintained vehicle, how can they determine whether every journey the vehicle undertakes is necessary, is done so via the shortest route, that the vehicle is driven correctly etc etc etc etc. Read more
Am I mad at this late period in the life of the current Mini one seven to buy one or should I wait for the new model next year? Does anyone think I am likely to be able to get a good deal on a car now (or should I wait right until just before the next one comes out - or is this pushing my luck?). Any tips or advice would be welcome. Have been offered £7,500 for my RAV (GX, 2 litre, auto, 03 plate, 61,000 miles with added parking sensors) valid until the end of this month.
Thanks for any comments. Read more
Financially, doubt if it would be a mistake. Don't expect a discount. If you must have the latest, wait.
Hi
I am noticing that my E39 is taking up oil more frequently, I have done 112K and had to top up half litre after almost 600 miles.... sounds like too much?! Still running great but a little worried about the rate at which its taking up oil, anyone experience something similiar?
Also, what the best oil for these? I had to grab some oil in emergency from a service station (Castrol Sport Edge 0W-40), is this ok?
By the way had its Oil Service only 3 months ago.
Thanks! Read more
Thank you Dalglish and Aprilia, I am suspecting an oil leak somewhere but will have to get it looked at, BMW want £135 plus vat to spend an hour looking at it!! Hopefully it is something simple to fix.
Thanks
Rupi
I have a 55 reg TDCi Mondeo, registered in September 2005. I purchased it in May this year as a "nearly new" with 13,500 miles on it and it was serviced by the (non-Ford) car dealer at purchase. I checked with my local Ford dealer to see if the extra 1,000 miles over and servicing at a non-Ford garage would be ok as far as the warranty was concerned and they said it was ok, no problem.
I am now wondering when I should have it serviced next. Should it be on the anniversary of the first service, i.e. May 2007, or should it be when the car is 2 years old, September 2007 ?
I only do about 8,000 miles a year so the mileage doesn't come into it as I will only have done about 21,500 miles by May 2007 and 24,200 miles by September 2007 anyway.
My first thought was May, but then I thought, well the car won't be 2 years old or have done 25,000 miles then, so things might not get done at the service that would get done nearer 2 years/25,000 miles (e.g. change brake fluid). I will ask at the dealers next time I'm passing, but it just came to me and I was just wondering what backroomers' views/thoughts were on this.
Would it invalidate the 2nd & 3rd years warranty if I left it till September ?
.....Keith Read more
My old Mondeo was a year old, with 14200 miles up, and had never been serviced. The first owner was Ford UK, and it was sold through a closed to dealer sale. No-one seemed bothered about the mileage, and the car was fine.
I have posted before on this forum regarding a pierburg starting problem. I have been thru the ringer with this but are there any gurus that can confirm the following hypothesis.
I have noted that my sparkplugs are black as the ace of spades, especially the ceramic bit, although they spark fine out of the engine. Odly, if I am lucky enough to catch the engine it fires and then revs lovely, but it wont start at all on auto choke(apart from the once in blue moon I happen to have pumped the mixture to a state it can catch)
Is it possible that a totally sooted up set of plugs wont fire a cold engine with an over rich mixture, yet still be able to run smoothly once caught.
I have tried 2 carbs now but not yet put in a new set of plugs. I am hoping that a second hand carb (set up right) with a set of healthy plugs could be the answer I need.
I have tested all electrics (OK) and swapped 2 pierburb 1b carbs (i may have stuffed the settings on both) so I am thinking of getting yet another second hand carb and buy new plugs.
I stripped the 2 previous carbs but cannot find a test to check that mixture is getting thru to the chambers. The plugs always look dry no matter hwo long I turn the engine over.
this has become a bit of a mission so any further help much appreciated - BTW to all previous help given many thanks, and I did finally get the Haynes manual for carb...learnt loads, but still no solution.
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I can recall many years ago reading the results of attempts to improve the starting of an XT500 trail 'bike. Much fiddling with the carburettor, timing and valve lifter. The best results were obtained with a 24v battery, the variable settings became irrelevant. Must have been a bit of a shock (ha!) to the rest of the electrics though.
Primastar went in for its first service.
I waited the 90 minuits taking the opportunity to work on my books in the show room.
The Service assistant came to tell me all was well and the vehicle was ready.
He then disappeared for a short while and then came back and said "I'm afraid there's a small problem sir"
He then proceeded to tell me that their technician had scraped it on the side of their workshop doors when reversing it out. The damage is minimal but visable. He immediately assumed full responsibility for the damage on behalf of his employer and offered to have the vehicle back next week to repair it. I have the use of a courtesy van for the two days it will take and they would be happy to come and collect/deliver it if I needed them to.
My immediate reaction was to laugh. I just saw the funny side as I know they'll put it right at their expense and I'll not have to worry about the quality of their work.
I'm probably going to ask and pay them to do a couple of other minor jobs on the bodywork - I too have been busy ;) I may see if I can get their quote down a little on the basis that I would be happy to deliver it to them and pick it up.
Above all it's not the mistakes that people make it's what they do to put things right that stick in m mind. Read more
Whilst driving my first car, a Singer Chamois (superior Hillman Imp), in about 1972 I had somone slam into the passenger door and rear quarter (not my fault). After the repair including a new door skin, I had only driven about a mile and a half I was flashed by the car following to stop. Water was pouring out from the left hand side of the car. Believing this was due to the repair I went straight back to the garage. Being a rear engined car there was a water hose going along the left hand side to the car heater in the front. The hose was now about 5 years old and getting slightly brittle, but was obviously damaged in the accident. The repair manager was none to pleased as he had not costed this into his job, but fitted an new one whilst I went a did a couple of hours shopping. Funny, but the other flow/return hose never failed in the 4 years I owned it.
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Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
Hi all,
Ive just received a Copilot 6 Sat Nav for my mobile (Orange SPV C600). Very impressed with it so far but it has a screen where it shows your speed. The qesution is which is more accurate, the Sat Nav or the Odometer....
BTW I've got a Mk3 Golf estate (nothing too fancy) Read more
The speed shown on a sat nav is GPS generated so do not forget it is only correct on the flat if you are going up or down hill it is not accurate.It measures the distance and time across the surface of the earth not the actual distance travelled .
News flash on Sky at the moment Read more
Sorry roscoman, but Kevin beat you to posting first.
Continue discussion in his thread please. DD
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=45132
I have a 96 VW Golf 1.9D (it is not a turbo diesel). A few weeks ago the car began to give problems when starting. It will fire up but then gradually the revs fall and it turns off. After starting it a few times and reving above 2K for about 30 seconds it begins to behave as normal and has no problems. Once warm it starts fine and never gives any bother and runs fine all day long. The problem is always when starting, after the car has been parked for 12+ hours or so.
I had the glow-plugs changed yesterday but it is still giving the same problem.
The only other thing that I have not changed for a while is the fuel filter.
Please does anyone know what else it could be. Thanks in advance.
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Something that's worth checking on this:
I've had a few of these with the fuel filter canister actually cracked, and therefore allowing air into the fuel system. This was caused by overtightning of the fuel filter bracket. It would be very difficult, if not impossible to spot in situ, so it may be worth removing it to check......
I was reading today that VW cannot sell the Polo in North America or Canada because it does not meet the necessary crash standards, but the Jazz, Yaris and Korean equivalents are all ok.
Now VW market the Polo in the UK as a car "Built to Protect" and this got me thinking - what is the difference between Euro NCAP and the North American Crash tests.
I advocate complete freedom of speech on this site so if you want to discuss the relative safety (or lack of it in the US) of the Polo please feel free, but my point in posting this thread is to discuss what the differences between the 2 safety standards are and how can a Polo be safe enough in Europe but not in North America. Read more
i'd love to know how this is supposed to work.......
if you're car company no.6 being sued (out of 6), how would you feel about the next most polluting or next most popular make sold/used in California not being sued (i.e. company no.7)........ as surely they would need to pay their way as well
...and company no.15 might be considerably more polluting than company no.5, which would even up their responsibilities to the environment, yet they wouldn't be sued
crazy