September 2006
If you had up to £29K to spend, which estate car would you buy ?. either new or up to one year old ?
requirements for this vehicle are
1. Large carry capacity ( like a volvo) 2. reliability. 3. deisel power ( plenty of it )
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Hi,
Just swapped the radio/cassette out of my Daughters '02 Corsa for a CDR 2005 CD player. All works fine but i would like to change the steering wheel for the same type with audio controls fitted. Is it a straight change or is a harness needed as well? I suspect its already wired but I would appreciate some expertise on the matter.
As always your advice and guidance is appreciated
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These are the views of Robin the Technician with 35 years in the trade. I fix, therefore I am... Read more
The audio control signals must pass through the clockspring. Would be worth ringing the GM dealer and asking if there are two different part nos for the clocksprings (one with audio and one without).
Maybe it's just round here, (East Midlands) but there seem to be an incredible number of road signs obscured by luxuriant tree/vegetation growth. On my short (5 mile) rural drive to work there are several 40 limit signs obscured, and several directional/warning signs which only become visible at the last minute. OK, I know my way and the limits, but what is the legal position with regard to this if there is an accident or you are caught speeding? Do the local authority have a duty to keep them visible?
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Phil Read more
Signing of Motorways and Trunk Roads is the responsibilty of Sec of State (D of T) as you say.
Rest of the roads it is the responsibilty of the Local Authority.
dvd
My car seems to be using more fuel than it used to. I haven't done a proper check-brim to brim but after 70,000 miles of using this car it seems not as frugal as it used to be. It is regularly serviced, everything seems fine mechanically and the driving style has not changed. Tyre pressures are right, the airfilter is o.k and the brakes are not binding e.t.c. Should I check the egr valve? if so where is it and does it work all the time or only under certain conditions? Thank you Read more
i have tried to get answers inb the past but know i will try and explain the best way i can.
the car is a 1997 2.0 se
when i turn the steering wheel on full lock and then relase it i get a clunk. This does this when i turn the steering wheel both ways.
When i am driving and brake i get the same cunk.
i originally thought it was the brakes so i have had the discs and pads replaced.
i am now thinking i might need to replace the shock absorbers? do you think that might be the problem?
could it be my track rod ends? steering rack?
any help is much appreciated Read more
and the clunks are coming from the front not the rear
I was thinking,
*are fuel filter changes really neccessary, at the specified intervals?*
Before everyone jumps on me :)......
Sure, Oil and Air filters visibly clog and I change oil filters along with the oil at half recommended change intervals.....
But Fuel filters....
Amongst the many cars I have had 2 have been in the family long term.
A VW polo bought in 1985 was kept for 16 yrs with me servicing it the whole time.
I changed the fuel filter at the first year end, but from then on just looked at the flow.
As the years went by the plastic and element darkened a little but it was clear the fuel flow was fine ( and very visibly so with the engine running) that was for the next 15 years and 110,000 thousand miles.
On another car, a Maestro with the Perkins prima, I did 130,000 over 6 years and changed the fuel filter at the recommended interval, every time.
I also *drained the water* at frequent intervals, as per the book.
Now this car fueled all over the place between the top of Scotland and Italy and the total water over the whole time came to less than 6 drops.. I used to drain the filter into a glass jar and hold it to the light... Mostly nothing there, at worst a couple of micro droplets the size of a pin head.
I cut one Fuel filter open, at the change interval, out of technical interest and found the whole pleated element to be clean with no trace at all of anything at all. Just slightly darkened by the fuel.
Now I`m aware of the arguments for changing, warranty, water or dirt from a bad fill etc...
But, as you know, modern common rail diesels have a water warning light ( and even with a brand new filter taking on a load of water from a defective tank could overwhelm a new filter)
and where is the evidence that solids would reduce fuel flow enough to be significant, over, say 100,000 miles?
I mean cars fueled from regular mainstream pumps and not commercial vehicle storage tanks.
To conclude, just focusing on the new common rail Diesels, these seem to have a felt type filter and have a water warning device.
Surely changing these on a regular basis increases the risk of getting dirt into the pump and injectors by the very process of changing it?
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He said "well I just empty the old into the new"
( shock) This said in a well meaning way to advise
me.
I was going to do this when I changed my filter, and didn't like the sound of it. Luckily my Dad had a can full of spare clean diesel I could use.
Hi
My missus is taking driving lessons and is progressing alot better than I thought she would, so I am expecting that I will have to fork out for a car in the not to distant future.
Now my problem is I know most people say get an old banger if its her first car cos she will probably crash it, and she can use the bangeer to get experience before getting her a proper car.......but if she does have a crash I don't want her to be in some tin can!
Also if she is gonna be driving me around, i need air con, and I hate the idea of her driving around in a potentially lethal tin can with no creature comforst whatsoever.!
So should I buy her a banger (£500-£1000), or maybe spend around £2-3k on her first car.
Never had to buy a car for a new driver so am completely clueless,and grateful for any views.
Thanks Read more
Sorry, missed a key point, the 98 on Clio has a 4 Star NCAP rating.
I have just bought a Mazda 2 diesel. 2 years old but very low mileage. When I accelarate there is a slight rattleing noise from the engine. When I pointed this out to the garage ( main dealer) the service manager said this was deisel knock and it is not a problem. Is this true?
Thanks Deep
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A Diesel rattling slightly?
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
Does anyone know how to remove the central airvents from the dash of a B5 passat?? I have tried a small flat-head screwdriver and a little force but they won't come out and I don't want to break them or damage the dash face. Am I missing a technique or a hidden screw?
Thanks in advance
R Read more
ohh pictures as well!
www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177981 think its the same on your B5
I asked my 4 year old daughter to help me clean the car over the weekend.
She obvioulsy got bored with doing that and managed to reach up and get hold of my oil can and proceeded to empty the contents in the front and rear brakes soaking all the pads and discs in engine oil.
How good is she ?
I sent my wife out to test drive it afterwards - she came back ok.
Have your little ones done anything as clever or is it just me. Read more
Speaking of Brillo pads, in around 2000 I bought a fairly cheap Rover 214Si, which seemed quite tidy. After a couple of days I decided to wash it. All over every surface were tiny scratches just like those from an abrasive pad. I gave up on washing it and never did. I think the dealer must have given it the 'baby oil' treatment on the lot to hide the scratches. It survived as family transport until I moved back to NZ, but apparently not long after. The young man I sold it to probably didn't heed my warnings about checking the water level *every* day, and it died on the A38, costing him a pretty penny to get towed. Well, I did only get UKP 60 for it, which for me was great, to have the use of the car right up till the day before my departure.
In that case DEFINITE the Chrysler - ask Murphy The Cat - he had loads people asking him about his Bently, before they new what it really was!!
Thus actually svaing him some £$£$£ too!
VB