September 2006
Picked up what I thought to be a bargain - dusty zx 1.9i 1991 48k on the clock with mots to back it up. test drove really well. after having it a couple of weeks and opening her up a fair bit I have now noticed town driving and low rev acceleration to be lumpy. changed plugs and ht leads but wonder is it worth trying the dist cap/rotor arm? they seem fine to look at, but maybe not underclose inspection. its a bit odd as it was fine and now isn't!!! HELP!! Read more
Prompted by an article in In Flux magazine that just dropped through my letterbox (An Adrian Flux insurance broker rebadge of Intersection Magazine) I just did a Google for Ken Brough Quad.
Imagine merging Impreza Turbo STi mechanicals with quad bike principles - even down to handlebar steering and sitting astride the seat - and this is what you get: www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/1010/
What a machine!
He built it to compete in New Zealand's Gold Rush Hillclimb but he was barred as it was deemed too radical and against the spirit of the event. He's also barred from using it on the road by NZ's road Nancies, unfortunately! Read more
I have been living in Germany & shortly will return to UK, along with my lhd XC90 with the old (fixed) bi-xenons. I see from this site that the (new) directional bi-xenons are switcheable for lhd/rhd. But what about the old ones? I tried my Volvo garage but they were unhelpful. Do I need to go to the expense of replacing the headlamp units (costly) or is it possible to reset the low beam to eg a "neutal" beam that would allow the vehicle to pass a UK MOT? Read more
Thanks for your comments. For a holiday, you are perfectly fine with either these (expensive!) "clip-ons" , or by purchasing a set of "Eurolites" (~?10) from Halfords or at the ferry terminals, or indeed using black PVC tape (I have tried both on my Volvo - I had no problem with residue etc when using standard electrical insulating tape or Eurolites - I already did it for holidaying in UK several times - though the next time you are in Calais, note that foreign motorists very rarely bother!!!).
My problem is somewhat differnt. When I move back to UK, to REGISTER the car the solution must be a permanent one or the vehicle cannot pass the MOT - hence my original question. I finally got the answer I needed - unfortunately I have to swap the headlamp units - but cheaper than selling my LHD & purchasing another RHD that will be more (too) expensive, given the poor value offered by UK dealers, compared to Germany. Actually now I have a second question prompted by the upgrading of XC90 lights. The new Volvo bi-xenons are multi-directional (ie can be adhusted to RHD/LHD). since I have to invest anyhow, I wonder if it is possible to retrofit these new ones - I will continue to do much driving in Europe and this solution will be better than any of the other, more temporary solutions.
I have a Focus 2003 with the 4000 Radio and want to know if the car can accomodate a CD player, Ford or otherwise. Is there a kit you can buy or is it a case of buying the Ford CD player and where are the best places to look?
Hope you can help.
Thanks!
Paul Read more
You can buy a fascia adaptor for about a tenner and fit a branded unit in the normal-sized slot that it leaves you, though I think you need adaptors for the Ford connectors to make then ISO compatible.
SWMBO has a 2001 Focus that came with an RDS radio/cassette. Bought her a 6006 from Ebay for £140, and it slotted in in about 30 seconds. She's very happy with it.
Forty years ago I took part in a day-long traffic census of the M1 northbound between J21 and Leicester Forest East services. No vehicles were stopped. It was simply a matter of sitting in a little hut recording what went past. Vehicles were categorised (e.g. bike, car, van, truck). Trucks were further subdivided into rigid/artic and by the number of axles.
All this was an easy job for one person with a pencil and a clipboard. That's how much traffic there was.
Zebra Read more
Blame the census takers !
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5340846.stm
At the risk of unleashing yet another tirade of anti-policism....an interesting article though. Read more
Now was that 40+10%+2+5=51 or 45 for real?
45 for real and you've got my sympathy. 51 and you're banged to rights.
Does anybody know where the DIY Tracking thread has gone, please?
I remember reading something on it about the car pulling to one side if that side's track rod was too long/short. Does anyone know which one it is? Read more
thanks
My daughter had a 'friend' fit a new stereo to her Peuguot 206 and immediately the battery started to go flat ie the car wouldn't start. A mechanic checked the battery and alternator and said everything was fine. Problem reoccured so we purchased a new battery. That was about 2 weeks ago - for the first few days fine and lovely - no probs. Then one morning the battery was flat - so I charged it up. I also removed the stereo - thought it might be draining the battery. Now when she's driving along the car just stops and nothing works. No power at all to close the windows or turn on the lighths. I recharged the battery - it lasts about 1 day and then the car stops and nothing works. Can someone help me ? Any ideas? Thanks. Read more
What year is the car?
after 2000 i would guess?
Radio not fitted via an adapter but the wires "chopped" to fit?
Canbus problem I am thinking! Oh no! I think is the answer but come back with more info?
I've decided to sell on my 10 year old fiesta and get another VW golf (wife has a tdi 90). Most of the cars I've looked at are around £7000 - £8000 (tdi 130s). Having always bought my old company cars I've never been in the position to buy a car from a dealer, so I was wondering what would be a sensible opening offer to make on a car with a sticker price of £7500?. This would be a cash purchase with no part exchange if that has any bearing on the offer.
Cheers
Scott Read more
Go at the end of the month when their sales targets need to be met and haggle hard. Ask for mats, flaps, towbar or whatever you require as accessories as they will be calculated at cost price and not retail price.
Report in the Daily Mail today says after a Police road stop blitz 1 in 3 vehicles should not have been on the road for varying reasons.The figures showed a dramatic increase from the last check.Frightening Read more
I would strongly suspect that ANPR intel led Policing creeps into the stats, even non-Traffic cars in our area are sprouting ANPR cams. The technology is pretty cheap now, I'm given to understand that a camera/software/laptop link is around 2.5k, this is the type that depends on a CD-ROM rather than live intel.
On the original hilclimb for which he designed the machine, I very much doubt whether an STi or a motorbike would hold a candle to it. The NZ equivalent of a Pike's Peak special, if you like.