September 2006
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Dear All,
I am driving Renault Scenic RXE 2.0 (1998). I just replaced my remote keys' batteries. Unfortunately the remote central locking don't work at all, even the immobilizer. My car can not be started now. Can anyone help me how to reset or deactivate the immobilizer OR start the car! Many thanks!
John Read more
Your keys have probably gone out of synch. You need someone with a "clip" or a clip clone (the "clip" is the renault handheld diag tool) to resynch your keys to the car.,
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
So, I picked up my shiny new car yesterday, complete with 12 mths RAC cover.
Simple task for today - phone breakdown provider for my previous car and cancel the old policy, expecting a decent refund as it only commenced on 15 July....
(Old provider not named as I don't want to contravene the naming and shaming rule)
After a couple of conversations with the Mumbai/Delhi call centre of the provider I have been told that all I will get for cancellation is a voucher entitling me to a 20% discount next time I want to buy cover from them. Apparently this is made clear in the terms and conditions (may well be, I haven't looked yet), but that certainly contradicts what I was told over the phone when renewing in Jul 05 (didn't bother checking again this year).
To be honest, I am fuming over this - to be offered no refund on a 12 month policy cancelled after just 6 weeks is nothing short of disgraceful, in my opinion. An admin charge would be fine, a refund for 9 months would be fine, maybe even 6 months. But a 20% discount on future services is an insult - I have no desire to spend money with this company again, even if it was a 50% discount!
(Incidentally, I was told I could transfer the policy, free of charge, into another name - it was suggested I could hawk my lightly-used breakdown policy amongst friends and colleagues for a cash deal!)
So my questions:
- is this the 'industry standard' for breakdown companies?
- has anyone been told this, but subsequently been able to secure a fair refund after talking to the right person/department?
Cheers for any thoughts or comments you have....
Rich
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Pugugly...Could be wrong but I think you can get a refund on your annual Insurance policy for the remaining months.
A lot to be said for Direct debit payments. You are at least in control of that.
I am connected with a Motor Club. Recently the question was asked:- "Does anyone know how to change the polarity of a dynamo?"
Apparantly, it seems, if you touch one of the leads to earth while the dynamo is running, the polarity is reversed. Allegedly.
Does anyone has any ideas on this subject. I should point out that we are talking about 1930s - or thereabouts - cars. Read more
I can't find any reference for it at the moment, but it's my understanding/half remembered snippet, that
all the above was known about when the decision was made to make cars positive earth, and it wasn't
done just to increase sales.
The reasoning was to reduce electrolytic failures in the (moisture holding) cloth insulated wiring.
Several months ago driving along to work I heard a news story re 'Crash Ratings' for new cars and most, if not all car makers were allegedly fixing the results by ensuring that certain parts of the cars scored well.
EG: Comcentrating on parts of the car that scored the most points and not spending as much attention to the remanider of the car.
In the USA and you have demos at Walt Disney or one of the other them parks (can't remember which) where they show a crash bar fitted to the rear in addition to what we get in the uk.
Motor way crashes are leathal for those rear ended and its about time Euro Ncap was honest enough to start scoring points on these!!
Did anyone else see/read this story about car makers building cars to get the 5 stars but not concentrating on other possible accident scenarios?
(Edited your title, as I'm sure you didn't mean to shout. PG) Read more
Eggsactly it knocks huge holes in the big vs small argument.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
Hi all,
I have just bought a BMW 530i Sport. My cars user handbook says that I should use 98 RON fuel, but that 95 RON fuel can be used.
Which do you recommend I use? If there is a proper reason for the use of 98 RON fuel then I will do so, but it seems most odd that the manual states 95 is perfectly acceptable if it would prefer you used 98.
I am currently using 95 RON fuel and am returning 37mpg on Motorway runs and 30mpg in mixed driving.
Whats the deal here?
Thanks! Read more
Shell have replaced Optimax with V-Power, everywhere I think (certainly everywhere I've been recently). Optimax was 98 RON and V-Power is 99 RON (91.9p hereabouts); Tesco Greenergy is 99 RON too, available at 88.9p around here (Herts).
my 406 1998 1.9td A/C (116000miles) is going into the garage next week to have work done on the radiator fans so the front of the car will be off. the radiator will also be being replaced as there is a leak that has been plugged by rad weld for a year. is their any other parts that are common failures or probably near the end of their life that would be worth changing while the mechanic has the car stripped down? Read more
The water pump on this engine can only be accessed by means of removing the timing belt. Best bet is to change it when the car is next due for a cambelt change and the pump itself is not expensive, about £30-40 I think.
Martin
New Bond Street, Central London.
As I'm walking along I notice a motorbike pull up, reverse back to the kerb the guy got off and took his numberplate off and took it with him. Numberplate appeared to be held on by magnets. All parking is not allowed on this section anywhere.
I don't know if it's a great idea, stupid or just plain risky. I should imagine a traffic warden would make a beeline for it (& they will there) but on finding there was no numberplate would be unable to do anything and just wait there until the biker returned got on a rode off again. I don't know if he'd thought about the tax disc - I didn't look at the time. I was a modern newish bike.
Thought the whole thing quite amusing though.
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At least one previous post on here has mentioned covering up the number plate with a bin liner also suffices.
Something i've just picked up from the Corrolla thread...
anyone know the daftest name for a car........ or unlikely spin off when translated into another language
for example, the old war story about the Pajero/Shogun............with Pajero apparently meaning a very rude word in Spanish....(no idea if it's true) Read more
Could you imagine the looks you'd get down the local nick reporting some of these as stolen?
"Yes officer someones had my cherry!"
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Xantia HDi.
Buy a Citroen and get to know the local GSF staff better...
So our Jazz is 3yrs old now, and we've been offered Hondacare Guarantee for £400 for a year or £700 for 2 yrs.
Normally I never buy extended guarantees, but, bearing in mind I'd have to get some sort of recovery cover (it's really Mrs Payer's car) and that would cost £70 per year, I'm wondering whether to go for it or not?
The car has been faultless over 3 yrs, but I'm thinking that if almost anything went wrong with it then it could easily cost a small fortune. Read more
Remember that of the £700 about £70 will actually go into the pot,£350 will be dealers margin,IPT tax and the rest to pay the warranty providers operating costs.Its a Honda not a Euroshed,very unlikely to go wrong.
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Funny they;ve been allowed to keep the word Camp as well. Private Eye do joke (and probably the final resting place for the Nation's sense of humour)