October 2006
Just found this site whilst looking at something else. If anyone is looking to rent a motorhome for a touring holiday, then this might be a good place to start.
tinyurl.com/yfgvje
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Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
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I'm sure this is a no-brainer but here goes, can anyone justify taking one hand off the wheel to use a mobile while driving? I live opposite a mini-roundabout and see a minimum of four drivers a day turning right while operating a mobile in their right hand!!
Never mind this is illegal - how on earth can you claim to be in even partial control of a vehicle with one hand off the wheel, turning and probably about to change gear?
Obviously driving lessons must have improved since my day because I know I certainly couldn't master it. Read more
Can one of our more mechanically minded members give me an idea how easy it is to change the coolant on this engine? I don't think there are any bleed screws, so is just a case of draining the rad, flushing, and filling up? Does the block also need draining?
I will probably use a flushing agent too, is there a recommended one?
Thanks. Read more
Fantastic thanks caesar.
Off on a skiing holiday in France in January so need the anti-freeze to be up to scratch!
The clutch on my 214 is squeeling when I change gear, not all the time but for example changing from 4th to 3rd when going up a hill or 5th to 4th when going over speed bumps.
It is getting more noticable now and happening more often. The clutch isnt slipping just making the squeel.
Is the cluch on its way out and if so any ideas how long it will last? Got a 200 mile journey to do this afternoon, 90% motorway but will it be ok? Read more
This sounds like the flywheel is glazed ... common with school of motoring cars ... Is it only when taking up the drive between gears ... If you can hold the clutch pedal steady when taking up the drive and prolong the noise that is what it probably is ... Flywheel will need surfaced when replacing clutch ... It is OK to drive, apart from the noise, till clutch goes ...
Hi,
My girlfriend slid my P-reg 306 TDS into the back of someone on a wet A23 on Saturday. I wasn't in the car, but the way she describes it sounds like the ABS wasn't working - she slid for a good 20-30m and couldn't steer at all.
The car was MOTd about 3 weeks ago and failed on the rear bushes so I had them replaced along with the rear shocks. It just occurred to me - could they have failed to connect the ABS back up properly when they did the repair? Would a warning light not have lit up if they had? What do I need to check for?
It looks like my car could be written off, I'm really gutted.
Thanks in advance,
Will Read more
probably very technically correct but I have to disagree.
In most lesser experienced drivers hands (or feet?) they will release the brake pedal when the abs is activated and even possibly panic causing the braking to take longer than under conventional system.
Most people with abs have never activated the system and do not know what to expect or experience and as such abs imo is over rated and possibly more likely to contribute to an accident. these same people treat it a s a magic stopping aid and drive faster and closer than they would if they didnt have it.
I do agree that experienced people with it are probably safer with it though. perhaps driver education is needed.
I think this is likely to be contested, and discussed, but its my opinion after talking to lots of people about abs.
Duplicate post removed to avoid repetition of answers, and replies moved to the same thread in Technical Matters - DD Read more
A colleague here is honeymooning in Spain in a couple of weeks, flying into Madrid and driving down to Malaga. Hotels each end are booked, but he wants advice on a nice place to stop on the way down for lunch, and any unmissable spots round Malaga way (Gibralta is high on the list, and he fancies taking a trip over to Morocco is that´s not too tricky).
Not a part of Europe that I know much about, so any advice from you all would be gratefully received.
BTW his intitial estimate for the drive down was `about 2 1/2 hours´. Hmm.....nearer 6 hours I thought. Read more
A bit late - he flew today - but thanks anyway GM.
over the past two weeks my laguna 1.9dci (2002) has become more and more difficult to start when hot. The hotter the engine the more it turns over before firing, to a point that yesterday it wouldln't start after i stopped. after twenty minutes it went again. i hadn't noticed any problems while driving along, apart from one accasion at the weekend, when driving along the engine suddenly cut out, i pulled over and it started straight away. i am taking it to my mechanic on thursday but any ideas what it could be would be welcomed. Also i am getting the rear bushions replaces, is this a big job? Read more
had a similar problem with my 03 kangoo it wouldn,t start first time when the engine was warm but was otherwise fine. after having the camshaft sensor and the glowplugs changed with no effect, it turned out to be a incorrectly set diesel pump. cost 300 quid been fine since.
Over 20 years or so I have been a regular visitor to the IOW and the car market there puzzles me -anyone else?
First, they still pay a premium for an "island" car. Years ago that meant it would probably be low mileage for its year , but as I understand it these days that wouldn't be such an advantage. And in fact the proximity to the sea- so salty environment- and lack of motorway or even dual carriageway, meaning many cars are never fully exerted- would make such a car, or balance, less attractive than a well-maintained "mainland " car . Nevertheless my impression is that dealers there are looking for 10-15% more than on the mainland.
In fact I have thought that buying a couple of cars at a time at auction or on EBay , then selling on the island, could be a nice little business.
Also in Ventor there is the most successful Kia garage I have ever seen - there are an incredible number of Kias in South Wight, and the used cars on the dealers forecourt are at very high prices- even though that area is not well-off economically. Read more
"HJ reckons 10 miles to warm a car's engine etc. all the way through."
I'm sure he's right. I do know that the temp gauge isn't the whole story, and my original comment was slightly TIC. I suspect that the deposits from the initial few minutes of rich running need at least as long again to be dispersed. Also, if the exhaust system doesn't heat all the way through, the condensation will rot it from the inside that much sooner. So, long journeys good, short journeys bad. Isle of Wight cars also get through suspension components sooner than most...
Hope anyone out there can help with a problem on my MK 4 VW Golf TDI 130. Have noticed both brake light bulbs blown & the high level light is lit slightly at either end. I have not yet replaced the blown bulbs cause just seen this evening. When the brake is applied the high level light works correctly, all bulbs lit. I don't think the problem is the pedal switch because the centre light comes on and off cleanly every press. Another problem which has arisen this evening is the engine management light is flashing instructing me to take it to the garage. Is this likely to be connected? Or is this a coincidence? I think a diagnostic check from a good Auto Electrician would be the best starting point. Please help with advice if you can. THANKS !
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The switch will be faulty and blowing the bulbs, very common and a good earner for VW . Fit a new switch and 2 new bulbs and the dash light will go out
There's 2 different switches purple or black, make sure you get the correct one.
4 Torx screws hold the under dash panel, unplug the wiring from the switch and twist the switch from the pedal assembly. ;-)
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"Mini" owner Adam.