October 2006

smokie

The car is back from the accident repairers with just one fault noted so far. The n/s door mirror works fine, but when you adjust the o/s one the n/s one moves too.

It's going back in, but does anyone know tjhe cause? They weren't repairing in that area but I guess will have played with wires, and probably diconnected the battery etc (though I didn't have to put hte codes back in the radio) Read more

sine

DD has already posted details about this in a previous thread
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=30046

hmm, a mod not searching first , disgraceful :)

fordprefect

Yesterday I needed to use an on-street pay and display meter.
Having paid 60p for 30 minutes, I noticed that the time on the meter and the expiry time were 5 full minutes in front of the true time. Checking other meters in the town it seems most of them are set 5 minutes fast.
Anyone aiming to return by the (wrong) expiry time on the ticket therefore runs the risk of an excess charge if they time their return by their own watch.
Knowing how anti-car this Local Authority is, I suspect this is a deliberate policy.
Has anyone else come across this issue? Read more

hillman

I parked in Holmfirth last Saturday, arriving at 12:20 on the 14th. The parking ticket read 09:20 on the 15th. Can you get faster than that ?

hm

Hello all,

I have the following Error code on the wife's audi:

00575 - Intake Manifold Pressure
17-10 - Control Difference - Intermittent

Any idea what could be causing this error?

Thanks

Hayden
Read more

JohnM{P}

Any symtoms? My '94 Passat 90bhp TDi developed a surging under load; eventually traced to faulty wastegate controller (cruciform block on bulkhead). There were no fault codes on my car, but clue came from Dr Diesel query in Diesel Car, plus another customer's car similarly affected, which apparantly had error message concerning manifold pressure.

TimOrridge

Hi all,

My cars wheels have started to vibrate on the motorway about 60mph , had them all balanceed by local garage and no difference. Could it be the Tracking?

It is one of those vibrations that makes everything shake, steering wheel, gear lever, pedals, unfirm flesh! Also I thought it might be the brake discs too because if I brake at above speed, get vibration through pedal, and at low speeds I get (dont know how to describe this) like an gripping and ungripping sensation like on and off feel, not constant?

Im sure they are all related

Had pads and discs done 3 months ago for MOT by qualifled mechanic.

Read more

AndyT

The "gripping and ungripping sensation like on and off feel", definitely sounds like a brake problem. Either warped discs, or non-uniform disc thickness. Were they a cheapo make of disc by any chance?

Robin

I took one of our cars for its MOT this morning. I gave the garage owner my phone number to call me if he found anything. No phone call so I assumed it had passed. When I went to collect it the owner, its a small independent place in a village, had gone home. However, he had left the MOT and invoice with the pump attendant. Turns out one of the the brake drums had siezed and needed to be released (or something like that) Cost was an extra 30 quid. I was most unhappy about this as I had specifically asked him to call if there was a problem. Now, the garage do not take credit or debit cards and I did not have a cheque book. So I left the MOT certificate and will return tomorrow to pay. Quesiton is, should I moan at him for doing the work? it was only a small amount and, according to the lady who was still there, the work needed doing to get through the MOT. No chance of me gong there next year though. Read more

Pugugly {P}

A close family friend (now retired) flew them all, Lightnings, Buccaneers, he had a superb lifestyle (and still does) he lived on the buzz, drives fast cars and Italian motorbikes all at the speed of light. He was once involved in flying Buccaneeers for a film crew, he did the signature thing, flew up behind them at zero feet (silent from behind apparantly) over them and on full throttle (re-heat whatever) into a vertical climb that awed them, awed some American airmen watching into complete silence........magic aircraft.

He now drives like he flew, fast and low not been caught yet...

ShineOnYouCrazyDiamond

I drive a Honda!!


Alfa
Passionate and romantic, you fancy yourself. A bit unreliable, and can be eccentric too. You hate BMW drivers, but think and act just like them.

Audi
You would like to believe you are part of the new generation that is caring, environmentally conscious and family-orientated. Actually quite boring; nothing more than a glorified wuss. Will one day probably drive a Merc, but you still sometimes wonder if you shouldn't have bought that Bee-Em.

BMW
Self-centred, ambitious, dynamic and assertive. Can be a big show-off pig. Likes impressing too. Buppies and kugels past sell-by date. You think you will be CEO one day. Actually an office weenie who thinks you are God's gift.

Daewoo
Faceless, subservient and demure (except for Matiz drivers). To you, a good deal is to work from nine to five, get nothing for it, and still say thank you. And then you wonder why you don't have money for a time after hours.

Ford
You still live in the 70's, trying to cope with the new millennium. A loyal, diligent worker, but baffled by office politics and labour policies. Next car will probably also be a Ford.

Holden
You are the ultimate on-road idiot. You think your 80s model Commodore is a V8 supercar, OR you think by owning a Barina you?re a true Holden fan. You?re either a redneck or a way-too-standard family parent ? but either way, you most likely drive like you?re the only person on the road. You?re even ignorant enough to argue that the new Commodore is better than the new Ford.

Honda
You aspire to drive a BMW. You are an opinionated pain-in-the-butt. The ultimate suffragette, or the boss's girlfriend (male or female!).

Isuzu
You like the smell of diesel and have secret fantasy of being a truck driver.

Hyundai /Kia
Quite progressive, intelligent and practical. But misguided. The kind of person who will suggest a sub-committee to find solutions to what the committee couldn't. You will always maintain that a Korean car is better than any Japanese model.

Jeep
You would like to believe you are living the American dream and just love the great outdoors. The closest you get to it is by watching Days of Our Lives and the Adventure Channel.

Land Rover
You are a designer person with a designer life, who always pays too much for everything. Designer mud comes free with the badge. You're a closet colonial racist and have fantasies about the Queen. If you have a Freelander, it was probably a break-up gift from your ex.

Mazda
A Ford driver with less money. Mostly staid boring with no image and less imagination. Lots of retired people drive Mazdas. You're in the way and should get off the road.

Mercedes-Benz
Responsible, immaculate and conservative. Boring CEO clones with too much money, or the office super-geek who can't remember what it's like to have fun. Definitely not dating material.

Nissan
Good, solid, responsible, loyal office-fodder. You like to travel and maintain that you can sell ice to the Eskimos. Favourite answer: "It's a company car."

Mitsubishi
Not as label-conscious as your Land Rover counterpart, but still suckered into believing in the ultimate Paris-to-Dakar, African adventure. You drive through puddles to create your own designer mud. You believe you've made the grade, but everyone else knows you've got a long way to go.

Peugeot
Thinks France is the best country in the world and bores everybody with your limited French knowledge and tales of the Louvre and the Sourbonne.

Porsche
Small penis or mid-life crisis.

Renault
An eccentric who likes doing things the wrong way around. Usually the one who asks all the silly questions at staff meetings. You fervently believe you have flair, but it's less than that of a French cookbook. Most probably gay.

Ssangyong
A make-believe fool, because you'd like a Pajero but can't afford it. Don't actually know that the engines are made in India and not in Germany.

Toyota
Although there are thousands of them, you mostly can?t spot them in their zero-image cars. Toyotas are good, reliable cars and are bought by a wide variety of people who have zero personality to go with their cars and are basically chicken-poo scared people who will never take chances and will therefore be driving Toyotas forever.
The most zero-image car in the world?, ... a white Corolla

Volkswagen
Highly overrated for dependability cars since the days of the Beetle, but they do have a good re-sale value. Usually practical, sensible people who like to drive fast where nobody can see them. They are usually loyal to their brand to the point of irritation due to the fact that they lost their virginity on a Beetle's back seat.

Volvo
As square and safe as the car

Read more

blue_haddock

You are a designer person with a designer life, who always
pays too much for everything. Designer mud comes free with the
badge. You're a closet colonial racist and have fantasies about the
Queen. If you have a Freelander, it was probably a break-up
gift from your ex
Obviously written an US biased site, they'Ive never seen a stout
yeoman of this blessed isle driving a proper Land Rover.

>>

As most landie drivers in this country wear hand knitted jumpers, have beards and are called Bob!
420 Turbo Diesel

Hi,this may be a shot in the dark,I own a Rover 96 420 TD,my other form of transport which is used only in the summer is a 1100 Honda Trike.My question is this,I have fitted a thumb rear brake and as a consequence of that the rear brakes aren't as good as they might be,they are NOT servo assisted.I was wondering if I fitted SOFTER pads this would probaly make it better,ie the pads would grip the discs better.Has anyone got any ideas which pads I might go for? The discs and calipers are 2.3 Ford Scorpio.Thanks Andrew...
--
I do like my Diesels to be Turbocharged for that extra OOMPH!!!! Read more

pilchard


I'm looking for recommendations for a second-hand van: what to buy & where to buy it. Some kind of short wheelbase 1 ton(ish) job. Main considerations are £2000 or considerably less, cheap & easy to maintain, good fuel economy especially on small hilly country roads, but also having the ability for a bit of speed on motorway runs. Cosmetic condition of no importance but essential that it has been rigorously maintained and that the model has a reputation for a long and trouble free life. Although the van needs to be bought in the U.K. (for reasons too complex to go into here), it will spend much of its life in Italy where we have bought a house but will be required to go to U.K. once or twice a year. Had thought of Fiat, quite naturally a popular make here in Italy, and a Transit is always a natural choice, but I don't really have any preferences. What do you know?
Read more

Hugo {P}

When I looked to replace my knackered old trafic with a van of similar value I did find some on e bay for around this figure. The problem is that many were not fetching more than this but reserves were not being met - sellers were reluctanct to accept that they were worth what they were IMO. I found the same problem on auto trader etc. Similar vans were actually cheaper via dealers in some cases!

One approach I often try is to approach dealers that I have had dealings with for a "trade sale". I nearly bagged a cheap LDV with a transit engine via this route some years ago. Vansboy suggested I avoided the LDV but it didn't come up anyway.

Also, look for tidy VW Transporters - around R reg or so.

wonderwheels

My 2004 Sri has developed a strange noise after its 2nd service at 32K miles.When driving at lower speeds in higher gears (35mph in 4th) so the revs are low,there is noise that sounds like a "budgie".It sounds "sort of" like a chirping noise.Possibly an air leak but where should I look (or do I put it back to the Dealer)

Air Filter
Pollen filter
Oil and filter
Fuel Filter

were among the items changed,but this could be a "herring rouge"


Any ideas welcome
Read more

John S

Could be an exhaust manifold leak. These can definitely chirp. It's in warranty, so let the dealer sort it!

JS

Peter D

The wife was about 18 miles from home in her trusty 1993 Volvo 240SE estate when she applied gentle brake pressure as the lorry in front of her was slowing due to traffic on the dual carraigeway. The pedal went to the floor, nothing. Spotting a layby she headed into and using the handbrake stopped 6 feet before the end of the layby. As you can imaging I received a phone call form a very shaken wife. Fluid level ok just no brakes. With the engine off there is some resistance but with the servo it's the floor. Although these cars have dual circuit bakes this complete failure is rare. It appears the Master Cylinder has flipped both seals. Scary. RAC bought her and the car home last night. Regards Peter Read more

bell boy

take the car to an mot place tomorrow and ask them to do a brake test for you this will determine whether the whole system has any faults,any good tester can tell you straight away with all the figures and if you are right with them they will sometimes do it for nowt---------