October 2006
Buying for a 17 year old (who wants a RWD Escort with Cosworth power).
Insurance costs have helped to narrow the choice down to a 2002 1.25 Fiesta or a 2002/3 1.2 Corsa, perhaps 40k miles. Assuming both cars are reasonably reliable(?) and fairly cheap to service, how do the cars compare for crash protection? Not enough money to buy the new shape Corsa or Fiesta. Read more
Recently got my 2000 1.8 Mondeo serviced at a Nationwide Autocentre and was told the discs were on the verge of going under manufacturers spec, but that as the pads looked very new (got the car less than 6 months ago so assume they were changed to pass the MOT it came with) to get a little more life out of them before having both changed. But now the brakes have started to judder some, I'm going to have to get them changed. I know you are meant to get pads changed with the disc change but if the pads really are so new does anyone think I would get away with just getting new discs or is it a complete no-no? Nationwide like all chains won't do one without the other but as I know a man who would I could probably save myself in the region of 60-70 quid by doing this. Any ideas?
Cheers Read more
Well, I don't know Derby, but www.partsdirect.co.uk are located there - so maybe try them. Or ring round some other local factors out of Yellow Pages.
Quite a while ago I asked about trolley jacks and had plenty of helpful responses:
tinyurl.com/y3ekdd
Having borrowed rather than bought one at that time, I really am going to buy one now, so I wonder if anything has come on the market since that old thread or whether opinions have changed at all.
Are they all restricted to up-and-down movement of the lever or can some move sideways? Also, when using the one I borrowed, it was so difficult to get the lever slotted and to remove it (possibly because of lack of use) that I had to use a large screwdriver on the lowering valve, with consequent reduced control, so if any models are good in this respect then so much the better.
Any further suggestions will be gratefully received. Read more
Just spent a wasted hour looking for Epco [of blessed memory] address with no luck.
I had an Epco square bottle truck jack with the long handle in the 1960s, used it dozens of times when my truck wheels got bogged down in winter on boggy building sites, it was hopeless trying to drive out so we used to jack up the back wheels, put a plank or two under and out we'd come. There was always someone who knew a better way - but I found this was the best, quick, simple and out you'd come. I really wanted to say how good EPCO was for reliabilty. I went to Halfords last night, £39.99 for a two ton jack made from folded tin, and as for good trolley jacks eaither pay £400.00 or forget it, looking at how simple they are to make I might make my own using a 10 ton bottle jack.
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Another thread for commenting on rare, unusual, old or just plain daft cars etc.
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An Audi Q7 going down the M6 on saturday, never seen one before.
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Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-) Read more
Lawyers firm's car park off Fetter Lane EC4, amongst the Range Rovers, Lexus and Audis an imaculate Austin A35 in grey (with red seats!)
My Peugeot 406 HDI (2000 X) has started indicating left by itself at seemingly random points. Quite often the left hand indicator is on when I switch on the ignition. Start the engine and it stops.
Sometimes when driving along it starts up. Switching the stalk down and then cancelling it back turns it off. Also a slight nudge upwards on the stalk turns it off. This made me think that the stalk is worn and/or there is a short in there. I took the cowling off the steering wheel but wasn't brave enough to remove the screws holding the cover on the black box thing.
I also wondered whether a weak battery could cause these electrical maladies. It is the original (almost 6 years old) and the car does a lot of short journies.
Any ideas gratefully received. I'll be visiting my trusted independent next week. Read more
Just to post the outcome of this in case anyone else has a similar problem. It was indeed a worn indicator stalk. Replacement stalk and fitting was 50 quid. Job done.
While pricing some bits for my cam belt change I thought I would get some automatic transmission oil for my Zafira 1.8 with a AF17 gearbox ?
Haynes manual and a friends VX tis cd (2003) says it should be VX part No. 09 117 946 but having been down to the VX dealers they say it should be Dexron11 and VX part No 90350342.
The parts dept keyed in my original 09 117 946 code but said that was for the latest Zafira auto and not a 2002 model. Now this seemed odd as Haynes and the TIS were 2003. He said part No 90350342 was what the workshop lads put in.
Can anyone confirm the spec and VX part number for me ?
Read more
If anyone is in Nottingham and wants 10 litres or so of Texaco Texamatic 7045E (Dexron III) please let me know and you can have it for nothing. Would be glad of the space! This is what Vauxhall did/do use when a DIII is specified, it is mentioned in TIS.
TEXAMATIC 7045E
An advanced automotive transmission oil approved to GM Dexron III.
* Provides excellent wear protection
* Recommended for a wide range of applications
* Suitable for power steering applications
* GM Dexron III-G (approved G34100)
Detroit Diesel Allison C4 (C4 29483700), MAN Standard
339 (Type F),Voith 55.6335.10.
ZF TE-ML-03D, 04D, 09B, 14D(pending).
Suitable for Ford Mercon & Caterpillar TO-2.
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Password router - wossat?
Got a wireless router.
I have a 2005 mazda 2.3 sport, manual petrol....it used all of its oil in first 9000 miles, when the dealer finally admitted this was not right they replaced the pistons and piston rings.....5000 miles and 4 months later it has used all of its oil again.....has anyone else had this problem? What could be the reason, the work they did has not fixed the problem.......what would fix this. Please also ensure me that this is not normal, or to be expected which is what they initially told me!!
HELP
Read more
SteVee you are the third person to mention a bore problem....although the exhaust pipes do not appear to be any more sooty than they should.......I am not aware if the cylinders were re-sleeved when they did the work so could be onto something.
Thanks for all of your advice...............................................will let you know the outcome in due course. In the meantime Im off on a hot sunny holiday for 2 weeks on thursday, so this will be the least of my worries! Cheers.
Can anyone give me some advice about a blower fault (only working at full speed) on my Connect. Had a similar problem ages ago on a Golf and fixed by linking out resistor on motor control board. I am hoping things have moved on and may be something simple?! Thanks Read more
The connect van uses the same heater box as a Focus.The fan motor and speed resistor are behind the glove box.
hi all
bought a escort van with a rover r660 radio cassette player made by philips clip of security display
i have a code on the radio but one of the previous owners has replaced the alternater so the code has been lost and then re entered incorrected will it reset via the freezer trick or will it need dealer work
regards Read more
Thank you for this post, just saved my bacon
Jonty
Browse
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Perhaps so. Ford parts prices are what the market can bear, in my experience, and soon go out of stock. GM seem to be lower, but still expensive.
Makes me wonder if a different type of person is inclined to purchase an old Fiesta rather than an old Corsa, and how his profile differs.