November 2006
I drive a 2003 Citroen C5. The foam in the seat base has split right through from the front to the back, about 2" from the edge of the seat. This has happened on both front seats. Has anyone else experienced this and if so is there a cheap fix. I know im 15 stone so that could well be part of the probelem, but my wife weighs less than 9 stone and shes managed to split the passenger seat too, so im assuming its a design fault. Trev Read more
A long one, so please read all if you can help me.
I have a 98 1.8 20v estate, 76K miles, that has a slight engine vibration, rising through the revs. The top end was rebuilt recently after cambelt failure (well before supposed VW recommendation). I refitted recon head myself. Used new stretch bolts and all new gaskets. Torque 45/60/180degrees. Initially seemed to run fine and compression ratios were all OK. at 7 bar Also needed to fit new catalyst as old one snapped at ball joint (probally due to standing outside for 6 mnths!). Vibration started to appear after a few hundred miles. This model was always gutless, but I think it feels a bit more sluggish than it used to, but that might just be paranoia after the rebuild. Always starts no problem and runs OK apart from the vibration. I'm at a loss on this one as I think it unlikely that valves would be OK to start then start leaking...other thought is hd Gasket, but there is no 'mayonaise' around the oil filler cap and no coolant loss. Coolant appears oil free. I have'nt rechecked the compression yet, but will -any other suggestions whilst I have it in bits. I also intend to check the head bolt torque in case I miss tightened any(??!!). Not sure what the overall torque will be after the 180deg turn but I will just keep creeping the torque up by a couple of Nm above 65 on each bolt in sequence until they're all the same unless anyone knows what the actual final torque would ? IS this likely to have any adverse effect on the stretch bolts or the Hd gasket? Any info or help welcome. I've hated this car since I got it...VW reliability is a myth Read more
do you mean the cambelt tensioner on the front of the block (which is fine) or something else. The only tensioner for the actual cams on the ADR engine is the solenoid operated one that sits between the cams at the back of the head and (I assume) adjust the realtionship between the cams via the ECU. Not aware of any faults with this, but I could take the rocker cover off and watch to see if it varies with engine revs??? Or am I guessing out my backside here
Before I get it in the neck, I have not been caught (walking at the time).
Over the past few days I have seen the most horrific usage of the "scamera vans"
First was night time rush, darkness all around and a dark blue peugeot van with no markings sitting in a bus stop. Traffic caught up as buses were unable to get into the small laybay, hence stopping in the road. 2 operators inside with the cameras pointing through the rear windows.
This morning passed another one, this time properly livered up, but stopped at the bottom of a steep hill (to no doubt catch the people who don't gear brake going downhill) which happens due to the bend in the road, not to be visible from the top.
This road has hatched markings all down the hill, so causing the traffic to not "legally" to be able to overtake the van, as they would have to go across the hatched area. Result, traffic queued up the hill while cars stopped, then overtook one at a time, very cautiously.
Whilst I agree with the requirement and the deterrents, the backhanded way that some of these work at really gets up my nose.
Thanks.... gripe over... Feel better now :)
Read more
This is one link about the suspension of the Speedwatch scheme:
tinyurl.com/yhqt8n
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
Recently went to my local fast fit centre (ATS) for an oil and filter change as it had been approx 6k since they were last changed.
Car is a SEAT Leon 1.9TDI 90bhp - Non PD engine I believe.
Upon looking in the car handbook it says that I should use VW 506 00 or VW 506 01 oils.
The ATS people have used 10W40 specification oil.
I have looked on the Castrol website and it says I should be using their 'Edge' TDI oil but can use 10W40 as an alternative (90bhp Leon wasn't listed so used 110bhp [with a PD engine] as a guide).
Can someone explain the difference and whether or not this is likely to damage the car? - it certainly feels okay to drive. Read more
Not going to say what oil you should or should not use but.....
all oils are a compromise and you need to choose the 1 best suited to you and your engines needs.
The same car with 3 different drivers and types of use really need use 3 different types of oil etc..
I am think of getting a Skoda Fabia VRS, probably a 2005 plate with 50K miles on the clock. My concern is that I remember the days when my parents cars were knackered after 60-70K miles and I still usually part with cars after they have done 60-70K as a maximum ( my fiesta just sold had 51K from an S Plate.
Can anyone give me some good advice as I dont really trust the fellas in the actual garages.....
Cheers Read more
"I dont really trust the fellas in the actual garages"
I'd trust a high mileage more than a low one, as it suggests they're not trying to be dishonest. As others have said, 50k is barely run-in these days, and much preferable to lower miles over a longer period. My daughter-in-law was recently tempted by a 7-year old Escort with 24k on it - I told her to run away from it!
Does anyone know when this car is out - all i have seen so far is a release date for November
Read more
Available now.
Reading write up/test of Volvo's new C30, clearly this once "stuffy" car maker is trying to target the younger market with this sport coupe - a great looker, particularly (for me) for its welcome deep glass tailgate that enables decent rear vision for the driver. It goes against the trend to use less glass - e.g. a dangerous feature of the latest Honda Civic, in my view. Wonder if the C30 will appear as 5 door eventually? It's a great looking car and should give models like the too expensive Audi A3 and the weird looking BMW 1 series some cause for concern. BTW, has the C30 really got Focus mechanics?
EH Read more
Further to my thread some time ago seeking information on this car for a friend, I got to drive it yesterday along the ghastly A12 to Colchester, in conditions varying from damp to bucketing down, with the sort of weekday traffic that implies.
It went very well indeed, like a rocket by my 90bhp Escort standards. Of course like most modern cars can be driven lazily or otherwise. Quite refined too, although I thought I was aware of more transmission parts whirling round than usual, a very slight vibration or rumble. The car sits quite high, and this example had big wheels and low-profile tyres also bad for refinement of feel. Busy traffic and rain meant that I only saw over 90mph once, and briefly. But it could obviously keep up with almost any traffic.
The notable quality was sure-footedness. Just once, exiting a wet roundabout, I gave it some clog in second and felt the transmission doing its thing: the car turned in as if on rails. Amazing. Of course with the owner, a more nervous driver than me although very experienced, sitting next to me I didn't try hard to provoke it, and don't think I would have done anyway. I seem to have grown out of that sort of thing.
The engine water temperature gauge stopped working en route. When the car was started again after lunch it worked again, then later stopped once more. I advised the owner to get the bad contact or whatver fixed soon. I found it difficult to adjust the driving seat to a comfortable position.
I had forgotten what purgatory public transport can be in morning rush hour. Even a dozen oysters for lunch at the Mersea fish shack didn't make me look forward to tubing it back home. Read more
Great post; glad you enjoyed the car. My BX 4x4 was just the same. Aware of more mechanical stuff going on under the floor and a ludicrous amount of grip when pressing on, even though it didn't have any clever electronics.
Hawkeye
-----------------------------
Stranger in a strange land
Just wondered what they are like for general use and what the choice is out there?
Ive heard of them and while I have a mountain bike, I wouldnt mind something that can do a bit of the work for me and save me taking my van into town etc as I live in the countryside.
Are there many makes and what sort of costs are involved?
Read more
Stunorthants,
My route to work is a couple of miles of fairly hilly town roads and I decided to save on fuel costs and get a bit more fresh air, and bought a Powabyke 5 speed Euro. I thought that the £600 cost would soon be recouped in fuel saving. Sadly, the bike is now stored with my treadmill, exersize bike and pedometer. Not that the bike is to blame though.
It's great for pottering about at walking pace, and on the flat reaches it's 15mph max speed easily. (I must check the speed with my now unused Satnav). Headwinds and moderate hills are no problem but the motor gets a bit noisy under load and seems to be asking for a helping shove on the pedals. There is one short sharp hill on my route that has most cyclists dismounted and pushing their bikes, or standing on the pedals wobbling all over the place. The Powabyke grinds it's way up, but by the top I'm in bottom gear giving considerable pedal assistance. Tyre pressures are important and they must be pumped up to the recommended 70psi otherwise the bike slows down and the motor whines a bit. (It's a lot more comfy with softer tyres though).
The bike attracts a fair bit of attention, and every eye in a bus queue will be watching as you glide past. Dogs seem to be attracted to the noise of the motor and I used to throttle back and pedal whenever a dog was nearby.
The bike and it's power pack weigh a ton, a loose connector left me powerless about 1/4 mile from home and I had to pedal it. I thought then that if it had happened a mile from home I would have to hide the power pack somewhere, pedal home, and use my car to recover the power pack.
The power pack is actually three 12v sealed lead acid batteries connected in series giving 36v. My local dealer says that 3yrs is the max life and he sells an exchange pack for about £90. The batteries are available cheaper elswhere though, and with a bit of patience and fiddling about anyone could fit three new batteries into the housing, saving about £45.
Other running costs are next to nothing but electrical spare parts are expensive and prone to failure. The local dealer tells me that the 36v charger is unreliable and that he sells an improved one for about £80.
The owners manual recommends that the bike isn't left in the rain all day, draw your own conclusions from that !
The Powabyke website is good with lots of links. The Powabyke itself is good, as long as you accept that it's Chinese and relatively cheap.
It's a nice morning, my battery pack is fully charged - I might just go for a spin, bit of shopping in the panniers and a couple of pints on the way back.
proposed new zone
your comments invited at
www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/low-emission-zone/
"
Low Emission Zone
To improve air quality in London - which is currently among the worst in Europe - the Mayor and TfL are proposing to designate Greater London as a Low Emission Zone. The objectives of the proposed Low Emission Zone are two-fold: .... "
Read more
1) Ban all private cars or prevent them by taxing them out of the Capital
2) Ban all heavy polluting delivery/maintenance/works vehicles
3) Build large, fee, safe and secure car parks outside London
4) Subsidise taxis, clean up the tube, build better buses
Nothing wrong with that, I might even support it.
The difficulty is the amount of politicians that only target 1) and the general idiotic behaviour of the electorate that encourage them to behave in that way.
Browse
.jpg)
No problems with our C5, which is one of the first. The seats are amongst the best I have come across.