December 2006
Hello everyone, I hope everyone had good xmas! I'm looking to buy a used diesel car with a very tight budget of £3k. The reason I need a diesel car is because we've got a petrol VW Polo in the family and would like to buy a good reliable diesel car mainly for motoway. Ideally I would like a small hatchback because my Mrs doesn't like driving large saloons or hatchbacks. The main requirements are car has to be reliable (so no French cars because I had nightmare with them in the past). I quite like VW Bora and what else could I buy for this price? Read more
Hello all i have just bought a cheap van for runaround and to take some pressure off my passat tdi.
It is a vauxhall combo corsa van 1995 and has mot and tax but it has a few problems,might be just me after driving my passat is seems like everything thing feels wrong!
I bought the van but have a few problems can anybody help.
The steering wheel is straight im wondering if to take off and sey up right,is that wise?
It smokes a lot when i start engine,
The bonnet cable has snapped
The accelarator pedal is high up and very heavy
The brake pedal is very low and spongey but have been told it has new pads.
Clutch is very heavy but changes gear,the bite is quite low,is that a good thing?
Also the roof is rotten on the box can these be replaced?
Please help and answers will be much appreciated. Read more
these racks do wear iternally cat pot and if the van has been on full lock and hit a kerb or something then they are prone to internal damage
there should be no free play at the wheel and as the uj is inside the van ive never seen one wear here.
the van should also basically self centre but maybe due to worn rack then the tyres are no tracked up properly and cant self centre
have you got 32 psi in the tyres?
racks are cheap but a fiddle to fit .
top boxes over the cab that rot, i gob up with glassfibre resin from the inside with masking tape on the outside to maintain the correct shape (little bit of filler to finish off) .When dry its a quick rub down, primer, then i use stone chip to dissipate the light reflections, then a good coating of satin black (they look like new when done)
A nearby delaership appears to use my road as a speed test track. Today I managed to note the trade plates of a car as it howled past. The dealership refused to tell me if the plates were theirs (which makes me more than a little suspicious, along with the fact that it was one of their brand of vehicles).
Where can I find this information? I'm sure it must be kept somewhere. I also presume that the issuers of trade plates may have some clout in whether they get renewed. This is a very regular, very tedious problem, and I'd be interested if this is a route that anyone thinks might bear fruit.
Alternatively, any other suggestions would be welcome.
V
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Make a note of trade plate number.
Make a pair of cardboard copies.
Hang them over your numberplates.
Drive very fast past as many speed cameras as you can.
Just brilliant.
Happy xmas to all.
Hello,
I just put my 15 inch wheels on my saxo. On the rear drivers side my back tyre rubs alot on the plastic body work.
It only happens on that side when the amount of people goes over 3, but happens when going round corners and setting off with 2 people in the car.
I think there is a problem with the suspension on the drivers rear side, as there is plently off room around the rest of the car, but the front seems slightly higher than usual.
Anyway anyone got any idea's? I dont have the money right now for a whole new piece of equipment.
Closure Read more
I would but its christmas and places are closed.
??
Forgive me for stating the obvious, but what is wrong with using the wheel brace and jack that was supplied with the car and swapping the wheels back yourself?
My stepdad has the above vehicle with 150,000 miles on the clock . The problem with the vehicle is that for the last year the Engine Management light seems to come at about 3000rpm usually when going up a hill it feels "Woolie" ie it Hesitates then picks up again mostly in top gear . It has gradually got worse after several visits to the local toyota dealer who have so far been unable to diagnose the fault . I wondered if any others could suggest possible cause or solution ?My stepdad's vehicle is booked in to the Toyota dealer next Thursday for them to have another attempt as they seem unable to find the fault . Any help or suggestions would be welcome. Thanks Read more
Screwloose
Sorry for not replying for few days didnt have relevant information apparently the code it came up with code 34 TURBO CHARGER MALFUNCTION apparently according to my stepdad they found a broken part on the turbo which which was L shaped replacing this has made no difference . The dealer's have mentioned that it is something to do with the turbo charger over pressurising . My stepdad is going to phone Toyota on tuesdays as the dealer seems incapable of fixing the problem even with the error code . Would you have any suggestions on this matter ?
Thanks
Just a warning never to believe anything anyone at the DVLA says on the phone.
One of our vans needed to be re-licensed in September, the anniversary of its first registration. Even though that was then three years after first registration, it did not need an MOT in order to renew the tax.
We were surprised , and asked the DVLA when the first MOT would be due. They said they would notify us. Having heard nothing, I rang them today, and was told they never issue reminders or notifications, and it is up to us to MOT the van on its third anniversary of registration. So it seems we ought to have MOTed it in September even though it did not need an MOT for tax purposes.
Checking the DVLA site it says in one place MOTs are needed 3 years after first registartion, in another place 3 years after the YEAR of first registration.
So we have been using a van for three months without an MOT, thanks to DVLA mis-advice. Read more
if a vehicle is registered with no prior use on the road, the MOT will be required three years after the date of registration. For example, a vehicle registered "from new" on 25 April 2000 will require its MOT no later than 25 April 2003
In that case, I think the car is legal until midnight of the 25th but would be illegal from midnight onwards. So in effect the MOT test would be required on the 25th unless you know of a 24 hour MOT garage.
Martin
Good morning
I am having occasional problems with the BSOD, usually just as I get to the end of writing a 2 page e mail!
1. An error message relating to my USB hub - a 1 into 4 device for increasing my ports.
2. An error message relating to my BT Voyager 105 modem. Now unobtainable, could I buy another ADSL modem as a kit with drivers on a CD as a straight replacement! Known issues with this modem discussed on Blogs etc
3. On one particular site (www.Viamichelin.com) attempting to print a page or route results in BSOD at the instant that I select "Print"
All this is just annoying, not fatal. Please may I have any advice on these issues?
Windows XP Home, AOL 9, IE7, Canon i560 Printer, Voyager 105 modem. Merry Xmas to all, in and out of the Backroom
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I got mine here:
thanks.
My friend has just purchased a R registered Saxo 1.1 from a small garage. The garage have replaced the airbag but the dashboard check light does not go out. They have advised him that it will go out after the car has been started a number of times - I don't think this sounds plausible - can any backroomers offer any advice? Read more
Another thing, if its had action in a front end crash, any seatbelt that was being worn at the time should also be replaced, They only stretch the once!
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The main thing is that they've got time on their side and compound interest (especially if tax free) can achieve a lot in say 18 years. Nobody knows what investment will do best over this long period. Equities go up and down and sometimes violently - deposits creep up and are sometimes steady if inflation rate = rate of interest, but you don't lose your shirt.
I think the key thing is to avoid paying tax (OK they don't pay it now, but will one day).
How about starting a stakeholder pension - boring but useful. To liven it up a bit buy a popular toy or two that you guess might be future classic - don't open the box, don't use it, just put away for 18 years. Imagine the increase in value of an unopened 25 year old Meccano set sold today!!
Please Help,
I just bought a SH ford Focus,and was trying to top off the screen washer but instead,It was very stupid of me tonight ,did top of the power steering fluid with water and to make matters worse i did run he engine.
Can you please let me know of the long/short term effect of this stupid mistake bearing in mind that I carry my child in the car.
Thanking yo all in advance Read more
Thank you very much Aprilia .
I have sent the car to the garage because have started a new job and cannot do it myself and the guy will be charging me 30 quid to flush out the water and 10quid for the oil overall will be very happy if no long term damage it is done.
By the way I could see the water being in the middle of tank and some oil at the bottom ,hioping that the water has not gone through the pump.
Does anyone knows how much would cost to replace the steering fluid pump on a Ford Focus Zetec 1.6,16v?
Browse
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For £3000, I would be looking at a 306 HDi- you should be able to pick one of these on a V-X plate for around £3k with sensible mileage (70-80k), service history and all the mod cons including aircon. Better fuel economy than the old 1.9TD lump- 54mpg combined compared with 42-45 for the 1.9 and performance is pretty similar to the 1.9 in terms of acceleration and torque. I'll be looking at one when my 1994 306TD gives up the ghost, but my main worry will be repair costs i.e. replacing the fuel pump which is a common failure on the early HDi's by all accounts.
Martin