January 2007
My Clio seems to have an alarm/immobiliser problem. Last week, since the battery was dead (not having used the car for 2 months) I removed it and recharged it and reconnected it today. Everything seemed to be fine until after about a minute after opening the door, the alarm went off.
I tried locking and unlocking the doors with the key fob, and yet the alarm keeps on going off after I open the door. I tried connecting the battery with the door wide open, still the problem persists. The car can be locked and unlocked with the key fob, but the moment you open the door, all hell breaks loose.
Ignition lights come on but it wouldn?t allow me to start the car (immobiliser working I assume?)
Does anyone know what I should do? I don?t even mind disabling the alarm
The car is a N plate Clio 1.8RSi.
Read more
I was just reading an article on the new Ducati 1098 sportsbike and there was another explanation of their clever Desmodromic valve system. Every time I come across this, it strikes me as a very elegant engineering solution.
For those not familiar with it, the Desmodromic system employs no valve springs. Instead, the valves are both opened and closed by positive action from a relatively simple cam and rocker arrangement. In performance terms, it allows the engine to rev safely, but I would have thought it would have efficiency benefits too, as the cam is not having to "overcome" the resistance of the valve spring on every engine cycle. On high revving engines which need stiffer valve springs, I would have thought it would have particularly useful benefits.
Anyone know why this hasn't made it into the car world, or even to other motorbikes? I believe Mercedes have used a similar system in a couple of their racing cars over the years, but that seems to be it.
Cheers
DP Read more
Some may recall from a recent thread that I was thinking of buying a new freelander 2. The old L/R reliability problems still worry me (perhaps unfair) but I've now decided aginst it. I need to keep a practical car for the uni run & I am trying to persuade the wife to take over my estate car & sell her old Audi. Reason being I have seen a 330i sport auto rag top and would appreciate views.
2003 03 plate, miles 13500 ---- looks genuine -- car is very clean with no sign of wear and no stone chips etc, but I guess these thngs wear very well. BMW SH but as expected only one service at 8500.
I'm told it has M Sport options - it has the M Sport badges on the door sills.
4 brand new tyres (Dunlop something or other) Would new tyres be need after 13k miles?
It's on the forecourt of an independent dealer ---- who I was quite impressed with. I have a copy of the reg doc.
Asking price £22000 and I have offered £20k which has been accepted, but as the car is owned by the other half of one of the garage owners, this would then be a private sale with no warranty.
This looks a good deal based on used prices but I admit to being a bit uneasy buying with no warranty. I could always but an independent one but some of these aren't worth having when you want to claim.
I couldn't drive it at the time and am going back next week for a test run.
I am told it will do about 29mpg combined which is pretty good.
I really would appreciate any views on this deal and also on spending £20k with no warranty! Also views on living with these cars.
Read more
You will love it. BMWs are pretty sensitive to their rear tyres, right make, pressures etc. Enjoy it, wtch that rear end in the first few miles of puttin the new covers on. Sounds a lovely car - enjoy. Let us know how you get on.
hi hope someone can help. i have a 1991 ford escort and it needs a new indicator bulb fitting. i'm not very good with cars and hope someone could tell me how i go about doing this. thks a lot clayton Read more
Front?;rear?;near-side?;off-side?;saloon?;hatch?;wagon?.
My 02 fiesta seems to require a lot more power on each gear change. Its like trying to move the car from a satnding position while in second gear. But its not just that I have to really step on the accelerator at the start of eacg gear change but requires a lot more gas when encountering a bit of a slope. My garage says the cluthch needs replacing but would this account for needing to press on the gas long after I've changed gear but want to speed up or go up a bit of a hill. It sounds like the engine revs a lot but its not being transferred to forward motion. Is the garage right in just needing a new clutch assembly ?
JIm Read more
Jim, not sure about that price, although I'm out of touch. I'd phone a Ford dealer and get a price for the parts, and then for the whole job... I'd be surprised if it were more than you've been quoted, but i could be wrong. (Or is that a dealer price you've mentioned?)
Neil
can someone expain why we have a bar code on the tax disc,is it owt to do with speed cameras or is it just for cops and traffic wardens to get some instant info? Read more
"Don't sheep and cattle have bar codes now"
Sheep have baah codes actually.
It's an admin thing, don't see the value of Police carrying readers. Tax details are stored on PNC now.
hi all
got a baby due in 5 weeks and and want to put the car seat in the front passenger seat but there is a notice saying no car seat because of the air bag.
is it possible to turn the airbag off ourselfs or is it a job for the garage.
cheers dave Read more
Different Vauxhall car, but same problem.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=41369
Any experiences with these please? Afriend of mine bought one of these cars a few years ago. It is a lovely car but it has repeated engine problems. On four occaisions over the last two years it has started to misfire but has been cured when a new coil(s) has been fitted. He doesn't know whether the originals were a bad batch and over this time all 6 have been gradually replaced, or whether it is a general problem. Has anybody had similar experiences with this. Thank you, Paul. Read more
Thank you for that. Regards.
I have recently purchased a 1998 Renault Megane RT1.9 diesel.I bought it with the understanding that a new timing belt needed to be fitted..Every time i fit the new timing belt and turn the engine over the belt slips.Has anyone any ideas.Also does anyone know if a 1999 Clio 1.9 engine will fit into the above Megane.
Read more
The keyway [such as it is!] shears on the cam pulley. Wise garages send these to the dealers to fit.
When they fail within months, then it's a Renault warranty claim and not £1200 out of their own pockets for doing nothing wrong.
Hello,
I have an S40 and have been told the VGLA unit has gone..Have had a look in local adverts paper and have found a Keyless entry module with key fob for sale, Is this the same thing ???....How much would i be looking at to get this fixed?..Thanks Read more
Thanks for the advice, I have tried the Volvo web site but to no avail...Any one else out there got any ideas please???? I have even asked the dealer who disconnected my old one and want to charge me 450 quid for a new one but seem unhelpful in giving any other information or details.
Thanks
Andy
Browse
Indeed, a good deal of the energy which is put into the spring as it is being compressed is given back to the cam as it relaxes. The energy lost is mainly to friction, which can be minimised with good design.
One of the limitations of valve springs is surge - this is the phenomenon where the valve spring begins to resonate itself (i.e., the excitation frequency matches a natural frequency of the valve spring) beyond this point, the valve is no longer under the control of the spring. One very effective solution o this problem is to replace the metal valve spring by an air spring; as per Formula one practice.
Although the cam on a conventional engine feels difficult to turn at slow speeds - and you can feel the valve springs driving the cam every so often as you turn - these forces will not be dominant at high speeds, when the inertia forces required to accelerate and decelerate the valve dominate.
My view is that there is no real justification for the complexity and expense of desmodromic valves, and they are a bit of a gimmick.
Number_Cruncher