February 2007
OK...Does anyone know how to manually open the fuel flap on a SEAT Toledo? (VW Bora clone)
The button for doing it with solenoid is currently sat on the garage floor. :o) Read more
Hi all,
got a friend with an '03 Freelander who's SRS light has just come on. Is this the seatbelt restraint system and if so,
is there anything obvious to check. or is it a case of just gotta go to the dealer?
Cheers,
Pete Read more
Check the seat belt pretensioner connections. Usually under the seats. Check any other SRS connections you can access (harness is usually yellow).
Screen on my motorbike has light scratches and a pretty deep one will it work? Read more
Nobody seems to know! It is only £4.99 so why not try it? The deep scratch might be a problem. The military use a polish called Sinec on air crew helmet visors but I am not sure if it commercially available.
Have you noticed that the Big Screen TV has halved in price in 18 months? The washing machine, fridge, freezer, PC etc have all come down dramatically over the years.
Cars - they keep getting dearer - but for how long. Currently it seems a fairly cosy club - all the big players are in competition but when one raises their prices, the others follow along soon after.
Article I read recently said that these days are numbered:-
1) Environmental cases against big cars with big engines (and the big profits)
2) New competition coming within 5-10 years from the east - East Europe, South Asia, South East Asia and China
3) Existing big European suppliers caught - Mercedes, BMW aiming for up market segment with bigger cars, Mass market suppliers(Ford, Peugeot) market attacked from above and below from new emerging suppliers from below as well as existing competitors with new brands (GM has Daewoo / Chevrolet, Renault has Dacia/Logan, Toyota has Daihatsu)
If the market in 5-15 years time is filled with Chinese, Indian...........where is the future for Peugeot?
If the Upmarket segment of MB& BMW is attacked by Lexus, Infiniti............... will they compete as currently they sell on badge and lack the engineering quality of the Lexus
Who will be the winners and big names - may be the future is Cheaper, smaller, simpler, easier to fix cars and not the all singing and dancing electronics in the current car choice.
EG Royal Enfield Motorcycles (used to be UK) now built in India - old technology can be fixed as compared say a new Honda bike which requires sophisticated workshop to diagnose and repair faults. Would the same apply to cars? Read more
"Also the far east are still way behind European standards, they
will never be able to fully catch up."
May be true if you exclude China. I bought a copy of that World of Cars 2007 catalogue, and was amazed at the output from the Chinese car industry, having been oblivious to it before. They already build most of the rest of the worlds car models under joint venture agreements. Just flicking through, cant be bothered to list all of them, theres: Beijing Hyundai, Beijing Chrysler, Beijing Mitsubishi, Changan Ford, Dongfeng Citroen, Dongfeng Honda, Faw Audi, Guangzhou Toyota, Huachen BMW, Nanjing Fiat, Shanghai Chevrolet, Shanghai VW, and Zhengzhou Nissan, etc., etc.
Looks like they have got all the current technology they need at their fingertips.
Sounds like you may be able to buy a Chinese Rover 75 hybrid, (if you are that way inclined!) over here in the next few years. This report says available 2007, but I've seen another which says available in Europe in 2009:
www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/204091/...l
In 2004 China was number 4 in annual production volume, behind Germany, USA, Japan. Like it or lump it, how long will it take them to get to number 1?
Hi All,
i wonder if someone could shed some light with a probem i have its my mother in laws car she has an astra 1.6 auto x reg (00).
it has just come back from the garage after having a replacement water pump fitted and after about two weeks has developed the most horrendous of what i can only describe as tapping noises it sounds like an old 1.1 fiesta that has loose tappets thats the only way i can describe the noise accuratley.
She took it back to the garage where the work was done only to have them say that they coudn't find anything wrong when reved its as if its not firing 100% has anyone heard of this before?
Thanks
Maretz Read more
Hi
yes they changed the cambelt but the noise is just the same wether the engine is warm or cold the ecu light isn't on though
maretz
Hi all.
We had a cold spell in the UK and now my xantia won't start. I've charged the battery and tightened the terminals, the engine turns over and almost started once but that's all. The dashboard stop lights come on permanently and the LHM level indicator is really high www.fretbored.co.uk/LHMlevel.jpg. I'm a bit reluctant to do the easy start thing in case something else is wrong. Any ideas chaps?
Nick. Read more
I'm told older diesels (york engines in Transits) became 'addicted' to Easy Start, by that I mean that unless Easy Start was used then you couldn't start the engine. It's said that the cause of this was down to the violent explosion when the stuff ignited hammered the big end & crank bearings (and so valves I suppose) leading to reduced compression and so reduced starting ability. As XUDs get older they depend on their glowplugs to start even when warm.
Steve.
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Xantia HDi. - Float on!
SWMBO has a 1999 "T" mondeo. The airbag/seatbelt light has just started flashing.
It flashes 4 times and then pauses for a couple of seconds before doing another 4 flashes.
Does any one know if this is serious or not and what he fault may be.
Do I just play/move around with the wires under the drivers seat. A friend told me this usually stops this problem.
Help please Read more
thanks Dave.
I moved the wires under the seats in the box. I couldn't get the yellow connector apart, but it has done the trick.
The light has stopped flashing.
Thanks
Colin
I need a mid-size estate below £3K, ideally diesel. Not as big as an XM or 9-5, but no smaller than a Focus.
Reliability is the biggest criterion. I'm leaning toward Audi and Volvo.
Any suggestions?
Many Thanks - musang Read more
My choice would either be a Focus or a 306 Estate. Both are nice looking estate cars, virtually the same size and are similar in terms of price. Buy a turbo diesel version for the best compromise between performance and economy. I doubt you would get a Focus TDCi for less than £3k but you would easily get one with the older 1.8 TDi engine, which although is less refined than the TDCi, is still good in terms of economy. As for the 306 estate, you should get a well cared for 2.0 HDi for £3k- these give around 50mpg combined and are very refined. The 1.9TD 306 is a cheaper alternative to the HDi as it is one of the old-school diesels, but nevertheless is quite refined, fairly brisk and gives 45mpg.
Martin
Is Porsche going to take over VW?
According to an article (quoted in full below) in today's Telegraph Business section it looks very likely.
Volkswagen was the centre of bid speculation yesterday after an adviser to the European Union's top court ruled that a German law which shields Europe's largest carmaker from a takeover should be scrapped.
The advocate general, an adviser to the European Court of Justice, said the law hindered the free flow of capital within the EU by capping voting rights and limiting board seats. The Court tends to uphold the views of the advocate general.
VW shares rose as analysts speculated that scrapping the protection would pave the way for a takeover by Porsche. The luxury carmaker has 27.4pc of VW and close production links.
In a further sign that Porsche will extend its control of the company, the state of Lower Saxony, which has 20pc of VW, said it would no longer oppose the sports carmaker's chairman, Ferdinand Piech, holding the chairmanship of the larger company.
The 1960 VW law, passed to ensure the independence of the carmaker, prevents any shareholder from exercising more than 20pc of the voting rights, no matter how large the stake. The European Commission, which has tried for years to remove the protection, welcomed the advocate general's opinion.
The family that owns Porsche includes Mr Piech, who is now set to remain as chairman even after his term expires later this year. A Porsche spokesman said: "We welcome the opinion of the advocate general. This confirms our stance on the VW Law and we assume that the court will follow the position of the advocate general."
Will it be in VW's best interest or should someone else take them over?
--
Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
Read more
Only a year or two ago, a Porsche spokeman was quoted in the motoring press as saying Porsche would never make diesel cars. If they take over VW it looks like they'll have to!
Incidentally, in the late 1920's, Foden, which then made steam lorries, said they's never make diesel lorries. That led to Edwin Richard Foden starting a breakaway company, ERF, which was a runaway success and soon the original Foden company was making diesel powered truck too.
My 406 110hdi Peugeot (52 plate) has covered 94k miles.
Cambelt renewal is recommended @ 96k, is there anything else that should be check during the service.
Its there likely to be any indication that the belt is about to fail or is it within the safety limits?
Thanks Read more
The trade always fit a cambelt kit for these models & usually replace the water pump at the same time. If you 're a retail punter & you are buying from a factor then aim to pay about £60+vat for the kit, & £20-25 +vat for the pump.
Browse
Were all 4 wires the same gauge? or 2 thin, 2 thicker? Removing the dash illumination (side light?) fuses would have protected the illumination side would'nt it?