February 2007
I'm presuming on the Photocard part of the licence the date at 4a is date of issue, and at 4b is date of expiry. Can anyone confirm that?
Thanks in anticipation
Tim{P} Read more
I've finally joined the technological revolution and bought an ipod. Just working my way through my hundreds of CDs, with the intention that when the ipod is full up, it cam come in the car with me instead of 60+ cds. Don't worry, I'm buying it a sock so that it can be put safely in my bag and taken with me!
Question is, what are the options for listening to the ipod in the car? Two colleagues have an adaptor that connects to the cigarette lighter (in my case a straight forward power socket as I don't have a smoker's pack) - one loves it and the other says he's always having to move the ipod around to get a good signal. I don't know if there is anything a bit more reliable around?
Specifics are that it's a 2nd generation nano (in case that makes a difference) going into an 06 Golf with the standard stereo in. No CD changer, although I did have a handsfree kit fitted in November which needs to be redone as they've given me an extra speaker instead of putting it through the stereo speakers. It also needs a software upgrade apparently (got the phonecall about the recall last week).
I have no idea where to start!
Read more
Car Audio Direct have the new Alpine unit the iDA-x001 for pre-order, It also can do bluetooth. This is the best ipod solution available.
My brother is moving to France and needs to sell his Vel Satis so he can buy a left hooker. Anyone know anyone who is interested in these cars? I understand not too many people in the UK were interested. Read more
Use a standard car site to sell it - but make sure you tell them what it is - most may not know. I mean "a roomy, extremely comfortable 5 seater with a terrific boot, list all high spec extras, great engine. long lasting, main dealer history etc.
A few weeks ago my daughter was stopped by the police on her way home from work. (She has only just informed me of the incident). It was a road 'check point' and she was stopped for having a headlight out - no problem with that. The police officer then told her she would have to leave her car where it was and walk to the nearby filling station to buy a bulb. The filling station didn't have the bulb for her car so the officer told her she would have to go to Halfords (approx half mile away). The police officer gave her a lift there but couldn't give a lift back and therefore she was left to walk the half mile back on her own in the dark on a road leading out of the city.
What on earth are they thinking about? Leaving a young woman to walk alone on a road like that in the dark is ridiculous. Letter to the local headquarters on it's way!
{Subject header given a more meaningful title - DD} Read more
You never hear a warning "ping" from your parked car to tell you a bulb
has just gone.
Granted not a ping, but I do get a visual warning come up on the LCD display inside the car when a bulb has gone ;o)
Do they really park Smarts at right angles to the kerb or it it an HJ windup ? Read more
Forgot to mention in my post that we're looking at getting one as a pool car for work - we just need to borrow one to see if it fits in the binstore! It's either that or scooter courses for everyone.
My otherwise dependable Almera developed a fault today - the fan inside the car only works on full blast, so
0 = 0 (no surprise there)
1-3 = nothing
4 = full blast
Obviously the fan itself still works, so i guess it's not a fuse issue, is there a resistor somewhere that allows you to get the lower speed?
Any ideas greatly appreciated
TIA Read more
If it is anything like the Primera or Micra very easy 5 min job.
It will be in the front corner of the passenger footwell.
Easily remove by kneeling by the side of the car.
Unplug the multiway connector by squeezing the tab
2 x10mm??/crosshead screws
Micra cost £25, Primera £35
The design is different and I would suspect that it is age/use related, so a breakers may not be economical.
Ask for a heater motor resistor.
I have just received an e-mail that should be of interest to all motorists.The governments backdoor proposal to introduce road pricing will mean you will have to purchase a tracking device for the car and also pay a monthly bill to use it. The tracking device will cost around £200 and in a recent study by the BBC, the lowest monthly bill was £28 for a rural florist and £194 for a delivery driver.
On top of this masssive increase in tax, you will be tracked. Somebody will know where you are at all times. They will also know what speed you are driving at, and even if you accidently crept over the speed limit, in time, you can probably expect a Notice of Intended Prosecution with your monthly bill.
If you care for your freedom, please sign the petition on No 10 Downing St's new web site on the link. You will have to enter your name, address and e-mail, select Submit, they will then send you an e-mail to that address where you must click on the link. ONLY THEN will your vote be registered.
There are only 11 days left to register your objection to the Pay As You Go road tax, the petition close on 20th February 2007.
petitions.pm.gov.uk/traveltax/ Read more
I've just done this, and as a novice, found it quite easy the engine is the same for all 90s Peugeots and Citroens inc. the 306, 405, Zantia and ZX.
You will need - replacement starter motor - get it from a breaker for £20, and get free practice in removing it!
8mm Allen bit with a ratchet, assorted metric ring spanners and a flat head screwdriver.
Disconnect the -ve terminal of the battery first - and note your radio code if needed.
Remove the air cleaner - the big box on the right, by unclipping the three fasteners at its base. Disconnect the three pipes that go in by loosening the jubilee clips. The large rigid plastic pipe that crosses the front needs to be disconnected on the left, and the inlet pipe taken off above the radiator.
The starter will now be seen centrally, on the front of the engine, about five inches behind the radiator, and about half way down the rad. Disconnect the two incoming wires.
The three bolts that attach it undo from the right of the motor, and the front two withdraw fully, (note that the top one is longer than the lower one). The rear bolt will not withdraw fully, but can be left in place. Do this one last.
Twist the motor to remove it from the engine bay.
Offer up the new motor, noting that a 3/4" long ring assists in locating the top, front bolt. It may have stayed on the engine, or perhaps come off with the starter. Do up the top two bolts together, and then the lower bolt.
Reconnect the two wires on the starter, replace the air filter box and pipes, and reconnect the battery.
Job done.
Should take about an hour to an hour an a quarter if you are a novice like me. Read more
Thanks Richard for the cam belt info.
My AX diesel was pretty easy to change surprisingly for a little car.
Cheers, Ian
Hi, I have a VW Polo, 1.9 Diesel (AEF engine) that seems to be using more oil than usual. There is no blue smoke, sump gasket seems to be seeping in places but not dripping and there are no other obvious leaks. However, there seems to be oil seeping and occasionally dripping from the back of the air intake box. I have been told that it may be a blocked breather pipe or sticky PCV.
Any idea whether this engine has a PCV - if so where is it?
Also, what breather pipes should I be looking at? (Other than the one on top of the rocker cover which doesn't seem to be blocked)
The car also makes a really loud rumble that can be felt through the interior when the vacuum pump kicks in after about 3 - 5 minutes of running. EGR valve is operating fine and the EGR pipe isn't blocked. Can?t find any obvious vacuum leaks but haven't had a test done.
Is it possible for the two problems to be linked? Are they just symptoms of the engine being worn out?
Thanks in advance. Read more
I just have to tell you about the huge saving I have made today on 4 new tyres for my MB E320.
Having shopped around for price quotes at all of the regular tyre dealers the typical price for a Michilin Primacy Pilot HP size 245/45 R17 was a huge £180 plus £20 for balancing, valve etc
So thats £800 for the 4 high quality Michilins that offer quiet road noise and very long service (40,000 miles out of mine and they are just still legal) Now here comes the good bit....
Having asked the back room where I should buy my tyres several of you recommended COSTCO as they now have a tyre fitting service. I went off to Costco at Lakeside today and checked the prices for my 4 tyres which came in at £118 each including balance, fit and valve!!!! Thats a saving of £326!!!
Its due to a great sale they have on at the moment which is 20% off any set of 4 Michilin and its running until Feb 17th. The downside is that you have to pay £29 to join Costco but hey Im quids in....
So thanks backroomers for the advice and if you need tyres get down to Costco.
Question How much profit are these tyre fitting companies making??? Too much
--
\"Eagles may fly in formation but Weasels dont get sucked into jet engines\"
Read more
actually it costs only £20+vat to join ,application form here
That's the trade membership price, individual membership is a little dearer.
I don't know why they insist on membership, and I've never heard anything but positive reports about Costco's customer service and after-sales support, but being a member of a 'club' or being a trade buyer does impact your consumer rights.
I came unstuck with this at Makro where something failed just outside warranty and they couldn't be budged on repairing / replacing it.
Browse
You're telling me. I had to get out my magnifying glass.
--
L\'escargot.