February 2007
Hi,
I've seen it recommended here to change your oil using a vacuum oil pump like the pela, and I was looking to buy one when I saw a 12v electric version of these that run from the cig. socket or with croc clips to the battery e.g Draper 73319.
The price is roughly the same but I was wondering if it would be detrimental to the car battery to run the pump from it for up to 5 minutes with a current draw of 8 amps and 83 watts with the engine off?
Also would it be less durable than the hand pump version?
Thanks
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My 2001 325 has just failed Mot through ; Near and offside front lower suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint and the (brake reaction bush) suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement.
I have been quoted £509 by BMW dealer to fix (they say have given me 30% off parts and 15% off labour).
Is this such a big job to fix.
Is it usual fault on BMW's - never had such a problem before on either BMW's or Golf, Clio, Pug 206.
Anyone know if BMW contribute to repairs.
Car mileage is 51000.
Thanks in advance for any replies. Read more
I'm not sure I'd rely on the sensitivity of taxi drivers to judge wear in the steering or suspension. So long as the thing stays roughly on the black stuff....
Whilst checking my tyres at the weekend I was surprised to find that the rear threads (or is it treads?) are down to 2-3mm, the fronts are at 4-5mm. My surprise is because my last set of tyres wore more quickly on the front, albeit a different make of tyre and I have changed the tyre pressures I use on the fronts. All 4 tyres were changed at the same time.
It seems that shortly I will need at least 2 new tyres. My manual recommends changing all 4 tyres at the same time (standard advice on 4 wheel drives I believe). However the front tyres clearly have some good life in them yet, it seems foolish to unnecessarily change them. Therefore I have these options:
2 new tyres for the rear, changing to the front when the fronts need replacing. Cheapest option.
Or
4 new tyres. Best all-round except on the wallet.
And
Consider rotating tyres every 6 months? In future to even out tyre wear.
The car is a Toyota Celica GT-Four
Any opinions or advice on the best choice? Read more
SjB Mk1 discos certainly dont have problems with this unless the vehicle is run with the centre diff locked which it should not be unless traction is poor in which case it should be manually locked by moving the range lever to the left
wear on tyres is not enough to cause mechanical problems ,if this was the case cars with LS Diffs would never be safe going round a roundabout without locking up ,I cant remember the % of slip figures but its certainly more than 5% and 4mm of wear would equal much less than 1% on the vehicles you mention . Changing the profile by 5% for example would be 195/65x15 instead of 195/60x15 would only make a 3% difference in circumference and tyre wear is much less than that
as in my first post it may affect handling and grip though
my mk2 golf e-reg cuts off in fraffic it happened twice in the past month can anyone help, also smoke starts to come from the heaters. and fuel pump makes noises
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Its what comes of buying someone elses "project" when you don't know how to complete the left over jobs yourself.
The thin end of the wedge I'd say :O(
Hi,
I am after firing order direction looking from front of car (left-to-right, right-to-left), confirm that it is 1,3,4,2. And timing marks. The crank lines up with mark on block while the cam mark is lined up vertically with the top?
NB: the model is Cielo
Cheers,
Damon Read more
1,3,4,2 is it
Cheers
Had help before with my micra - another problem - I start the car, it fires up no problem, but then dies. If I persist, and press the accelerator down to the floor it will eventually keep going - anybody got any ideas? I think it may be an ignition problem - it happens when the engine is both warm and cold - it has just had a full service - the car is a 1993 1000L Micra - thanks - Read more
Check the fuel pump fuse near the passenger side headlight.
They can get wet and fuse/holder will eventually corrode away.
On our Micra the legs had corroded off of the fuse.
New fuse and a good spray of WD40 did the trick.
I think the over-fuelling fault Screwloose mentions is if you have started the car the night before and only had it running for a few minutes i.e to move it. It is then hard to start in the morning.
This can be overcome by removing the fuel pump fuse and trying to start the car until it just turns over without trying to start.
Reinsert fuse and start - This can take a while.
Have a look at this too.
www.micra.com.au/technical-articles/cg13de-throttl...p
Hello all,
I' m considering a Nissan Tino 2.2 diesel as a relaible, no nonsense, no fuss, get in and go, carry the baby gear, carry the mountain bikes, tow the trailer, a2b mobile. Fancied the Toyota Verso, but at pushing 3k more for the same plate I backed off. Any comments on the Tino?
Cheers,
Madun Read more
Renault 2.0 is chain.
The 2.2 has a Renault block but everything else is Nissan.
Hello,
Car:- Audi A4 Avant 1.9tdi 130SE.
In December, I noticed that the glowplug light on the dash was flashing. It only flashed for about a minute then the light went out. It has not flashed since, just illuminated when I am about to start the car, like it should. However, 1000 miles on, during my journey home today, it flashed again for a few minutes.
I've looked in the manual and it says there may be an engine management problem and to get the engine serviced A.S.A.P.
The car only had its long life service in September so I don't fancy shelling out another £300.
Any ideas what the problem may be ?
Cheers
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Cheers mate.
Yesterday, in common with a great many people, I shifted about 3" of snow from the roof and windows of my car using a clean brush (ex dustpan and brush set from the kitchen). Somehow and annoyingly the sliding down of the snow on the windscreen has produced a near vertical light scratch in the glass, fortunately near the passenger's eyeline.
Deep down, common sense tells me that this cannot be polished out without causing an optical aberration, if indeed, it can be polished out at all. However I would like to know whether anyone has successfully removed a scratch from their windscreen without exacerbating the problem? Eventually, I'll get used to seeing it when I gaze across the screen but at the moment I am finding it most annoying as it is the first time in 50 years of driving etc. that I have ever done this.
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I've had success with toothpaste followed by Brasso. Take care with the toothpaste, it's actually incredibly abrasive. Also works well on CDs.
My 51000 mile '02 Citroen C5 HDI 110 Auto has, in the last 2000 miles, developed a thirst for coolant - about a litre in 250 - 300 miles. The header tank remains under significant pressure long after the engine and coolant have cooled - on releasing the pressure cap first thing in the morning (-4 degrees C) the water level rose in the header tank by about 2 inches! The engine is also rougher than previously, particularly noticeable when stopped against the brakes and in gear. My local Citroen dealership has ben unable to identify a leak, nor have I. The logical conclusion appears to be head gasket failure, but Citroen claim this is an unheard of failure at this mileage . . . .anyone have any suggestions or comments on this?
{slight tweak to header to incorperate drop down menu that wasn't available when this question was first posted - DD} Read more
I traded in my early C5 for a 2006 ex Citroen management VTR last July. It's never been back to the dealership for a single thing and I've now done 18,000 miles (it had done 10,000 when I got it) And not one single drop of coolant has been used!
Good luck!
Graeme
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Also, something which may not be obvious with the manual extractors... You don't have to pump the oil out manually as such, you simply give it about 8 strokes, and then stand and watch as the receptacle fills with oil, when it's nearly empty it gurgles and you wiggle the semi-rigid pipe around until all the bubbling stops and just air comes through.
It's also best to park the car so that the pipe will go down to the lowest point of the sump.