March 2007
I have a 2004 new shape Panda 1.2. Recently the clutch has started to judder badly when setting off in 1st gear in traffic. It only seems to happen after about 5 miles when the car is fully warmed up. I have tried several methods, using slightly higher revs, slipping it slightly but it still judders and is so bad it makes the engine mounting knock. Seems worse if you are in heavy traffic with hill starts. Only done 24,000 miles. Would an oil leak from the gearbox cause this by contaminating the friction plate or just a faulty clutch? It's out of warranty so will have to do it myself and drop the gearbox out and take a look. Don't want to pay main dealer prices and it's no guarantee it will be sorted. I know Punto's sometimes have the same problem. Need to get it fixed as it's loosening the engine mounts.
Makes me want to buy an auto instead... Read more
The Government cancelled research into the effect speed cameras were having on accident rates and driver behaviour, a request under the Freedom of Information Act has revealed.
The cancellation by the Department for Transport (DfT) was described as "astonishing and grossly irresponsible" by anti-speed camera group Safe Speed.
The DfT said in its reply under the Act that its original research was replaced by research looking at the wider effects of cameras.
But Safe Speed, which believes cameras are having no effect on casualty rates, said the original research was dropped because the DfT was "scared about the likely results".
It was a Safe Speed member who organised the anti-road charging petition which attracted 1.8 million signatures on a Downing Street website recently.
Safe Speed has published its own report on the "side effects" of speed cameras, pointing out that neither road deaths nor the number of people taken to hospital after crashes had fallen as expected since the introduction of speed cameras.
Safe Speed said the best estimate of the life-saving benefit of speed cameras stood at 25 lives a year and that if more lives than this are lost then the cameras were "increasing the death toll on British roads".
Safe Speed founder Paul Smith said: "Our analysis is clear and confident and takes proper account of all known science, statistics and systematic analysis. Our confident conclusion is that speed cameras are making road safety much worse and must be scrapped immediately."
He went on: "It is astonishing and grossly irresponsible that the DfT has cancelled their important 'side effects' research. I can only imagine that they were scared about the likely results and would rather save face than save lives.
"I would love to see a DfT point-by-point response to our new report but of course they cannot properly respond because they have cancelled their research."
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"if the discs are rusted on then gently tap them off with a copper/rubber mallet......"
yeah, right.....i have replaced several complete (front/rear) discs/pads on my car/friends cars over the last year or so and just about every time, especially rear discs that may have been on the car for 4 ir 5 years, it is a real problem removing the discs if they are rusted on. Now tapping them off with a rubber/copper mallet (as the manuals always say) just does not work, and often I have found a normal hammer and a hint of brute force and ignorance is the only way to remove the disc.
Now are there any more sophisticated ways to remove the disc, and is smacking (or rather tapping and moving it round a bit between every tap for as long as it takes) the dics with a hammer really damaging to the wheel assembly?
thanks Read more
Yup, I second the advice about not using a normal hammer. Many years ago I chipped the rust off the edges of my Renault 18 discs.
Wheel bearing failure followed shortly afterwards.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
Over last few days I have seen well into double figures of the new shape 7 series, all 06 reg or newer, including one 07.
I havent seen any of these for ages, has BMW released a load of "ex management "cars into the dealers? Has there been a sudden drop in prices for them?
Just curious! Read more
SWIMBO is looking to replace her car in the next month and rather fancies a Note. She is considering the 1.4 petrol version in SE spec. Anything known about the Note that she should be aware of? Read more
Having driven both we decided that we prefered the Note, thing was we couldn't actually say why. It just felt better to us than the Modus. So cheque book in hand we approached the local main Nissan dealer. They promptly offered us £1000 less than Glass's for our p/x but offered us an "excellent" deal if we bought a new Note. 50% deposit and 3 years interest free finance-----based on us paying the full list price. We walked out. I could have understood all this if the Note was in big demand, but it isn't.
Anyway we will keep looking for a Note from an indy.
Hi, i am the owner of a rather smokey 1997 Peugeot 406 1.9td. I have owned the car for two and a half years now, but in the last few months it has become quite smokey. The car uses no oil and runs fine so it cant be a worn out engine. (engine has covered 150k) and no lights have come up on the dash to say there is a problem with the injector pump. The cars MOT is due soon and it wont pass like it so if anyone has any idears as to why its doing it i would be most greatful. Thanks all Ben.
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Ok thanks 4 that. I will give it a go see if that makes any diffrence.
Hi
I have just hade an e-mail regarding numberplate paint @ £18.75 inc postage
it is supposed to block your number being recorded!!!!
has any one tried it,?
how effective is it ?
does it work?
regards GTI Jo Read more
A registration plate must not be treated in any other way which renders the characters of the registration mark less easily distinguishable to the eye or which would prevent or impair the making of a true photographic image of the plate through the medium of camera and film or any other device.
RV Display of Reg Marks Regs 2002 Reg 11(2)
dvd
On saturday night a group of drunken moorons decided it was a good laugh to walk up the bonnet onto the roof and have a shuffle around then off the boot on several cars in our road.This left good imprints of a least two pairs of shoes and a lot of scratches and a few dents.My company car was one of them, on reporting this to the police all they could come up with was a visit from a victim support officer and ask alot of questions for their sastistics.They also said ferensics might be interested if it did not rain in the following few days,suggesting I take a few photos just in case they did not make it in time.
I suggested that the victim support offer should be held back as if I catch the *************** who did this they would need all the support for their brooken legs.
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rustbucket (the original) Read more
>> >> ha ha ha
>>
>> Why do you open so many of your posts with
ha ha ha?
Because he's a troll and did the same with his previous
alias before I kicked him out for being a PITA.
DD Having done a little research, I think you were about right!
I have a 96 (N) Vectra Hatchback, i have recently had a set of keys stolen and now find myself very concerned that if someone knows the whereabouts of the car then they may steal it. Is there anything i can do to prevent this from happening ? I have been told i could get my second set of keys and fob reprogrammed , which would prevent the stolen fob from being used, i have been told conflicting stories, can this be done or do i have to change a few things i.e barrels etc.
Thanks Read more
Inside the keyfob is an immobiliser chip that is married up to your car. If you obtain a replacement key(s) then the new chip would need marrying up to the car by a Vauxhall dealer; or someone with the relevant equipment. This would then render the original key(s) useless. This would not stop a thief however from gaining entry to your car. It would just prevent them from starting it.
You could of course get 2nd hand barrels and keys from a scrapyard, but you would also need the ecu from the scrap car as that is what the chips in the keys are linked up to. I'm not sure if you would also need the transceiver from the steering column that communicates with the key as well though.
Best thing really is to seek advice from your Vauxhall dealer as to the cheapest and most secure approach to take.
My daughter Purchased the scoobie from a dealer in Chester last year its uk300
the car is great apart from a hesitation when you put your foot down. took it to are local indipendant subaru man
he said that the wrong disk/restrictor had been fitted to the turbo pipe.
he fitted a larger size,the car was faster howevever the turbo kept coming in and out,
I took it back and he fitted the original one that he had replaced,
Back to square one.
Has any one got any idears
Regards scoobi doo Read more
Browse
Surely we all know the real reason, speed cameras generate so much money but research would cost money and damage fundamentally reduce the "profits" when speed cameras were found to be ineffectual in reducing the rate of fatal accidents.
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Roger
A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.