March 2007
Hi all,
Recently, the MiL to be's Accord has been misbehaving. It's a 2000 X plate 2.0iS, 81k, generally very reliable & a great car. Anyway, what happens is that the engine cuts out, and a green light with a picture of a key flashes on the dash. It has happened while driving along (turning off and restarting seems to cure), but more frequently when starting- the car will start then cut out; takes a few goes to start properly.
Basically, I'm suspecting the immobiliser. Trouble is, it there's a transponder in the key, it's not obvious how to change the battery (just a key with a rubber top bit, no obvious flaps to open. There is a plipper, but the spare key is without one, so can't be in there!
I'm loathe to take it to Honda, as I suspect it'll be expensive!!
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance,
Alex.
--
Dr Alex Mears
MG BGT 1971
If you are in a hole stop digging...unless
you are a miner. Read more
My van has been damaged AGAIN, this time in the local car park. The rear wing is again bent badly. Needless to say, Im throughly pink fluffy diced off.
Anyway, first question - there is CCTV covering the carpark - is it possible to find out who did it using this CCTV as they didnt leave any details?
Further on from that, is it an offense to damage someones car and then drive away?
I dont really intend to persue this unless its worth it and possible to identify who did the damage, but id be interested to know if I can find out who the idiot was and try and claim from them. Read more
>>As for OP Stu, given that from memory you're a valeter and presumably your clients see the van, then yes i'd get it sorted. If you regard it as just transport, leave it, it'll only get clouted again.<<
Yes my clients do see the van, but its not immediately obvious as the bumper didnt crack so from the back, it looks fine. Its only the section of lower rear wing between the rear bumper casing and the rear arch, which is about 5-6 ins long. Its not damaged the arch either thankfully, so from a distance, it does look too bad.
Ive had a good look at it and while its not an ideal plan, Im going to try and push most of it out from behind and then fill the dent myself. Its not broken the paint anywhere, so I can take my time and get the shape right without rust worries ( its just everywhere else that the rust is a worry! ).
Its a shame Im having to do it at all but then we live in a society full of loathsome cretins and next time, Ill park somewhere else! I only parked in this carpark because its somewhat further away from the bank than where I usually park in order to get some exercise - who says exercise is good for you!
Well they've stuck the Cortina from Life on Mars on eBay for Comic Relief. It's already at £8100! And the number plate used on the show it isn't the real one - the car is newer than the programme which is set in 1973. You do get the real N-reg plate (RUO 568N) which when looked up is on a Cortina of this colour etc. with 8 previous owners.
It's here: tinyurl.com/24a7p8
Read more
This was the coolest Mark 3 cortina....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5mHQN0xp0I
I've just got back from picking up a car which I had been considering using as a 'bangernomics' experiment. Insurance was arranged online two days ago with Tesco.
On closer inspection, the car will need a fair bit more work doing to it than I'd envisaged :-( It's currently off road whilst I decide what to do with it - not sure how long that will be.....
So regarding the insurance, will I be able to cancel under the 'within 14 days' clause? Reading the policy wording implies this can be done without charge - even though I've technically had the car 'on risk' for a day. Will cancelling leave a 'blot' on my insurance 'record'?
Thanks. Read more
Well it does say
Your right to cancel
If this cover does not meet Your requirements, please return all Your documents within 14 days of receipt. We will return any premium paid in full provided no claims have been made on the Policy during that time.
Might be worth phoning them and try it.
Why is it the decent smaller estates have wheel arches in the way of the load area. I need a small estate and the main contenders don?t have flat access.
Totally mad. If you look at the Focus or Golf, you get a normal flat rear section; but the Audi A4 BMW 3 series & V40 are rubbish. ?The V40 even has a lip!
Why oh why are the 3 I want so badly designed? You?d think the likes of Audi / BMW / Volvo would know how to make a little estate.
Read more
Perhaps no excuse on the new V40, it is based on the Focus.
DP makes a good point, the Mondeo estate is cavernous and lard asred with a much bigger overhang than the saloon/estate and a different rear suspension to reduce intrusion in to the load area. IIRC those mentioned by the OP are simply variants of the saloon.
www.autobild.de/aktuell/meldungen/artikel.php?arti...0
Click on the top left where it says 29 bild the Fiat Abarth is very nice. Read more
if you're looking for an Abarth picture:
www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/206882/...l
Notice it does not have Fiat badges ;-)
Driving along my usual commute on the A1(m) which is basically two full lanes of cars doing 50-60, I was please to see the person behind me in the Toyota Avensis kept a gap similar to the one I had from the car in front of me.
Not a big deal really, but normally when I try and keep a safe gap (not lane hogging at all!) I am tailgated/undertaken by the BMW/Audi behind so I felt strangely grateful for this display of courtesy.
I felt like saying thank you for making one days commute that little bit less stressful.
I must be getting old.... Read more
Oh dear, if someone is driving needlessly in the outside lane I carefully undertake them quite regularly. Needless to say I don't do it in traffic, but if the road's almost empty and they're blocking my way for no reason then I'm afraid they will be undertaken with a *very* close eye kept open for them moving over to the left!
Yes, I drive a 3 Series but also did it in a succession of Fiestas, a Fusion and a Mondeo, so I fail to see the link between the car that I drive and my driving style.
Blue
Have recently noticed that all the stop areas for the Police and Highways agency are being revamed along my commute. The entry ramp is being removed and returned to grass, with the unaltered exit ramp being the point of entry (presumably to reverse onto the ramp).
Armco is being built for a short distance leading up to the entry/ exit point.
In all my time driving I can only recall seeing one non authorised car in one of these areas- and that appeared to have broken down. I have not heard of any safety issues relating to them, and rarely see them being used, so does any one know the logic for this? Would guess is not cheap, and from a safety point of view I can't see how reversing a vehicle onto these ramps is preferable to being able to drive straight in- and will someone trying doing a u turn to drive into one? Read more
At 70mph they made excelent ski jumps.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
I'm looking at upgrading my hothatch and wondered if any1 had driven the new Cupra yet? Woz lookin at the site and it looks pretty cool, but does it handle ok? Read more
Parked next to a metallic red new Leon the other day and thought it looked great. Don't know which version but it had wheels with seven non-tapering spokes that really set it off well.
Any ideas guys - still haven't made my mind up on my new car.....Have been through so many options and have now narrowed it down to either the Yaris or Colt Read more
Wemyss - sorry, only just checked this site today. My local dealer is Gallaghers Mitsubishi at Ashley, near Altrincham, Cheshire. They were advertising new 3 door Colts 'from £6k' in the Sale and Altrincham Messenger a couple of weeks ago. I don't know if a link to their web site is allowed, but there is a 2007 1.1 CZ1 in red in their 'used' section for £5,998 with delivery miles (though the advert did say new). Hope this helps. Personally, although they sound good value I think I would prefer to buy a larger used car and save on depreciation.
Browse
Nice one, guys! Just goes to show, this is the place to come when you need advice. Will give Honda a call tomorrow.
Have a great w/e,
Alex
--
Dr Alex Mears
MG BGT 1971
If you are in a hole stop digging...unless
you are a miner.