March 2007
Good mate of mine will need to get shot of a Merc CLK at some point because of a second child on the way.
i've tried to get him interested in the new XF, which he's warming to, but his missus doesn't like Jags because 'they're old mens cars'.........nice!
whilst he was in my office, I rang my local dealership to enquire of the XF......apparently it's going to be available in January, not December......the salesman said they've had unprecedented interest (although i suppose they would do wouldn't they)..but they'd had 24 deposits already.........nearly a year in advance!.....he reckoned that with 23 years service at that garage with that marque, he'd never seen such excitement and interest in the launch of a new model, totally eclipsing the recent XK.
new beginning for Jaguar maybe? Read more
I was just looking and hence thinking about the new Mondeo and it's styling and safety.
When the Pug 407 came out with it's long bonnet and long front over-hangs which all compromised passenger space, the new pedestrian safety requirements were blamed. Looking at the new Mondeo none of those compromises seem to have happened with better interior space, longer wheelbase, wheels closer to corners, etc.
So did PSA mess up on styling and blame safety? Or am I missing something? Read more
I vaguely recall reading somewhere that Peugeot were trying to emulate some of the design themes from Ferrari? Don't some Ferrari's have a long-ish nose with a small, vertical under-bumper grill?
I don't remember pedestrian safety getting a look-in! I think pedestrian safety requires a "tall" bonnet, so if someone lands on it there'll be a bit of space between the flimsy bonnet panel and the harder, hotter, less-yielding engine underneath...
Can one of you knowledgeable people please settle an argument?! I've always believed that cylinder 1 on a transverse engine is the one next to the timing belt, but a friend disagrees and says it's 1 to 4 from left to right where the timing belt is on the right hand side, so who is correct? Read more
With most of my working life spent working on engines, I can say there are no general rules, older British engines tended to number from free end whilst others vice versa.
I work with one very old British built engine that is numbered from the free end, 50 Yards away is a moderen engine from the same manufacturer which is numbered from the Fly wheel!
Don't start me going on V's! some label A & B banks 1 to whatever others 1 to whatever but where No 1 is right or left I always have a look in the book first!
Hi can anyone help me? i bought a ford direct 06 13000 mile focus lx on monday the car is as new, but after driving for 45miles on tues i noticed every time i look in the rear view mirror, i see a type of ripple effect whenever cars behind me come closer and also when on a dual carriageway, the broken white line does a wave up and down !!! this is all very offputting as it looks like there is a problem with the glass, on close inspection the glass appears normal, and the mirror looks ok. i am having a hard job getting ford to believe i have a real problem. HELP PLEASE ANYBODY. Read more
I've had two old style Focii (a 98 and a 2002) and both of them suffered from this odd characteristic.
On the 2002 (diesel) on the bonnet vibrates quite a lot as well which I put down to Ford build quality.
I just learned to live with it in the end!
Hello,
My wife's car went off for *three* weeks to the insurance company's 'recommended repairer' to have to following items replaced after a minor ding:
1. front foglight x 1
2. Washer bottle
3. Headlamp washer jet x 1
NOTE: No bodywork damage or painting required.
It took them 2 weeks to get the parts, but they were in stock (I checked) for 2-day delivery at the manufacturer's part centre. Then they took another week to fit them.
And when I got the car back, they did not even replace the washer bottle but I was charged for it (and laboutrtoo): the old one's still in the car ('cos it's still covered in road muck, and is still dented after the accident). And I reckon that was the part that was the most labour due to it poor loaction.
I would have replaced the part myself but the access was non-existent plus I have a bad back.
Is this a scam? Or am I paranoid? Read more
Agree with you Ashok, the problems I had with the second one you mention (Swiftly moving on...) was appalling. They're not even that cheap, but treat their customers like a piece of sewage farm intake. Friend when they want your money, but not when it comes to fulfilling their policy offer. Argument was about using a franshised repairer vs their one, they only wanted to pay rock bottom and disregard the quality. I believe there's a strong lnk between what you pay and what you get, and this applies to the premium as well as the repair should you be unfortunate to need one. I'd avoid this outfit.
Hey guys, my first post on here, and im really hoping someone can help..
ive got a 52 reg astra 1.6 8v, full service history and 30k on clock, for a few weeks when going above 60mph there is a whisteling noise coming from somewhere near front drivers side, only happends at 60 and above. its recently had service and camblet/tensioners replaced - the noise was there before service and was led originally to beleieve the tensioners were to blame but new ones not fixed it. garage has checked the full car for mis aligned panels, brakes, bearings, alternator, belts and waterpump, nothing is at fault, the blower makes a very similar noise when on the highest setting, but when the noise occurs, having the air vents closed and blower off makes no difference.. any ideas what it can possibly be??? many thanks! Dean Read more
sorry, forgot to mention what the noise sounds like.. its a quite high pitched noise, though there is a hole and air is getting through, but very metally at the same time. noise isnt exactly constant when it appears, its there, but is loud one sec then dulls but as quick is loud again. not in time with speed though.
Hi there
Does anyone have wiring diagram for a Sparkrite MkII SX2000 Electronic Ignition.
Or can anyone tell me which wire goes where, the colours of the wires are Green, Purple, White, Red & Blue.
I know the green is Earth but I don't know which go to the coil and which to the live feed.
I would appreciate any help anyone can give. Read more
IF you are still having difficulties you could contact them on this website which is still up and running and they also have a number, and yes Sparkrite are still running. www.stadiumcp.co.uk/ , you could get some sucess there.
ADI
[b]What's Good[/b]
New CL
[b]What's Bad[/b]
Feedback welcome.
[b]What to Watch Out For[/b]
Feedback welcome.
I hope to be able to fill in some of the blanks over the weekend as I'm delivering one to Kent on Saturday. Nice...
([i]Note to self[/i]: Don't fill-up anywhere south of Wick!
Read more
I went to collect my car after my MOT from a garage in Gosport. I was gravely told by a mechanic that after they had done the work on my car, they went to start the car and the cam chain snapped!! He said they would replace the chain, but as i'm sure you're aware the chain snapping could have completely screwed the engine up. I'm waiting to find out what the extent of the damage is, but i'm unsure where i stand on the cost of the repairs. Does the garage have to foot the bill as the problem occured whilst they had the car, what are my rights, or am i looking at a hefty repair bill? Anybody in the know about this sort of thing? Anyone experienced a similar scenario, what did you do? Read more
Play dumb with the garage and check out what it is prepared to do to put matters right.
If it's decided that financially it's not worth it the, as others say, move on to your next car. As one whose driven dozens and dozens of cars over the years, as well as owning around a dozen different models, I can assure you that you will come to love your next conveyance just as much, if not more.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
Does anybody know any website I can order a new oil filler cap and hose from for my 1.1 Fiesta?
My car broke down the other day giving HG failure symtons but with the help of thsi site I diagnosed the problem to be the breather pipe which attaches to the oil filler cap was clogged causing crankcase overheating.
Since I cleaned it out the cars been running much better, is less smokey and the mayo has gone but I couldn't clean out the tube properly so I just want to buy a new one.
I have tried google but I can't find a single place that sells this part. Any ideas? Read more
Thats great thanks, it gives me an idea of prices :) I will still buy retail rather than online.
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i'd be quite happy with a 'mutated S-Max and DB9'