April 2007
only 20 years old!....
actually , i am a granny but my much loved 20 year old vw polo coupe 1300 is giving me very very low mpg- recent mot (feb) and full service and in last month- recent new fuel pump, second hand distibutor, second hand carb, new coil, new air and fuel filter- some one said that a test and possible adjustment to the carb may solve the problem- no obvious leaks anywhere- am worried about throwing away more money - but i do love this motor; is this carb test worthwhile? thanks to all - norrin
{Subject header given a more meaningful title in the hope that it will catch the eye of any VW experts looking in - DD} Read more
I note that a couple of years ago, AlanGowdy wrote " I wish they'd send out MOT reminders."
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=30498
A friend of mine has just realised that his MOT was due about 3 months ago. How common is it for people to forget to MOT their vehicles? Read more
In my case the little blue sticker in the windscreen tends to peel away and fall off after about 7 - 8 months anyway.
What I do is I have an A5 size note stuck on my notice board in the study with the MoT due date on it in big writing...
Could anyone advise what carburettor needle is appropriate for a 998 A series with a single 1 1/2 inch H4 SU?
The carb is from a 1275 and has a DZ needle and (amazingly?) appears to run quite well on the 998, but it can't be optimum. I'm sure some 998's used the 1 1/2 inch SU, but I can't find the needle information anywhere.
JS Read more
bazza
Thanks for that! The engine is actually in a Minor, and has the 12G295 head. It's a 998 by virtue of Mini pistons and the fully floating 1098 con rods. Built the engine years ago when the 'tuning' bits were available. I'll bear the H6 recommendation in mind if it suits a tweaked engine.
Thanks to all for the input, especially AS who's already e-mailed the page from the SU book!
JS
Can anyone tell me whether a full size wheel will fit into the new Toyota Avensis Hatchback in order to replace the spacesaver
Read more
Is this an 2006 onwards Avensis? My 2004 model has a full size spare in the boot - maybe that was an option at the time?
Need to give the car a good clean on the inside - the carpets / boot floor are quite dirty. Have been around a few valet places - but not wanting to waste time (has to be done before Saturday) and £50 - 60 and get a poor result - decided it may be an idea to have a go myself.
Has anyone used the Rug Doctor in their cars? This is a carpet wash thingy you can rent from diy / grocery stores. It is designed for carpets in the home ( works like a upright valcum cleaner), but has piper attachments for upholstery. I was wandering if the attachments would do a good enough job? (presumably these are used in hard to reach areas / and stairs).
So - anyone had a try? Read more
ive just looked in his garage and its got pro-clean written on it but its in 25ltr containers and it looks bright yellow.
you only need a cap full to 5ltrs of water and it gets off really thick grease and mud very quickly
hi is the right hand side drive shaft on a pug 205 stdt 1993 the same as a gti ? 1.6 or 1.9 ? Read more
I don't know how serious this threat is, but it is all too conceivable that some politico or other is pursuing it. The environmental impact of new-car manufacture seems somewhat understated below. As all of my cars are over ten years old, I'd be grateful to anyone who signs up. (Originally found at www.mbclub.co.uk.)
"Plans to ban cars older than 10 years from our roads
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Banning/restricting cars over 10yrs old. This is on the .gov website too.
"Several EU proposals across the years are dangerous to the classic car movement. One that has been under consideration is to ban the use of cars older than 10 years. Similarly, Edinburgh City Council is considering the banning of cars over 15 years old from the town centre. These, and similar, proposals directly threaten the classic car movement, and encourage the manufacture of new cars, with the attendant environmental issues of sourcing raw materials, manufacturing, distributing and scrapping the spiralling supply of new vehicles."
You'll be banned from using the roads and only allowed to take the vehicle out having obtained PRIOR consent from your local council.. i.e you'd have to plan your route in advance and inform the council for approval who may then decline the whole thing or certain aspects like perhaps if you wish to pass through a city centre etc... "
petitions.pm.gov.uk/Classic-Cars/ Read more
Whilst I am as shocked by this silly idea as anyone else, in a perverse kind of a way the "bottom-feeders" among us who buy old cars cheap and run them into the ground may well benefit in some ways through this -- we'll be able to buy a much newer car for the same money.
The Korean manufacturers must be laughing into their cornflakes at this one. If cars are sent to the scrapper after ten years, the resulting vicious depreciation will mean that people will just buy cars as cheap as possible and have done with -- they'll be literally disposable items.
The average lifespan of a car will not be 10 years -- because of the low value of cars at 6 years old, one failed component and they go in the bin, just as is happening to the 10-year-old cars now. So the average life will be closer to 7 to 8 years. Combine that with the Kia/Hyundai 5-7 year warranties and you have a car that's guaranteed for life pretty much.
If this is a product of the car manufacturers, they've shot themselves in the foot big-style. Less years = less money spent on each car = lower profits. Isn't it the case that a lot of car makers actually make a loss on the smaller models, because the cost of manufacture doesn't cover the market price adequately enough?
Can some of you fine gents (or ladies) tell me where the bonnet release is on a 2001 Fiat Brava, for the life of me I cant find it! Read more
Please forgive me if this is a silly question but is there any make / model of satnav device which comes with safety camera locations already installed? Read more
Aprilia,
I can entirely undertand where you are coming from, I also helped build the database by submitting cameras.
If you haven't downloaded a databse recently, you may be surprised that the accuracy has dramtically increased. They have split out unconfirmed sites so that you now have the choice to either install these unconfirmed sites or not. If you don;t install them, the database is very good in my opinion.
I download a database once every 6 months so it only cost me £4/year, quite good value I think.
I have got this urge in my body that I need to change my car ( or my wife's car.) There is no logical explanation for this. Any cures ??? Read more
When I get a new car I say 'This is the one, we'll keep it a long time, say five or six years. It's daft changing regularly.' And then after two years or so I hanker after more performance or a sharper handling or better looks or...
Thing is, I enjoy driving and I don't drive every day or even do huge mileages, so a car isn't mere transport from A to B and back again. So I guess i should expect to pay for that enjoyment via depreciation.
Browse
http://www.edgebiz.net/vwks2carburetor.htm
Try looking at this link. It may pinpoint your problem. Does have the same symptoms.