April 2007
On the hunt for a new car for 'er indoors. With an absolute max budget of £5000, I was trawling the trader and noticed that a Chevvy Lacetti on a 55 plate (with a years free servicing remaining) can be had within budget (just). This seems a better alternative than a Focus that's two years older.
I know it's a rebadged Daewoo and I'm not bothered about it being 'dynamic' etc. I just need to know it'll start and stop when required. Any experiences of the car would be most welcome. Read more
I have an engine which has not been converted for unleaded fuel. I have been using Carplan/Tetrosyl lead replacement additive. This was a manganese based product, which they now no longer manufacture, Carplan do another additive which is potassium based. I have read on a Historic Vehicle site that you should be consistent in the additive that is used; presumably this means the base element, rather than the manufacturer. Does anyone have any knowledge on this matter?
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I use Tetraboost which is the real deal, tetraethyl lead thus giving you real leaded fuel. Take a look here www.tetraboost.co.uk
Otherwise, yes, stick to the same base product, although a one-off change should do no damage, just don't chop and change.
My 1995 306 torbo Diesel has a Bosch injector pump. The Haynes manual says 'Bleed the injector pump using the bleed screw on the inlet union' I've looked all over the pump but can't find it. What does it look like?
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Good old Haynes - they have their pumps mixed up. There is no bleed on the Bosch pump and it doesn't need one. Operate the primer (button or bulb) until it goes hard, then pressurise a bit more. You may then hear a buzzing noise from the pump. This is just the pressure relief valve oscillating on its seat which is normal for this pump under these conditions.
Make sure the injector spill pipes and stop end are absolutely fuel tight on this installation, otherwise more air will get in even if it doesn't obviously leak fuel. If the spill pipes are hard or brittle, change them.
659.
I searched this forum for texaco 7045e and you were offering to give 10 litres away, I however need around 25-30 litres, do you mind me asking where you got it from?
Thanks! Read more
Hello, it is from...
Northern Oil
Wollaton Road , Nottingham , Notts , NG8 1HJ
01159 285250
It was £42 for 25 litres.
Nice little yard on the island behind a car sales pitch, they sell all sorts of fluids, red diesel etc..
I can?t recall any mention of Park and Ride facilities in the backroom before.
We have moved to the West from Norwich which boasted more P&Rs than any other English city. The Norwich services were pretty good and well located on major routes around 10 ? 15 mins from the city centre and protected by bus lanes. At most times of the day it was quicker to P&R than it was to drive into the city centre.
Although SWMBO regularly used the Norwich P&Rs, I admit that I rarely used them as I had an office parking space. Now that I?m commuting into Bristol, a place twice the size of Norwich, I?m wishing that the facilities were better. They only have 3 P&Rs and the one I use (the Portway) can take 30 mins into the city centre. It?s only the cost of city centre parking that stops me from driving right the way in.
Interested to hear the views of the backroom. Are your local P&Rs any good? Under what circumstances do you/would you use them? Surely, if councils are serious about reducing congestion they must provide decent alternatives such as these.
_______
IanS
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Edinburgh Park & Rides are all free, and with1 exception (which has a crap train service to town so is hardly used) all have a £1 flat fare bus (with bus lanes) to the city centre. The ones served by buses are well used, since most workers in Edinburgh live out of town.
Hi,
My Mondeo (2003 TDCi) locking mystifies me!
The double-flash of the flashers (that confirms locking) has stopped.
This is subsequent to my setting off the alarm.
I opened the bonnet whist the car was locked, off went the alarm which I stopped with the remote.
Ever since... no double flash! I've tried unlocking and relocking everything in various sequences to no avail.
Should I just disconnect the battery?
Would this action upset the ECU programming?
Advice appreciated
Thanks
Eljay Read more
UPDATE
...
In August, I'll be visiting friends near Limoges for a week.
OUTWARD:
It will just be my 11 yr old son's treat (and mine!) without the girls, so I thought it would be good to make a driving trip of it for him (the girls would want to fly). Would it be best to go via Shuttle to Calais, then drive from there, or better to put the car on a train (at Calais?) part of the way south?
I assume my TomTom will be up to the job.
RETURN:
Getting back to England I'd rather drive less so was thinking of taking the car on the train all of the way. Would this be French Motorail? Does anyone have experience of this system, and know where near Limoge (we'll actually more acurately be in Confolens) we would pick up the train for the return trip?
Thanks (I just know I'll have a lot more questions!).
Or would you just fly and have more time by the pool instead!? Read more
It's a pity that LD Lines have only one boat. The arrival at Portsmouth is very late when you have a few hundred miles to cover.
I'll be travelling with them again in a few weeks and I hope the full English is as good as last time.
Following on from selling cars that hit a brick wall here is a tale from the horses mouth.
Friend of mine has a small car sales emporium and he is (was) in the habit of letting customers do test drives on their own with his trade plates in the window.
A few months ago he did the same thing customer came back parked the car up kicked the tyres (he had shorts on so its the law) and said the immortal words " i think i will leave it mate" and was gone into the sunset.
Two weeks later mate got a notice of intended prosecution for a speeding ticket for this car and he had to swallow it as he had no idea who the drivwer really was
moral of story if you let a customer have a test drive?''''''''''''''go with them.........no exceptions
get their details and log the times and get them to sign it
It weird but all test drivers want to speed
You have been warned Read more
My car is being collected by my dealer soon for its first service. This thread has definitely made me think!
I'll make sure we note down the times the car is collected and returned, and get them to sign something, so we have proof they had the car during those times.
Could anyone tell me what make of engine is in the 3.1? Cherokee Auto Ltd Turbo Diesel - I have found every engine size except 3.1 so I am wondering if I have been told wrong capacity - can only find 2.1 (Renault) and 2.5 (Italian)
Thanks Dave Read more
For some reason you have all changed my mind - thanks for the input
Dave
I've just bought a classic Alfa Spider. The plastic headlamp cowls are rather cloudy. I've tried cleaning them with a variety of stuff (vinegar and soapy water, Autoglym and Turtle Wax glass polish. There's been some improvement but I've seen other Spiders with much clearer cowls.
Any suggestions for what else I can try, or am I going to have to buy new ones (at about £100 a pair!!)
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No guarantee given or implied, but I'm told cutting compound (T cut or whatever) and a lot of elbow grease can work well.


Are you after a divorce? let her drive the chevy and then the focus and see which one she chooses buying a lancetti must be the same as buying shares in Eurotunnel.