April 2007
Ref the guy with the Mazda who's oil light came on, he checked the level and carried on driving subsequently wrecking the engine, HJ was not sympathetic though perhaps could have even more clearly pointed out that the light is for oil pressure on NOT oil level and if in doubt RTFM !!!!!!!!!!!!! Read more
In the panel on the right, HJ is running an MB Finance Deals ad.
What is the difference between PCP and an Operating Lease? Read more
PCP is for individuals, operating lease is for businesses.
Hey folks, got a Focus mk2 and whilst the a/c works, it has the wet dogs smell. I can't remember what causes this, and wondered if anyone could offer advice? Read more
I assume that you've had the car main dealer serviced, if so check the schedule for when the pollen filter should be changed. Have a look to see if it has actually been changed, if they've been remiss on this then I think that causing a fuss in the showroom should get it fixed foc
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I read often, only post occasionally
Hi All,
I've just taken in a Mercedes ML270CDi, 52 plate with 64,000 miles on the clock. All is good apart from a bit of slipping with the auto gearbox on the 3rd-4th gearchange. It doesn't do it when it's cold, but when it's hot theres a noticeable rev surge when it makes this change, even when doing it manually using the tiptronic function. As it's like it only when hot and not when cold i'm hoping it's a fluid problem, losing viscosity when it's hot. I don't know much about these 'boxes but i assume they are the 'sealed' variety. If the problem was there when cold as well i'd be a bit more concerned as it's likely to be a faulty valve, but it's only when hot. Any tips, advice, experience from anyone would be greatly appreciated. Read more
Just a word of caution to owners of older BMWs. Last year my 1992, 320i, 60,000miles had a fuel leak from the short fuel hose between the metal supply pipe and injector rail, the hose had become rock hard. The only satisfactory cure was a special replacement kit from BMW. Now another hose between the fuel filter outlet and metal pipe has perished and split. So for peace of mind and pocket I would check your fuel hoses.
Read more
Same problem on my old BMW 316i 1991. (E36). Hoses harden and leak. Changed hose a couple of years ago. Used to get petrol smell in car.
Apparently Fiat sales went from 7.x% to 8.2% in the 1st 3 mths of 2007.
Renault did the opposite going from 9.2% to 8.3%
Renault Vs Fiat = draw (1st for many a long year)
Demand for Meganes & Clios Falling - Grand Puntos on the way up!
Are Euro people abanding Renaults as unreliable and buying Fiats hoping for better? Read more
I can imagine the 1.2 G Punto to be underpowered. I sometimes drive my mothers, and thats a 1.9JTD with 120BHP. Great car, very quick but not quite as efficient as I would have said. Very well kitted out aswell with dual zone climate and blue tooth among the things fitted.
I just want something cheap for SWMBOs car, preferably fitted as well FOC.
I was thinking of Halfords or an independent supplier. We don't have an in car CD player at all and the wife is talking about getting one - poss birthday pressie
Thanks Read more
I've got several Japanese products going back many year from highly respectable brand names that have been made in Malaysia, Singapore, China, Taiwan etc - the quality is always first class.
The Japanese found it cost effective to open factories in other countries just as much as others...:-)
In fact the great majority of digital cameras are still sourced from Taiwan even by the big brand names, while your Intel CPU (if you have one) could have come from a range of production plants across the world.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
hi,ive just done the pads on a 94, 316i,my problem is that the light on the dash is still on.do i need to take it to a dealer?thanks for the help. Read more
Yes, sensor works by wearing away a plastic bit and
making a circuit. To save money you need to check pads
and change them before the pad warning light comes on. Sensor
is around 5 pounds I think.
Quest-ce the point of the warning sensor in this case?
I've been hearing these adds on the local radio about how to reduce emissions etc. One thing they said is that we should change up gears earlier. Is this true? I know this can be true, but if you're using the gears correctly I thought higher revs isn't necessarily worse. What is best/worse?
Low revs can cause more load higher fuel consumption, won't it? A low gear will give more torque so that you can accelerate quickly and change up quicker. In theory, I believe the most efficient way is to floor it, but that's not much good for the car. Read more
P3t3er's point about lower gears is a good one, especially in 30mph areas. I suspect the complaint you often hear, that 30 is a difficult speed to stick to, tends to come from people who try to drive at 30 in 4th. I used to do this, until a day on a defensive driving course with an ex-police instructor convinced me otherwise.
In my present (diesel) car, driving in third feels absolutely right - 30 is well into the engine's torque band, so I can back off the throttle when necessary, get the benefit of extra engine braking, so use the brakes less, and have torque in reserve to get smoothly back to 30 without labouring or changing down; once the speed rises above 30, though, the engine gets eager and starts making its 'rev me' sound, which is a useful warning that I need to back off a little.
As for efficiency, HJ in his DT column often recommends 2000 rpm as the optimum speed for a modern diesel, and that seems to work with mine. Last weekend I drove 200 twisty, motorway-free miles home from Pembrokeshire and used 5th only when I was sustaining a speed of 50 or more. (50 is about 2500 rpm.) That gave me better-than-average mpg and what felt like smoother progress, so lower gears generally get my vote - although I do occasionally wish I had a higher top on the motorway to bring my cruising speed down towards that 2000 rpm mark again.
Hi,
Just wondering for any advice...
I've just been convicted for drink driving at the magistrates Court... I was 84mg in blood, where the limit is 80mg...
If I was 82mg, I was told this I would have got away wit it.... but unfortunately not...
I pleaded guilty at the court, and told the magistrates I was going to drop my friends to a club, they wer drinking up so I had one drink with them. Then I thought I'd have some plain lemonade, which I did... and then... I had another lemonade, which I thought had no alcohol in it watsoever... I was told after by one of my friends the Next day, that they had pured a little vodka into my lemonade and not told me...
As, my friends left, I went back to drive home, but upon getting stopped by the police, I was found to be over the limit... they arressted me rite away and took a blood sample at the station which came back 4mg over the limit 2 months later.
After pleading guilty at the court, and telling them my story, I overheard one of the magistrates mentioning mitigating circumstances.. but they still conferred and gave me a 12 months ban, reduced to 3 months if I do this drink driving course...
Now, i what I want to know is.... that is possible to appeal at the crown court, if i can get witnesses, to prove that they gave me alcohol, while letting me think it was just lemonade... ??
im not even sure If i can still appeal at the crown court... i've heard u can appeal against conviction .. if u pleaded not guilty... or just the sentence if u pleaded guilty..... not too sure about this justice system!
Just wondering if its worth me appealing... cuz I wasnt even that much over the limit, jus a touch, and i wasnt planning on drink driving neither.. it was my friends that gave me the extra drink.. without me knowing it was alcoholic...
also, I'll be 26.. when the ban comes off.. with 3 yrs no claim, would it be real bad on insurance... and this conviction a criminal record... if so, how long does criminal record stay for?? Read more
The current threshold is not high in my opinion, yes its higher than most european levels but then our penalties are considerably higher than most other countries.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Must be the Honda, not the R1?