April 2007
Hello,
I found this website which sells 2 different types of control arms for vw passats. Problem is there is no mention of European models, only the American vw passats seem to be referenced. Do you know if there is a difference between American Passats & European Passats control arms or would one size fit all? (B5 1.9tdi 90 BHP)?
Thanks
Mike
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The manual clutch on my father's 2005 1.6 Meriva, which he has owned from new, just failed abruptly leaving him stranded on the A38.
The car has done under 8000 miles. Nearly all of that has been clocked up on motorways and country roads.
His garage/dealership told him the problem was down to wear-and-tear, not covered by warranty. He has just paid a bill of 700 quid for a new clutch.
Of course it is possible that he has been unwittingly riding the clutch pedal. He is 84 years old after all. On the other hand he has been driving for 55 years and never before worn out a clutch. There have been no problems with the clutch on his previous car - an Astra - that I bought from him in 2005 with 30,000 miles on the clock and still own.
Is it possible that an underlying mechanical fault could accelerate wear on the clutch? Any advice on how to fight out corner on this one?
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Thanks for support.
Yep, it just suddenly stopped working - no warning.
Yes, we'll ask the garage to prove it although yes, it might be too late since they will have "conveniently" disposed of the old part!
Tried a plug in ipod adaptor last month, with the FM transmitter. Disappointed with the sound quality / interference / general faff involved so took it back, got a refund and booked Gunther in to have a VW ipod kit fitted.
Today, 150 pounds later, I'm seriously underwhelmed.
It doesn't show track names on the stereo display so you can't scroll through and find a particular track or podcast.
It doesn't allow you to sort by album/genre/artist (which is, after all, the whole point of the ipod)
It's not in a cradle in the glove compartment, just plugs into a wire that hangs down.
When the ipod is in use, it shows which track is playing on the ipod, but the controls are disabled, so, for example, you couldn't ask the passenger to scroll through for you.
In very small print in the instructions there is something like "the track information is stored in the ipod and not the adaptor, so this information wont be available while using the adaptor". And there is something about going through and organising your music into five play lists, which I have neither the time or inclination to do. Grrr.
I know that all new Golfs come with the ipod kits fitted as standard, as do a lot of other cars now. Are they all like this, or can other people see track names?
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>>What are my chances of being able to take it back, as it's a bit rubbish, and I wasn't told it wouldn't do the key things that an ipod should do?>>
If it genuinely does not do what you bought it for or, even better, were told it would do then you have a good case. The problem will be that a lot of the £150 will be labour which is something than cannot be put back in to stock, being willing to accept a credit note might help, might not be any good for you though if your employer/lease company pays for your services.
Shockingly my local dealer doesn't have any Megane's to test drive! Has anyone driven both a Megane and a new Clio and would be able to compare for me? (I know it's not ideal, but if the Megane is thought to be decent, I'll make the hour journey to the second-closest Renault dealer...) Read more
Thanks to all who posted. Was seriously considering the Megane, but I've got such a good deal on an 06 Focus TDCi 110 from motorpoint I couldn't pass it up on the possibility the Megane might be a good drive - and it was more expensive, and I'd never entirely trust it to work completely...thanks again to all.
I called a breaker to see if they'd have my old Cavalier. They would, and they'd give me £35 for it. I called a scrap metal dealer. They'd have the car too, but they'd give me £50! So, off to the scrap metal man it went - he's got a surprisingly useful job, and the processing is interesting.
The scrap vehicle has the tyres removed, and all fluids drained. Some of these are recycled (fuel, particularly, is put into drums, and sent for "cleaning" and re-use. The scrap man is paid for this fuel). After this, the whole vehicle goes straight through a shredder, which reduces it to small pieces. I was surprised by this, and asked whether particular components (e.g. cylinder blocks, starter motor housings) caused trouble (they don't). Steel and cast iron is magnetically sorted. Aluminium is largely hand-sorted, along with bits of copper wire and so on. What's left is fed back into the system in a batch "in case they missed something".
That's about it. The noise that the shredding machinery makes when on the go is quite something. If you drain the fluids yourself, and remove the tyres, the scrap man will give you more money for the vehicle! Read more
A quick update on price for you. A workmate of mine weighed in 64 cats today, the average that each cat made was £25.40 each overall.
Hello
I wonder if anyone can give me an idiots guide to fitting a passenger side door mirror for a 98 mk1 citreon saxo.
Many thanks
davien Read more
davien
Pop off the inner cover, remove the screw holding the glass adjuster lever [if it's the internally adjustable type] and you'll see three Torx [T25?] screws holding the mirror.
The top one is accessible; but the bottom two need the door trim "easing" out a little to get a straight run at with a Torx socket bit. [1/4 drive is best]
Take out the single door trim screw below the mirror mount and then it should pop off just enough to get a toll in; [the poppers will probably fall to pieces.]
Then undo the mirror screws and replace the entire unit.
Dear all,
Have a 2001 ford mondeo 2.0 diesel covered some serious miles in it as its a taxi 186,000!!!! Had a problem about 5 months ago were the car was running fine at start up and after a few miles it would start spluttering if it was rev'd hard it would chuck white/blue smoke out of the back. Took to my mechanic who thought it was the fuel sender pump he took it off cleaned the contacts and whacked it with a hammer (thats one way i suppose.) Car has driven fine unit now (doesnt lose noticble oil) The same fault is back, no engine management light and i add if you let the car sit after the fault it will start again but within a few miles it will do the same again lots of jerking and spluttering before grinding to a hault went through a period of rough idle at start up with lots of smoke havnt noticed this so much recently. Hope theres not too much details here. Any suggestions? Thanks for your time. Read more
Has the fuel filter been changed, could have got a dodgy fill of diesel and it could have water in it.
If it needs to earn money for you the £50-£100 at the dealer for diagnostics might be best.
as the car is soon due for an mot and after doing the usual checks ive found that there is some play in the rack on the drivers side.
This is felt if pulling the wheel towards me (away from the car) but there is no play at 10 o'clock and 4 o'clock if that makes sence
I was wondering if play there would be an mot fail as it still drives fine apart from the odd clunk over certain bumps. There steering also feels good and strong Read more
yeah thanks for that dave
its a 306 hdi estate with 170,000 miles
My Mazda's been damaged in an accident and will be taken to a bodyshop.
Since it's still in warranty it's been taken under the Mazda recovery scheme to a Mazda approved bodyshop.
However, my insurer - Tesco - wants it to go to one of their own.
Anyone got experience of the differences here ?
Should I leave it with the manufacturer's chosen repairer or have it moved to the insurer's chosen shop ?
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>>Yes Simon, that is where Budget/Post Office/Bell sent me, and it was fine.
I've dropped a few cars off there over the years to be repaired but I have never seen the end results. I did however pick up a Ferrari from them once which had gone in for repair, but once they had stripped the door off it they decided that it was more complex to repair the body than what they had thought. Hence I picked it up from their premises and took it to a specialist repairer.
Just over a week ago I picked up a Renault Megane Saloon 1.9 dci Privalege from a car supermarket. Seems like a very nice car apart apparently very good condition 15k miles on the clock, good spec etc apart from the WIND NOISE! Above 60 mph this gets very loud particularly on the drivers side (regardless of wind direction) which makes me think the problem is not just down to the cars design. I noticed on that side the wing is not particularly flush with the door (If only I had noticed this BEFORE I bought the car) and the material lining the wheel arch seems a little loose. Either of these I would imagine could cause wind noise? I am going to go back to the Car Supermarket, but I'm not expecting great after sales, just hope I havent bought a crash repaired lemon. I would be grateful if anyone out there has any advice to share thanks. Read more
From what you say it seems to have seen the inside of a not-very-particular body shop...
Browse
I also had a look at some new model A4s and they seem to have control arms as well....The new S5 that is coming out too mentions independent wishbone suspensions....does this mean these too will have these control arms also? If so thats madness!