May 2007
Hi,
Bit of advice needed...I have a 2002 Toyota Previa (60,000m) which is running fine except yesterday when started made a loud tapping sound. The sound faded after a min. on tickover and is now inaudible and the engine sounds and feels fine.
My initial reaction when I heard it was tappets but why would it fade and then be fine on subsequent starts even when cold?
Any advice/suggestions much appreciated.
Martin - Bristol, UK Read more
Here in leafy Bucks the authorities have odd attitudes to roundabouts:
a) They put advertising signs on them, facing the approach roads. Why risk diverting drivers' attention away from negotiating the hazard safely?
b) Some of the roundabouts are high and planted with flowers. Pretty, but with the result that when approaching/waiting to enter (or crossing an entry/exit road as a pedestrian) you can't see what is coming round - sometimes not until the vehicle is almost upon you.
Oh, and on the subject of vision and visibility, there are those roundabouts that have thoughtfully planted greenery that obscure your RH vision until the last moment...
Pah! :-( Read more
Is there a site that lists cars buy taxation band I really want a list of cars in 120gco2 or under. Read more
Thanks.
Test drove one yesterday. I can live with the restricted vision (thick A and C pillars) but the awkwardly place foot rest is a real bind. Has anyone else found this? There are several complaints about it on the What Car? site. There is a excellent large Fiat service station locally and the manager thinks (but is not sure, never been asked) that it can be removed. He says there is something on the parts list called a "footboard" but says the illustration is evidently different from the footrest in the car. Read more
It can't be much worse than the Aygo/107/C1, I found it quite stressful driving one of them, especially when I had to reverse! The Panda is pretty good with visibility, how about test driving one of them? I think the Corsa will be just as bad as the Grande Punto too because it's the same car.
I'd posted a while ago about the utility of DIY in-car video recording - maybe the subject heading was not clear (no replies!).
A few of the recent "idiot, camera, crash" programmes have showed footage from privately-installed video recordings - a growing trend in the USA, it would appear.
There must have been times when other backroomers would have welcomed an incident/accident being caught 'on tape' (provided they weren't the guilty partry, of course!).
My question is: would such 'unofficial' video evidence have any weight in either a courtroom or insurance claim setting? Read more
would such 'unofficial' video evidence have any weight in either a courtroom
or insurance claim setting?
Yes.
We have a 7 month old baby and 5 grand to spend on upgrading our TINY clio. The two choices that we have ended up with are a Focus and a Golf. My partners brother works as an assistant manager at Fords so I do feel that The overall parts and service for the focus will be alot cheaper in the long run but We can't help loving VW Golfs for thier reliability and the fact that they are much better looking! Can Anyone please help us with our dilema!!!!! ta! Read more
Many thanks Dox - that is interesting as I had always considwered chain cams to be bullet proof.
You learn something new every day.
Good evening fellow petrolheads,
Have just bought a 51 Escort van with LPG conversion and it goes very well and cheaply. It is a bit slow to return to tickover when on overrun but settles to about 800rpm which seems a bit high.
At its recent MOT the mechanic suggested marking the idle speed control valve then taking out its retaining bolts and rotating the valve a touch to reduce the revs. I took the valve off but the set screw holes are not slotted so it looks as though it cant change position.
The stop for the throttle is just a 1/8 stud but although that looks as though its threaded into the alloy housing - it doesnt look adjustable.
Its just the same on petrol or gas . How do I slow it down and /or make it shut off better on overrun, please ?
You havent let me down yet so thanks in anticipation,
Mike
Read more
Hi Screwloose,
Thanks for the advice - sorry I have been slow in replying - been away working - using the Escort at 6p per mile - good old gas.
I think its an 8 valve CVH "old" type unit - I suspect Ford used these up on the run -out Escorts. The "flare" idle you mention may be the problem - I will try to check the injector and other connections - it runs fine but is a bit reluctant to slow down until the revs eventually drop off . Thanks again.
May I come back to you for bodge solution if I cant sort it, please ?
Mike
Hi,
My can is sick - it loses power and stalls, has poor idle revs. A garage suggests that the mass air meter could be damaged. Does this sound right??
I've located the part, but can't remove it since it's clipped to the hose. What tool do I need to remove it??? (I can't see how it's tensioned since it's right at the back). Do I need a tool/ screw head to undo the clip??
TIA,
H. Read more
Drove to Luxembourg and back over the Bank Holiday weekend for an event - 1100 miles in total. Route was Calais/Dunkerque, Lille, Valenciennes, Namur and then down the E411 to the Grand Duchy.
Very much enjoyed driving on clear and open roads through green and pleasant countryside. Was surprised at the poor state of the E42 from the Belgium/France border down to Calais on the return leg - regular stretches of very uncomfortable poor condition surfaces really tested the suspension - not something I expected on a main French route.
The Belgium services were an eye opener for me. My 9 year son went to the Gents at our first stop and came back dismayed as the two 'guardians' of the loos had refused him entry because he couldn't pay the 30 cents fee they were demanding! Apparently this is common practise. Though the signs invite payment if you are happy with the facilities, you won't get near them unless you cross palms before entering. It is the little things people remember and this behaviour, repeated at all four stops we made, certainly put me off Belgium as a place of friendly welcomes. The 'requests' were made quite rudely and imo to treat children in that way is pathetic..............
However it was a very enjoyable trip. My 2.5 V6 averaged 32 mpg and we cruised for hours in real comfort. Luxembourg is a great place with great people and we will certainly return. (Petrol prices at 1.11 Euro per litre made filling up less painful).
The route proved very picturesque and just as quick as taking the southern route via Metz. I had bought an in car DVD player for son and have to say it was the best £70 I've spent. Return of the Pink Panther, Garfield 2 and Around The World in 80 Days, resulted in hoots of laughter from the back throughout the drive and never once did I get 'are we nearly there yet?'
Driving on the continent is definitely for me. Read more
Personally never had a problem with the belgian services.
Happy to let my children go on their own and have never had them refused entry. In fact when I have accompanied them and put a euro in the tray to cover them I have more often than not been told that they dont accept money for children. But there are all sorts of people doing all sorts of jobs !
I for one am happy to pay for clean well maintained toilets (they usually are ) in preference to free dirty ones (england).
Totally agree about driving being a pleasure (mostly) abroad though.
Just found (by smell) another petrol leak on my 1996 320i. On inspecting the hoses on the top of the fuel pump housing, I found 1 inch depth of petrol around and on top of the head of the fuel pump. The manufactures original joint was leaking on the larger of the two hoses. I think this hose links the 2 parts of the fuel tank together.
Read more
"I do not see how that can ever be justified on safety grounds"
They make most people go slower which we are told by the pro speed camera lot, makes it a lot safer. Remember, speed kills.
Ah, that's OK then.
;-)
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Top Turkey - the fastest hands in Brum