May 2007
My '95 turbo diesel produces clouds of white smoke and a bit of mis firing on start up but settles down nicely after about half a minute or so.
I am sure there is a lot of air in the system after an overnight rest because when I pump the rubber priming pump it is very soft to start with but only gets moderately harder after a few squeezes. If I leave it a minute, the rubber bulb goes soft again. Does that mean the priming pump needs replacing?
Is there a non-return valve in the pump? Read more
I have recently noticed a recovery vehicle parking at night with what is obviously a car on its way to the scrap yard on the back. It is the type of truck where the vehicle on tow has its front wheels suspended in a cradle and its rear wheels on the road.
I realise that these old cars need to be transported to the scrap yard but is it legal to park them in the street overnight? Read more
i agree most builders skip the waste ticket only a hundred quid or so but now the law states you cant dump building waste without a ticket you cant enter a couincil dump with a commericail vechile
I had my RAC membership renewal yesterday. I tried to check something on the conditions but all the operators were too busy. I did look at other firms and noticed that you get a better deal for being a new customer, so I rang the RAC again. Got through this time and after asking to cancel, got a 25% discount. So I renewed.
Same thing happened with car insurance, and, I believe, does with satellite TV. Threaten to cancel and a good reduction is forthcoming.
I'll remember that for next time. Read more
Direct Line £120 inc No Call Out Discounts for 5 yrs £120 for 2 cars
Green Flag (same Company as owned by DL) £92.40 for new customers
I am now a "new customer" and saved £27 even without the New Customer discount GF were less expensive
Just been browsing around for something else and found this website, and thought some of you might be interested. Features renderings of Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts and Mk1 Capris; which look really rather cool IMO...
www.dmmultimedia.com/escort_01.htm
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Superb though strangely unlike the rest the white std Twin Cam has rectangular lights, IIRC it was only the GT and XL that had rectangular lights.
Great and I travel it every day.
www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1398557.0....p Read more
Nothing new there. It was a death trap when I used to use it 40 years ago.
I am about to replace the wiper motor and linkage. Does anyone have any tips or warnings about pitfalls that I might encounter please?
Is it a reasonably straightforward DIY job? Read more
Yes, the wipers on the E300D were a bit sluggish until I gave the mechanism a good oiling. I found that most of my time was spent fighting with layer after layer of rubber sealing strips and plastic trim panels - when I finally got to the motor and linkage, it was all quite straightforward.
Number_Cruncher
Hi all. I have a 2003 ford Ka, that has only covered a careful 14,000miles by the two previous elderly sisters. I have owned it for about a month now. I have noticed a few drops of water inside the car at the rear tailgate, more or less in the centre of the car, where the jack sits. Will it be the tailgate rubber seal do you think ? I have tried adjusting the tail gate lock so that i get a tighter fitting tailgate, but there does not appear to be a way of adjusting it at all. Any help and advice please, Thanks all. Graham.
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Hi Bell Boy, I am going to try what you suggest with the silicone around both rear lights as a start.
I let you know how I get on. Cheers, Graham.
My OH is buying a car and has been offered GAP insurance (you can drive into a wall in two and a half years and claim the money back that the insurance doesn't give you) and a premium valet (we'll strip it right back to the basic paintwork and you won't need to polish it for three years) - not that he does anyway! Now both these would cost £600 in total- we're spending an extra £1000 plus part ex for the car. We've said no. Is it only another way to make money or are we missing out on some unbelievable deal? I don't believe we are but am I too cynical. Read more
Surprise surprise ! I had to deal with both of these topics when I recently bought my new A4 Avant. Firstly, as someone else said, GAP insurance might be handy if you have most of the car on finance, but otherwise it is a very expensive extra that I have done without for many years and dont need it now. Anyway most insurance policies will replace a new car with new, in the first year anyway. Audi wanted £450 for this ! Then they asked me how much I thought I would be willing to pay, and the answer was not much, ie £50 ?? as I just couldn't see the benefit to me.
Secondly, the expensive paint sealing etc etc. It is know to me from first hand experience that this is not worthwhile, as most of the products used for this eg Diamondbrite are available on EBAY. I have used Diamondbrite, and I'm not saying it is bad, but the claims of 6 year protection etc etc are way over exagerated. In reality why pay £350 for something you can do yourself easily for about £20.
Dealers are always thinking of new ways to augment their margins/cashflow, I think their time would be better spent looking at why their overheadds are crushing them.
Hello
Iam looking to trade my trusty Ford Mondeo in soon.
I have a budget of £20,000
I have looked at the new style Mondeo Diesel in the press and wonder whether an audi would be better.
Iam looking to retire in the next year or so, After retirement it will be used to tow a mid sized caravan to the I.O.W about 6-8 times a year.
--
(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters Read more
Good choice Martin, i think the new Mondeo will be a cracking car - on pre-tests they have said it is easily a better car than the more prestige brands with a nice quote saying, drivers of prestige brands will never know how much better the ford is because they care about the badge so much they would never test or buy one.
That shows how much car you will get for your money.
just a quick note with regards to the recent posts about not remembering mot's
Formula 1 autocentres website have a free mot, tax, insurance and servicing reminder online
ive just signed up thought it was a good idea. Only needs car reg, make and e mail
However, if they end up spamming me they will get blocked but there is a box to tick to NOT receive emails so it should be ok
www.f1autocentres.co.uk/reminder.asp
{Link added by DD}
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It sometimes depends if you have a Bosch or Lucas fuel system.
Duff glow plugs on either fuel system on the car will cause it to spew alittle white smoke and run roughly for the first few seconds, then smooth out.
Best search this site for Glow plugs as its been mentioned so many times on how to test for a faulty plug or two.
If your system is a bosch, then if as you say you think air is getting in into the system. Then you will have a problem in starting whether you have good or duff plugs. And this is normally due to the rubber cotton braided leak off pipes between the injectors and fuel pump that are cracked and need replacing. If you replace these, make sure you get a good brand of kit as the cheap ones don't last at all.
If its a Lucas system, then this leak off pipe problem does not apply as it does not effect the starting on this engine, only duff plugs as above.