June 2007
Abysmal conditions for my journey from Norwich to mid Devon yesterday evening. Left 5.30 pm and by the time I had reached Cambridge conditions were very poor with surface water, spray and consequent low visibility. Fog lights a real necessity!
Original intention had been to go A14, M42, M5 but at a service station west of Cambridge I chatted to a truck driver, looking remarkably like Father Christmas, who advised that there were long delays at Kettering and suggested heading south.
Took alternative route A45, A43 then Swindon, M4 and M5. To my relief, once south of Northampton the rain stopped and things became easier. In fact the roads were so quiet A43 onwards that I arrived home not much short of "par" time! Thanks Santa!
PS: I often hear travel reports and wonder how so many accidents occur, then witness idiots driving in poor conditions, such as last night, at high speeds, sometimes not even with lights on! I sometimes think these guys have a death-wish. Read more
Problem i have is that the wifes 406 2ltr 97' has gone through 2 catalytic convertors in the last yr and the third has just started to rattle, both cats have been Bosal, which have been purchased online and then fitted at kwik fit. Is there an engine problem why the car would go through a catalytic so quick? the car has 74000mls and runs fine.
Duggie Read more
most readers who remember me i had a astra 94 1.4 and this week, i just bought a 53 honda jazz, after 5 years of service i felt like i needed a better car, anyway i bought it of the honda dealer with a 1 year warranty on it, the handbook also mention a honda maintenance plan, where you pay a lump sum and it covers all your servicing and labour costs, it just done a 36 months service, my question is it worth paying for the maintenance plan as i heard servicing is expensive.
The jazz a cracking car, quiet, economical, and nippy, also i was amazed by the space in the car. Read more
Just rang the dealer up he quoted £280 full service and mot or £230 minor service and mot, i also asked for the service plan, he will send me the details by post and i will examine it, in full detail, since i am only doing short journeys, its best to change the oil and filter every 6 months, so he quoted me £35 for the oil and filter change although natioal do it for £25 thats the fully synthetic oil, wonder if the oil and filter from honda any different to explain the price disparity?
Just got back off my trip to Cornwall - 290 miles in a day in a Seicento - actually alot easier than it sounds if your used to your 5-Series levels of comfort.
Just one question - on steep hills in low gears only, the brake fluid warning light comes on, but the level is correct and its fine any other time - whats going on? Why on earth is it only in 2nd/1st gear but change up to 3rd on same gradient and it goes out?
Bit of a scare when you REALLY want you brakes to be working!
Other than that, it averaged 56 mpg over the journey there and was both comfortable and more than quiet enough at 75mph to the extent that no raised voices were needed - very different from other small cars ive driven over the years.
Still feels like its just about to expire but never actually does but is that perception or fact? Ive done 900 miles in the last week and its not missed a beat - certainly proved its worth in the narrow lanes of Cornwall.
Read more
try same hills backwards with peaked cap on ;-)
Hello
My 52 Plate 1.4 16v clio has decided not to start especially in the mornings. I can turn it over for ages with no joy then leave 5 minutes and it will start. In the past I would have checked the plugs and leads etc but I can't find any on this engine, well nothing that looks like a Champion anyway!!!
Any ideas.
Ta
Andy Read more
Hi, Almost certainly the crank sensor. very common fitted loads. located above the bell housing
BIG dave
Okay,
I think this question is going to recieve a lot of DO NOT DO IT etc.....but I'm after advice from anyone who has fitted a chip to an A4 (2001 tdi) and had no issue's,,,there are so many to choise from.
I had a tdituning chip fitted to my 1996 a4 with zero issue's..but for the PD engines there seems to be alot more cheaper ones about and more choice.
Thanks
Hayden Read more
2000MY Passat 115bhp PD with a van Aaken Powerbox taking it to 136bhp. 80,000 miles, regularly serviced with additional oil and filter changes and had no problems whatsoever.
On rare motoring visit to the heathen South I went from the A1M to the M1 on a link road which went via Ampthill.
Never used it before, it looked pretty new.
At 7pm it was quiet and got me on to the M1 a bit north of Milton Keynes.
What's it like generally - I quite like the A1 for getting away from London, but it's not an obvious choice for getting back to North Manchester as although it can be quieter than the M1 it takes me a bit too far East, so a decent link to the M1 far enough North of London to be out of most of the garbage would be a handy addition to the portfolio.
Did I pass the old R101 hangar en route? Read more
You may well be right. I had a glorious early evening run down M62/ A1M for a meeting just North of Peterborough. The AA said it was a 2.5hr run and let's just say I had time for a couple of extra pints in the pub when I arrived.
Thanks to the ever invaluable help from HJ posters my Mondy is alive again!!!
Grateful thanks to all who offered advice.
I cant help thinking thought that the cause of the original HG failure might have been down to a caput water pump as when I have run the engine it seems to have hot and cold spots in the pipework and the temp guage fails to move. Maybe it's just the thermostat? Any ideas welcome as ever!!
Thanks again,
Stuart Read more
>>But why does the gauge register almost cold when driving normally?
Possibly because the stat is not operating properly and staying fully open instead of partially
closing as it should do when water is cooler..
......or has been removed to disguise an overheating problem??????
A few weeks ago I asked for help in locating the control box for the parking sensors on my A4.
Clever lot that you are no-one replied and that, believe it or not, was the right answer as it saved me a lot of aggro chasing a non-existent electrical gremlin.
The sensors were behaving very strangely. On starting the car and then reversing they didn?t work but were always working on arrival at a destination. Leaving the destination, again they didn?t work but were okay on arrival home.
Usually, that is. Occasionally they didn?t work at all. But when the car was in for a service and I asked for them to be checked they decided to work perfectly. Bit like going to the doctor ? you start to feel better as soon as you have made the appointment. The inconsistency just never ?felt? like an intermittent connection.
I started by thinking it might be battery voltage on the 6 year old battery but measurement disproved that.
From previous experience I am aware that a covering of road grime can cause them to play up and always kept them clean.
However, one sensor has a small paint chip about 3mm diameter. I filled and painted the chip and this cured the problem.
For anyone who thinks parking sensors are a sissy accessory they might be right, but I love them. If you have a largish car and find turning to look behind you getting increasingly difficult you will love them too. Read more
Westpig - most of my competition work was sprints. I did very few races and the 1972 incident ended my motorsport competitions. Our first baby was on the way (and she had twins of her own 3 days ago) and my Elan was my road car. It was not too diffcult then to mod a road car for competition use. Prams don't fit into the boot of an Elan. Sorry, can't specifically remember this E Type.
the tappetts on my diesel are becoming lowder when the engine is ticking over the car has done 268000 ,how many miles do you think it will go before failing, probably not going to bother working on the engine as its done that milage Read more
271,457 miles
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