June 2007
The, as it turns out plastic, drivers side door lever in my R reg SEAT Toledo has snapped off right at the end.
Looks like I'm gong to have to take the whole door apart to replace it.
{Subject header given a more meaningful title. DD} Read more
Can anyone recommend an insurance company that will insure an eighteen year old female university student at a reasonable price. Read more
Thread resurrection via a spamvert answering a question over 4 years old - I imagine the student in question is now trading derivatives or flippin' burgers..
Is this www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=91019&ts=9...0 ok to use?
Bearing in mind it will get changed every 6 months and do no more then about 4k in that time - but lots of stop starting.
Is it really worth paying more then double for same spec oil? Read more
Normally I would agree, but Screwfix have a trade counter about 2 miles away which is closer then the nearest motor factor (who incidentally have run out of 15/40), many thanks for prompt reply, I will pop out and get some and then treat the Shuttle to some new blood ;o)
This might already be known to some, but it was news to me. Just called my insurer (Tescos) to inform them of change in car. Thought I'd put my partner on the insurance at the same time. Never had my partner on the policy before so I was surprised when they quoted a lower price than insuring just myself. I expected it to be more. I queried this and apparently a partner/wife on the policy means the vehicle is for family use and less risky than just a single driver on the policy. Whereas named driver would make it more expensive than just myself.
Is this usual for all insurers, or is it just Tescos?
Cheers,
Dave Read more
My insurance is with Sainsbury's and it was about £50 cheaper to include soon to be ex-spouse even with his 6 points for speeding and recent claims, than it was for me (nul points and no claims) to be the sole driver. I thought it was a bit barmy, but happily accepted the lower premium.
Hi all,
i'm a newbie here, be gentle.
I've got a 2000 1.7dti astra LS ,(Y17DT engine) and the gearbox went about 18 months ago.
I had the gearbox replaced and the one they put in is geared differently than the one taken out.
Its very annoying that i have to thrash the car to get to 70MPH.
I was just wondering whats involved with swapping the gearbox on this car?
Does the engine have to come out, or what bits have to come off/out?
Is it something that someone with a bit of experience and plenty of time and patience can do?
Thanks
Stu Read more
Usually you can remove the gear box on a FWD drive car without removing the engine. It's not often particularly 'difficult' - it just involves a lot of time and tools, and access to some sort of overhead lift. The procedure would be roughly:
Slacken front hub nuts; jack up; drain box; split bottom ball joints; remove drive shafts; disconnect clutch operator (cable / hydraulics), gear change, speedo connection, wiring connections from box; remove anything above or below the box that will get in the way; support box and remove gear box mounts; drop engine/box slightly, support engine; remove engine to box bolts, pull box away from engine; lower box to floor. Refitting is the reverse of removal! Obviously there are more than a few pitfalls with different ways of doing things. A Haynes manual if available will be invaluable.
--
RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
Still, he's probably the first wheelchair user to have to spend time cleaning the smashed bugs off the front!
Hi All
Before i start I'm a total car nut but no nothing about them mechanically and drive a Company Car so don't have to do anything on it bar ring the service dept.
Anyhow I've been given a bit of an opportunity to take on this car for a drink basically to get it off someone's drive, the car is a persona coupe 1.8 on a S plate, looks good, a few dinks, starts 1st turn and goes well.
The problem is the car has been stood since the tax expired in October 2006, i have taken it out a few times this last month for a blast around the lanes, (yes its insured now before anyone shouts!) the back discs do not appear to be ridding themselves of the rust and the handbrake no longer works well it barely makes a contact, will not hold the car, so it seems that there is no fluid getting to the rear brakes, could this potentially be leading to major work needed on the back or is it something like a cylinder or just the fact it needs a good run? what are the other things i should look for before taking on this if the car has been stood such a while?
All help appreciated
Jon
Amended subject to attract more interest perhaps ? Read more
Cheers for the responce guys, i'm getting it over my way on Saturday so will have a look and if need be take down my local garage, here to hoping its not too bad!! Does see to stop ok and there does seem some movement on the pads when the handbrake is applied.
First time I have changed a car I own myself - tomorrow I'm getting a used car, with my current car in p/x. What happens regarding car tax?
I know you can get tax refunded from DVLA so I suspect dealer will do this for the tax disc on the new car, so it will be given to me with no tax disc. Can he expect me to hand over my tax disc so he can do same for that? I have over eight months left on it.
Then I'll need to tax the new car, but this can't be done without insurance cover note which I won't get until next week. So I'll have no tax disc in the car. Will my insurance still be valid?
Thanks,
Dave Read more
Dealer will normally tax the new car, and no doubt add the cost to the invoice price when you pick it up. Always pays to try to factor that in to the deal. Normally they'll expect you to provide a cover note for the new car before you pick it up, so they can tax it. Also they are not aiding and abetting you driving a car with no insurance, so it's odd you haven't been asked to provide one. Dealer practice is never to leave tax on cars on the forecourt, so it will certainly need taxing on collection.
As for the old tax disc the usual practice, so I'm told (ahem!), is for it to fall off the screen into your pocket as you pull into the dealer to collect the replacement.
JS
Having trailed around a number of main agents looking for a small car I have been amazed at the lack of knowledge on the part of the sales people.When asked about the imissions not one was able to answer and one came back with incorrect figures(Peugeot 1007 1.4hdi sport is over 120g but a 1.4hdi dolce is under making it available for cheap road tax and free entry to the congestion zone under the new proposals)he said they were all over 120 a big selling point missed.
Do they not train staff any longer on the product they have to sell,one main agent wanted me to leave a large deposit before he brought a car from group stock for me to look at another said I could not have a test drive because they did no thave a demostrator but assured me if I bought one it would be ok for me.One when asked why a car with only 4k on the clock had worn out discs and new front tyres that it was normal for this model(obviously clocked and at a main DB agents too only one young man at a private Ford agents knew all answers but was way out on price. I gave up in the end and thought what a wasted day. Read more
I gave
up in the end and thought what a wasted day.
No day is wasted. It's all good experience.
--
L\'escargot.
Went with friend tonight to look at a 96 Volvo 850 estate. Owner not sure if 10v or 20v. How does one tell the difference? Read more
From the VIN plate you can deduce the engine code, and from the engine code you can deduce the number of valves; for example B5254S means benzine (petrol), 5 cylinders, 2.5 litre, four valves per cylinder (so 20 valves in all), normally aspirated. B5252S means as just written but 2 valves per cylinder, so 10 valve in all. A "T" at the end means turbocharged. Even if the engine has been swapped, then so long as you find the engine type written on it you can deduce the number of valves from this information.
Read more, including how to decode the VIN plate at www.volvoclub.org.uk/850plates.shtml
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More than the plastic one.....