July 2007
Hi, taking the Mk2 Renault Scenic to France next month, the headlamp lenses are plastic if you are familiar with these.
What ones are recommended by yourselves.
Thank you Read more
My FiL bought a brand new car from an internet company in September 2006. He collected the car from the company premises and it was exactly what he had specified with only 3 miles on the clock. Taking the car back to Northern Ireland he was told by the firm's Director that the V5 would follow but that he should be prepared to wait several months for this.
Six months passed and no sign of the V5. He rang the seller who was puzzled but agreed to send out a duplicate and to wait up to 21 days. June came and went then he rang again to say it hadn't arrived. They were even more puzzled but again agreed to send a duplicate on 5 July and to wait up to 14 days. The document has still not arrived and it's the 25 July (albeit there have bee 2 postal strikes). The odds of something getting lost in the post 3 times over the space of 9 months must be astronomical
His car is due to be taxed at the end of and he's getting really concerned. I've checked the DVLA website and the vehicle is registered with them. Assuming that the V5 doesn't arrive this time what are his options as regards ensuring that he is the recorded as the Registered Keeper of the vehicle? Can he simply apply top DVLA for a duplicate when they don't seem to have asked to send out an original in the first place?
Any advice must appreciated.
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re. your friend here:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=52260&...f
q. is he your f-i-l ?
Yes, Daglish, both friend and FiL!
A while back I mentioned that my dads old pug 405 was on its way out (burning more oil from the sump than the tank). So anyway, last week it finally died and broke down in rather spectacular fashion - lots of smoke and oil pouring out of the engine. This was on Thursday, my dad doesn't have any breakdown cover so on Saturday we went to tow it home.
However, when we arrived at the spot where it had been left - it wasn't there!
So far we have contacted, Trace, the local council and the police - it's nowhere to be found and the police think it was probably stolen. The car is all legal and wasn't parked on yellow lines or anything like that, although it was on an unlit country road on a large sweeping bend, parked just before a width restriction.
There's no way the car could have been driven, it was as dead as they get (my dad flattened the battery in some vain hope it would start) so if it has indeed been stolen it would have to be towed.
I find it hard to believe the car has been stolen (who would nick a 13 year 405? with a knackered engine?) and I'm worried that there's been some sort of admin error and the car is sitting in a yard racking up a massive storage charge.
Anyone got any ideas?
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>>who would nick a 13 year 405? with a knackered engine
It might have been taken for banger racing,(saves them buying a car to wreck) if so, you wont recognise it anyway,you wont want it back either...
Discussion from another forum:
www.alfaowner.com/Forum/rant-room/83554-are-the-po...l
Seems from the op that the person is being charged with 'incorrect use of headlights', but there's nothing in the highway code to say you can't use headlights in this way.
Other option is 'obstruction police in the course of their duties' (or whatever the proper wording is). I can see them using that charge, but it does of course ask the question, what was their aim in having a speed trap? If it was to get people to slow down, then surely the offender was helping them in their duties?
I'd be interested to know exactly what possible offences this person could be charged with, any policemen or lawyers who could help me?
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presuming it is not actually illegal to plan a crime just illegal
to commit it.
Tell that to poor old hanged, drawn and quartered Guido Fawkes, the Jacobean Catholic terrorist...
my front brake pads need changed now if not sooner:) Anyone experience of these? I've done plenty of the old Ford type with pins that need drifted out and Toyota ones that you undo a bolt and half the caliper swings up out the way but these look a bit different again. I've not got a workshop manual for this car (yet) so would appreciate some pointers or even a link to somewhere that shows it.
thanks in advance Read more
thanks for this - if the rain stays off I'll have a go - if it is like the toyota ( 'course it is a jap car under that badge) then I know what I'm doing.
Can anyone tell me how to put a code back in to a Blaupunkt radio cassette that is in a Citroen van?The serial no. is BP1760w9154690.I don`t have the unlock code but even how you go about it when i`ve got the code would help.I think it is only a three digit no.
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Thanks for that,really appreciate it.
Hello,
This weekend I shall be servicing a Polo 1.4 1996 N-Reg and this involves changing the oil/oil filter.
Because of the age of the engine should I be using a thinner/thicker viscosity oil than the one recommended in Haynes or is the same viscosity fine for an engine of this type regardless of its age? Read more
No, but obviously you are?
I just speak from hands on experience and proper training courses from several large oil companies.
Your experience comes from?
I've got to get to Oxford on Thursday for the final part of an assessment - it's not something I can afford to miss, but I've got to get to Kidlington from Devon. In particular, using the A420, the A34, and the Botley Interchange, which I believe is underwater at the moment.
Is it likely to be traversable on Thursday morning, or is there a way around? I'm not averse in the very worst case to taking the M5 north the whole way to Birmingham and returning down the M40, but I'd prefer to not do that if at all possible! Read more
Nah, I have to be at Gatwick on Friday morning... I'm spending the evening with friends in New Malden. Helicopter, it's not AMS since it's an initial medical which has to be done at the CAA's Medical Department, but I should imagine they're nearby since both claim Gatwick as a base.
Hi,
Can anyone tell me why the 16v engine can suffer with piston ring problems after as low as 30,000 miles?
Cheers
Stardust
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stardust
If run on 95, they lose compression and develop all sorts of weird codes and symptoms - and a marked reluctance to start from cold.
Oil consumption isn't the main problem.
See s/l you don't need other buttons - your typo corrected ! - PU
After placing an Auto Trader ad at the weekend, it sold to a very nice couple this afternoon (the first who looked at it) for £1250, bang on what I wanted for it.
It's been a superb little car to us over the past two years, and I would highly recommend one to anybody looking for cheap, reliable, and surprisingly fun motoring.
And what cheap motoring.
Bought in Dec 2005 with 81,000 miles for £1650.
Sold in Jul 2007 with 97,000 miles for £1250
With total servicing and repair costs, (including 2 services, a new pair of front tyres, cambelt kit, front wishbone and arb bushes, and a recon front caliper) of £376.45 (I added up the receipts). Car never failed to start, and never let us down in the time we had it.
My view is that the mk4 Fiesta is a brilliant small car which is chronically underrated because so many are completely neglected and abused. Our well serviced, properly looked after example has proven reliable, well screwed together, rot resistant and fun to drive. I would have another in a shot if I ever needed a car like this again.
Glad it's gone for space and financial reasons, but it will be very much missed.
Cheers
DP
--
04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
97 Ford Fiesta 1.4 16v Chicane (for sale) Read more
Some pics of the old girl taken last weekend for the ad:
www.imagehosting.com/show.php/957175_media.jpg.html
www.imagehosting.com/show.php/957178_media2.jpg.ht...l
www.imagehosting.com/show.php/957194_media3.jpg.ht...l
www.imagehosting.com/show.php/957195_media4.jpg.ht...l
www.imagehosting.com/show.php/957182_media5.jpg.ht...l
www.imagehosting.com/show.php/957184_media6.jpg.ht...l
www.imagehosting.com/show.php/957189_media8.jpg.ht...l
Cheers
DP
--
04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
97 Ford Fiesta 1.4 16v Chicane (for sale)


Most headlights have a hatched zone on them that marks the area of the beam that needs to be masked to prevent dipped lights dazzling oncoming drivers.
Take duct tape and cut it to shape to cover the hatched area. I do that, and I've driven about 4,000 miles in France, Belgium and Holland since last October.
I've not been stopped once, except in broad daylight when the Dutch police were checking IDs and nothing else.