August 2007
This suddenly started flashing 60 miles into a journey. Nothing's been done recently, and I didn't hit any big bumps or anything similar.
I've pulled apart the connectors under the seats, (and put them back together), pulled and re-fitted any fuses and relays that appear to have anything to do with the bags and belt pre-tensioners, to no avail.
Is there any way I can interrogate anything to indicate what may be making it unhappy?
Can an 'indie' interrogate anything, or is it a main dealer mortgage job? Read more
I drive 66 miles a day over a mix of A & B roads to and from work in a Renault Clio.
At the end of each day I feel all of those 66 commuted miles.
The Citroen C5 with its soft suspension might be the sort of car to all a drive of that distance in good comfort.
What's the view out there are to the most comfortable car out there for that kind of journey so that 66 miles might feel more like 33?
Kind regards
Richard Read more
If you're driving a clio then anything bigger will be more comfortable. Bigger cars are easier to drive and more comfortable.
Am I right in thinking that it is not a legal requirment for ANY vehicle to carry a spare wheel on board?
If you do carry a spare wheel is it always checked with the MOT and will fail if below the min tread depth?
Thanks, Dan Read more
Years ago I bought an Audi 80 2nd hand, and the spare wheel provided was an alloy from a lesser spec 80 (mine was a quattro). It wasn?t until about 6 months later I was messing with the brakes and I thought, ?I wonder what it will look like with that different wheel on the car.?
I tried to fit it but it would not go on the car, the PCD was the same but the quattro had 14mm wheel bolts, and the spare only had holes big enough for 12mm bolts.
So after that I scrapped the spare and bought a can of Holts Tyre Weld instead, which I?ve still got, 11 years old and unused.
By the way, does this stuff have a shelf life?
:o)
A car which I am interested in is described on dealers website as being 'Cat d repaired'. I am not familiar with this description. How bad is 'Cat d' ? Read more
"But he missed the other one ;)"
Thanks - I hid it on the other thread but I've now looked again and saw that he posted it twice. Gone now!
I realise that this will identify me as the most technically thick member of the back room ever, but I purchased some Bosch Super Plus wiper blades for my Ford Ka in Halfords, being reassured by the words "Blade change in seconds" and "makes changing wiper blades a child's play".
I was able to remove the old blade from the rear wiper, but after 15 minutes gave up trying to put in the new wiper blade. The new one looks different from the one that I took out. Have I got the wrong kind of blade? Read more
Welcome back BB, have a good holiday? Somewhere better than this sceptic isle I hope!
I have just discovered that my 02 Clio is more than 5 years old (5 years and 2 months). It hasn't done many miles (less than 20.000) but the service book recommends that the timing belt gets changed after 72.000 miles or 5 years (whichever comes first). I went around to my garage and they only have time to change it in 2 weeks time. Can somebody please inform me whether it is dangerous to continue driving in it for another two weeks?
Cheers Read more
YUp it will be fine. If its the 1.2 for an extra 40 quid get them to change the water pump.
(the pump can sometimes break up, sieze and throw the timing belt )
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< Ex RF, Ex TVM >
If someone else (eg friends, relatives etc.) wants to drive my car
[1] Is it my responsibility to ensure they have proper insurance?
[2] Do I have a legal obligation to see proof of their insurance to drive my (any other) car?
[3] If they lie to me that they had cover (while they had not really) and then met an accident with my car, am I liable to be prosecuted?
Thanx Read more
I switched to Zurich last month - comprehensive for £147 against DirectLine's £187
Premiums are meaningless without knowing the excess on the policy - a few years ago we halved our company car insurance by switching from £250 to £1000 excess.
Hi all I just brought a car an MG ZR 105+, very pleased with it ....so far.
Does anyone else own one on the forum?
I know it's not everyone's favourite on this forum from reading posts from previous topics, but i chose it because it made me smile during the test drive...... the sporty half leather seats hold me tight within, has enough grunt to wheel spin everytime you pull away (i just need to get used to the clutch!)
What i do need to is get used to is the power delay during acceleration, it does start to kick in after 4000rpm.
What does anyone else think of my purchase? Crazy or sensible beyond belief?
--
Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-) Read more
2002 ZT 190bph V6.....one of the best cars I've ever owned.
Actually saw it in a dodgy dealers last year (while looking for a runaround for the MiL), and sorry to say it looked a bit rough round the edges. The latest owner had obviously canned it and it was covered in scratches and damaged alloys. I felt like buying it back and putting it back to the condition it was in when I sold it..
Hi there, I have just bought a 2002 Astra 1.6 Club (8 valve engine) that is five years old and has just covered 50,000 miles. I am considering changing the timing belt and tensioner which I suspect are original, but have been told not to worry as on these engines they are safe for 80.000 miles or 8 years which seems a long time.
I know the 16 valve models are worth changing at 40,000 miles - has anyone other ideas about the 8 valve model?
Thanks Read more
When you do change the cambelt & tensioner, change the water pump as well - it's one of the pulleys on the cambelt routing so water pump failure on a Vauxhall often cause the cambelt to break! Once the engine has been "stripped" to replace the belt there's virtually no extra work to replace the pump but if you do it any other time then the stripdown labour will have to be paid for twice. And anyway, 80,000 miles is an acceptable life for a water pump.
My daily commute is only a 3-4 mile journey. My current car (petrol) gets up to normal temperature by that time; will a diesel?
Thanks in advance for any advice on this.
Jon Read more
The more fuel-efficient an engine is the longer it takes to get up to temperature.
Cars run most efficiently at full operating temperature (both in terms of fuel and emissions), so surely an efficient engine with decent thermal management will warm up quickly in order to reach peak efficiency sooner rather than later. Isn't the purpose of the thermostat to hold back the cooling system until the engine has reached a decent temperature?
Browse
Thanks for that.
I've pulled apart the connectors under the seats, there's two of them, one's a two-way connector, the other's a single wire connection. I guess the single's a detector for my fat backside?
Don't mention the skinny mule seat cover on t'other side - OK mods?