September 2007
After 9 1/2 years my old Masterparts battery finally died. Who makes these?
Actually, like all new batteries it gave no warning at all and on a pick-up at the airport (it's always at a critical time) it was stone dead on a hot day. Jump start and we were off. £68 later at Euro Car Parts we have a 096 Bosch Silver Maintenance free battery.
I know it is blindingly obvious but I have never been keen on maintenance free batteries. The old one needed a top up every 9 months; hardly hard work and it gave nearly 10 years service. The Bosch website claims water loss (it is water not a gel) is 400 times less than a conventional battery.
The top is firmly fixed but looks as through the trough cover could unclip. Europarts claim it is now guaranteed for life! even if you swop cars and move it over.
Can this battery really need nothing in the next 10 years. Any views or experience on the long life of these? I'm a bit sceptical. Read more
I have hit the side of a wall while turning into my drive way!! The side rear panel of my car is badly scratched and dented! Was looking for advice on where to take it, and expected cost as will not be going through insurance. Please any advise will be most gratefully received! And how long i should expect to wait as would like to get it done before my husband is back from a business trip!!
s Read more
My brother-in-law has used Simcox, Unit 13 First Avenue, Westfield Trading Estate, Midsomer Norton, tel 01761 416221 on several occasions (never his fault!!) & the jobs have always come back beautifully repaired. Job may not take too long but getting booked in may be the problem.
Today I changed the battery of my neighbour's 97 1.4 Citroen ZX for her. Alas she lost the remote fob for it several years ago and when we connected up the battery the alarm armed itself for the fiirt time in years! The car still starts/drives but the alarm goes off when you open the door/bonnet/boot most embarrassingly. Can we disconnect the alarm or reset it manually? The car is only worth a few hundred pounds so trips to dealers are to be avoided!
s Read more
Thanks. Worked a treat. Hold the button in while turning on the ignition cancels the alarm. A quiet neighbourhood again!
Hi all, I have just removed the old battery from the daughters Corsa,and am trying to fit the new one.
As soon as I connect it the alarm goes off till I disconnect it again.
It's a 1998 (R) 1.4.I don't have a key fob to turn it off.
Would appreciate some advice please.
s Read more
I have to agree with your logic Simon.I will contact my daughter who is back-packing in NZ.at the moment.I just wanted to keep it
'Fit for purpose' for her return in January.It's in the 'banger' class as far as I am concerned,and I am loathe to spend anybody's
money on it.
I can do without the hassle TBH.
Hi All,
Insurance companies often want £20 to £30 add on for legal cover. Is it really worth it.
My thoughts are:
In the terms and conditions in most policies if they don't think they are NOT going to suceed then they won't give cover
I am also a biker and am told that if personel injury is involved you are best seeing a specialist Bike accident solicitor who have greater expertise.
There are companies like helphire who if you are hit by third pary will organise the repair and give you a hire car direct from third party. ( I would be happy to use for a simple third party accident)
And If I am serious accidenct with injury there are 100s of no win no fee (and I mean truly not win no fee so no conditional fees etc) who will take on my case.
So I am inclinded to say no to the add on legal cover at my renewal.
Am I being sensible or foolish.
Opinions greatfully received.
Thanks
Jlo Read more
> All insurance is a rip off. Unless you need it...
It's more of a bet - you bet the insurance co. that you will have a claim - they assess the risk, and take your bet. They don't know who will have the claim, but they hope they know how many and for how much.
Where the law allows you can keep your money. No claim within the year - you win/have saved the premium.
I do this with private health insurance. I'm healthy, and I keep myself that way. I don't pay for BUPA, so I am £XX up at the end of the year. SWMBO had a private consultation recently. We were happy to pay as it was about three months' premium for one of us, but we stopped paying the premiums 15 years ago.
my wife recently brought a 3year old polo unfortunately the previous owner was a smoker consequently the interior smells of stale tobacco does anyone know of any products or tricks of the trade to solve this problem?
s Read more
Don't forget the interior glaas - it's amazing how nicotine clings to glass. Clean thoroughly with old fashioned pink windolene. Ace cleaner and good lingering smell too.
Hello all,
All of a sudden my 'dash battery warning light' stays ON when the ignition is switched OFF. When the ignition is switched ON it goes OUT and stays out when engine is running. Before it only came on when the ignition was switched to start the engine and then went out although recently it started 'flickering' whilst running so I tightened the belt.
I am now having to disconnect the alternator overnight so as not to drain the battery, which is a great inconvenience.
Does anybody have any idea why this has started happening?
Any help greatly appreciated.
Martin Read more
mak
Yes; I'll agree with Mike. You've got all the classic signs of a short-circuited field diode there.
If this is as early as it sounds, then the warning light runs directly from the alternator and isn't merely a function of the ECU until around '97.
Hi folks, I have some questions about buying a new car (the first time I will ever have done so).
1. I see the term "delivery mileage" about a lot? I assume all cars come with "delivery mileage" but what does that consist of and how many is acceptable?
2. When / if I get my new car, are there any checks / actions that I can take immediately to a) make sure the car is as it should be and b) to prolong the life and condition of the car?
3. If anyone has used Drive the Deal before, can they possibly e-mail (garethwayne at yahoo dot co.uk) me their experiences good / bad... this will be the 2nd biggest purchase of my life so I want to make sure i'm doing the right thing, and DTD always get lots of press on here...
Thanks for your help
edited out your e-mail address, apparently it prevents "harvesting" whatever that is. No naming and shaming or it'll get chopped. - PU Read more
All of the above may be good advice, but don't lose hope. Our last joint car and first Hyundai had a fault. The volume control worked on the radio and cassette player but not on the CD which was flat out whatever one did; apparently two connectors had to be swapped over. I have noticed nothing at all wrong on my new coupe (other than front drive but I knew that!).
We had the same sort of thing for years on Toyotas.
How much is down to the maker and how much to the dealer is hard to say. The Japanese makers used to say their products had to work off the boat, because they sold worldwide, including places where the dealers could not be relied on. Now that the Jap firms manufacture so much outside Japan I incline to think Korea has taken over.
Anyway more people have a pleasant experience than a bad one, though they are less inclined to comment on it. I hope you may be another.
The following link gives a very detailed explanation of Lambda sensor operation.
www.picotech.com/auto/lambda_sensor.html
However it does not explain why a leak in the exhaust system can cause the measured Lambda value at the Tail pipe to rise to an unacceptable level ( marginally) for emissions testing at MoT time. Blocking the leak caused the Lambda to drop sufficiently to be acceptable as a pass.
I have been thro various the various options of reduced backpressure or possibly air being sucked into pipe by exhaust gas flow but cannot see this as viable explanation, since the 'positive' pressure is forcing exhaust gases out of the leak.
Anybody got a definitive answer? Meanwhile I will order a new box and clean out the pit!
--
pmh (was peter)
Read more
NC
I used to have a very good memory - almost total recall of any fact or figure that I'd ever bothered to take note of. Now I struggle to remember my own mobile number.... It's like living in a fog.
I'd think that cam timing would have a big part to play too. Pressure disparity across the exhaust valve at initial opening must be the defining factor. The expanding amplitude and interference effects from such a random initiation point as a round valve, probably means that the supersonic distance is very limited indeed.
Asked to sort mega oil leak on a Courier van, which had just had a second hand engine put in. Seemed to be pouring out of timing case, so dismantled to find a great hole where sump gasket should be! Dismantled so far, but having problems. I think I know the answer to what i'm asking.... Does the box have to come off as the sump seems captive behind the flywheel somehow? Cheers all you Ford gurus!
s Read more
You can remove the sump without taking the gearbox out, if you bend the sandwich plate out of the way there is just enough room to get the sump pan off it's abit of a fiddle but it is possible.
Did you ever have to top it up? Was that possible anyway?