September 2007

stokie

On my 1996 1.8 petrol Audi A4 the wipers/Indicators/heater fan don't work when the engine is running. They work fine when the engine is off (and ignition on).
Somtimes I can make them work by putting my hand in the fusebox/relays area and waggling things around a bit. I've taken each relay out in turn and cleaned the connections.
The 3 fuses for these components are in the same area (top LH corner) of the fusebox, not sure if that's a coincidence.

When the problem occurs it's solid until I switch off and 'waggle'. When they work they work perfectly until I switch off and restart, so I don't *think* it's a connection that's moving about with road vibration.

Any advice very gratefully received. Read more

adverse camber

we had to replace the switch in our A4.
The local specialist advised us to buy from the dealer because they had had problems with two differnt brands of aftermarket switches.

The dealer had them on backorder, but the same switch is used on many different vag vehicles.

After talking to vw, audi, seat, skoda using the part number we eventually got one as a unit for a LHD A100 that must have been languishing on the shelf for ages.

Our symptom was the key not wanting to come out.

wbd

Astra 2001 1.6 16v estate fitted with cheap tyres produces road noise and a 'drumming' when run over 'town' viz., urban roads.
It has been found that this increases a lot with relativity small increases tyre temperature (say atfer a 40 mile hispeed motorway run @70/80mph or even being in hot sun or several hours)?

Anyone with any knowlege/experience of this phenomeon or similar?

Regards
brian
185/65 x 15 Arrowspeed and Firestone Firehawk
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Ruperts Trooper

The acoustic brake pad warning is standard across the range on Astra-G.

I have a CDX saloon, with slightly more sound deadening than other models and road noise is certainly higher than it's predecessor a Cavalier mk3, particularly from the rear axle.

wbd

Information

The Astra key fob design has a built-in failing that can cause premature and unnecessary battery replacement .
After opening the key fob.
The battery module is located on the pcb by spigots into holes alongside which are the contacts, solder pads on the pcb and curled metal contacts on the battery module. The two items, viz., battery module and pcb are pressed together by sponge behind the battery module.
Over time the curled metal contacts lose their springiness, the solder pads become compressed and the contact becomes intermittent and then fails, mimicing battery failure.

Two ways to overcome this are;
1. Build up the solder pads on the pcb by carefully adding more solder
2. Carefully straighten the curl in the metal contact, to restore its length.

Hope this helps
Brian
subject line tweaked to reflect issue - PU

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Forum Valuations
ijws15

Where is the best place to get an accurate on line valuation for a car we are expecting to trade in?

Parkers does not let me adjust for options! Read more

slowdown avenue

yes vauxhall lets you in to glasses guide, value my car at 4300 took it it to nissan they offered me 3200 but could go up to 3400 as i was walking out. sold it on ebay for 3950 at wkend.

J Bonington Jagworth

According the Radio4 this morning, the EU commission is allowing us (!) to carry on with miles and pints indefinitely. I realise this won't please everyone, but it sure as Hell pleases me! (I like Imperial measurements and am still grinding my teeth about a piece of expensive marine ply that I had cut incorrectly, because the saw was calibrated in cm, and the operator translated my printed length of 1600 mm as 116 cm).

I'm also pretty sure I heard mention that Pounds and Ounces were going to be allowed, too, but no mention of gallons... Read more

jase1

Bring back the pound shilling and proper [d] pence too. Enough of this funny decimal
stuff! Foreign rubbish.
--
Roger. (Costa del Sol España)


I'm not sure what to make of this remark. Has to be a mickey-take -- someone professing to be living in Spain talking about foreign rubbish.

Anyone who has these kind of views had better be buying British (or British-made at a push) cars and other products wherever possible, or else they run the risk of being dismissed as hypocrites.
flunky

I was amused by the advert in Conde Nast Traveller for the Range Rover.

"GO RESPONSIBLY
The Range Rover TDV8 is 30% more fuel efficient than the petrol version it replaced."

The small print for the "Go responsbily' message?

Urban 12.6-19.6mpg
Extra-urban 23.1-30.1mpg
Combined 17.7-25.0 mpg

CO2 299-376 g/km

So that's top CO2 tax band (by a long way), urban fuel consumption barely into double figures, and they are marketing it as a responsible choice? Shurely shome mishtake. Read more

cheddar

Well a TDV8 has twin TCs, perhaps someone has put a supercharger badge off a petrol one on it or perhaps it is a special of some kind.

mfarrow

Hi

Girlfriend's mother owns a 1995 Sunny with 47k on the clock. On Saturday, it was involved in an accident with another car whose driver bumped the back end and admitted liability verbally (!).

Insurers claim it's an insurance write-off (£800 bodyshop quote). Point of impact is 2/3 along width of car at rear, just before rear light cluster. Damage is as follows:

  • Plastic bumper has bowed along the nearside where is was pushed in

  • Bumper reinforcement written-off but bolts on in the boot

  • Rear panel at point of impact pushed inwards by 15mm so boot sits proud of bottom of light cluster. No noticeable damage to panel from outside.

  • Boot untouched.


  • It looks like the reinforcement took most of the impact. If one of these can be sourced along with a block of wood and a hammer I reckon I could get the 'dent' out.

    Owner not sure and is convinced that the guy will admit liability to his insurer. She does not want to get rid of the car. I see several options:

  • Do not claim and carry out repair privately

  • Wait for guys insurer to get back then try to claim for cheap "DIY" repair

  • Write car off and buy it back with insurance money, then repair.


  • Is it worth sourcing the reinforcement panel now and doing the repair? i.e. can a claim be made against his insurer with a reciept pre-dating his admittance of liability?

    Your thoughts please gentlemen.

    --------------
    Mike Farrow Read more
    bell boy

    quote"Now it gets really technical, just like the insurance company promised. Tester lifts up bonnet and takes one look at the VIN before dropping bonnet back down. I'm guessing when this guy looks at cars they appear like on the covers of old Haynes manuals. Clever stuff huh? unquote"

    >>>>>>>
    >>>>>>>>>>>.your not supposed to see the high tech checks these highly qualified vosa inspecters are checking,do you realise this is still treasonable and you could go to the tower for publishing such things?

    neilo575

    Hi I wonder if any one could tell me how to bleed a Bosch Diesel pump on a 1994 Peugeot 306 TD as the Haynes manual is a bit sketchy It says about a bleed nipple on the pump but I am unable to find one so any help would be great as I wish to change the fuel filter and will need to bleed the system Thanks Neil
    slienced shouting ! - PU Read more

    GregSwain

    the Haynes manual is not that helpful


    No they're utterly useless unless you're after technical info/wiring diagrams. At the beginning of each set of instructions, it'll always say "apply the handbrake and disconnect the negative battery terminal" (even for changing a bulb!)
    billy25

    well! he's at it again!!

    tinyurl.com/yvor5m


    Billy
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    ForumNeedsModerating

    >>But what was it about?

    About JM's supposed OCD (true or not?) - JC has a fancy watch with bezels(s) for various functions (time zones etc) - the 'joke' is that JM finds it distressing if the bezel isn't lined-up 'correctly' , much the same as the compulsion not to walk on pavement cracks etc.

    The 'funny' bits, as usual, have about as much humourous tension as a Christmas cracker joke - even slapstick can have a bit of sophistication. The Euro-fighter/Veyron contest showed a little more promise - concise & dramatic. The Peel car gag flogged to death after initial promise - why don't they get a good editor? I feel the prgramme is over-long & could be edited to about 40mins to give better impact for the fairly thin material.

    trier

    On my 1995 passat 8v 1.8 saloon the offside inner cv joint requires a new gaiter. haynes suggests dealer as special tools required to remove inner joint. Looking at it if the outer joint is first removed it seems possible to drag a gaiter over the length of the shaft, from inner to outer. There is a balance weight on the shaft which looks detachable. The original inner gaiter has no clips but appears to be held in place by the last plate on the inner joint. My question is has anyone tried replacing the inner gaiter this way and if so is it easy? thanks in advance for any helpful remarks.
    s Read more

    v8man

    I have also completed said job on my wife's 1995 Passat 1.9Tdi.