September 2007
I've just just changed my oil, and the sump plug had a copper washer, quite surprising I thought for a four-year-old car. It was quite badly mangled. I managed to beat it reasonably flat, and anneal it, and it seems to be holding.
Where can I buy something like that nowadays in small quantities.
Halfords (the dreaded H word) used to have a book on the parts counter with small parts like this laminated in for identification, but no more.
It's about 20mm OD, with a 10mm ID hole. Read more
I'm looking for a cheap second car as a runabout for the wife. I've seen a mondeo locally - M-reg, 1.8 petrol, hatch, 110k miles for £350. What's to look for? Will the suspension be shot by then and the cambelt due to snap imminently?
I'd love be able to scour autotrader or ebay for something better but I don't have much time and I wouldn't know what faults I was looking for anyway - mechanical novice. Any tips for when you've just got to take a punt on the next convenient car shows up?
TIA :-) Read more
My dad bought an ex-Fleetlease M plate 2.0 at 3yrs old with about 95k on it. Sold it last year with 170,000 miles - a bit tatty but still drove really well. Had never broken down or failed to start. One fault with the alarm, and it ran a bit rough for a while when a vacuum pipe split. Original exhaust lasted 5 yrs!!
Other than that, it had the odd service, and a timing belt. Saw it last month and it's still going.
As craig says, check the clutch carefully as it's ££££'s to have changed. These early Zetec engines were bulletproof if run on the correct oil and changed at the recommended intervals.
Standard Ford alarm is cack, and it plays up. Dad had his disabled by a local indie for "a drink".
Rough running can be caused by a split rubber vacuum hose T-piece. £4 for a genuine part from a Ford dealer.
Other than that, they're good, solidly engineered cars. Way, way better than the disposable fleet image suggests. Parts are cheap and most DIY jobs are straightforward. They are also very good to drive with lovely steering and handling.
I don't know anyone who's owned a mk1 or mk2 Mondeo and been anything other than delighted with it.
Cheers
DP
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04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
I had to laugh loudly when I heard one of the latest "sales" techniques of one of the big dealerships near me - They were advertising a dirty car clearance sale!!! Yip, you guessed it, they sold so many new 57 plates and have so many trade ins that they don't have time to wash them so grab yourself a bargain!!!!!
Worryingly some may fall for it!!
But there are also some other unanswered queries I have like
- Does having a forecourt full of cars with their boots all open sell them any better?
- Does having one front wheel up on a ramp make it far more sellable and appealing?
- what about the 4x4 dealers who spend a fortune building a "hill" to display their cars on?
- finally there is a Seat dealer that I pass every day and it has all its cars facing onto the road, front first. Now as some will agree, most Seats look very similar from the front especially Leon, Altea, Altea XL. Most badges are on the back as well, so why not show the rears of the cars???
Or is it a case that 50% of the time the salespeople are not actually dealing with customers so they need to find something for them to do?
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2007 Seat Altea XL 2.0 TDI (140) Stylance
2005 Skoda Fabia vrS Read more
The latest flyers I get in the post from Inchcape especially are selling cars for cost plus £1. Trying to make out that the dealer will only make £1 out of the sale.
I bet some people fall for this as well.
Apparently the changes to the licence points system is going out to public consultation this week...
Where exactly do we get our copy to feedback our views?
Apparently the plan is to ban after 2 speeding offences?
Should someone tell them the bloomin obvious, such as speed limit changes every 2 feet, signs behind trees, road sign overload, and poorly designed roads probably could do with being sorted out before banning even more drivers for trivia
We wouldnt mind if they actually caught the kids driving through the city centre at 100 mph but generally they dont
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A little more detail from the daily press.
Drivers caught speeding could face six points on their license, under new Government plans.
Motorists caught doing 45mph in a 30mph zone could face six points on their licence - instead of three - in a bid to distinguish between drivers who marginally drive over the limit and those who completely flout the law.
It means that drivers coud lose their license after only just two speeding offences.
Transport ministers will set out the new proposals in a consultation paper expected to be published later this year.
Under the plans, a two-tier penalty system will be introduced, which will see those caught driving well over the limit facing tougher punishment.
Currently, almost all offences attract three points, regardless by how much the limit is exceeded.
Under the "totting-up" system, if drivers accumulate 12 points, they lose their licences.
Plans for a sliding scale were considered three years ago, but were dropped before the 2005 general election.
Under the original scheme, ministers proposed a two-point penalty and a reduced fine if the driver was caught exceeding the speed limit by a small margin.
But under pressure from road safety groups, the Government has now ditched the plans for a two-point penalty.
Currently, motorists are not prosecuted unless they exceed the speed limit by 10 per cent plus 2mph.
In an effort to counter claims that speeding fines are predominantly a method of generating cash, officials no longer plan to introduce higher fines for the worst offenders.
Instead they will receive the same flat fine of £60, which covers the cost of the scheme, but face a greater risk of losing their licence.
Officials are now debating how serious the offence must be before it attracts six points. Under current planning a driver going 45 mph in a 30 mph, for example, would attract a double penalty.
Ministers will not need to draft new legislation to bring in the changes, with last year's Road Safety Act already allowing the introduction of a sliding scale of penalties.
Motoring groups were last night cautious about the proposals.
Andrew Howard, the head of road safety at the AA, said the Government would have to introduce better road signage where speed limits dropped by more than 10 mph before introducing more severe penalties.
He said: "We would be concerned about a person getting extra points in a case where someone has missed the sign."
Robert Gifford, the executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, said: "The principle behind variable openly points is a sound one."
A spokesman for the Department of Transport said: "The Government will issue consultation on the fixed penalty system for speeding by the end of the year."
How to loose your expensive number plate.
The following is re bikes but I assume it would also apply to those who get caught with illegal plates on cars.
Q:I have a one line number plate on my bike but the letters are of the required height and dimensions. I have still been stopped and told that I will be prosecuted for it. Is this right?
A:Motorcycles registered on or after 1 September 2001 must display a two-line number plate. Motorcycles registered prior to the 1 September 2001 may display a three-line plate, but one-line plates are illegal, irrespective of the date of registration of the motorcycle or the size of the letters. This is not an endorseable offence and will only involve a fine, normally a fixed penalty. Some forces are not issuing fixed penalties but are issuing a summons, in which case the fine will be higher than the fixed penalty. Some courts are now stating that if you are prosecuted 3 times for a small/illegal number plate they will take your registration number away from you and issue a Q plate, effectively wiping out the value of your bike. The characters must be as follows: Height: 64mm, Width: 44mm. They must be 10mm apart and have a margin of 11mm around the outside and 13mm between vertical lines.
www.whitedalton.co.uk/site/Useful-information/fast...m
Another reference to illegal plates
So take note! It is an offence to alter, re-arrange or misrepresent letters or numbers in order to form names or words. Characters must not be moved to from one block to another i.e. A123 BCD must not be displayed as A123B CD. If your registration plate is not correct you could be liable for a fine of up to £1000 and your registration may be withdrawn
www.ltv-vwc.org.uk/wheelspin/ws_nov99/Illegal_plat...m
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Seems obvious to me that the best way to avoid trouble is to have a legal-looking car that may even turn out to be legal on closer examination.
But what in the name of, you know, something noisy, makes anyone except the constituted authorities give a fish's nipple for the legend on the front and/or back of your car? Strikes me as absurd, like a lot of faffing old women. Sorry chaps.
The time to take the 1997 Peugeot 306 1.9 diesel (non-turbo) to its new home in France is approaching. It's had a year of my ownership and 3000 more miles in UK making a total of 105k (and giving me 45 to 50mpg) and all seems well (touch wood).
The plan is to park it in a barn and use it for a couple of weeks every 6 to 7 weeks or so.
So far I've thought about a solar powered battery charger (with the panel outside the barn!), car sitting on wooden packers on concrete blocks with the wheels off the ground, windows slightly open (but with less than a mouse sized gap) and a cotton dust sheet over it.
Anything else? Read more
If it's damp, the clutch may seize stuck to the flywheel, making it impossible to engage gear. Happened to my grandads car when he left it in the garage for a couple of months without using it.
Only solution to this is stick a broom handle between the seat back and the clutch pedal, so the pedal is pressed down. However don't leave for more than a couple of months like this or the pressure plate will eventually compress and lose it's springyness.
Tyres will be fine. Battery will probably be fine if disconnected before you go.
I have been contemplating buying an auto for a while now but I also have on my life list an ambition to complete 200K miles in a car (a bit sad I know - oh if you want to know about life lists google John Goddard life list - quite interesting if you are that way inclined).
If I did it in my current 2.4 6 speed Accord then I will need the odd clutch replacement (maybe - but knowing Honda it will probably last - only joking)
But if I decided to purchase an auto box would it last 200K without replacement or typically what parts would need replacing ?
s Read more
The secret is sensible maintenance, not what the car manufacturer states!
For example, Vauxhall state, for all their Aisin-Warner fwd autoboxes that no fluid change is necessary in normal use (ever) and that the cooler built-in to the coolant radiator is adequate (at 90 degrees C?) when towing within the vehicles towing limit.
Add an oil-to-air transmission cooler if towing, check fluid level and colour whenever checking engine oil level, and drain & replace transmission oil every 20-30,000 miles (only changes about half the contents) - that'll extend an automatic transmission's life considerably.
The torque converter does give the gearbox an easier time - it also gives the engine an easier time by avoiding the shock loading on down changes and avoiding very low or very high revs.
There's a new Highway Code due out on 27th of this month priced at £2.50.
tinyurl.com/yodnzv
Clk Sec Read more
Did anyone really signal by rotating a whip?
Think I saw an example today actually! On coming bin lorry driver indicated right, but also waved his hand in a leftwards direction at the same time. Proceeded to stop after the right turn I had expected and reversed into the admittedly narrow side street.
Incidentally the wagon (a Dennis, I think) seemed to have 4 wheel steering. Is this common on such vehicles?
Hello all,
I have a need for information and you guys are usually very helpful!
Due to a change in circumstance, I am considering moving to Brackley (Northants), and commuting (by car) to Maidenhead each day.
My route would be the most obvious A43, M40, A404. Off peak this is an easy 45/50 minute run. However does anyone have any experience doing this journey at 7am and return journey at 5pm?
Don't really want to spend more than an hour in the car in each way. Is this achievable on an 'average' day?
Cheers
John
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Well, as suggested I am going to give it a test run on Thurs/Fri to gauge an initial idea of what it will be like.
As they say, there is only one way to find out.
Cheers
My 300 TDI 1996 auto has a non land rover cd/radio fitted but the two sub woofer speakers in the rear door do not work. There is a red plug behind the cd/radio that feeds the small amp between the speakers and a white/clear plug that I believe feeds the switches on the dash/facia, but no socket on the cd/radio to accomodate the red plug. does anyone know if these speakers should work or could I bridge power over to the red plug if required.
Maybe they will only work with a branded LR radio?
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Regards
Craigh Read more
Ah right, fair enough. As long as it's oil-tight I won't be changing it anyway!