September 2007
Just testing a Gunsons Gastester Pro that I recently acquired. Set to 2.00% in fresh air as per instructions and then tested in exhaust of 1998 Peugeot 106 1.4 injection and reading came out as -0.60%? Should be less than 1% according to my Haynes manual but how can it be less than zero?
Borrowed a friends Gastester and got similar result - am I missing something here?
Anyone had experience with these?
Thanks. Read more
Noticed a foreign registered Audi Estate in the car park at Goodwood yesterday, nothing like anything I have seen for sale, did not have time to give it a close inspection.
Perhaps something to look forward to in the near future.
Goodwood gets better and better each year. Read more
The cars in the Irish test with Irish prices were: Audi A4 2.0 TdI 170 bhp, Lexus IS 220D SE Executive,Mercedes Benz C 220 CDI A/T and the BMW 320 D SE manual.
I am considering changing my 20.000 mile, 06-reg mk2 focus 1.6 TDCi LX, for a 1.8 TDCi Focus mk1 in either Sport, Edge, Zetec Climate or Ghia trim - top of my list of priorities trim-wise is going to be wanting a quickclear front screen, abs and a/c. I was wondering if anyone has any experiences of this engine (in terms of either comparison, or on its own, reliability, driveability, refinement etc), as it is a Ford-own one, and which trim would be best? I'm hoping to get one that's done less than 40,000 miles for up to £7,000 and pocket between £1,500 and £2,000 from the trade-down (though I believe it'll be a better car) - is this realistic? And are there any alternatives to possibly consider...I want good mpg and the driveability of the mk1 - something I personally feel, the mk2 has lost. Read more
I dont think that is typical, my Mondeo TDCi 130 never drops below 44.
I have a 1999V Volvo S80 but I believe that the same problem can affect V70s. The nearside rear passenger door handle has failed and unfortunately the childproof lock was engaged, meaning that I cannot open the car from the inside. The outside door handle simply does not engage with the lock in the usual way - it acts as if the locks were operative. This happened after the door had only partially closed and I closed it by pushing on the door itself. The doors were all unlocked at that time.
I have been told that the only solution is to remove the door skin to access the lock - this will mean a new door skin at £250 , as well as labour and presumably a respray!
Has any other Volvo owner had this unfortunate experience - surely there should be some clever technical fix without all this dismantling?
Slight amendment to subject header to remove shouting and indicate problem - PU Read more
Thanks guys - very helpful. I use an independent Volvo garage and will put these points to the guy who looks after the car. I cannot believe that I am alone in this though - has anyone had this actual experience on an S80 or V70, and what was the outcome? Or do most people never use childlocks?!
Can anyone tell me what a O2 Sensor does, I believe it's something to do with the exhaust. Read more
h/man
I'd love to know how to "re-set" a failed oxygen sensor? Re-setting [clearing] the code is simple enough - if a bit pointless as it will quickly return.
Just because there's an oxygen sensor code doesn't necessarily mean that there's anything wrong with the sensor - there are many Lambda codes and most are for an incorrect SIGNAL from the sensor.
A quick listen in the engine bay for hissing from any disconnected vacuum hoses etc. would be one thing you could try.
There may well be two oxygen sensors in the exhaust; one pre and one post cat. Although they can fail, physical symptoms on that scale are very rare and the fact that the dealer doesn't stock them tells it's own story.
This could be more of a mixture fault setting oxy sensor codes than a sensor gone down.
I'm taking the car with me to Sweden, but can't seem to find out exacty how long I can keep it on UK plates.
Everyone says 6 months, but is that continous, total for a year, total for ever? I spoke with the Swedish authorities and they said max 6 months continous, but only for cars from outside the EU. As long as it's insured min. 3rd paerty, taxed and MOT'd, and from another EU state, they didn't seem to think it was a problem to stay as long as you like.
Anyone know where it actually states what's legal, and if it's country dependant, as Spain now appears to require anyone other than tourists to re-register almost immediately. Read more
there's little car theft in Sweden.
err...there's actually more car theft in Sweden than in the UK.
a 15 year old RHD car that looks like it's best years are behind it is hardly going to be high up
on any Swedish car thieves' hit list.
I thought older cars were always more likely to be stolen, as they're easier to steal?
I have a '95 Nissan Primera 1.6 SRI on which I am trying to find a reason for occasional drop off of power. On removing the air inlet duct to check for any partial blockage I have found a 2cm dia. round hole located on the outside of the bend, between the resonator the front of the duct, as the duct passes the outside corner of the battery. Initial thoughts are that something has been cut off thus leaving this hole. Any idea why this hole should be there and will it have any adverse effect on performance, also what is the function of the air resonator attached to the duct?
thanks
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Most air cleaner assemblies have odd holes in various places;usually there to cut down on noise(resonance) and ,in some cases,do improve performance.And the resonator.quietness.
Just noticed my MOT expires today, and also need first service since I bought it (four years old). Would prefer an independent.
Any recommendations in North Surrey? E.g., Guildford, Weybridge, Woking, etc. Read more
Thanks for this Flunky. No brainer to be honest!
Spent a lot of time helping my employer to get the '57' cars finally ready for the big customer onslaught this morning. Is there any actual advantage gained by the new reg. system compared with the old? - we now have 2 blips during the year instead of one, and a massive distorting factor in the car idustry and market.
Oz (as was) Read more
AS
Any time you want a new car I will happily pick it up for you for free at one minute past midnight - nothing mundane though
Dave
Having trouble getting a car seat to fit in the rear nearside of an astra estate. the guys at the shops say that the buckle webbing is to long to get the correct placement of the strap around the child seat. is it possible to get a shorter buckle strap from a different vauxhall or can anyone recommend a seat that will fit?
cheers
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Last time i fitted a seat the straps were fitted to either side of the seat and mounted were the seat belt anchors are, all i did was remove the original bolt and fit in the same place so the belt and strap together on 1 bolt, just make sure the bolt is long enough all ok..
Small jc please-big JC is someone else!!