October 2007
I hired a van today to pick up some bits and pieces which involved a journey from near Braintree to just north of Colchester. About 8 miles from the A12 a traffic announcement blasted out of the radio (made me jump - didn't know it was on) saying that the A12 is closed in both directions for 24 hours!!
The cause? A van caught fire carrying gas cylinders. I was lucky enough to take the back roads but in doing so crossed the A12 3 or 4 times (lost) and I really felt sorry for the people stuck in horrendous queues.
But my question. Is this another one of those "functional creep" areas whereby fire + gas cylinders means immediate road closure for 24 hours. There seem to be more and more of these incidents recently and they don't register with me as happening so much 5 or 10 years ago.
If these things are that dangerous (and the vans carrying them that likely to spontaneously combust) why are they allowed on the roads?
I can't imagine what today's cost (money and accidents) of disruption was - a major road and main railway line closed for 24 hrs.
Paul Read more
Seen this gem in the local rag
tinyurl.com/28ojqz
One moral would be know when to give up. And anyway, is an Audi TT an "high end sports car" or a Golf in drag? Read more
and the price of cars goes up because people "change their minds" and take it
back for no good reason.
Well the car cost 35k and this legal case cost 100k, which would have been cheaper?
How many customers does Richer Sounds keep every year because of their great customer service? How many people complain about garages and their cars? If you treat the customers better even if they are wrong you may find JH that the cost for the company goes down.
Cars are nothing special don't be deluded by the hype, advertising and marketing. Why do you need salesmen to sell cars, to put the price up and keep the quality of service poor!
Get rid of all this red tape and sell cars in the supermarket next to the DVD's.
Hi all,
I am possibly going to buy some alloys tomorrow, depending on the outcome of this thread.
These alloys come with cooper tyres and have a warranty with them where if you get a puncture, you get a free replacement. If the tyres are half worn you pay half towards the replacement etc.
Does anyone know anything about the quality of these tyres?Apprently a very good unheard of American tyre?
Cheers Read more
I understood thar Cooper Tyres and Avon Tyres were one and the same.
They are, but AFAIK the Cooper branded ones tend to be for 4x4s, and the Avons for cars.
Hi All looking to buy VX Astra Van and have found an Opel Astra for sale. Looking at the V5/Log Book i see that the Date of registration and the Date of Registration IN THE UK are identical dates. Also front page of V5 declares 'New at registration'.And the V5 States Vauxhall (not Opel!). I always thought Opel where imported from Europe and thus it would be declared an import on the V5? Or did dealers sell Opels direct in the UK at some stage?
Also the Opel Astra is badged with standard Vauxhall Badges front and rear but has the Opel Logo on wheels, Steering wheel and door shut protectors etc? Is this normal?
Please hlep me I am confused!
Also will the Insurance be higher for an Opel than Vauxhall?
s Read more
Photographs please or we are in danger of propagating urban myths. If a mismatched Astra
was produced it must have a picture posted somewhere on the net.....
Fair comment, and I can't produce photos.
However I can vouch for both sources that I have quoted, having worked for both an automotive parts supplier to the Ellemsmere Port plant, and a large Vauxhall dealership.
These are quoted as happening during the productioon of the Mk2 Astra, app 20 years ago. Mobile phone cameras and similar did not exist then. It is likely that the only photos taken would have been on behalf of the company, and I'm sure they would not have wanted them posted in the public domain.
As far as punch cars computer systems are concerned, I saw no evidence of these when I visited the Elemsmere Port plant on behalf of the components supplier in 1987. IIRC they had an early but fully integrated production control system in operation
Mercedes C240 ,Starting problems.When starting the engine turns for a long time sounding like a carb engine with the choke not working.If you stop engine then start again its ok,but leave for an hour or so the engine takes a long time to start.Its like this 8 out of ten times of starting. It has been to a bosch fuel injection specialist and he says its not electrical as the diagnostic equipment does not show up a fault.The general consensus of opinion seems to be fuel pump.Please can I have your ideas please before I give this particular merc` a Viking funeral.
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Hi Stephen i presume your car is petrol not diesel Thanks, Steve.
From most motoring forums (here, parkers etc.), anyone will probably conclude that manufacturers like Citroen, Renault, Alfa Romeo etc. usually make unreliable cars.
I wonder if these companies really make bad cars!
If they had such a bad reputation, shouldn't everyone ditched them and by now they should have closed their business?
A chap on my road works in a car dealership (Suzuki & Fiat). He says only because of Fiat their service department is alive because they seldom get Suzukis for repair and everyday loads of Fiat comes with problems. I asked him why do people buy Fiat then. He surprised me saying because some people like the "look" of Fiat cars and some other simply like the fact they are Italian (to be honest, I myself find Fiat interiors are always better than equivalent Suzuki model - but I don't think interior is everything)
Are the common public too stupid or we, the so called motoring buffs, actually live in a world of utopia?
Thoughts please....
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My point was it is only more recently that you've seen mass market advertising for jap makes ie regular spreads in the newspapers etc.
Unfortunately the Auris looks like such a dull car that it probably needs bucket loads of promotion to get it shifted.
On the way to work this morning there was a sudden loss to power as the engine management light came on. I have attributed this to the "limp home mode" but dont know the cause of the problem.
Does anyone know of anything I can try before resorting to having saab run a diagnostic check?
My car is the 2.2 diesel from 2000.
Cheers
Subject line tweak Read more
There are quite literally thousands of possible causes of loss-of-power and the MIL light on.
Everything from a blown engine to blown brake light bulbs.
Finding out what has upset the ECU is the necessary first step.
No penalty for Hamilton. Good news for the sport in my opinion. Read more
Not a premature locking, moved 24 posts into the latest volume so that the ongoing discussion keeps in context and that out readers on dial up don't have to wait for ever.
Chaps
I would be grateful for some advice please.
We have a 2006 BMW 1 series and we have noticed over the last few days that the front suspensions squeak when driving over speed humps. This is not noticeable under normal driving conditions and has not affected the handling of the car. The suspensions are on 'sport' settings thus, lowered and firmer.
Is this something to worry about or take back to the dealership and ask them to look into. Obviously the car is still under warranty but I wonder whether they will blame any problems on normal 'wear and tear'!
Much appreciated.
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Sometimes Front (or rear) anti roll bar bushes can squeak when submitted to excessive or slightly abnormal travel as they compress against the metal bar.
Some manufacturers (Toyota) seem to treat the inside of the rubber bushes with some sort of anti friction coating - maybe to stop this?
Perhaps treating them with a non rubber destroying anti friction additive? (Silicone spray?)
may help.
OR they maybe worn and the squeaking will develop into a light knock....
My friends Lanos 1.6 T reg exhibited a loud squealing noise when she drove it, which finally ended with a 'clunk' & then she felt the car lost power & also the ABS light came on. The RAC man said it was a problem with the brakes, so I checked & yes it needed new discs & pads. I did the job, brakes & power fine but the ABS light is still on. I also noticed that the ABS sensors on the hubs looked like they were set right in, so much so that they had worn the sensor teeth on the CV joint. Can I at least reset the ABS light & how? and what can I do about the sensors & the teeth on the CV?
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I seem to recollect that the sensor cost about £25 (inc P&P)
Browse
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I did hear a snippet from the guy in charge on the radio who said that they were going to "review operating procedures" in light of the chaos caused. Apparently, had spraying it with water not worked, the next idea was to have snipers shoot the cylinders and blow them up. If you need somebody who can shoot straight Colchester is probably a good place to look.
It certainly caused an impressive amount of chaos - there were villages 20 miles away who only normally see 5 cars a day gridlocked with hundreds. I doubt there was a road or junction in Essex and a good part of Suffolk not noticing extra traffic.