November 2007
This morning I witnessed a road rage incident. A car turned onto the A36 in the path of a motorcycle that was travelling very, very fast. Without going into unneccesasary details, I'll just say that the junction in question is such that the road might well have appeared clear when the car pulled out - I guess the bike was doing at least 85-90 mph. Anyway the bike swerved out and shot past the car as it accelerated on the main road, after which the bike cut in front of the car and did an emergency stop, forcing the car to a standstill on th busy A36. Then the bike (a high-powered one with panniers and rider all in black, like a paparazzi) moved off and drove at about 10 mph, swerving from side to side on the carriageway to prevent the car overtaking. He then stopped again, then did like a drag start, accelerating hard until he disappeared at well over the limit.
A total nutcase, I'd say!
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I have a 2002 406 HDI...
The climate control constantly "hunts" - you set it to say 23 deg C, it will then heat up, right thru 23 deg C to very hot - then it seems to realise and cool right down well below 23... This then continues up and down throughout the journey.
It doesn't make any difference if you select 14deg or 30 deg... it's like the temperature sensor isn't working correctly. I've fitted a second hand replacement to at least see if that's the problem, but it made no difference.
That is assuming i've replaced the correct one (near the rear view mirror, under the plastic trim around the interior light.
Any thoughts? Read more
Can these sensors get dirty ? and if so can they be cleaned? I have the same problem in my 2001 HDI 406.
As mentioned by someone this week in a thread that i cant find ,new legislation regarding cheques.
tinyurl.com/25m4jh
Shouting amended Read more
If you don't use a cheque book with completed stubs how to you keep a
track of what's in your account? >>
Using on line banking to check my balance at any time of the day. Debit card payments are removed from the "available balance" immediately. I have written one cheque this year and one last - both for the same thing.
I have a swb 1994 M Reg Vitara estate (not a soft top) with 92K on the clock. Was given to me by my brother 6 months ago when he traded up to a brand new Vitara and i needed a second car desperatly. It has FSH half of which Suzuki then independents. Every receipt is there. It's mot runs out 06/01/08 and tax end of 2007. No advisory's were issued on it's last mot.
Condition is poor by normal standards, superficial rust almost every where, sills/Arches and at least one nasty blister. One of the rear seats is locked in the folded position which is ireally inconvenient.
Drives fine by Vitara standards and is in daily use with a 20 mile round trip commute.
Two new front tyres will be needed by the MOT i fear.
I don't want the car anymore, and can see it costing me money to get it's mot, at least the tyres and cost of MOT.
Everything works, electric windows/mirrors/heater/stereo etc.
Seems to young to scrap, reckon £200 to get through mot. Should i Ebay it with short mot? If i am honest about it's condition would it fetch much. Do people buy cars with rust as a working vehicle?
Want to replace it with a likely £500 ebay bargain so PX unlikely.
It's about as far removed from a hairdressers Vitara as you will find with its dark blue paintwork, rusty stell rims etc.
Your advice as always welcome
Mark W
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Good point re seat belts. I am sure can demonstate that safety belt is operational independently of if seat is up or down. Would this suffice?
Put it through a car wash tonight, looks better than i imagined it would, in the dark!
looks to good to scrap, might pay for a MOT to find out the worse or not if the case may be.
Seating issue, poor ride and especially handling, not special on mpg either, makes me think i have got to replace it with something more conventional.
Thanks all the advice
Mark W
Hi,
As mentioned in the title I have a 1995, 1299CC, Ford Escort Encore, 5 Door Hatchback.
Its currently got 10/40 semi synthetic in it which I put in last time it was serviced because I had the oil for free, I understand this is the wrong oil!
Now the engine does sound a little bit tappy when running, I have been told this is perfectly normal for the age/type of engine and that its more of an annoyance than it is a problem, I was advised that if I was to put a thicker oil in it will quieten down.
Question is what oil should I use??
Thanks in advance.
Kibit. Read more
That oil is already thicker than the recommended 5W-30, so ignore the advice to put anything thicker in.
Frankly; although Ford would say that it's a bit thick, it's probably the best realistic compromise for a "mature" unit.
With the 1.3 OHV engine, you can't go too far wrong with oil - the later OHC units are nowhere near as tolerant.
Driving along minding my own business when an A3 turns right, across my path. Damage to his car is mostly to the rear NS passenger door, damage to mine is NS front corner, headlamp smashed, NS wing crumpled at front.
My 405 TD estate (190k, slightly scruffy) will be a write off. My insurance is TPFT only. Should I just write to him claiming the replacement value of the car, and leave it at that? He will forward that to his insurers and then they'll deal/negotiate direct.
Apart from telling my insurance co. that it's being written off, what else is there to do?
I'd like to get the car scrapped before the tax runs out on 30 Nov. Can I scrap it before his insurers examine it, or can I just supply photos? As it happens I have off-road storage space, but SWMBO is unamused at rusting heaps littering the view.
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Update - other driver emailed me the claim number and the contact info for Zurich. I called them this am, their rep was very easy to deal with and we agreed I'd put in writing my version and my claim (car value plus time). I had taken pictures of the site, both cars post-crash and drawn a sketch map to show the incident layout. Put it all together on the PC, printed it off, and sent to Zurich.
As it happens I don't want a hire car - I'd only fill it with muddy dogs, muddy kids and hay, so I'd rather not have some hire co. moaning at me in 10 days time that I've incurred a valet charge of £100. I'll walk/use SWMBO's Focus. Since Zurich seemed OK on the phone, I'd prefer to minimise the number of links in the chain and deal direct.
My parents (early 60s) are after a car and are looking at the following:
www.waters.co.uk/used_car_Peugeot_Partner_Combi_Es...m
They are currently driving a 10 year old 806 that they have had for 10 years. Before that it was two 505s. Obviously they are fond of Peugeots.
They no longer need all the seats of 806 but still want load space and a high(ish) driving position. They have been looking at Citroen Berlingos, but this Partner looks like a good deal (Air con is a requirement).
Any advice about buying a demonstrator?
Good price? List price new is £12,987
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Lot of us on here who'll vouch for the Berlingo/Partner as a thoroughly practical vehicle. Personally I dont't like the faux 4x4 image of the Escapade (which I think is the only Partner now sold in the UK) but that's only my view. We do find the extra roof level storage in the Desire trimmed Berlingo incredibly useful - is that included in this car.
If they prefer the Pug badge and have a good relationship with he dealer it may well be a good deal. Worth seeing what the nearest equivalent B would cost though.
Hi Guys, my car keeps stalling. It mainly seems to conk out when you come to a halt (not everytime though) and you sometimes get a jolting when driving as if a loss of power (also not all the time). It's happening more regularly now. I seem to remember having the same problem a few years ago and took it in to a Ford dealer and this cost well over £100. Just called them and they keep files and told me that they replaced the 'Air bypass valve' last time.
From other posts it sounds like it could be the 'Air bypass value'. Has this happened to any of you and do you know how easy it is to replace?
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Could be a problem on the HT side. How old/new are the HT leads as a new set could cure the problem (probably not too expensive for a set on an Escort). Some fuel injector cleaner wont hurt either!
Motorpoint have the following fiesta Zetec 1.25 for sale for £6,699 seems over £1k cheaper than anywhere else (because its pre-registered 07).
Is this a good deal?
www.motorpoint.co.uk/(S(44kzj3550mk4qg55gdwf4p55))/Search/VehicleDetails.aspx?vehicle=153462 Read more
Some "Interesting" comments on this , especially worrying that people don't know the difference between a speed camera and a red light camera.
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1026006_sne...d Read more
Tell me about it Gary.
In the sixties in Marylebone road in a hired Herald, I was coming up the outside lane to a red light. As I approached it turned green, so I accelerated as the traffic in the other two lanes moved off. As I got to the front of the vehicle in the next lane, a coach, it stopped. I was out in front of it by then and couldn't accelerate out of the way of the Triumph 2000 coming across well into the red. He hit the Herald behind the rear wheel arch and spun it 180 degrees - the road was wet - without other harm. He said he had 'just come in off the M1'.
The hire company asked laconically if I needed another car. I didn't. The Herald was dented but drove normally.
However my red light infraction at the Angel a year or two back alarmed no one and endangered nothing except my wallet and licence.
Browse
Where was the OP observing all this from ?