January 2008
Wht aren't mains sockets fitted as standard to cars? The cost would not be great for relatively low power outlets, and they're very useful to have. Read more
Digging through the old videos the other day I found our wedding video from 1974 .
The great train robbers only got 25 years....
I have now transferred it onto DVD - it was originally on cine film.
SWMBO and her dad got to the church in a gleaming gold hired Ford Zephyr 6 and the rest of the outlaws were in a Vauxhall Cresta....
It got me thinking -what cars did you or yours hire at your wedding
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...........and some of us don't !
Changed the Clio's spark plugs yesterday, before removing the old ones I brushed and hoover'd the dirt etc from around the base of the plugs.
How many garages do the same to stop grit falling into the cylinders?
There must be other similar circumstances where a little extra attention can make a difference. Read more
Dirt around the bases of the spark plugs?
Some people just don't care...
Insurers have a policy to price anyone they see as a high risk off the road. Mainly that's young drivers. That's just the way it works, high risk=high premium.
Unless you would prefer that we all pay a premium of £800 regardless of what car, age etc
Insurers are free to quote any premium they like. You have a choice and can go elsewhere.
I need a part that rover has stopped making !
I have just found out that both pipes/hoses that lead from transmission to gearbox radiator is damaged . Trouble is that rover has stopped making them . Does anyone know where I can get these parts new . I live in Surrey .
Thanks
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I have some from a 216 SOHC GSi, if you haven't found any yet.
I was wondering if any of you guys may be able to help me diagnose a problem I have with my daily runner.
I?ve got an 1997 citroen zx 1.4 petrol. Recently Its been getting a bit hot ? and I noticed the water level was a bit low so I topped this up with anti freeze/water.
However ? since this its still been getting hot. Some of the symptoms include:
When out of traffic and cruising along ? the temperature needle is above the normal operating temperature and seems to fluctuate getting quite uncomfortably hot before returning to a cooler temp. This seems to happen randomly out of traffic.
The interior fan seems to blow cool air regardless of the above - even when on the hottest setting.
Could it be a faulty thermostat?
Air lock perhaps?
Up until I?ve noticed these problems Its been fault free ? I don?t think this is electrical.
I am going to change the water and oil this weekend ? I was also wondering if it?s imperative you vacuum fill the system on these to prevent air pockets as the Haynes manual describes using an empty bottle with an ?O? Ring to vacuum fill the radiator while the engine is running?
Thanks!
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Hi pb63,
I have been having similar problems with my 1993 Citroen ZX recently and have been diagnosing since, but I have found a few things which have helped greatly. Firstly, let me start with my symptoms and what I have done so far....
December
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Car overheating when idling, quite rapidly. Generating tonnes of heat inside - toasty warm
Solution
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(Well this seemed to work) I opened the bonnet only to find that the air intake to be detached from the engine (probably because of a rogue speed hump) - I replaced it and that seemed to work....
January
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Car vastly overheating. When at low speeds would overheat very, very quickly, especially idle, when at high speeds engine would run cool.
No heating inside of the car unless travelling at high speed - and even then, not that hot.
Solution
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I changed the oil, oil filter, air filter, and flushed the radiator. I then added Rad Flush to the radiator and ran it for 2 weeks (with a little anti-freeze too)
This seemed to resolve the extreme temps, but it was still running a little higher than expected...
Feb
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Car still seemingly overheating - but not vastly so (as compared to what's normal), heaters inside the car are a little more warm, but not hugely warm.
Solution
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We removed the thermostat, and now the engine runs super, super cool, no matter what. There's not a lot of heat inside the car because of this though
...
This is still an ongoing saga, though, it's quite a learning experience for myself :-) To clarify though, this is what you should try.
1. Flush your radiator, add water and rad flush, run it for a day (50 miles) on it. Flush again and refill, see if there's a difference
2. Re-flush the radiator and hopefully you notice a little more water coming out of the radaitor this time. Flush a couple of more times and then finally re-fill and see the results.
3. Replace the Thermostat - or simply remove it if you don't care much about the heating inside
4. There could be issues with the water pump, get a garage to test whether it's working correctly.
5. If all else fails there still could be numerous other reasons for your symptoms occurring, but garages will say that it's a Cylinder Head Gasket problem - check your oil filler cap for any 'white gunk' if there's lots there, it could indicate a head gasket issue, if only a tiny bit, wipe off and re-test after 2 weeks of travel on it.
For refilling your radiator, just refill it as usual and then to remove any airlocks or any excess air, before you start the engine in the morning, release the radiator cap, it'll expel any excess air - do it for 5-6 days, and the system should be clear.
Hope this helps!
Hi - I'm looking at buying a Renault Clio and have seen two locally - though both have issues and I'd be interested in hearing peoples thoughts...
Car1: 2001 RENAULT Clio RSi 1.6 16v (£1600)
It's apparently in perfect mechanical condition, but has done 109K miles. Would anyone reccommend against a car of this milage? Apparently the timing belt was recently changed.
Car2: 1999 S Reg RENAULT Clio 1.2 RT (£1500)
This car (89K miles) is also mechanically sound, but has significant scratches on the driver side wing and door. Would it be expensive to remove the scratches?
Both cars look great and have the mod cons I'm looking for (power steering/windows/locks & Alloys) but I wonder which would be the best to go for? High Milage or scratched paintwork?
Thanks for your time...
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As a very general rule, if someone cannot be bothered to fix scratches, they are probably not bothered to fix minor mechanical niggles either. Although any car with these mileages will need careful inspection.
Or more precisely being driven -
En-route from Schiphol to city centre hotel last week our (company contract) taxi was driving under the gantries about 20 kph over the posted (variable) signed limit (80kpH).
I was just asking the driver ?don?t you have speed cameras over here? when a saloon cut in front of us and a little dot matrix board popped up with ?volgie politie? (or something close to that ? follow police).
We were escorted to lay-by, driver questioned and then told to take us to the hotel and come back to the police station.
In front of us in the lay-by was another taxi/police check in progress.
He drove us again later in the week and said he had been given an 800 Euro fine ? 150 for speeding and 650 for not correctly completing his timesheet. Apparently they have to write down the time immediately they pick up a passenger to monitor their driving hours.
Two things struck me:
Traffic Police and enforcement are still a priority in Holland (unlike the UK)
That?s a hell of a fine! That will take plenty of working off.
Dan
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Can't agree.
It will be just like here - getting pulled will be so rare it's worth taking the risk in speeding, if the chances of being pulled were higher the taxi driver wouldn't speed and his paperwork would be in order.
BTW I saw a traffic cop pulling somone on the M62 at 10.45pm last night.
My son is selling his 2004 Punto 1.2 Active privately, and it is just coming up to its 36,000 mile service, but it has not been done.
I realise that there is no right or wrong answer, but to all of you "private buyers" would a car that is serviced appeal to you a lot more than a car that hadn't been serviced, so much so as to make the difference of coming to see it? I realise that I can negotiate a price drop of £120.00 or so for the service, but would it be good value for money getting it done, or probably a waste of money in your opinion?
The other reason that I am dithering about getting it done is just in case it doesn't sell and we end up going down the e-bay route or even auction. My son is a bit strapped for cash and £120 wasted is a significant amount for him to lose. Read more
"Just serviced" looks good in the ad and if it's a properly documented jobbie with a checklist and invoice, is reassuring for the buyer.
That said, I sold our old Polo which was due a cambelt in 1500 miles, and the buyer haggled a fair price (£200 IIRC) off for his trouble. He said he'd prefer to save the cash, have it done himself and know it was done right than trust a possibly forged invoice or dealer stamp. He has a point, IMHO.
I guess it depends on the type of buyer interested at the time.
Cheers
DP
im gona try and get halfrods trade card later in the week
just wondering if any other owners would chime in on whats heavily discounted and whats not
im not a big halfords fan , but id shop there if i can get a bargain lol Read more
Do they flog your personal details on though?
and I will never buy another battery from them after the last experience of failure and refusing to replace inside warranty
Browse
Sorry? you want a Gaggia coffee machine in the car as well? Frothing the latte tends to steam up the windows.