January 2008
Hi all,
Was reading Auto Express today and came across a very intersting article in regards to Budget tyres. To cut a long story short, the EU want to ban them and make us use the "preferred manufactors premuim brands". They want to try and bring it into force by 2012 with you failing your MOT if you've not got a set of "Michelin's/Goodyears" etc on your car. Something to do with CO2 emissions and reducing them. The full article is on page 16 of this weeks magazine, not sure if it's online. Sorry if this has already been discussed....
Lee Read more
Folks
I'm not expecting any detailed assistance here, just some words of wisdom and/or encouragement. I'm not great with older cars, but my son's 7 year old 1.0 Corsa broke down on the M25 last night and had to be towed. Apparently there was a high pitched whine from the engine, some black smoke came out the back, the engine warning light came on, and it stopped. It now turns over but won't start.
I've booked it into a garage on Monday, but do these symptoms lead to any obvious conclusions (that me being mechanically minded can't see)? I'm just fretting about whether it might cost my son (or me) an arm and a leg....
Thanks for any words of advice!
Steve Read more
Hi there
I think it's a bit worse.....under the telephone directions from a friendly (but geographically remote) mechanic, we seem to have established that a likely cause is that the radiator was empty of water, the car overheated and the engine siezed. I'm hoping that's not the case, but I understand from my son that shortly before the car died, the heating stopped. He doesn't know if the temperature gauge went through the roof.....
So I might be on the look out for a reconditioned 1.0L Corsa engine. Any ideas?!!
Hello chaps I have a 1990 (Pre Bannana manifold) 2.5 Di transit engine for sale. someone has told me that this is not an easy swap for the Bannana manifold type engine & takes a lot of work. I know the older engine that I have produces less power but i was under the impression that it was a straight swap. Could someone please enlighten me
Thanks MM Read more
Don't quote me on this, (had a pint or so) but I think that the banana manifold equipped engine also had changes to the injector pump. This included an immobiliser linked to the ignition key.
just had the following email from a colleague, he's narrowed his search to this list of 4 cars:
Goal ? to last 3-4 years ? cheap to run ? little repair bills ? will not be looked after apart from yearly service and MOT
HONDA Civic Aerodeck 1.6i VTEC SE Petrol, 2000 X Reg, 64,812 miles FSH £2,995
TOYOTA Avensis 1.8 VVTi GS Petrol, 2002 02 Reg , 58,703 miles FSH £3,495
VAUXHALL Astra 1.6i Club Petrol, 2002 02 Reg , 75,000 miles £2,995
VAUXHALL VECTRA 1.8 LS Petrol, 2000 X Reg 55413 Miles £2495
which should he go for? Read more
He's going for the Avensis - many thanks for all your comments and advice.
Hi there
I was wondering if anyone had a guide on how to change the plugs on an xtype v6 this particular car has had an lpg conversion so needs a plug change possibly before the 75,000 mile service.
The car does not feel as smooth as it used to on idle there has been no loss of performance.
Kush Read more
Hello all,
My needle petrol gauge on my 2004 318i touring goes up when petrol is put in but is not falling correctly as the fuel is used. A minor problem but irritating.
Any suggestions. Thanks Read more
Had quite a close shave last night. Coming up to a mini roundabout near my house, nothing coming from opposite carriageway, nothing from left (always careful on this one as a lot of people don't realise is a roundabout). Was just entering it when an Impreza WRX came flying out from the right. Road is covered by hedgerows, so is blind.
Impreza stopped, and I carried on. No horn waving or gesticulating, but guess Impreza man may have been a bit sheepish as he lives in the road, and was coming the wrong way out of a one way road, and was in the middle of the 2 one way signs pointing against his direction of travel.
Has made me think though, if we had come together, who would have been in the wrong.
Incidentally, told my wife about this, as was in her car taking her mum home, and she said has seen him doing this quite a few times. Read more
Already know Council will do nothing- as view lousy markings round us as traffic calming (although in the real world causes more problems and road rage).
Have contacted them previously about improved signage and double yellows, but they're not interested.
Instead T junctions are all bricked, and the end of the joining road denoted by darker coloured bricks. Busy roads are turned to single carriageway by cars parked on the side, often causing a slalom effect, and as the corners are blind (and reduced to single carriageway) creates bottle necks and jams.
In the instance above, guess all this did save me as drive very cautiously round the estate as just don't know who or what is going to pull out on you next.
I've searched but not found the answer to this prob'.
I've a 1.9TD '94 plate with 150k ish on the clock. The tacho has begun to operate intermittently. It may be effected by temperature as it seemed to be working better during the cold snap a month or so ago. It also can be made to operate if the engine revs quite high.
Ive removed the tacho to see if there's anything obvious wrong there and found nowt. I've read about problems with the TDC/Crank angle sensor and have been told that if that was faulty the engine would misfire. Tho' I can't see from the wiring diagram in my Haynes that it's actually connected to the EMS and there's no mention of it in the fuel/ emission control part of the book either.
So, anyone have any ideas? If it was the sensor can I test it? It seems that a new one can be bought for less than twenty quid so it's almost worth just trying it. Now if I can just find the bloomin' thing!
Any help appreciated, thanks.
Read more
It could be bad connections on the plug.
I'm not going to name the garage for fear of being told off but has anyone here used the vw specialist in cannock on Conduit Road. Are they Honest garage and do the work better than a main dealer (though that won't be hard)
Simon Read more
Have used Midland VW for about 6 services now, won't go anywhere else to have my Passat TDi looked after. Honest people, honest prices and good solid advice. Highly recommended.....oh the cafe a couple of doors down does a stonking bacon sarnie!!
No personal connection, just a very satisfied customer.
Cheers
ok ive just been messeing around fitting a replacment carb...on the fuel return the rubber hose joins onto a hard plastic pipe that returns to the tank, i had a slight leak there despite using new proper vag rubber fuel pipe and a new jubilee
i think its cured now...but if not is there a gasket sealer type thing that can be used to aid the seal on low /no presure fittings , as i cant see no other way to fix it if it leaks again Read more
Had a pair of exactly those Knipex ones for over 20 years - wouldn't be without 'em.
Their ability to clamp - or cut - in the most awkward places is brilliant.
Browse
I cant believe there is any grain of truth in this report. It would effectively be saying its ok to drive round on a set of 10 year old cracked and perished Michelins, but not brand spanking new budget brands..ridiculous!!
If it is true, I cynically suspect another EU ploy to force older cars off the road (few people want to spend more on tyres than the car is worth)