January 2008
Afternoon,
Anyone got any idea what thickness steel to use for welding up a couple of small rust holes at the top of my front wheel arches?
My mate's got a welder and knows how to use it, but just want to make sure I buy the right steel.
Someone suggested 0.6mm or 0.8mm ... sound right???
Thanks!
Maceman Read more
At lunchtime today there was a minor scrape between two cars on the A31 westbound immediately after the Ringwood exit. Sadly a lorry then crashed into the cars and a minor incident became major, involving at least one more car, with firemen needing cutting gear, the air ambulance and at least two other ambulances.
What makes me despair of the human race is that cars directed off the road were stopping on the slip road, people getting out ...... wait for it ..... to take pictures on their phones.
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Trapped lady airlifted to Southampton General with head injuries, others walking wounded. Amazing considering how it looked.
My friend has the new VW Jetta with DSG gearbox and 170PS TSI engine. He is complaining of axle tramp although I have not been in the car with him so I cannot know when or where this is occurring.
Would anyone think that this is a function of having a too heavy right foot or something more intrinsically wrong with, say, the automatic gearbox set-up?
He is going back to the dealers on Thursday to have someone look into this, along with a few other niggles that have arisen since he took delivery late last year.
Left in Discussion for now - following a subject line makeover. Read more
My mk2 Cavalier SRI would do it sometimes and it felt truly horrible. Like someone rapidly thumping the floor of the car with a big hammer.
Over exuberance (18 yrs old) was the problem. That said, it was the easiest car to wheelspin that I've ever owned. No wonder the twockers loved them.
In contrast to increasing sales in most countries the BBC reports fall sales in Japan.
Automobile sales in Japan fell last year to a 35-year low as a shrinking population and limited wage growth hurt demand, an industry group said.
Figures from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association showed sales of cars, trucks and buses down 7.6% from the previous year at 3.4 million.
Daihatsu was the worst off with sales slumping almost 50%, followed by Nissan whose sales fell 9.7%.
Overall Toyota sales fell 6% though sales of its Lexus marque rose.
The figures exclude 660cc minivehicles.
Is this an omen for UK sales? Read more
No it won't happen for the reasons it has happened in Japan. We haven't got a shrinking population. Far from it!
Last year we had rising car and van sales, both at an all time high, nowhere near a 35-year low!
when I purchased my Jeep Grand Cherokee ( Wplate 00 3.1td ltd quoting 60k on clock ) end of May 07 Parkers had Private good price at £7520, now its ( just over 7ms later) its down to £5455, I know 4X4s are out of favour .. but thats hell of a drop over (27%) in just over 1/2 a year
Was one particular month that the bottom fell out ?
do these figures match with other guides?
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When I purchased it I expected to sell after Xmas - thought I might see £6000 now, but if thats not looking likely ...
You pay £30K+ for a nice car and about £1000 to get Bluetooth as an extra & it works with your 2 year old Nokia phone.
12 months later - You pay Nokia £250 for a new model phone with Bluetooth.
And they will not talk to each other.
I know research before replacing the phone might have been a good idea but both support Bluetooth 2.0 - the fact that they do not communicate is infuriating.
Any tips on where to go, who to ask?
BMW & Nokia seem to shrug their shoulders Read more
I have just had a similar problem with an upgrade Samsung and the bluetooth radio it was the radio that was at fault it was remembering the old phone, had to read the intructions a few times to get my head round it but it did work in the end.
Owned a Peugeot many years ago that had sensors on the pads to indicate changing them before the discs became damaged. Ford pay their designers handsomely, so instead of fancy anti glare mirrors and "intelligent" wipers, why can't these boffins design, on all models, a device to warn when the pads are low. Simple technology. The new Focus apparently has a warning for low tyre pressures. More important than brakes then.
I have seen many complaints in other forums of the lack of thought in making it nigh on impossible to undertake basic maintainence, like changing bulbs. As has been pointed out it should be made as easy as possible.
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I tell that to SWMBO but she doesn't understand.......
Following on from my previous thread, a quick question about insurance. Namely - is fully comprehensive worth it on a car that's worth around 2k, or would I be better off getting TPFT? Depending what I buy it could make £100 a year difference, which is not inconsiderable.
And yes, I am just trying to justify buying an Impreza turbo. Read more
Sorry, missed a reply up there!
I'm currently covered TPO for DOC AFAIK. I don't drive the girlfriend's car often, mainly if she fancies a drink or something - it's just a useful backup if I have to.
Alfa romeo 145 recently just conked out for no reason......thought at first it was wet electrics, coil pack etc.
On closer inspection .......looking through the timing cover(right hand side of rocker cover, sitting in drivers seat)...I can see 2 pulleys whick I presume are belt pulleys......there is no belt to be seen.....am almost 99% sure timing belt has snapped but could some of you more techy gents please advise?
Many Thanks. Read more
A fiat punto and a 145 are virtually the same cars the only real difference being the twin spark engine.If the car otherwise is in good condition then they are pretty easy to repair even if it needs a engine rebuild and you will pick a second hand motor up very easily especially if you are in mainland europe at one of the massive recycling centres.
Hi all,
What it says on the subject line really. I've done 100 miles since filling up, the gauge reads about 3/4 a tank, but the fuel light is on. My first thought was it is a warning about something but I see nothing in the manual.
It's a 1993 L reg Graduate with a 1.1 petrol engine and the really minimal dashboard (temp light not gauge)
Anyone experienced this? Ideas?
Thanks
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Thanks for the response. I thought it must have some kind of other meaning if it came on when the tank was full but it doesn't seem that way. Surprisingly, on this old model, the light is triggered by a switch in the sender unit that is separate from the sender for the gauge. What a strange design! So I'm assuming the problem is in the sender. I will be taking the dash off at some point to address a fault with the speakers so I'll check for shorts or other suspicious circumstances when I do that.
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Generally speaking; if the holes are within 12" of a suspension or brake mount, then that fails.
That sounds like the inner wing, so ask for 20 gauge, or even 18 if you're good with a hammer.