January 2008
Greetings to all, hope you had a great newyear. I wonder if anyone can help me, I know there is a max fuel screw inside the injector pump on my engine (18 70ps with lucas pump) but I need to knoe where the max speed screw is on the pump. The Haynes manual mentions it but doesn't show any pictures or mention the location. Many thanks Read more
Loved my 24000miles in old model 1.9 Fabia Ambiente- hate the hard ride of the new one.
Anyone else think the ride is uncomfortable? Factory tell me 15" wheels and 50 section tyres (old one had 14" and 60 section- much more compliant), due to bigger front discs -- stiffer suspension because car is slightly higher. Seems to me they have spoiled it to suit drivers who want"handling", whereas many Skoda drivers were older (don't forget we now have the money), and just want comfort, economy and reliability.
Rcflyer
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No-because the local Dealer can't offer me a road test in anything other than an up-spec'ed three door petrol! (with massive alloys-I might add!) also, to pull my caravan-weighs around 1000kg- Idon't think the diesel available would offer enough torque. I was OK with the 105 hp VW 1.9, but wouldn't want any less. Having the same trouble finding an Astra 5-door 1.9diesel to drive- this is reported to have a comfortable ride, but such opinions are very subjective.
But thanks for the suggestion.
Above vehicle went into "limp-home" mode after Christmas on the motorway (fun!) and, after the usual 'turn engine off and again a few times' try to reset it it refused to reset.
Took it to the "local" SAAB dealer who diagnosed 2 known error codes and 4 unknown (how could that be???) they suggested they replace the EGR sensor (I think) and, if that didn't work, I'd be looking at a bill of £3000 to replace other things (they had done two last year with similar problems). Mind you, this is diagnosed without taking anything off the motor to actually have a look! Anyway, not worth spending £3000 on a 51 plate so I took it to an authorised independent (1/2 hour later and manifold off, it looks like the problem is carbon build up in the manifold, on the sensors and everything else caused by cheap diesel used by previous owners (I normally only use Shell or Texaco).
Long story short, although this is not a guaranteed fix, they are cleaning out all the top bits (manifold etc.), new EGR sensor and something else (????) for £900 (labour included) using genuine Saab (GM?) parts. Not a guaranteed fix but, looking at the amount of carbon in the system it sounds like a good bet to me.
Has anyone else got any suggestions as to what else they could look for as this sounds like more than the Saab main dealer was going to do for a third the price?
Cheers, John
p.s. Avoid supermarket fuel is the moral! Read more
Hi Screwloose,
There were two known error codes and four unknown - sorry, the SAAB guy didn't tell me which they were - I should have been more attentive - I know one related to the EGR sensor. As Dick Cheney siad "there are things we know we know....."
The "top bits" were the top of the manifold after it was taken off (four bolts which unscrew -very heavily carboned - about a saucer full), the sensor reading off the manifold (the plug in one) and also the bottom of the manifold and all the butterfly? valves and sensors. The turbo didn't come off but it was still working very well until the system shut down. I imagine there is some clogging there but....
Sorry if this is a bit vague.
Hi,
I am looking at purchasing a 2001 'Y' or '51' Plate Mark III Mondeo with a Diesel Engine. Is the engine in this age of Mondeo a TDCi engine, as according to various sites, Ford introduced the TDCi engine with the Mark III Mondeo in 2000. However, I have read on other sites that the TDCi engine wasn't released until 2002 and on some used car sites, the 2001 models are mostly advertised as being 2.0 TD. The reason I ask is that I have heard the TDCi engine is much better than the engine it replaced, so I want to ensure I get one with a TDCi engine.
Thanks for your help/advice. Read more
I'm having the timing belt & water pump changed on Monday
£250. So not expensive to maintain either!
Not expensive to maintain? My TDCi has done 125k with no belt etc to change where as your Golf would have had at least one belt change already.
Is the steering wheel with us for the foreseeable future? Many things on cars have succumbed to the march of technology, but that wheel thingie still seems a most ergonomic way of transferring the driver's intentions to the steered wheels.
Is it just because 'that's the way it's (almost) always been'? Would people have faith in a 'steer by wire' approach which did not have a conventional-looking wheel as its input device? Read more
After my little diversion into thought control ( and I am being serious), I cannot believe that I didn't also suggest the alternatives of either voice control, or 'look and go'.
Both technically possible even now, but if Ford installed in a Mondeo Ghia (already has voice control of accessories) it might be some fun!
Hello,my name is Paul,i'm the owner of a Mk3 golf with a central locking problem.Every time i attempt to lock the car from the drivers door,it locks then unlocks itself. The only way to secure the car is to lock it whilst sat inside, then climb out of the front passenger door.
Is this a common fault and does anyone knows anything about, it's driving me bonkers.
This is the first time i've had this type of problem on the VW central locking, they have always been reliable in the past.
regards,
Paul
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I had problems on my Mk III Golf back in 1999. It needed a new passenger side lock from new. When you locked using the "lock switch" inside the button went down but if you pulled the door handle from the outside it would still open.
Also if you only locked but not deadlocked the car the door could also still be opened. When deadlocked the door bolt was pulled down and was locked.
Very similar then happened on my Passat in 2000. I think it was a common fault. Does this sound like what's happening to yours?
I'm very tempted by another Jaguar XJ40, having owned one previously.
Points in favour:
Wonderfully 'wafting' suspension
Excellent auto gearbox (and lever!)
Cosseting cosy cabin
Real wood trim
Reasonable fuel economy (with restraint)
Points against:
Rusty bits
VFD dashboard display pre-'90 facelift
Suspension bush wear
Irritating indicator stalk
A bit 'bijou' inside relative to external size
Metric rims on early models
Not as attractive as Series 3, but better as 4-light 'XJ6' rather than 'Sovereign'
More rusty bits
Budget is about £800.
Also rather tempted by the BMW 7 series (E32 shape), but I have no experience of this whatsoever.
Decisions, decisions..... Read more
Aprilia - I also have a '93-vintage 280E which is indeed a fine car, but it feels somewhat 'sterile' compared with the Jaguar. Hard to describe what I mean, really.
I don't mind doing repairs myself - it's quite therapeutic when it's not your day job! I had the pleasure of rebuilding the front suspension and fixing the aircon on my XJ40 - and I have had to replace the disintegrating engine wiring loom on the W124 (made my own!).
They're all old cars now, so parts can be obtained very cheaply on Ebay....
I have been told that Ebay is a great place to pick up a bargain. But are there any other places ?
I recently found an online auction that sells cars that have been seized by the police . are they any pros and cons about buying from them . They seem to be very cheap .
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Been driving daughter's 95 Corsa lately with nothing to listen to but my moaning at having no power steering!
The radio is not working because the battery went flat. I've got the code and the instructions emailed to me by her but all I get is SAFE. It doesn't move on the the next stage. So is anything missing from the following instructions?
1. Switch on ignition
2. Switch on the radio. The display shows 'SAFE' - after 3 seconds it
shows '10_ _ _ _'.
3. Enter the code number 2468 (made up) with preset buttons 1, 2, 3, 4.
ie
Preset button 1 - press 2 time
Preset button 2 - press 4 times
Preset button 3 - press 6 times
Preset button 4 - press 8 times
Press AS button until a bleep is heard and the radio starts operating.
If a wrong code number has been entered the display will show 'SAFE'
and, after the waiting time '9 _ _ _ _'. the correct code should now
be entered.
I've run the car for hours but SAFE remains on the screen. Any ideas?
Jim
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if all you get is safe then the radio is locked and you will not be able to turn in on without a trip to a radio specialist, i am assuming that you have the radio turned on in safe mode with the ign on, this has to be kept on untill the number and dashes appear you obviosly know that you only get ten go's then its a total lock out, so assuming that you have not put the number in wrong ten times then you have some lives left
Browse
From what I have observed from driving this car for over 2 months is that is never smokes, it idles perfectly, and it sounds like a diesel should. When driving in normal conditions there is a point in the acceleration when it feels as if it's holding back, increasing the accelerator just changes the note of the engine, if I back off the pedal a bit it will start to pick up. All this happens at around a quater to half throttle.