February 2008
I need a new battery for my '58 Minor. The price of a GM battery is very tempting, but I note it's described as 'calcium technology'. I know that calcium/silver batteries are designed for specific modern charging systems. There are no indications of special requirements in the GM parts book for calcium batteries and I get the impression from a bit of surfing that a calcium battery is fine with a normal alternator. I may be over cautious, but can anyone advise if I am I likely to get problems on a car with a dynamo?
JS Read more
In The Times this weekend is an article talking about the progress they are making in London to identify uninsured drivers in operation Reclaim. It appears that not all the stereotypes about who drives without insurance are true. They've been finding a large number of decent cars, including some exotica, that aren't insured.
To be honest, I was astounded at the number of cars they have been impounding: 30-40 cars a day. Supposedly this has all become possible because ordinary police officers are now able to use the check systems, relieving the load on qualified traffic officers.
I wonder whether this is typical of the country as a whole, or whether this is a function of the broader desire to avoid the congestion charge? Apparently claims through the third-party fund are down in the last year, although the figures did look to me like that might be a variation rather than statistically significant: 34,239 in 2007, down from 36,340 in 2006 and 37,693 in 2005. Either way, I can't see this being anything other than a good thing.
I haven't linked directly to the article as I recall this as being against site policy. Read more
Last bit of research I read suggested that 1 in 8 car details were incorrect on MID. There was a stopping and checking thingummy up north and details on the DVLA were also checked. The DVLA database was found to be even more inaccurate. The dvla had the chassis number of one of my cars incorrect as it was queried on the MOT when it first went computerised.
To combat issues with fake address details etc would it not be better if all car ownership registrations had to be done at local post office with copies of ID? The DVLA could still process them but the PO could actually check the person and send off the details. If someone had just moved house then they'd need to provide ID from their old address and some proof that they were living at their new address eg utility bill. They would then have to provide proof of insurance before they would be allowed to register the car at the new one. You could also insist payment was done with a cheque or card to link to a specific bank account rather than allowing cash or postal order payments which aren't traceable. You could also verify with the bank that the old and new address matched up to their records.
The same could also be done for change of address on driving licence details as I think it would be better to have an actual human talk to the person doing the change as you'd then get a much better idea of what was going on. There also should be some special system for frequent movers eg travellers to have their vehicles properly registered and insured rather than just letting them get away with not bothering. If they can afford BMW x5s they can afford to be legit.
Hi, i've just picked up an ex Thames Valley Police Omega and all is pretty much ok apart from the heater. To start i think it needs a new thermostat as the temp needle barely lifts off of cold, but the heater has no heat at all now. I say now, coz when i picked it up it had a bit of warmth coming out, but since i removed the climate control panel to sort out the stereo etc theres absolutely no heat at all, and it was -2 degrees this morning so wasn't fun! Also, i can't get it to blow on the screen, and when you alter the direction of the airflow (ie floor, face level and screen) it doesn't change at all, just seems to be a mix of face level and floor. Now i did a search on here and i read something about resetting the climate control unit. Is this required after its been disconnected?
Second prob. As you'd expect with an ex-police car theres been a bit of butchery to the wiring. All seems ok though, apart from the fact theres no way to turn the traction control off. I have no manuals with the car, but i assume as with all other TC cars, you can turn the darned thing off if you want to. There is a button on the centre console above the electric boot release button that has a little green dot sticker on it and the wires to the switch have all been cut. Anyone know if this is the TC button?
Thanks for your help.
Jonathan Read more
That was exactly the problem!! Gave the multiplugs on the back an extra push and one of them wasn't clicked fully home. Heat was instantly restored! Thanks for your help...
Hi could the fault with the exhaust gas recirculating (valve) be causing the problem I am having? The motor is a VECTRA CD AUTO 2.0 16V. The problem is every now and then. It happened this morning, last time was about 3 days ago.
When I am driving the power drops of and then come straight back on again without stalling, The EMI lights come on but there is no fault with a paper clip test. I have done all the things suggested. But it is still happening. Thanks for any help SID
{Post refomatted. No mention of year - despite 2 sticky messages and a further prompt under the subject header asking for this information TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SUBJECT HEADER! (along with the engine details). So I have used the year ranges from the pull down menu for now}
{ps, this one nearly got deleted. Lucky for you that you caught me in a generous mood} Read more
Our 1.8 auto's the same. Sometimes it gets no worse & goes off again, sometimes it stalls (dangerous). I replaced the camshaft sensor (email me for tips if you do this) which helped but didn't cure it. Previous respondents said try the crankshaft sensor, I haven't tried that yet. We had a Cavalier which had the ECU light on constantly for months to no ill effect.
I have got climate control on my Passat although the temperature goes down to low on the display its still pushing out hot air !!!!!
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>>>>Have the codes read by a VAG COM or dealer, it's probably a flap solenoid failure.
I would agree with this.
My 04 Reg Company Passat was recently diagnosed with this though I hadnt actually noticed it to be honest ~ they just noticed it during a full service (10/10 to the dealer, Blade, Gloucester)
I know that it was over £300 to replace inc labour I guess. The car will be going back to lease co soon as it has done over 100 000 miles so i will likely never be done.
Hi all,
I am currently trying to fix my astra. I have found that the camshaft rockers have broken as discussed in previous posts. Whilst looking for what caused this, I have found the Woodruff key on the crankshaft pulley has completely worn away. Also the groove in the crankshaft has also been slightly rounded off. This is obviously what caused the timing to go.
I was wondering if the only solution is to replace the camshaft/pulley? I'm guessing this would be very pricey at a garage. I would be keen to do it myself although I don't have an engine crane at present.
Any advice would be much appreciated,
cheers,
Nick. Read more
Hi all,
I would just like to thank all you guys for the advice. I have got it running again. I found a spare cylinder head at a scrapyard (£30) and took all the rocker arms and spare crankshaft sprocket from the engine.
All four exhaust valves were bent on my car so I bought a set from ebay for £13. Dealer was charging £57 per valve! I kept the 4 inlet rocker arms but replaced the others from the spare cylinder head. Had to get new bolts/gasket/belt.
For the sprocket, I used the loctite 271 as advised on this forum. The battery was flat upon restarting but after a push start, it started first time! much to my amazement. It's been running ever since...touch wood. Updated my AA membership to!
Last year when I wanted a cheapo £20 oil & filter change I called a local branch (1) of a well known chain offering this service. "Nah! mate, the pump we use for the oil's broken. Nah - dunno when it's gonna be fixed."
I found a second branch (2) who reluctantly insisted I be booked-in for a Tue/Wed/Thu morning only. Did that and got my oil and filter done. Cost £21 and good old gravity used to drain-off the old oil.
This year, branch (1) says: "Nah! mate, the pump we use for the oil's broken. Nah - dunno when it's gonna be fixed." After a year!
Branch (2) says: " Nah! we've run out of oil - it might be in stock next week or the week after"
I popped into Kwik-Fit: "We used to do them, but not now - you need a proper service technician and he has to look all over the car for a couple of hours. Don't know when we can fit you in."
OK, Kwik-Fit were pretty much straight about it. I know it doesn't make any money for the first company but why offer it and annoy people when they decline to do it.
If I had the energy I'd contact Trading Standards about the firm not supplying what's advertised. But, I need all the energy to crawl under the 306 1.9XUD this week.
Any oil recommendations? Read more
It may just be a London thing.
Maybe the companies can't offer different price bands dependent on region. So, where property values and wage rates are lower they might just break even at slack times. In London, £20 -£25 probably doesn't work at all.
Afternoon all. Wonder if anyone can help. It may seem a silly question, but if you don't know, you don't know.....
If I was to buy and have such a thing installed, eg a kit from parrot or motorola that picks up my mobile's bluetooth. Does the radio always have to be on for it to receive a message from my mobile and play it through the car's speakers ? Read more
Thanks to all, that's exactly what I needed to know.
rgds
Mum in law has decided she wants to buy a car and very much likes the Ford Focus. I have done some digging (incl. HJ's renowned the CBCB) and found the reports to be generally very good but has anyone here got any additional thoughts on spec, target price, things to watch out for etc. She's looking at £7-8k max, manual, 1.4 or 1.6, 5 door. The car will won't be doing much mileage - mainly around town and the occasional day trip with us and the grandkids. Are there any servicing/maintenance or other issues she should be aware of?
Cheers! Read more
Just wondering, what's the most fuel anyone has been able to put into a Focus fuel tank without their car actually cutting out ?
Similarly if it cut out how much fuel was it possible to put into the tank to fill it ?
Today on my way to work I spotted a nude male motorist. At least I assume he was nude, as he certainly wasn't wearing anything on top, and he seemed a bit anxious. He was in his late 30's by the look of him. A perfectly ordinary looking chap - except for the lack of clothes that is.
I'd got held up in a traffic queue at some roadworks. He was in front of me, driving a red hatchback. His driving seemed erratic, getting very close to the kerb. My colleague who was sitting next to me suggested he was about to make a U-turn to get out of the queue.
He suddenly did a U-turn, and as he turned past us, I noticed he was very flustered and anxious and he definitely wasn't wearing anything that we could see apart from a pair of glasses. I imagine he didn't want to be caught in the queue in-case people spotted he was naked. Or maybe he'd just realised he'd forgotten to put on any clothes that morning...
Then on the motorway I spotted a matrix sign warning of 'Fug'. A good start to a very surreal day!
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Perhaps he'd had a clothes call...:-)
Browse
I am keen to keep this car original. I bought it in 1966 and rebuilt it from 1969-1986. We won the concours in that year and I have been judging the competition for some years now at the yearly international at malvern.
I have a collection of Indian made units which are no good and now use a 1962 unit from a land rover. I have also purchased 5 other old units so that when I can find someone to overhaul them I will have a good one on the car, one in the boot, and one or more in the garage. These will all be proper Lucas units made before the Green boxes came in.
I drove the car every day for 3 years and never had a problem with the regulator or cut-out. Now it only comes out for 2000 miles per year in the sun, I am having more problems than ever before.
I know the answer and do not have the time. It will be my daily driver when i retire, soon hopefully.
Thank you for the help.