March 2008
I have a VW Golf GTi 2002reg aprox 58000 miles and had cam belt changed. The car is regularly serviced but it has recently taken a few seconds to start once the key is turned and occasionaly made a strange noise (squeal) when it fired up.
I mentioned this to my VW garage at the last service in Jan but they said they couldn't find a problem so I continued to use the car even though it wouldnt fire first time when the key was turned.
This morning I turned the key and as it was trying to turn over (couple of seconds) something under the bonet blew with a small poof and white smoke comimg out from under the hood. A bit like a small magnesium flare had been lit.
Does anyone have any idea what this could be as I'd like to have some idea before I spend hundreds of pounds at a garage to discover the problem.
I admit my knowledge of cars is limited but could it be the alternator or maybe a turbo that blew?
Any ideas much appreciated. Read more
Can anyone suggest the best way to treat surface rust on black trim on my Matiz? What product/paint should I buy to treat the rust and then paint the trim again? It's on the driver's door (the trim between the main and 3/4 window). The dealer quoted me over £100 to fix. Any advice appreciated. Thanks. Read more
the other day whilst travelling to town via the back roads i came upon a pair of speed bumps ( the dark red square type with the chamfered edges ) the one on my side had its off side edge more or less on the roads centre line so i was able to go around it without actually having to touch it ...seems a waste of money to me , ive noticed quite a few being put down around the rural roads just recently ,is this done just to spoil everybodies peaceful sunday afternoon drive or is it me? Read more
They're apparently causing a lot of damage to the inside edges of tyres. A lot of full width speed bumps were replaced with these in our area as ambulances can straddle them.
Must be murder traversing them in a Robin Reliant!
A friend of mine has just bought an old LT35 horse box. He has been told it has either a CH or CL 2 litre petrol engine. He says it is running rough, but it drove home the 200 miles ok after he bought it.
I suggested he did all the usual things & change the oil, filters, plugs, points (that takes me back) etc. He has done all the above except the points. This made no difference & the pugs he took out were black, he says it is doing 10 - 15 mpg. The dealer asked what distributor it had, as he couldn't see any marks he removed it & then found the Bosch marking. So he now has new points ready to fit but the ignition timming is lost as he didn't mark up anything before removing the distributor. Haynes don't list a manual so I wondered if any of the back roomers had any info on restoring the ignition timming on this engine. Also does anyone know if this engine can run on unleaded without modification, he has been running LRP in it so far.
Thanks. Read more
Thanks for your help. It was a friends van & he did eventually get hold of a Haynes manual.
I statically timed it as per the manual & steveo's explanation above. Started first time.
Hi there.. .could someone please please help me..
I have an M Reg 1994 Peugeot 306 XR and have a problem with the immobiliser... all was working fine but now for some strange reason when i turn the car on it goes straight on and does not now require me to enter the immobiliser code in first, it just goes straight through and the display lights go green immediately. This is of course worrying should any one try stealing it.
What exactly can i do to resolve this issue and force the immobiliser to request my code when the car is turned on?
What do i need to do?
Please help, cheers!
Gareth
{year added to subject line. Make/model deleted as this information is provided from the drop down menu choice} Read more
wagon r 1.3, year 2002,how can i change the front brake pads?also,any ideas on adjusting the tappets?
Read more
wagon r
Did you mean Suzuki wagon r instead of Subaru? If so, I'll change it.
ps, added year and engine details to the subject line, as per the 3 requests asking for them to be put there.
DD. BR Moderator.
Can anyone please advise if they know of a retail outlet for " HI-Drive " Suspension Parts anywhere in the UK? These are/were distributed by Sachs Boge.
Thank you. Read more
Extract from Auto Express write up on BMWs 125 convertible
"with the front wheels only beginning to lose grip at the very limit"
Where else would they lose grip? Read more
The institutes drew on SMMT amongst others and the SMMT 8th Sustainability Report covers, so far as I can tell, the issues raised. tinyurl.com/yqx6r3 Page 14 and references. Much data on the state of the market also.
My Peugeot 207 was written off last week (drunk driver steered into it whilst parked). I must say, I never really liked the car - sluggish and a bit like driving a tank. (1.4 model). Anyway, I don't have a huge budget (probably around 8k) and want to get something fairly new. A year old would suffice. Has anyone got any suggestions? I need something reliable, and fairly nice to drive. Was actually thinking Japanese. IE: a Suzuki swift.
Would appreciate your feedback! Read more
Swift looks a good idea to me. Or what about a VW polo?
Colleague bought a new (used) car at the weekend. Usual, all excited, can't wait to collect etc.
She said she had to phone insurance to get the cover note issued. Overheard her conversation and, apart from the fact she was on hold initially for 12 mins, the actual call took a further 9 mins. She was having to give every personal detail, details of other insurances, breakdown insurances - the full works!
When she came off the phone I commented that it was an awful long call to get a cover note - apparently this was the insurance division of the large motor retailer and she had been told by the salesman that she had to phone them to get the free 7 day cover so that they could tax her car!
When I explained to her that she had just spent 21 mins giving away all her details to be bombarded with every renewal and junk mail going she was totally oblivious to the whole thing. Of course I then had to tell her that she had still to phone her own insurance company to arrange her own cover note and change of insurance!
She must be a salesman's dream customer! Read more
>>I'd gladly accept - they're something of a collector's item in fashionable N.Wales.>>
Not amongst the friends I have in North Wales - Bob the Builder and Pam Ayres are to the fore.
Browse
It does turn over if you turn the key but I've only tried it for a couple of seconds as I was worried that I may do more damage so havn't tested to see if it will start yet.