March 2008
Dear All
Anyone had an Audi that would not start when the engine is mildly warm ?
My A8 always starts from cold and from hot, but sometimes will not re start if it's only been running for a few miles and it's really trying my patience. Had to abandon it today and let it go cold, thereafter started easily.
Is there an ECU upgrade or fix or maybe something like a dodgy sensor that I should replace. The car is a dream to drive, but if I can't rely upon it, then its going to have to go!
Any help, thoughts, ideas or indeed experiences would be great
Engine details edited in Read more
The Welsh Assembly have pulled the plug on this charge. Westminster say that English Hospitals won't.
Parking at a Welsh Hospital over Christmas cost our family a small fortune. The car park was a well laid out, well designed one, with a Police Approval for security.
I am in two minds. I hate the principle of paying for something we already have paid for through taxation, the other part of me says that the payment deters commuters and residents. Maybe a compromise situation here whereby staff and patients get a "cashback" and visitors have to pay - but can apply for rebate based on attendance..
Any views ?
(Without resorting to political slanging.) Read more
A similar argument is going on with regard to our local hospital (parking fee is £3), because it claims it usually means that visitors can find a parking space and deters workers and others from using the car park.
However, all they do is clog up local side streets and the main, somewhat narrow road which has already had to have yellow lines done to prevent potential accidents.
In fairness I must point out that those who need to visit the hospital on a frequent basis can buy a weekly ticket for just £5.
Hi,
What sort of mileage is the norm for the engine of the Mazda 323 1.5
cheers
Alan Read more
I bought a 1988 Mazda 323 1.5 for my daughter's first car. It's got over 200,000Km on the odometer. Radiator was a bit blocked, so I put a replacement second hand one in. It had been neglected, so I did the usual service things like fluids, filters and belts. It uses a bit of oil (less than my Mini) but doesn't smoke and runs very well. They are generally known as a good, long-lasting engine. If you buy it, I'm sure you will be pleased with it.
i am a regular reader of your column in the Telegrahp, its informative and entertaining
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Tonight a taxi overtook me by crossing double white lines at about 50 in a 30 limit; 200 yards further along, approaching a queue at traffic lights in the left lane of the dual carriageway, it took the right-turn-only right lane, then cut across the front of the left lane queue at speed and disappeared up the road.
Now I am all for making progress and I abhor revenue cameras, but this kind of idiocy is really not what one expects or should allow from a licensed hackney carriage.
I couldn't read the taxi number off the side as it shot past, but I did note the registration number; my question is, is it worth reporting this to either the boys in blue or the local council, or is an unsupported allegation a waste of time?
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>>and the lights ..........were just going amber from red as he cut across
Huh?
Bt tom, I should have said "amber and green from red", OK?
Don't know if the products work, but I'm always nervous about using products from companies who don't give physical addresses on their websites. Read more
Tools listed in our website do not break copyrights as they only
are constructed and work similar to famous tools. Names are used for
easier identifying only.
So these are Chinese copies of the products advertized...... They "work similar...." Hmm...
I can't see their support and back-up for Vag-Com being comparable with the likes of Derek at Ilexa. The tool is only part of the deal; support is crucial.
Software is not sold together with tools.
Without the, copyright, software they're just ornaments. Buying a scanner is only the tip of the iceberg; constant, expensive software updates are needed. The manufacturers probably make a loss on selling the tool - it's the regular £800 for the updates that pay the bills.
Regional limitations on access to updates from the likes of the dreaded Launch X-431 [itself just a load of cynically blagged dealer's software] mean that your shiny copy will be useless in no time. Many manufacturers produce individually-coded updates that will only install on one serial-numbered machine.
So; in a nutshell - just one more scanner company ripping-off the gullible beginners. There are several hundred others just like them to waste your money with too....
I had a reminder of just how important it is to check your insurance details today. I'd double checked on the phone when taking the policy out that I'd be covered towing my caravan. The call centre had told me that they'd had to check with their manager, because the caravan (24ft) is slightly longer than their maximum length (23ft).
The policy arrived today, no note about any dispensation. So I ran the call centre to double check "No we don't cover caravans over 23ft under any circumstances". Double checked with manager.
Just as well I checked - the policy booklet doesn't mention a maximum length, and they told me they destroy the tapes of the conversations after a week or two. Read more
When there's controversy like that I think you need to change your insurer.
hi all.
i have a water leak on my mondeo estate 2.0L petrol automatic. its coming from the area around the temperature sender, i think. where it is cliped into the thermo housing, that is secured by four bolts onto the head, i beleave it has a couple of hoses on the housing also. i have replaced the 2 rubbers on the 2 sensors tha is clipped in to the housing and it still leaks. any other ideas?????? it doesnt leak when driving or hot , it only leaks once it has cooled right down, it is definatly water from the resoivoir as it tastes of antifreeze. my haynes manual only tells me how to change the thermostat, nothing about anything else in that region. Read more
hi. thanks for that. today i have bought a new "O" ring and thermo housing does anyone have any info on changing this as in the haynes manual there is nothing.
thanks
Just helping a mate do up an old house and we have started on the bathroom. The original tiles were terrible so he removed them and, unfortunately, most of the old plaster on one of the walls right down to the bricks. Being on a very tight budget we are looking for a cheap way of re-tiling this wall. Now we could re-plaster and then re-tile but plasterers up here cost rather a lot of cash so the question is can we just plasterboard the wall, seal it with PVA and then tile straight onto the plasterboard? Read more
I once got a cracking deal on a CRT TV at "Sound and Vision". It was hundreds cheaper as their order for one Panasonic model got messed up so Panasonic sent them hundreds of a better model.
I needed a telly quick because the old one broke and the wife will have wanted to watch her footy team the next weekend on TV - a rare TV appearance at the time.
They still seem to do cracking deals (and live close enough and you can pickup at the warehouse).
Anyway took a quick look and there are Panasonic Plasma's on there. 37" 1080p model about £625.
www.soundandvisiononline.com/listview/index.asp?&s...7
EDIT: Looking at spec it's not 1080p but few Plasmas will be. Easier to get that resolution via LCD.
I'm after a pair of 195/60/14 tyres, fitted. Not too concerned about the brand. Any ideas? Read more
FT - where are you based?
I've been using Micheldever Tyres for years, and always had great prices and helpful, friendly service.
For the size you quote, they offer (all 86H rated):
Kumho KH15 - £39.30 each
Falken ZE912 - £40.11 each (had these on the Mondeo once and they were fine)
Firestone TZ200 £48.05 each
Pirelli P6000 - £59.35 each
They're part of Protyre who are all over the Midlands and South. Website has online quote and stock check service. Prices I've got are for the Micheldever branch.
All their prices are inclusive of fitting, new valve, balance and VAT.
www.protyre.co.uk
Cheers
DP
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Thanks very much for the advice.
I replaced the engine coolant sensor (£16 part) last Saturday and the car has behaved perfectly since.
Fingers crossed it's fixed