May 2008
When I was filling up the other day there was a guy filling a small scooter. I commented to him along the lines that he probably got more miles to the gallon than anyone else on the road. Unfortunately he didn't have a clue what his consumption was, and I am not sure if his scooter was big enough to even take a gallon!
Anyway it made me think and on a lazy Sun morning like now, I have just browsed both the Honda and Suzuki websites, and although they feature all their models and tell you their compression rates etc there is no mention anywhere (that I could see) of fuel consumption.
Why is that - is it not legal like with cars? I am sure every car website would have detailed mpg figures. Do Motorbikes have the same urban / extra urban etc figures to comply with ?
Also, what is the realistic fuel consumption of say something like a 125cc Scooter? Presumably if a 1 litre car can do 50mpg, then a smaller engined, lightweight, more aerodynamic with less electricals scooter should do hundreds to the gallon?
I would have thought this would be a boom time for scooter sellers, fuel costs rocketing, summer weather in, lots of people maybe to be persuaded to switch over? Certainly something I would maybe consider if the information was available! Read more
The question I'm hoping for an answer to is what causes a DMF to fail?
This car is now on its 2nd replacement DMF in 52,000 miles (1st replaced by dealer under warranty at approx 38,000 miles, 2nd at my expense by an independant specialist at 52k).
I'm not brutal with the clutch and like to think I'm mechanically sympathetic towards it when I drive it i.e I don't ride the clutch, sit in traffic with it depressed for long periods of time etc.
I see another BR with an R32 Golf with a DMF problem is saying it's due to "excess heat from slipping the clutch melting the compound holding the two parts of the flywheel together" - is this the definitive cause or one of many possibilites.
The 1st replacement is now outside of its 12 month part warranty. Would it be worth approaching the dealer to see if there is any goodwill towards the recent replacement (I have their knackered DMF and a large bill as evidence) or is it more likely to be a waste of my lunch hour?
I intend to keep this car for at least another 18 months. Any suggestions on how to ensure this DMF lasts longer than the last one?
Thanks for your suggestions in advance.
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When you're looking for a quote to fit a clutch and DM FW, you'll find garages 'try it on' and quote labour and parts for the DM and the same again for the clutch kit, effectively charging twice for labour. Once the clutch is removed the FW is 'right in front of your face' so this approach simply cannot be justified.
Get a quote for the clutch and then ask how much extra to fit the FW 'while you're there'. You'll quickly discover it quickly becomes difficult to justify. You should be looking in the region of an extra £200 for the flywheel and no extra labour charges. A total of between £550 to £750 is realistic....
In post 8 of Greenhay's thread " Supermaket ding " there is a link to an item about the behavior of the local " Boy racers " in a supermarket car park in Sheffield.
In the article it states:-
" These car parks are classed as public roads and therefore are governed by the Road Traffic Act 1988. "
Given that the supermarket owns the land and that I have checked ( with the local Highways Authority ) all the supermarkets in my area and have confirmed that their car parks are not classed as " Adopted Public Highway " can anyone please offer definative confirmation as to whether or not the above is the case?
Thank you Read more
I know the outline but my typing is rubbish......
dvd
I wonder if any body else is having this problem, Ive got a vw passat 1.9 tdi 2003, the esp light is on in the dash, Ive had it check out and fault code is G202, the guy at vw said it could be the ABS EDL CONTROL UNIT (£655+VAT) or the YAW RATE SENDER (£564+vat) how do i tell which sensor is faulty. Read more
hi, my esp light has stayed on after the battery went flat, any ideas??
Hi
I have a worn rear wheel bearing on my focus and was wondering if i buy the part what tools would I need to complete the job.
or is it just best to take it to a garage ? !!
thanks for your help Read more
Don't even think of it! I tried it on my wife's 8yr old Focus - after much crude bashing and hammering with my diy medieval tools eventually got the drum and bearing off but could not get bearing out of drum and also wrecked the ABS ring.
Local friendly garage rectified my hamfistedness at no great cost.....but why can't car makers provide machines which can be easily maintained and repaired by their owners like they used to?
SWMBO has just called. The Scenic's lost power and has flagged up "Check Injection". Seems to be running fine, just completely gutless. Not smoking, no funny noises.
On its way to the dealer now. Any ideas what we're looking at?
Cheers
DP
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hi my car is doing exact what yours was i have a megane 1.9dci (130) 2005 and i have changes two of the faulty glow plugs, but now from cold start (check injection) and service light has gone off :-) but no on way back from blackpool today going 70mph came on again, sluggish, no power car running fine pulled over swich on and off service light gone off..... 70mph came back on after a few start and stops got home so i wonder if my turbo hose has come loose aswel???? i rang renault £82 just to see whats up on computer :-O is there anyway you no how to check this hose yourself? i would be very happy if you or anyone else no's.
thank you
Adam
How do you know when aircon needs regassing? Does it suddenly stop working or do you get a slow progressive fall-off in cooling? Read more
L'escargot,
If you want a quick check to see if everything is about right, take the car for a decent run with the aircon on, then when you get back open the bonnet with the engine still running and feel the temperature of the suction line. It should be cooler than the prevailing ambient temperature.
The suction line is the pipe running from the compressor to the evaporator in the heating ductwork, ie it will run towards the passenger compartment.
This isn't a totally scientific check, obviously, but, in my opinion, its not a bad indication. Beware of the other pipe coming from the compressor and going forward to the condenser, it will be hot.
Obviously you will need to keep hands etc well clear of hot and moving bits under the bonnet. (the Xantia has plenty of room so it isn't a problem for me)
Looking for some advice please...
I put a holding deposit down on a car last Thursday over the phone. I saw the car on the website and phoned the dealer. They took a holding deposit which acted as security for me buying the vehicle subject to a test drive and being in the described condition.
The £1000 was taken out of my Visa account on Friday morning. I called to confirm everyhing was OK with the payment. I arranged with the dealer to visit them on Sunday.
I had a call on Saturday the day before I was due to see the car. The salesman said there had been a mix up and the car has been sold to someone else who is in the trade.
This is a main dealer network with brands including Aston Martin, Mercedes, BMW..
The dealer principal will not be back until after the Bank holiday Monday so I have not spoken with him yet.
This car was a great deal and I cannot find another one trade or private for at least £3000 more.
What are my rights? What can I realistically expect from the dealer, compensation, they source a simialr vehicle for the same price?
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The best advice I can give, now that I hope the DP is aware at the garage, is to phone asking for a face to face meeting. Meanwhile take a letter (always keep a copy) stating that if they do not return your money, or supply a similar spec car, you will see him in court. Try also to get a printed copy of your credit/debit card statement.
Keep the letter in your pocket as plan B if he does not offer you your deposit back.
Hi
I'm looking for some advice as i'm a bit lost with all this insurane stuff.
My Husband was hit on a roundabout by a van cutting across lanes and it dented all the front wing. It's a N reg Polo.
The insurance company has written it off, saying because it will cost £1k plus they will not do it. We are not in a situation to be able to just go out and buy a new car, even with a settlement offer which I'm sure would be tiny.
The van drivers insurnace company have not even had the accident reported to them, the first they knew was when my husbands company contacted them.
My questions are
a) Are we legally allowed to still drive it? Is it still insured?
b) How can they "write it off" when its just cosmetic? He's been driving it since the accident until they collected it for repair.
c) Surely it's the other insurance company who should be paying for it, it was the van driver who was at fault, why should we have to lose out for his driving.
I hope that makes sense, as I said i'm not big on insurance and it's ins and outs.
Thanks for any advice Read more
In the past I've put in my own quote for damage to my vehicle not caused by me:
"To repair at my own cost, or loss of value, at my discretion".
This was cosmetic damage to a bangernomics vehicle. My quote was the lowest. The insurance coughed up pretty promptly!
Urgently need advice for my car.
2.2 Sri Direct.I dislocated my shoulder 2 weeks ago and cannot drive for a few weeks.My sister took my car for a run on Monday evening and parked it (facing down) on a hill.It has been there for 2 days.Tonight I tried to start it, but simply nothing.All electrics ok.No alarms on the dashboard,but there is no 'clicking' noise like a starter motor,just a 'whirring' noise.Almost as if there is a fan in the engine and no engine at all.
Car is a 2.2 Petrol with 51k miles.Approx 2 months ago the high pressure fuel pump and O2 sensor were replaced.I changed the spark plugs around 4 weeks ago.It has been running great.There has been a lot of rain today, but this is Scotland and it has been parked there before (not for 2 days) and started fine.
As it is,I am apprehensive about 'bump starting' the car in case it doesn't start or I do damage.On top of this,the cars steering is 'solid' because the power sterring isn't cutting in and I really only have the use of one arm for another 2 weeks or so.
John Read more
Good news and bad news for me today.Bad news,'unbelievably' car needs a new engine due to the timing chain snapping and as the car is out of Warranty..............................I cannot get a courtesy car.Good news-Vauxhall are picking up the tab. I am fortunate in one respect - but I have had loads of issues with my car and this is the cream at the top!!
My car was in only 27k ago (at 24k) due to an issue with the timing chain tensioner working loose.A new chain and associated parts were fitted (obviously not very well!!).
This fault has puzzled me.Have a limited knowledge of cars, but this happened overnight.Car drove fine then just wouldn't start.Something obviously seized BIG TIME.
List of faults since owning the car include
Timing chain tensioner
Timing Chain !!
SIM Module x 2
O2 sensor x 2
Crankshaft oil leak
Rocker cover oil leak
Piston ring upgrade (losing oil)
CD player
Computer display
Radiator mounts
Wiper linkage
High pressure fuel pump
John
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In the late fifties I was once or twice a pillion passenger in London on a friend's Vincent V-twin, a long heavy black machine with unpainted aluminium mudguards and racing handlebars like sheep's ears down on the steering column. How he managed the thing in London I can't imagine. No helmets in those days of course. With the throttle closed, idling, in top gear it breezed along at about 45mph. I don't know what its fuel consumption was but I imagine in those conditions it was quite economical. The owner, who wasn't a close friend but whom I liked largely because of the Vincent, a clear sign of a sympathetic individual, later committed suicide.