May 2008
Hello all. I fitted parking sensors to my Berling Enterprise van, all was ok for a month or two, now the reversing lights have packed up. The reversing lights provide the power feed for the parking sensors. Checked fuses, can't see anything amiss, any ideas would be most appreciated...many thanks...Rick Read more
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7409714.stm
This from timesonline should make anyone's blood boil. {alternate link substituted that doesn't offend the swearfilter - DD}
{ps, don't let this descend into a police bashing thread - the full FACTS haven't yet been disclosed. Remember also that a life was lost and therefore show respect to surviving family and friends - DD}
thread locked at the request of several BR's
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"Don't see the point of the thread. It should be locked."
Agree. Mods, get your keys out.
done
I am toying with removing the oil sump on my SAAB to ckeck for the oil sludge problem as I want to keep the car for some time. Its done 62K miles and been well serviced at SAABs.
Anyone done this job. How easy is it, and any pitfalls? Read more
Thanks for the contections. I was planning to use a flush through before dropping the sump. Might as well get the gunge out first and then check and clean the botton out.
Given how much this discussion this topic gets with SAAB people, I was hoping that someone had, 'had a go' at the sump.
Anyone?
Trying for a personal record without resorting to severe unsustainable driving techniques.
79.3mpg yesterday, cold start, then staying between 50 and 55mpg, over a 60 mile return trip with a semi warm start at the mid point.
That`s better than the 78mpg of a few months back on a return trip of 120 miles to the East coast.
Went to France last week ( drivng for speed and not economy) and covered 800+ miles at just under an indicated 80MPH and obtained 61.6mpg.
The Multijet engine in the Mk2b van is nicely loosened up at 20,000 and is getting better all the time on fuel consumption.
Because of its lighter weight though I suspect the HDI engined Citroen C1 could beat it.
Regards
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I guess that petrol engine must be really something special and as for gas.. are
you tempted to go for it on yours. Is it possible?
We've had the merc about 6 years now, its a E320 coupe, which is as you would assume 3.2 litre 24 valve. Its done 72k now, and yes it is in lovely condition...But, since having the problems with the wiring loom and ecu repaired, i don't have quite that unshakeable faith in the car that i used to.
I don't think with the age of the car and the fragility of this design that i could seriously benefit from gassing the old girl (blimey hope someone doesn't edit and quote that, i'll be in chokey).
I really like the car, and its so unique, and a true pleasure to own and drive, i really don't know what to do.
I almost bought a 3 litre flat six legacy the weekend before the budget, so i'm very pleased i didn't do that, i may still have one, but cheaper next year probably, and that would be worth gassing, and apparently subaru's go well on gas.
You know what its like though, i would feel dreadful selling the merc, especially with the certainty that any subsequent owner would not treat her so well.
(purely out of interest, my indy bought and resold my low mileage diesel 124 saloon, he knows how fussy i am, well he sold it to a very caring chap, who happened to overtake my son in his car transporter,, 'keep it in the family',, who reported to me that it was gleaming and looked well, this in winter, i was very pleased, that was a truly good car)
The C1/aygo/107 petrol engine really is a cracker, amazing low speed torque for such a tiny and frugal lump, but like many i still prefer diesels, or at least old fashioned diesels.
Just read an article in popular UK motor magazine where it says if a dealer sells a pre reg car and it is under a certain age then they the dealer retains the log book for upto 6 months ,why is that surely if you have paid for a vehicle then you should have the log book what happens if you have to produce it for any reason,is it a quaint UK law or is it to do with the dealer and vat/tax.Just curious. Read more
Thanks
Can any one help ?
poor builders van I bought 3 years ago it has factory alarm fitted which kept going off and annoying everyone near my house including me so as a short term measure i cut the wire to the alarm horn it still whent off continually but was now silent, however it seems to be flattening the battery I bought a new one last winter cost £70.00 and it was fine for a bit, but I think that is now ruined as I have to remove battery leads every night to aviod constant alarm going off indicators flashing constantly etc.and discharging the battery every night?
if there is some way of disabling the alarm completely then it should not go off continually and thus flatten battery overnight. Once it is started in the morning it will be o.k. to start all day but overnight it go flat and will not turn over fast enough to fire up without a jump start in the morning I am resigned to purchasing another battery but I have got to resolve this discharging issue first any advice gratefully and desperately sought and appriciated
Thanks guys
{subject header changed to make less vague} Read more
Had the guy round friday did a test and iformed me that there is no drain and reason it wont start in morning is following 1/ 2 glow plugs not working I took these out about a month ago and they were getting cherry red when operated but he said they were not efficient enough electrical resistance or something 2/ starter motor polling? and thus drawing way to much power from the battery under starting conditions which seems to make sense as once it is started in morning it will start o.k. all day. solution is new set of heater plugs and replacement starter he did however point out straight away that the dash board battery light is very dim when ignition is turned on will carrying out above repairs rectify this ?
Thank for your advice
well, I've gone and done it . pressed the button and ' won ' an E Bay auction for a 2008 US Pick up truck, based in the Mid West, in the States
This was achieved at $33000 , and I have the following questions ;
a) The seller has confirmed they owe money on the vehicle . I guess it's a substantial portion of the sales price , if not all . They say they want the buyer to pay for it , take it away, he will then square off with the bank and the ' title ' will be forwarded from the bank in 3 weeks to him, then onto to me back in Blighty. My plan is to fly there , inspect, hand over the dough and drive it to the docks in Jersey. I am naturally reticent to part with any money let alone this much without good title . Any ideas what to do here ? he can't pay off the loan without the buyer's dough. I haven't got 3 weeks to kill out there. I don't know the vendor and he could do other things with the cash .
b) Shipping it - any clues who's the main companies ?
c) duties - this will be a business vehicle - so VAT will hopefully be reclaimable. What about the duty - is it 10% for a pick up, like a car ?
d) Will leaving it there for 6 months lead to any savings ?
e) Vehicle ( Ford ) carries a warranty till 2008 - I am giving up on it , but is there a way of claiming in the event of failures / breakdowns ?
thanks Read more
>.pressed the button and ' won ' an E Bay auction for a 2008 US Pick up truck..
To be honest - You're nuts.
Have you thought about why you 'won' the auction and Elmer from Wyandotte County didn't bid higher?
How much are you saving over list price (minus sales tax) for a used F250 of doubtful provenance, with no guarantee and no comeback if the thing is a lemon?
>They say they want the buyer to pay for it , take it away, he will then square off with the bank
>and the ' title ' will be forwarded from the bank in 3 weeks to him, then onto to me back in
>Blighty.
Firstly, what's to stop him reporting it stolen once he's got your cash and you're halfway across the pond?
Secondly, you will not be able to export it without the Title document in your name. It is illegal to export a vehicle from the US without clear title and US customs will want to see the Title.
Lastly, if he does "square off with the bank", the Title will be in his name not yours. You'll need to get it xferred again.
>My plan is to fly there , inspect, hand over the dough and drive it to the docks in Jersey.
Do you know how much hassle it will be to get short term insurance in the US for a vehicle that you do not have title to, your residential address is Motel 6 and you don't have a US drivers license or ID? Or weren't you going to bother with insurance?
>I am naturally reticent to part with any money let alone this much without good title . Any ideas
>what to do here ?
Either have the Title assigned to you in person at the nearest finance Co. office (arranged in advance) or get a lawyer to handle the transaction.
ie. Both of you go to a lawyer and hand over your $33k and the seller's $4k (if he has it). The lawyer then draws up a contract for the sale and you leave the truck and keys with him. He then handles paying off the finance, having the Title transferred into your name and Fedex's the Title to you so you can arrange shipping.
The shipping Co. then collects the truck from the lawyer and ships it to UK.
>Shipping it - any clues who's the main companies ?
Take look here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=4318&m...e
or a colleague's website here: www.import-car.info/
>duties - this will be a business vehicle..
Check with HMRC or whatever they call themselves today. An F250 might be classified as a commercial vehicle which may have different regs.
>Will leaving it there for 6 months lead to any savings ?
Possibly. When I imported my vehicle the UK registration office only checked the date on the title document. I'd owned it for 3 years so there was no problem. The guy in front of me in the queue wasn't so lucky. It sounded like he'd only owned the vehicle for about 6 months and they suspected that he was a dealer trying to evade duty. They wanted his passport and hotel receipts to confirm his story.
>Vehicle ( Ford ) carries a warranty till 2008..
If it's a 2008 model it will probably have a 3 year "bumper to bumper" US warranty but you should check with Ford to see what, if anything, they will honour in the UK.
I'd have no qualms about buying from an established dealer in the US, but you're asking for trouble here.
Kevin...
I have a problem with my factory fit alarm. It is running continuously after changing the alternator. The sounder is on, hazards flashing and alarm indicator light is on continuously. The car can be locked from outside with the key, but cannot be unlocked. Neither front door will unlock with the key. Any help would be gratefully received. Read more
The ECU holds the fan and pump relays off until it wants them. If it goes to limp mode, then it just lets them go and they run full-time.
Make sure that you haven't got something shorting the 5-volt reference circuit and dragging down the voltage. A fried exhaust gas pressure sensor after a blocked cat is one common one.
Does anybody know what the amber warning light on far left at top is. It looks like a container half full with pipes off on both sides at top. It came up before but went out within 15 minutes of around town driving. Car drove normally with no loss in power. Read more
The water trap warning on these is not very reliable. I had a 405 TD that regularly showed this warning. Change the filter by undoing the four allen key bolts on the black plastic lid about 4" in diameter on the front of the engine in the centre. The water trap release is I think the knurled ring at the base of the filter on the front of the pot.
Hi All,
I would like to know your thoughts on this product, i read it in an article in the Sunday post some of you's might also have seen it.
It is called a Fuel-pod and it makes Bio-Diesel by using eathier new or used veg oil and purifying it and adding methonal. i would consider purchasing it but have heard a lot of people on here saying not to put Bio-Diesel in your car.
i've just bought a V Reg 1.8 TDI Escort to commute to work which is 80 mile round trip so producing some of my own diesel would take the cost down would it be safe or would i just knacker my car?
greenfuels.co.uk/
Regrards,
Escortgti Read more
Properly made bio-diesel is supposed to be a direct equivalent for mineral fuel. Many makers ban it because very little home-made "bio-diesel" is to the required BS standard.
With the soaring cost of base plant oil and the methanol and caustic soda making it a very nasty process; properly-made bio is only marginally cheaper.
Before buying/storing large quantities of methanol; check with your insurers and the local council. You'll also need to make proper waste removal arrangements.
Bulbs were ok, can't check voltage at the mo, as it's a double handed job, but i wouldn't expect any voltage to be present. Is there a reversing switch on the gearbox anybody??...thanks...Rick