May 2008
snip. Duplicate post removed, and earlier posting moved across to Technical Matters - as notified to you by email a few hours ago. Read more
About 3 weeks ago I replaced both rear tyres on my BMW 323i touring with a new set of Avon ZV3's. When I drove down my local dual carriageway there was a vibration from the back, pervading the whole car and through the feet. I took the car back to the tyre dealer and had them rebalanced. Still vibrating so had them rebalanced another 2 times. Still vibrating, so I swapped the spare for the nearside rear and virtually banished the problem. So I got another tyre fitted as I thought the first one was faulty, but the tyre dealer was dubious, saying faulty tyres are very rare. Anyway, I went out and still had a problem with vibration. My old ZV3's did 16000 miles without any problems. At the moment I'm still driving the car to work, but I can't do any high speed work due to this problem. I'm now thinking of going back and having 2 new rear tyres of a different make fitted. Is it common to have faulty batches of tyres or am I just imagining it? I also span the tyres and noticed that they don't seem to be completely round, theres a slight up/down movement as they spin, especially on one side. Does anyone have any opinions on this? Read more
I have read some of the grim tales on the forum regarding the problems with the Mondeo, refering I believe to the 2.0 tdci engine. I'm aware that this engine is a joint deal with Peugeot. Not sure if the similar problems with the CR systems of the Mazda 6 engine are related.
The 1.6 tdci engine as used in the Focus ( also Mini ? ) does not seem to get the same bad press.
I'm aware the engine is quite different, although also Peugeot derived.
Is it subject to the same potential problems, or does it have a better track record ? Read more
My 02 2.0 HDi Rapier 90 has a problem while driving along the whole dash goes blank no aelectrics working, that is no indicators, wipers, radio, electric windows etc no display. The engine keeps running and i can keep driving but when I stop you cannot start, engine cranks but due to no dash display of any kind it will not start.
I disconnect battery and reconnect then all display comes back but then a little while later it loses everything again. Any pointers on the cause. Read more
Hi,
this may be worth a look, but really I just wanted to let folk know about a potentially serious wiring problem. My parents 2000 110 HDi albeit with 233k on the clock, died while in a garage for routine repairs that took a while to turn round - long story short, found that the wiring loom that runs from the ECU across the front of the engine to the 2 large circular connections below the battery has severe chafing due to too many wires for the size of conduit used. It wears away the insulation exposing the copper to the elements (especially if some dumb garage has said "belly pan - you don't need one of them... and hasn't replaced it) which then rots the wires away and black wire rot then proceeds up your wiring. To get the car running I had to splice in 13 new wires. It was amazing that the car ran up to the point it did, I guess the wait at the garage was when the fresh dousing of salt water finished it off.
to prevent this I would remove the protective conduit and then use insulating tape with either self amalgamating tape or bigger conduit as an outer sheath, making sure that the loom is still securely clipped so it doesn't have excessive movement. If any insulation has broken through then cut out the bad section and use adhesive lined heatshrink splices and splice in a new wire - to as far away either end as you can / to fresh copper as wire rot will have started to creep up from the break
As a note the 406 Hdi is OBDII compliant and an elm 327 off ebay with scantool 1.13 freeware ran fine under vista to get basic data.
Hi, just bought a BMW 318CI E46 on W reg. The windscreen wiper is very annoying. When you switch it on and try to switch it off it does not stop. You can only stop it by turning the ignition off. However it does not switch itself on, thankfully ! Is this a relay, wiper stalk or something? Please advise
Also the passenger door is not unlocking with remote locking, so i can only unlock it from opening inside. But it locks fine. Is there a cable doing this? Or do i need a new lock mechanism?
Any help would be appreciated. Read more
That's not right ! I think you'll need an Autoelectrician. I did read once that the stalks were a known weakness on early E46s
I despair. It's not like Gordo's lot haven't alienated the Police from the public as it is.
"Until now the Department for Transport had been willing to rely on persuasion and was mounting another publicity campaign in the hope of convincing a hard core of drivers who refused to belt up. However, it signalled its readiness to take tougher action in a review of road safety strategy.
The department said it was ready to consider ?making non-compliance with seat belt wearing an endorsable offence?."
If this happens, I won't be issuing any seatbelt tickets, that's for sure. And that's from someone who deals with fatals on a regular basis. Read more
Less the value of the victim's old age medical care costs and pension fund.
Cynical but true.
I like you Cliff.
Best reg's............MD
Hi, I just discovered to my dismay that my rear tyres particularly the nearside is almost bald on the outside edge (1/4 of width) but over 5mm of tread remaining on the inside. Why is this please?
I jacked up the whole car on four axle stands under the body and checked for damage/movement in any of the rear suspension members and found to be rock solid and no sign of damage.
I have a picture but don't know how to upload this. Read more
Hi,
New to this site and totally irrelevant question to uneven tyre wear, but I read last year that you had a misfire on your peugeot 406 2ltr petrol. did you ever find out what caused it? I love my car and apart from this problem everything is fine. replaced plugs, replaced knock sensor cause that's what diagnostic machine said to do, but it is still there. HELP!!
anyone can give a guide how to change dashboard lights to blue?
Thanks. Read more
There's a how2 over on vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk on how to remove the dash. There is probably someone who's also done the conversion. Failing that someone has bound to have done it over on vectra-sport.com
I passed a local Shell filling station last night. I noted that diesel is now 123.9 and unleaded 110.9. That's a 13p per litre difference.
Last autumn before the prices were racing up, locally, the price difference was no more than 1p per litre. Why now I am penalised so heavily? yes, I run a diesel powered car.
When I next change my car should I look for a petrol one again? Read more
.... i know it aint PC to say it
Yup, I know what you mean. Just saw the lunchtime TV news where they showed people in Hummers, Range Rovers, Cayennes etc., implicitly pointing the finger of blame at them for the fuel price rises.
My uncle has a 2001 1.8 avensis. When he puts the key in to start he turns it and nothing happens. He will then try again and nothing happens. If he takes the key out of the ignition, puts it back in and tries again it will start.
Anyone got any idea what the problem might be?
Cheers. Read more
one of two things, either the ignition switch ( the electrical switch behing the ignition barrell) or else the transponder system is faulty.
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Just thought I'd answer my own email. The vibration wasn't the tyres, it was the propshaft! Starting to get a bearing noise from underneath the car, and driveline shunt. So no more tyre grief.