June 2008
I've got a Haynes manual and it shows the fusebox in the glovebox, which might be fine for a RHD car, but it's not in there on a LHD car. I'm tearing my hair out because I can't find the thing!
Anyone able to put me out of my misery?
Jenx Read more
Golf gti 16v with 120k miles and selecting the gears has become sticky and notchy. Have tried spraying the linkages with WD40. There is a plastic cap on top of the linkage at the gearbox which looks like an oil port .... is it?
Is the problem likely to be an adjustement problem or a clutch gear box problem? Read more
At this milage it could also be worn synchro-hubs and/or baulk rings inside the gearbox.
Hi all,
Was just wondering if there will be a problem with me using Bio-Diesel in my 306 2.0 HDi?
A local garage has it for 118.9p per litre (last i checked)
Are there any benefits of using Bio? - apart from cost of course
Thanks in advance
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I own a 306 HDi (2000) and so long as you dont use 100% bio you shouldnt have a problem. Try using 50% bio and 50% regular diesel. But I warn you that you'll have trouble starting your car the next morning if you get greedy and use 100% bio!
Buy a fuel filter and change it after 500 miles and then again at 1000 miles.
Where are you based? Bio in the midlands is 90p a litre.
I wonder if anyone can give me some advice regarding this issue. The car isn't mine, it's a company car which I have from Friday-Wednesday this week (therefore not particularly familiar with it) and it's the estate btw. Seemed fine driving home Friday evening but having taken it out since for a decent run I have noticed an odd sound coming from the O/S rear brakes. I'm fairly certain they're disc brakes on these though haven't checked to be honest! The sound couldn't quite be described as a grinding but it's definitely a friction-like sound. Imagine clawing your nails lightly across a formica surface...! It only occurs when coming to a halt, just for the last second or two depending on how quickly I'm slowing down. Also sometimes, the noise continues slightly for a couple of seconds, albeit at a lesser volume when taking up the drive again. As if something is sticking at very low speed I guess. I'm concerned about it as I need the car for a photography shoot on Mon/Tues next week which will involve several hundred miles of driving and really do not want to get caught out. However much it would pain me greatly to have to pay for repairs myself and go through the hassle of getting the money back, safety obviously comes first! To top it off there's a light squeal sometimes coming from the N/S rear wheel when cornering left...! When the car goes back on Wednesday the vehicle condition report is likely to be long as my left arm methinks... don't know what I've done to the poor thing, it seemed fine yesterday evening...! Thanks in advance for any ideas! Read more
i have had that it should be the tabs on the pad telling you they need doing
I'm advertising a VW Passat for £9,000.
Someone emailed me, asking for photos, then replied with this email:
< >
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By all means scam the scammers but NOT when they have a way of finding
out who you are - in this case the original advert.
if it all goes pear shaped you might have to change your screen name to one hand wick, or worse
Guess why I gave it up? Was doing well on an L plate in around 1974. OK another fish was already being fried and I was studying to be a Social worker.. But out of interest and liking a `second string to the bow` I thought I would have a go.
I remember the truck and the safety checks, water out of the air brakes and so on. Had no real problems driving, only once putting the trailer wheels a few inched onto the kerb the first time out ;)
Reversing, I was good at that and they were pleased. Less so when negotiating an uphill turning standing start at a turning right junction " You will snap a half shaft" again first time out on the road.
Then there was the day another instructor came and noticed several wheel nuts missing off the wheels. Some tutting and off we went.
Anyway to the point. After a while I was doing well, so I was told, but I gave it up. A problem. Guess what? not Cash, health or ability to actually drive the truck. Sure, I was pressed for time because I was studying. But this was Saturday mornings. Bet even GB can`t get the reason.
Regards Read more
TELMA-worked like an electric motor being driven as a generator-far superior to the Jacobs exhaust brake(Jake Brake).
I *may* be in a position to significantly increase my salary soon. As a result the battered and tired [but very reliable] VW Polo that has given me 3 years + of good service may soon be able to retire.
Here are the factors I will be taking in to account when the times comes [if it ever does]:-
I commute 120 miles per day so on average do 24k miles per year and that's before business miles are added - approx another 3-4k per year
Would prefer a 'prestige' marque
Automatic is a desirable option to have for me - spent too many years stick shifting now and want an easier option
Not sure on the diesel vs. petrol thing - if I were to go the leasing route I'm not bothered as if it goes wrong it's their problem. Other factor is that leasing could be expensive due to high mileage?
Car doesn't have to be brand new - quite happy to look at used
I'm currently looking at the C class Merc and Audi A4/A5/A6 as potential hacks.
Is the Merc any good? I hear so many stories about them not being as good as a few years back, but are they improving? Never had an Audi - seem well built etc
Your thoughs please.
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I should hope not DP. It's nobbut a youngster !
Couldn't agree more. However, with what you hear about newer Mercs....
I can vouch for the durability of the Mondeo. My mk2 was a little shabby (through cosmetic neglect as much as anything else) but still running well at 140k, and my dad sold his 94 2.0 petrol to a neighbour two years ago with 180k on the clock. He's still using it, and it's about to click over 200,000 miles. Still as reliable as the tides, and even still running on the original clutch. It's skipped the odd service in its life, too.
Cheers
DP
"Buyers Still Paying Over Book for Convertibles" - Sat, 14 Jun 2008
"STORMY ECONOMICS HITS USED CONVERTIBLE VALUES" - Sat, 21 Jun 2008
Seems a lot can happen in a week. Read more
I think ones refering to new convertibles and the other used. Seems like they depreciate quickly.
Last night I happened to be in Trowbridge, around 5pm, and needed to get home to Weybridge in Surrey.
Traffic reports mentioned horendous accident on the M4 near Reading -so I sought the other route A36-A303 - M3- WHAT A MISTAKE.
All was going well, then 5 miles from Stonehenge, Yes I forgot it was the eve of the longest day, loads of hippies Druids,etc and well done coppers, they restricted traffic to 1 lane, to check tax on vehicles - an hour later finally got through -thank goodness I wasn't heading the other way -though, it was even worse.
it was later reported that from Jct 21-9 on the M25 was 30+miles of solid traffic-most of which I missed.
Why was it so bad yesterday ?? Read more
Wotspur,
If your heading Stonehenge way again then on a Fri pm it's generally wise to avoid:
westbound: the A303 from Solstice Park (the new industrial estate to the east of Amesbury) up to Stonehenge itself
eastbound: the A36 from Winterbourne Stoke through to the roundabout just to the east of Stonehenge at Amesbury (A345)
Coming from the west, and if heading in a Trowbridge direction, I generally (if glance ahead indicates traffic) turn off the A303 at Solstice Park and take the A3028 through Bulford & Durrington, cross the A345 and continue through Larkhill & Shrewton. Just outside of Shrewton turn left onto the B390 (which is a great road in the context of the area). The only slightly sticky point is its junction with the A36 which occasionally is a little bit congested (sometimes a wait for 3-4 mins, other times straight through).
Going west, just vice-versa, remembering to turn off at Shrewton towards Larkhill.
These 'shortcuts' are well known by the locals ;-)
For those wanting to keep on the general A303 west-east route this can still be a viable alternative on the fri pm route. From the west just follow the above directions to Warminster, turn left (south) onto the A350, right opposite the BP garage at Longbridge Deverill (signposted the Deverills) and then rejoin the A303 at Mere
Hope that helps someone at some point in the future ;-)
Bost
I have often wondered given the performanance benefit of an exhaust driven turbocharger why one driven by an electric motor is not available. One downside of an exhaust driven one is the amount of heat they generate and the need for increased cooling and intercoolers etc, not to mention all the pipework involved. With a variable speed electric motor linked to throttle openings and fine tuning by electronics, surely a reliable and cost effective one could be produced. Perhaps you could turn it off or get it to suck to improve economy !
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My 2003 MK4 Golf auto has a 1.6 SE petrol engine code BFQ. It's fitted with a thing called an air pump. Which i think is there to assist when the engine is cold
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BUMP.