June 2008
i have a renault scenic diesel 1.9 dci i have just noitice(at night) that when travelling along exessive smoke is being produced it looks white from the mirror.
whrn i put my foot down this changes to grey/black
can anyone tell me the reason or help with solving the problem.
i was told once that you can get a can of oil that you put on the fuel inlet and rev the engine until gone and this solves the problem
i look forward to your help.
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Right.This has probably been posted a thousand times,but the windscreen on my 406,never seems to get clean.
Apart from the obvious of new wipers,what do you use to get the deep crud off the glass? Read more
And if you don't want to waste valuable clay on your glass try the economy version...
Blue tak!
Hi, does anyone know how to re-program key fobs on the Renault Megane? Thanks.
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I have recently had an accident (my fault) in my beloved KA. The bonnet has folded and the driver's side headlight and indicator is smashed. There is also minimal damage to the plastic bumper. Any ideas how much this would cost to fix? Will probably end up going through the insurance company, but wouldn't mind knowing the total cost of repair.
Also, I am within a month of having 3 years no claims. Will I lose all of this with my claim? Read more
The non-painted bumpers were made in three parts-each of which could be replaced-each piece about £25.
Had to get a friend's diesel Avantage out of my indy garage yesterday because the owner was tied up. I paid the bill of £140 odd and left the car in a pay and display slot.
When the friend came to get the car he was a tenner short of the money. He had just been to see his aged mother who lives in Zimbabwe where he was raised. He gave me a wad of Zimbabwean dollars, quite a small wad really with a face value of 1,450,000,000 Zimbabwe dollars. But the Z$ lost three zeroes in a previous devaluation, so the real value from the time the dollar was worth nearly a quid was a bit short of one and a half trillion.
This sum was worth about £8 three or four weeks ago, but is probably worth less now. Dont'cha just love creative economics? I bet the Zimbabwean rank and file absolutely adore it. Read more
Screwloose - I think that your figure of 165k% pa inflation is a little out of date. I believe that the figure is 6 times that and is nearer 1m%
After slightly more than 10,000 users, Norwich Union has scrapped it's Pay-as-you-drive insurance scheme. They are "disappointed" by the lack of take-up, but seem oblivious as to the reasons why no young drivers signed up for it.
As a young driver, I can help set them straight:
1. For myself and other friends who tried to get a quote, it wasn't any cheaper.
2. An effective ban on driving after 11pm is not going to win subscribers. What if you need to drive a long way late at night or in an emergency? That'll be £600 please. Even 20 miles picking someone up past 11pm would net you a bill of £20, more expensive than a taxi! Read more
Norwich Union were, I think, having a laugh. I'm 22 and the best quote for me this year was £365 with plenty of quotes available for under £400. Norwich Union, after asking me many intrusive questions about where I drive and when, offered me an estimate for ~£750.
Why on Earth would I pay almost double the going rate for my insurance, and then have to pay extra for every mile over the 'allowance' that Norwich Union 'generously' give me?
I think I'd rather just get a normal policy which is cheaper, doesn't spy on me with a GPS device fitted in to my car, and doesn't charge me a ridiculous amount for every mile I drive over my 'allowance'.
It does not surprise me that not enough people took the scheme up. Good riddance to it - and I hope it lost them money!
This may rapidly degenerate in to the Speed Cameras thread but do the 'flashy flicker' (showing my age there) LCD signs saying 'Warning X Speed Limit Slow Down' bother you at all?
First time I activated one I nearly soiled my underpants but now they are just another part of the driving landscape and I ignore them except for the occasional though of what a waste of money.
Am I typical? Do you still notice them? Read more
Only when the daughter is in the car. As she like to see the happy smiley face that some of the signs generate.
Just out of interest, does anyone know why lorries park in lay-bys at the side of dual carriageways with their fron wheels turned at an angle of about 30 degrees towards the kerb (i.e. away from the road). I've never noticed this until recently, and I've seen several in the last few weeks, big artics mainly on the A435/A46 between Alcester and Evesham.
It seems such a deliberate method of leaving the vehicle, not just the way the wheels happened to pointing when the lorry stopped. Read more
Just me perhaps, but I thought the sober version was more elegant.
Ordinarily, I don't over speed with speed camera around or not. This afternoon while on an outing with my family with some interesting discussion, I unwittingly increased my speed to between 36 to 37miles per hour on a 30 miles per hour on a dual carriage road. I realised this when about 30 to 50 yards from a speed camera after which I reduced my speed to less than 30 miles per hour. Don,t forget I am still within the first year of obtaining my british full driving less, thus my license would be revoked if I get up to 6 points. Moreover, driving is essential for my source of livelihood.
I am so confused now and afraid. Have I got my 3 points ? For how long should I wait for the notice to the aforementioned before I assume I have not been fined after all? Is it every speeding offence that is followed by 3 to 6 points? I need your reassurance and advice.
{Volume in subject header lowered. Some of us are trying to sleep} Read more
also makes a siren noise like a fire alarm when going over the speed limit equally as annoying.
I've got the PocketGPSWorld speed camera database on mine, coupled with spoken speed camera alerts. No sirens or anything just a female voice, e.g. 'Warning! GATSO ahead. Speed limit 30mph.'
It takes a bit of setting up, especially for the trigger distances for the different speed cameras, but it's an excellent way to remind you to be extra careful around known camera sites. I'm not a speeder by nature, but it is easy to miss speed limit signs occasionally, especially when you're in unfamiliar areas.
I drove into central London recently and it was going off every few seconds, mainly for red light cameras.
IIRC, this was discussed some time ago, but I just wonder if anyone has any recent knowledge/experience to pass on.....
The rear brake drums on SWMBO's Focus are very prone to rusting - and it doesn't look good through the sparse spokes on the alloys! For my first attempt at dealing with the problem, I tried some old motorcycle cylinder black that I found in the garage - I thought it should be OK at withstanding the heat. This looked great for about 3 months, then the rust reappeared with a vengeance!
I've now found tins of black Hammerite in the garage - these are both the traditional 'hammered' finish, and 'smooth' finish.
Could I ask Backroomers if they have any comments on Hammerite for this use and/or any comparative experience of hammered vs smooth finish? Also, has anyone got a better suggestion than Hammerite for painting brake drums?
Many thanks Waino. Read more
Does it make any difference as to how the exterior looks?
Replace when worn!
Browse
If you see it in the headlights of following vehicles as a hazy light fog then my old company car Megane 1.9dci did this from new, right up to about 80,000 miles when it was changed - it is just the muck a diesel throws out compared to a petrol engine.