July 2008
Looking to buy a new radio/CD for SWMBO new shape Beetle. I want to incorporate Bluetooth rather than having a separate device. Would also prefer it to be able to copy the phonebook to the radio as well. Finally, ideally like one that had full ipod control as well but failing that, it must have a front mounted aux socket.
Max budget is £150 as I then need to spend money on fascia panels etc as well.
Anyone bought one recently that they would recommend? Read more
Too much to do, not enough time to fix the Mighty Cavalier, so it's to be recycled. That's a real shame, but - £200 of bits, +tax, + a couple of tyres....
Replacement is a very, very old Honda Accord ('90G) 2.0. It's still shiny! £500 T&T for a year, got a new cambelt a couple of thousand miles ago, good tyres. Lots of service receipts.
Insurance has gone up £50 - why (I thought the Cavalier was quicker & faster)?
I bet it's not as economical. Can't find MPG figures, though.
Reasonable buy, or not? There seem to be many newer cars for similar money...
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Insurance probably went up due to cost of parts.
could any one shed some light...
306 1.9 DW starts ok when cold but running on three cylinders till driven for a few min's.
then runs and idols fine and steady. All four fire from warm starts. seams to run. I had a 1.9 XUD before and note this engine temp is a bit higher :shown as 80 deg cel at 2500 rev cruse.
Highish miles (150K) and don't know much history as we have reciently aquired it. Hope i haven't found a clunker!
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It's a non turbo development of PSA's indirect injection XUD used in very late 306's, 206's and Partner vans etc.
I would slacken injector union's half a turn , in turn to locate the misfiring cylinder. Then check glow plug ,valve clearance on that cylinder .. then have injectors serviced if that doesn't clear the fault.
I kind of know the answer to this one but hope there is another way.
My tax expires on 31/08/2008 but I'm picking up the mini on the 01/09/2008. I really don't want to fork out £125 for the sake of a few hours and get 5 months back worth of tax from the DVLA for the sake of a few hours use on the 1st month!
Mini MAIN dealer tells me not to bother and risk it. Thought that was quite irresponsible?
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Your new car could be taxed for up to 7 days before 01/9/2008 still leaving
the renewal date as 31/8/2009 so you could pick it up before 01/09/2008.
I'm guessing this is a new car, therefore 58 reg, which starts 1st Sept.
I did have a company car delivered once with 12mths plus 1 week tax, but I wonder if that could be done in the registration change months as the vehicles registration would be invalid until 1st Sept?
Feel a bit silly asking this as probably shows basic lack of knowledge. However, does it matter if the car is not on flat ground when checking tyre pressures? Have a sloping driveway - have to move it to check oil levels etc but does sloping ground affect tyre pressures?
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Tire pressures are actually a messure of gases contained at sea level or one atmosphere.greater changes than your concern occur at temp or outside air pressure variations .manufacturors decide on given numbers taking into account local variations of conditions.I dont have any doubt programs exist for formula one teams to take into account the geographical height of the track and adjust accordingly.that aside,if tested on a slope wouldnt it depend on whitch way the car was facing?Which tires would you adjust to compensate for uneven distribution of mass.
On my last 4 cars (Hyundai Coupe, BMW320, Mondeo, Vectra) I have had terrible trouble getting wheel balancing issues sorted out, especially on the front where you feel vibration through the steering wheel. I end up going to several different tyre places spending lots of money on balancing, and swapping wheels around at home until I get a smooth ride at 65mph plus.
I just bought a Vectra SRI with 17" alloys and the vibration at motorway speeds is not terrible, but it is enough to annoy you. I took it to get a 4 wheel balance and watched the technician achive 0 - 0 on the machine on all four wheels (not that I know what that means). The two wheels on the front balanced on the first attempt and needed 25 and 35 grams. The rear took two spins and two lots of weights to get 0 - 0 and needed 60 and 70 grams. My locking wheel nuts are 22g heavier than the other nuts and I have replaced them with normal nuts on the front wheels to see if it makes any difference - it doesn't! Wheel bearings should be OK on an 07 plate car with 14K miles. The tyres must have been fitted just before I bought it as thy are new with 8mm tread. They are the Goodyear NCT5 215/50 17 that Vauxhall fit when new.
This is driving me daft - any information anyone can give me would be much appreciated. What does the 0 - 0 on the machine mean? Do these machines need calibrated and if so how often? Anything else anyone can tell me that might help me sort it out? As I said I had this problem with my last 4 cars and if its just that the machine needs calibrating then not many garages have accurate machines because I took the Mondeo to 4 or 5 places before it was sorted.
Or is this normal and I am just too fussy? The vibration is similar in severity to perhaps an electric toothbrush where the batteries are running out. From past exerience an weight free wheel with this kind of vibration needs 15 to 25 grams to sort it out. Thats about how far out of balance I think it is, but as I said I saw the guy get 0 - 0 on the machine.
Thanks for any advice.....
Ralph Read more
There are factors other than wheel balance which can cause steering vibration. Consult a Vauxhall dealer.
Found these whilst a googling.
www.vw.com.br/default.asp
Space Fox estate looks useful - as for the Kombi with a water-cooled engine - nice.
And more oddities here.
www.vw.co.za/models/
Love the fact you can still buy a Mk 1 Golf -perhaps the fact they do a "Tena" special edition suggests it's sold to aging customers ? Wipe clean seats and toilet finding Sat Nav perhaps ?
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I saw an original VW Beetle yesterday on an 07 plate which surprised me... it was being used to promote Sol beer I think - done up to look old and poorly maintained.
Hi all,
Do Mobile Speed Camera Vans require any markings or identification on them ?
I saw one (i think) south of Kidderminster on the A449 this afternoon but It was a plain white van. The ones in Staffordshire state it is a mobile speed camera van...
Any ideas ?
Thanks
Richard Read more
Superbuyer, was the mobile speed van you saw marked or unmarked ?
Anybody know how I reprgramme a second remote as I have one that works?
It's the 3 button type
lock/open and boot Read more
a quick trip to the dealers i'm afraid!
Rgds I Doc
My son has a 2.0L SAAB turbo and is having problems with oil leaks on the engine. To try to rectify this he has changed the oil to 15/40, reseated the copper sump washer and put in some additive to seal any internal leaks. Engine was idled for 15 minutes no problems. When the car was driven oil started to cover the engine and exhaust pipe somewhere near the starter. Bear in mind this is by all word of mouth as he is away at the moment. A garage suggested that it could be excessive crankcase pressure but they hadn't got time to look at it. Does anbody have experience of this problem? It seems to me that what he did actually made the problem worse. Any help would be much appreciated. Read more
If it is excess crankcase pressure, he needs to fit the revised venting kit - details at www.elkparts.com/product_info.php/products_id/3295 - costs about £26 and an hour to DIY fit.
Next step is for him to register at www.saabscene.com/forum/index.php?showforum=8, this is a specifically Saab forum for 9-5s, with many knowledgaeble members. One of the members has produced a series of photos on how to fit the ventilation kit.
Browse
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I'm currently fitting a lot of Clarion FB289RBT's, they take an 2GB SD card rather than a CD but they really are a fantastic piece of kit.