July 2008
i want to change my radio/cass for a new radio/cd on my vectra but when i tuck the old one out it has got 3 connections so im thinking that 1 is power, 2 speakers, 3 streering controls. but i want i stereio that will still work with the controls on the wheel. what stereoi would work ? Read more
Since using a satnav in a lorry for the last couple of years it's become clear that most lorry speedometers show 56MPH when they are only actually doing 52-54MPH.
During the last couple of weeks I've been on holiday and used the satnav in my Mondeo for the first time. I found it to be showing 60MPH on the speedo whilst only doing 53MPH on the satnav.
Is this the reason some cars seem to be doing only 35 in 40MPH roadworks even though the road is clear?
Am I right in thinking that the speedometer cable and the odometer cables are linked?
If so what effect does this have on the total mileage recorded on a car?
Pat Read more
I went on a tour of the NISSAN car plant in Sunderland on Thursday through the Heritage open Days scheme. Before a car leaves the plant the car is put on a rolling road test where there are different tests carried out, one of them being the speedometer is calibrated to read 8% higher than the actual road speed.
Hope this is of some use.
Hoseman
The car has central locking.
When I return to locked car after a period, I cannot open the doors using the Passenger Door Lock first.
Is this corrrect, is this a security feature ??
If doors have been opened first using Driver's Door, I can then lock/unlock doors using the Passenger Door.
But when I return to car after period/next day, I cannot open the doors first with Passenger Door, have to open using Driver's Door. Read more
Good result - it's bad enough watching people scrapping perfectly good MOT'd Cavaliers on the news under the wasteful scrappage scheme without some lowlife killing another one. Ebay is pretty good at coming up with genuine parts when you need them to keep it going.
Just had an idiot driving down the middle of a road in the hatched area between lanes and threw up a stone and chipped my windscreen approx 4mm round area of windscreen 4 small lines approx 7 mm long leading from chip, my question is can it be repaired as its a heated screen will it have damaged the elements,has anybody any experience of these repairs.
Cheers
Tally
Read more
The windscreen should be fine Tally. Auto Windscreens is part of the RAC and now operates as RAC Auto Windscreens. Their workmanship on re-glazing jobs is guaranteed for three years and guarantee resin repairs on laminated front screens for five years.
The only downside with the new windscreen is you'll have to leave it for a couple of hours to allow to resin to set before you're being able to drive the car, the longer the better. Check the heater element works ok the following day to give the resin longer to set, any problems they'll sort them out.
I once had a replacement windscreen crack from the outer edge within a couple of days of it being fitted. They examined it for impact damage just to check and then replaced with another one as part of the guarantee.
OK
Yesterday, my neighbour reversed his newly hired car into the side of my pride and joy. I did not see the deed, but as he was the only person to go into/out of our cul-de-sac of 4 houses (including mine), it was definitely his car.
I tackled him this morning and his English is not great (He's from Singapore) but there was a scrape on the back bumper of his car at the same height as the pushed in doors of mine.
If I claim, I'm almost certain the Insurers will agree to settle each others and I'll be paying my excess with no hope of reclaiming it.
I'm going to get a quote on a independent repair, to see if it's worth doing it separately and maybe ask hm to pay for the repair.
What would other back-roomers do?
Advice needed as I'm off on Holiday next week
Thanks
Charles Read more
I didn't miss anything, I was clarifying matters.
Many thanks.
hi room, i have a rechargeable camping style tilly lamp, it charges up off the cigar lighter.. is it safe to charge it up whilst on the move? im more concerned about any damage to the cars electrics more than anything, ie alternator .... it says not to charge it whilst in transit, is that a safety measure as in fire risk, flying missile in event of collision? ..thanks, zoo Read more
zoo,
the only problems I can foresee are that you overstress the fuse on the cigarette lighter circuit, as I found out with near-disastrous consequences when I blew a fuse lately, causing the astra to go into limp-home mode. (short story, zipo ran out, I held the lighter in, blew 20A fuse for reverse lights and lighter, thus rendering auto box useless!!!)
As far as the thing being a missile inside the car, is there some way you can just thread a seatbelt through the carrying handle?
Why would I want to go adventuring somewhere and spend the whole time watching DVD's, Bose soundsystem or not?
Or have I (Not Nissan surely) missed the point entirely? ;-) Read more
In two weeks time, I start a new job. After over 25 years of driving, I will be getting my first company car.
The job will involve journeys of between 10 and around 300 miles, carrying a small amount of computer equipment and tools. I would expect the driving to be mostly motorway / A roads, with relatively little town / city driving. I will be generally driving alone, or at most with one colleague, and it could be at any time of day (or night).
I will have the choice of Vauxhall, Ford and Renault, up to a list price of around £16k. I will be keeping the car for 4 years or 100k miles.
It is not possible to provide my own car and claim mileage.
My priorities are:-
1) The car has to be comfortable and reliable. I need to be able to get to the customer site on time and reasonably fresh!
2) I would like the company car tax to be as low as possible.
3) I would like it to be reasonably economical, as I will be paying fuel for private mileage. I will still have access to my old car, a Vauxhall Astra diesel, as my wife will get this.
4) If the car could feel special in some way - something like leather seats, 'climate control', cruise control, or 'sporty appearance', this would be a bonus. I do not want a 'hot hatch' though, as this wouldn't meet the other requirements.
Vauxhall, Ford and Renault all provide cars which tick many of these boxes.
Which would you choose - and why? Read more
agree about the mondeo, i have a 2.0 tdci estate.
it feels smaller (ie easier to place) on the road than my old accord, i got parking sensors so when parking it, it feel tiny! I am parallel parking this in much smaller spaces than the accord, even though this is about a foot longer.
Have had top mounts replaced, not sure if it is just me but the brakes don't feel as positive but abs works, and when I got home after a 2 mile drive at urban speed the front discs were hot.
Would the replacing of the top mounts require any work on the braking system? Read more
Took the car out after a couple of hours brakes feel better but will check pipes etc to make sure no clamps left on etc
When braking car pulls up straight
Hi, I have a vw passat 1.9 tdi PD, 03 reg. About an hour age during journey starts flashing me warning lamps of anti-lock brake system (abs)and electronic stability program (esp) then after few second glow plugs lamp go on. Since then ABS and ESP lamps are still on and glow plug lamp is flashing. except that car drives and brakes as usualy, but I notice that my brake lights are not working. Can samebody help me? Thanks Jan Read more
Screwloose's diagnosis is almost certainly correct. For those not versed in VAG's version of autoEsperanto, try changing the stop lamp switch.
To be fair, it's a double pole unit but I think "position sensor" inflates its technical sophistication a bit. Be very careful indeed how you fit it - it's easy but not obvious. If in doubt, take advice.
Another VAG detail perfected after a few Wolfsburg beers.
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If you fit an aftermarket stereo, you will have to connect some of the wiring differently otherwise the stereo won't maintain any presets when you remove the key from the ignition. In other words you have to swap the two red and yellow wires, ie, red to yellow, and yellow to red.
Also, with most of the branded stereos (eg, Sony, Kenwood, Alpine, to name but a few) you can get adapters for steering wheel controls and to still use the remote display.
However, you might want to take a look at the VDO range of stereos and these are basically plug and play without needing to buy any additional bits and bobs.